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KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Sipho Hlomuka has called for calm following the reports of positive Covid-19 cases at the Mthonjaneni local municipality offices in Melmoth, Northern KZN.

Hlomuka has assured residents that this incident will have minimal impact on service delivery within the municipality as staff are continuing to work from remote environments while proper measures are being implemented to sanitise the building.

The Department of Cogta, under the leadership of MEC Hlomuka has been working with all municipalities in planning for such occurrences. This has been done with the aim of ensuring that if ever any cases arise service delivery is never hindered.

Hlomuka has called for communities within the Mthonjaneni local municipality to remain calm as qualified health practitioners are assisting the municipality in tracking and tracing any Covid-19 contacts.

“We are appealing for calm at this important time when our country is being tested. The sphere of local government in the province has been at the forefront of the fight against the spread of the coronavirus with a number of measures, which include the deep cleaning of public spaces on a regular basis, the promotion of virtual council meetings to limit exposure of councillors, utilisation of the Municipal Infrastructure Grant towards Covid-19 related issues, the deployment of additional water tankers (22) and Jojo tanks (3000) to municipalities to bring water closer to communities and schools. We will continue to support municipalities in all these efforts,” said Hlomuka.

This year our country marks 44 years since the Soweto uprisings – a turning point in the fight against apartheid. The scenes of students being shot at drew attention across the world to the reality of the life Africans were subjected to under the apartheid government.
The photo taken by the late Sam Nzima of Mbuyisa Makhubu, carrying the lifeless body of Hector Pietersen away from the scenes of utter chaos is a case in point. This picture still evokes many emotions in many of us.
It is also a reminder to many that would dare to take the freedom we have today for granted. The freedom that is enjoyed by the youth of today came at a price. The Soweto uprisings were a key pillar in the foundation of our democracy. They exposed the brutality of apartheid to the world.
As we mark 44 years since that fateful day, we have to pause and reflect as a nation on lessons the youth of today can learn from the class of ’76. I am under no illusion to assume that the circumstances that faced the youth of ’76 were the same as those that face our youth today. To borrow from the words of political philosopher Frantz Fanon, “each generation must discover its mission, fulfil it or betray it, in relative opacity”.
Today’s youth are living in a world that has been shaken by the outbreak of the coronavirus. The Covid-19 pandemic has seen economies across the world contract as a result of the slowdown in economic activity due to lockdowns implemented in many countries to stop the spread of the virus.
In the midst of lockdowns, we have witnessed how technology has been crucial in ensuring that education is not compromised at both primary and tertiary level. We have seen countries like South Korea seamlessly move to online education to ensure that their young people are not impacted by the efforts to stop the spread of the virus.
The response by our government has been swift through fiscal policy aimed at protecting human life and sheltering our fragile economy.
The steps taken by the Higher Education Sector under the leadership of Minister Blade Nzimande in response to the Covid-19 have been exemplary. The rollout of laptops to tertiary students funded by NSFAS, which is to take place shortly, is an incredible move in the right direction for the country.
This, coupled with the zero-rating of local education content across the country’s networks, will ensure that young people can never be deprived of education.
The globalised world in which our youth find themselves is constantly demanding of them to be global citizens who are adept and aware of advancements in technology and how technology can affect their chosen career paths. The youth of South Africa can never be viewed in isolation but are in effect competing against the youth from other countries in staking their claim and making an impact in the world.
We have seen many young people step up to this challenge of representing our country on global platforms and showcasing that the South African youth are as capable as their Chinese or South Korean counterparts.
Two young South Africans that come to mind are Dr Sandile Ngcobo, who at the age 33, invented the world’s first digital laser. The second is 31-year-old Siyabulela Xuza who in 2007, at the age of 18, entered into the International Science and Engineering Fair, where his project, “African Space: Fueling Africa’s quest to space”, won awards in the energy and transportation sector.
Both Ngcobo who hails from Pietermarizburg and Xuza who hails from Mthatha embody what the class of ’76 had fought for. The current efforts being made by the government in embracing technology in both the classroom and universities is a giant leap in the right direction.
The post-Covid-19 world should not be something that strikes fear into the hearts of our young people. With every challenge comes an opportunity. The South African youth of today are equal to the task that lies ahead in the knowledge-based economy that we are trying to create.
Every sphere of government, especially local government, has been deeply impacted by technology. Our municipalities rely more and more on knowledge, information and high skill levels so that they can better serve our communities.
The youth of today, need to make the most of every opportunity that is provided by the government. Let this year’s Youth Day, celebrated at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, be an opportunity to reflect on this.

