Madam Speaker
Honourable Members of the Legislature
Mayors present
Speakers present
Councillors
Ladies and gentlemen
Greetings to everyone present.
As we are gathered here today, we have come in humble service of the people of Umkhanyakude District. It is also because of the realisation by government that to most members of society the workings of the Legislature which they elected into office remain a total mystery.
We understand that not everyone has the financial ability and time to travel to our provincial capital, Pietermaritzburg, to personally observe the Provincial Legislature in session, where your elected representatives thrash out issues that affect and confront you in your daily lives.
It is therefore with this in mind that we as government decided that we needed to travel across the province, to afford members of the different district municipalities first hand experience on how we conduct government affairs in the pursuance of their interests.
We consciously took the decision to undertake multiparty visits to all district municipalities to afford ourselves an opportunity to hear first hand the needs of the people, for even though there are common problems, no two district municipalities have identical needs and requirements for them to attain the goal of a better life.
When campaigning for your votes prior to the provincial elections in 2009, we as political parties and politicians made promises that we sincerely wished and hoped to fulfill in order to address your most basic needs.
South Africa has had a difficult past and we realize that there is a huge backlog in the provision for basic human needs for previously disadvantaged people in general, but more especially those living in rural and the so-called deep rural areas.
Our greatest challenges in this regard are the provision of decent housing; water, sanitation, health facilities, educational institutions, electricity, infrastructure including roads and ablution facilities, sustainable agriculture and several others.
This exercise, therefore, is a means of following up on our pre-election promises and to ensure that we take steps in the best manner possible to meet the needs of you, the electorate.
The development of country lies in the hands of all who live in it. This exercise is therefore the consummation of a partnership between government and the electorate. It is democracy in action.
Madam Speaker, ladies and gentlemen, in this regard Legislature Multiparty visits were made to Umkhanyakude District to listen to the concerns and needs of the people of this district, and today I’m happy to table this Multiparty Report on behalf of the provincial government.
The multiparty visits of Umkhanyakude had an unusual feature of comprising a mix of societal formations. Of particular note is the involvement of Municipal Councilors, Traditional Leadership and people of diverse faith orientations which aptly subscribe to the saying, "Together we can do more."
This had an impact on the various categories of issues raised from individual to communal needs such as fencing of community gardens, cultivating and grazing fields.
Madam Speaker, It is pleasing to note that the government has already come up with a programme to address some, if not most, of these needs through Operation Sukuma Sakhe, which encourages activities like "One Home One Garden". It pleases one that Operation Sukuma Sakhe has started work in this District, like it is happening in all the others.
The issues that were raised have been grouped and are responded to under relevant headings hereunder.
Disability
The government is committed to help people with disabilities obtain skills that will make them employable as is evident in the enouncement made by the Minister of Higher Education for their bursaries. Advertisements for jobs have been made in print media, where in some instances people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
However, even though there is a stipulation that at least two percent of the work force must be people with disabilities, this is hardly achieved as it is learnt that not many applications are received from them.
On the question of government building accessibility, measures are underway to appoint a Provincial Disability Programme of Action which will, among other things, make recommendations for approval by Cabinet on this issue.
Youth and bursaries
The out–of-school youth wishing to enter tertiary education but lack resources should apply for bursaries from the Office of the Premier at the same time they apply to the institutions.
Once they obtain acceptance letter from the institutions, they should approach the Human Resource section at the Office of the Premier for taking the matter forward.
Youth and Training Development
The youth is advised to approach the Local Municipality offices for information relating for possible training and development.
The Local Economic Development unit has information on training done by the Department of Economic Development and Tourism on a variety of available training courses, which may be organised for offering according to their choices.
Agriculture
The Local offices of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Development assist with providing technical assistance on small scale and subsistence farming. Tractors are provided for cultivating fields. Assistance for fencing cultivating and grazing fields is also done.
The department is currently on a drive to reintroduce dip tanks for stock disease prevention
Mbazwana
The Ingonyama Trust Board is still doing its land audit. The Municipality has appointed a consultant for the Land Use Management Scheme. The proclamation of Mbazwana as a town can only be considered after the finalization of these exercises.
Water
Relating to the request for a Water Affairs office in the District, Umkhanyakude District Municipality is the Water Services Authority.
Project areas
The follow projects have been completed:
- Mnqobokazi Market Stalls
- Ezimpondweni Market Stalls
The following areas are currently in construction phase:
- Phumlani Community Hall
- Makhasa Community Hall
- Makhasa Creche
- Ward three Access Roads
- Nibela Community Hall
Individual issues
Matters relating to Grants have been referred to the Social Development Department and South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), and the individual concerned will be contacted.
The Identity Document issues have been referred to the Department of Home Affairs who will contact the concerned persons as soon as it becomes feasible.
With this report Madam Speaker, honourable members, ladies and gentlemen, we hope we have come a long way in addressing the basic needs of the people of Ukhanyakude District.
By so doing, we have begun a process of partnership that we hope to carry forward in order to meet our goals of eradicating poverty and addressing the needs of the poorest of the poor and vulnerable in our society.
We urge the people of Umkhanyakude to use the channels provided by such facilities and understand that government is accountable to them, and not the other way around.
I thank you.
