Honourable Chairperson of the NCOP, Mr Mninawa Mahlangu;
Cabinet Members present;
Honourable Premier of the Province of Kwa-Zulu Natal,
Dr. Zweli Mkhize and all Premiers present;
Honourable Provincial Speaker; Ms. Peggy Nkonyeni;
Members of the Provincial Executive;
The Executive Mayor of the uMzinyathi District Municipality,
Councillor James Mthethwa;
The Mayor of Nquthu Local Municipality, Councillor Emily Molefe;
Provincial Chairperson of SALGA, Councillor Vukani Mdabe;
Chairperson of the Provincial House of Traditional Leaders, Inkosi Bhekisisa Bhengu, and Esteemed Traditional Leaders among us;
Religious Leaders, Esteemed Councillors;
The Community of Enquthu
Ladies and gentlemen;
I am honoured to be here among the people of uMzinyathi today, as part of the NCOP’s initiative to take parliament to the people.
It is indeed a great honour to be in this historic place, where one of the epic battles against colonial domination, the Battle of Isandlwana, was fought.
This is the place where the spears of the nation delivered one of the mightiest victories in our history as Africans against the colonial oppressors.
The place therefore evokes strong feelings of liberation and triumph. It is important that we always understand the deeper meaning of these battles in relation to our freedom today.
The Battle of Isandlwana was a struggle to keep our own humanity, unity of kith and kin, freedom and independence, and above all to continue to live in our African ways of sharing and caring for fellow human beings.
We therefore draw inspiration from the heroism of those who fought colonialism and laid the ground for us to live as full citizens in our country.
Honourable Chairperson,
We meet in this historic area at the end of a week-long programme, where Ministers from national and provincial governments, parliamentarians as well as Premiers from all provinces, have come to interact with the people about the work that they are doing to deliver basic services to the people.
The NCOP held an important community meeting in this area in August. That meeting gave a good picture of the basic needs of the people of this area.
This area certainly deserves the attention it has received from decision makers. Umzinyathi District generally has some of the poorest and most underdeveloped rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal, most notably the Msinga and Nquthu Municipalities.
People are still struggling with running water, lack of educational and health facilities, infrastructure and many other challenges.
We are aware of the difficulties facing this community. I understand that uMzinyathi has a 60% unemployment rate, and that about 65% of the population aged between 15-65 years here, have no form of income. This is indeed a very grave situation.
These are challenges faced countrywide, which are obviously also compounded from time to time by the mounting cost of living as influenced by among others the rising fuel prices for example.
Therefore it is important for us to address these challenges.
We thank the NCOP therefore for providing such an opportunity of the President’s Annual Address to the NCOP, to be a report back session to this community of Nquthu.
By bringing us all here today to see and intervene, the NCOP is playing its role of being the eyes and the ears of the people.
Community members raised various issues at the August meeting. These included social security, safety, housing, medical care, unemployment as well as basic necessities such as water, electricity and sanitation.
We therefore want most of government’s programmes geared towards promoting income generating activities to be also rolled out in this area.
The rural development programmes, establishment of cooperatives, agriculture and tourism are some of the activities that can improve lives and the economic situation in this area.
Following the August meeting of the NCOP, the Department of Cooperative Governance has established an Implementation Forum made up of its provincial counterparts as well as other national ministries, which resulted in a joint work programme to address the challenges of Nquthu.
It is my pleasure to report on some of the programmes and work that government is doing.
With regard to the shortage of housing, a number of housing projects are being rolled out in the area, while some are planned for the future.
These include the Ngolokodo and Vulamehlo Rural Housing Projects, both intended to benefit a thousand families.
The Department of Human Settlements is also looking at the projects which were unfortunately marred by construction faults and it is working hard to rectify the houses concerned, particularly in Nquthu Phase II.
With regards to basic education, where a grim situation of lack of school facilities from pre-school to secondary prevails, the Provincial Department of Education has decided to prioritise these in the current financial year as part of the Provincial Infrastructure Plan.
Through the “Access to Education” Campaign, the Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities is coordinating with the Provincial Education Department, first to ensure access to education for all children who stay far away from schools, such as in farms.
In addition, they will be assisted with scholar transport to take them to schools.
Schools in the Mzinyathi area will also be provided with mobile units to serve as classrooms, library, laboratory and they will also be fenced properly and be served with water and sanitation.
There are also challenges regarding among others, drugs, children’s social grants and safe places for the elderly to receive grants in Nondweni.
The Department of Social Development is currently auditing facilities in the province with a view to increasing them where necessary. The Department will also launch the Ke Moja youth anti-drug programme to intervene in Nondweni Ward 10.