Opinion piece by KZN Cogta MEC Sipho Hlomuka

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Sipho Hlomuka this morning visited schools in the deeply rural municipality of uMzimkhulu under the Harry Gwala District where he assessed the rollout of water and Covid-19 compliance following the opening of schools that took place yesterday.

Last month the department of Cogta deployed 22 additional water tankers to Water Service Authorities across the province in efforts to beef up their capacity to deliver water to communities and schools.

In his visit to Emaus High School, Emaus Junior Secondary and Mzokhanyo JSS, Hlomuka was accompanied by members of the Provincial Legislature; Hon T.V Xulu, Hon M.J Mazibuko and the Mayor of the District Cllr Nxumalo. The delegation met with the principals and members of the School Governing Body as part of the assessment of the functionality of the schools and their readiness to commence with teaching.

In these engagements, MEC Hlomuka urged the management of the schools to ensure that they liaise with the District Municipality to ensure that static tanks located at the schools are filled with water regularly.

The department of Cogta has been instrumental in facilitating engagements between the department of education and municipalities to ensure that schools across the province have adequate water as the province and country battle against the spread of Covid-19.

To download 2020/21 Budget Policy Speech click here

KZN Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) will be fighting the Covid-19 pandemic and its aftermath with a capable, ethical and developmental local government in the 2020/2021 financial year, according to its MEC Sipho Hlomuka who tabled the department’s annual budget of R1.879 –billion in a virtual sitting of the Provincial Legislature today.

“We have been supporting municipalities with cleaning of public places and facilitating Covid-19 awareness campaigns and distribution of hand sanitisers. To ensure municipal funding for Covid-19, we have facilitated the settlement of government debt owed to municipalities. We have also supported municipalities in revising their budgets to include Covid-19 allocations,” said Hlomuka.

KZN Cogta has acknowledged that the impact of Covid-19 has hit the province’s economy hard both in the formal and the informal sector. The department has provided wide-ranging support to the province’s 54 municipalities in ensuring that informal traders in particular do receive relief as per the pronouncements made by the national government.

“We have also formulated a Recovery Plan to support the recovery of local government post-lockdown. It is based on five pillars, namely, governance, finance, basic service delivery, performance management and the brand new District Development Model. We are now engaging with all 54 municipalities to develop their own customised Post-Lockdown Recovery Plans,” said Hlomuka.

To mitigate the possibility that many local industries might close down post Covid-19 and the ensuing job losses, KZN Cogta will ensure that municipalities will be supported with infrastructure development and measures to support surviving industries, attracting investment and reducing the Red Tape. The department will also facilitate completion of infrastructure, especially water infrastructure projects.

“As important as the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic is at the moment, it cannot detract from our long-term vision of creating a capable, ethical and developmental local government in KZN. As we continue to mould our municipalities and traditional institutions in this fashion, we are already seeing the benefits of this transformation in our Covid-19 interventions,” said Hlomuka.