Government services will be brought closer to the people of Mkhuphula area in Msinga through a One Stop Development Centre. These include providing Home Affairs services, social grants applications and others.
With regard to health, while it is generally a challenge to secure the services of doctors in the rural clinics, the Department of Health is trying to improve the situation.
Early in the next year, 2012, the Department of Health will build the Thathezakhe Clinic next to Inkosi Ngobese traditional offices. These will be completed in 2013.
The issue of availability of doctors will also be looked into.
The people also raised concerns with regard to safety and security.
The South African Police Services has initiated a program to speed up the building of police stations to service rural areas nationally.
Thirty more police stations will be built in the rural areas across the country and uMzinyathi will be among the areas prioritised and considered, in the light of the serious concerns raised.
Meanwhile the Provincial Commissioner has been asked to extend the working hours of the current satellite police station in Ward 2 eMzinyathi from 12 to 24hr service.
Plans are also at a developed stage to revive the local economy in the district, particularly opening opportunities such as tourism and heritage.
The Department of Arts and Culture has committed itself to reviving crafts and to working with the province and the District Municipality for the development and the implementation of the Isandlwana Project.
This is a comprehensive heritage project with potential, which will also help the majority who are unemployed.
Through the Lilane Hot Springs project, the National Department of Tourism plans to upgrade and renovate twelve chalets in the area, the conference centre and the pathways to create proper access route to the hot springs, where the income made could be around R20 million.
In addition, the Tourism Ambassadors Programme started at the Dundee Local Municipality is training unemployed youth for jobs in the tourism industry, while providing funding for small tourism businesses.
In an effort to improve the economic situation in the area, the Department of Labour will work with the Department of Higher Education and Training to develop the skills needed for small businesses and related ventures, as well as for individuals.
The Department of Trade and Industry will assist primarily with regard to re-establishing co-operatives in the area.
It will run a support programme and hold a cooperatives workshop in Nquthu.
Honourable Chairperson,
We also know that infrastructure and roads are a major challenge in this area, affecting access to schools and other facilities such as health centres.
The Department of Transport has budgeted R28million for improving the road network within the Nquthu area.
In Ward 2 for example, a 6km road will be improved during the current financial year.
This road will not only be of immense help to the people of the Mbokodwebomvu Traditional Authority, but will provide access to Felani Clinic, Mgombani School, Msibo School and Silutshana School.
Another road that will be improved this Financial Year is the one that falls under Inkosi Mdletshe of Emandleni Traditional Authority, which will also benefit Nkunyane School.
The Nondweni Pedestrian Bridge has also been built to provide access to the people of the area.
Several other roads are being repaired in the area, including for Mangwebuthanani Traditional Authority and the list is much longer.
The expansion of water supplies is also being considered. Boreholes will be increased, while plans are afoot to expand the water treatment plant.
The Provincial Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development established the Small Dams Project to address the lack of bulk water supply.
Government is also in the process of refurbishing neglected water boreholes.
Furthermore, the National Department of Water and Environmental Affairs is in the process of building a dam that will address the water supply challenges faced by the District Municipality and eradicate the water tank truck delivery system.
Regarding Land Reform, Minister Nkwinti has also detected corruption of evaluators inflating land prices, which impacts negatively on land reform.
The Department is in a process of dealing with officials found guilty of colluding in such acts.
Honourable Chairperson,
I know that we have not exhausted all the challenges, but the progress is impressive.
Honourable chairperson
I will later this afternoon in Pretoria receive the Draft 2030 National Development Plan from the National Planning Commission.
I had mandated this Commission in 2009 to take a broad, cross cutting, independent and critical view of South Africa, to map out a path to achieve a successful and prosperous South Africa by 2030.
After an intensely consultative process, they have concluded their work. It is an important moment to receive this report because it will help us design more programmes that will improve the quality of life of our people.
The NCOP interaction with the community in August raised some of the issues that the National Plan no doubt will raise.
Honourable Chairperson,
Honourable delegates to the NCOP
Let me thank the NCOP once again for demonstrating its unwavering commitment to the constitutional mandate of meeting with the people and hearing their views.
We thank you for this session, and applaud your initiative of taking parliament where it belongs, to the people.
We make a commitment to ensuring that the undertakings made by government will be followed up and implemented.
The Department of Performance Monitoring and Evaluation in my office will work with the Office of the Premier to monitor progress.
Together we have to ensure an improvement in the quality of life in Umzinyathi.
I wish all delegates and community members well as everybody travels back home after this intensive session.
Working together we are indeed going to do more!
I thank you!