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KZN Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, under the leadership of MEC Sipho Hlomuka, has deployed additional water tankers to the province’s Water Service Authorities in an effort to bring water closer to communities as the province and country continue to fight against the spread of Covid-19.
Hlomuka made the announcement this morning while attending the virtual Cogta portfolio committee meeting where the department updated the KZN Provincial Legislature on its expenditure and performance during the 2019/2020 financial year.
“This week we have been working hard as a department to deliver 22 water tankers to our thirteen Water Service Authorities where they will be utilised to bring much-needed water to rural communities across the province. These tankers have been delivered and have now commenced with the important work of serving our communities,” said Hlomuka.
This rollout, according to Hlomuka, is part of the department’s commitment to make good on its pledge to capacitate municipalities to fulfil their service delivery mandate. The rollout of water tankers is particularly important during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“These water tankers that we have deployed for an initial period of three months, will not cost the municipalities anything and will ensure that more of our communities get access to water as we fight against the spread of Covid-19.
“As a department, we have made several key interventions, which include the deployment of R160-million worth of plant equipment to municipalities to speed up service delivery under our Operation Khawuleza initiative.
“We have also deployed close to 500 graduates who hold qualifications in scarce skills, such as engineering, town planning, finance and others, to capacitate our municipalities and create employment for the youth, particularly in rural areas.
“Recently we also deployed 3000 static tanks to all our municipalities to bring water closer to the most vulnerable communities. The additional 22 water tankers are a clear indication of our commitment to solving the water challenges in our communities” said Hlomuka.
The Water tankers have been deployed as follows:
WSAs ALLOCATED WATER TANKERS
Ilembe 1
Ugu 3
Harry Gwala 2
Umzinyathi 1
Uthukela 2
Umgungundlovu 1
Msunduzi 1
Newcastle 2
Amajuba 2
Zululand 2
Umkhanyakude 2
King Cetshwayo 2
Mhlathuze LM 1

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KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Sipho Hlomuka today assigned a team of senior officials to table before the Zululand District council a report on the forensic investigation into allegations of maladministration and corruption at the municipality in terms of section 106(1)(b) of the Municipal Systems Act (Act 32 of 2000).

The report, which was tabled this morning in a virtual council meeting, makes a number of findings relating to allegations of fraud and corruption by several senior officials and councillors in the district. The Municipality is given 21 days within which to revert to the MEC on implementation of the report.

Hlomuka has urged the council to act with haste in addressing the issues contained in the report. “We are committed to investigating all instances of wrongdoing, including fraud, corruption and maladministration in municipalities that are brought to our attention. We conduct a multitude of investigations simultaneously and report on their progress to the Provincial Legislature on a regular basis,” said Hlomuka.

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KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Sipho Hlomuka has expressed his concern at the deteriorating fiscal situation in the province’s municipalities following the outbreak of Covid-19 which has brought many industries in the province and country to a standstill.

The implementation of the lockdown to curb the spread of Covid-19 has meant that many municipalities across the province have not been able to collect enough revenue in March and April. This could lead to a situation where the quality of services offered by municipalities is compromised as a result of the revenue shortfall.

Hlomuka has urged residents to utilise various platforms, which include digital platforms, to pay for services that are rendered by their respective municipality.

“It is important that we continue to pay for services which we receive from our municipalities. While we understand that the economic situation facing many of our communities is dire, there is a need for all of us to not neglect to pay for services, such as water, electricity and rates, as the financial viability of our municipalities depends on revenue generated from these services. We are appealing to residents who have defaulted to make the necessary arrangements with their respective municipalities,” said Hlomuka.

GAZETTING OF NEW REGULATIONS PAVING WAY FOR MUNICIPAL REVENUE GENERATION SERVICES TO OPERATE

Cogta MEC Sipho Hlomuka has also welcomed the gazetting of new regulations which pave the way for revenue generation by municipalities to re-commence. According to the guidelines that come into effect yesterday, municipalities are now allowed to operate revenue-generating services which include:

• payment for licenses;
• issuing of licenses of vehicles, renewal of drivers’ licenses and roadworthy certificates;
• municipal trading services, such as water and electricity, property rates, refuse removal, and rental payments;
• issuing of clearance certificates; and
• meter reading.

“The sphere of local government in our province and country is facing immense pressure as a result of Covid-19. Through this crisis, we have seen this sphere taking the lead through the sanitisation of public spaces, such as municipal buildings, with the aim of preventing the spread of Covid-19 in our communities. As our municipalities re-commence with the process of rendering the revenue-generating services, it is important that Covid-19 guidelines be followed so that we can protect our residents,” said Hlomuka.

Residents are urged to consult with their respective ward councillors or municipalities regarding when these services will be open.

Hlomuka has also urged municipalities and municipal entities to ensure that they adhere to all Covid-19 public health regulations and containment prescripts, especially those relating to gatherings and physical distancing when performing essential municipal services which include revenue collection.

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