Umzinyathi District of KwaZulu-Natal
23 August 2007
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sibusiso Ndebele, accompanied by Members of his
Executive Council (MECs), will wrap up his highly successful two-day (22 and 23
August 2007) Imbizo in the Umzinyathi District in northern KwaZulu-Natal later
today after interacting with stakeholders, communities and different spheres of
government.
The two-day visit to the Umzinyathi District forms part of the Premier's
Imbizo programme. The Imbizo drew people from all parts of the Umzinyathi
District into an intimate dialogue with elected representatives on meaningful
partnerships with all sectors of the community and ways of improving the
quality of life.
The Premier was afforded an opportunity to assess, jointly with local
communities, progress on commitments made by elected leaders to the people,
functionality of government systems, plans to develop and sustain local
economies and the strengthening of public participation in the Umzinyathi
District.
At 09h30 today (23 August) the Premier went on a walkabout at Nkande Clinic
at Nqutu and interacted and communicated with staff and patients. The Premier
then proceeded to Haladu Primary School where he also interacted and
communicated with learners and educators. Thereafter the Premier proceeded to
the Community Imbizo at Kwa Grace in Nqutu, which was attended by thousands of
people from various parts of the Umzinyathi District, including the District
Mayor of Umzinyathi as well as Mayors of local municipalities in the Umzinyathi
District. They listened to community concerns and challenges about service
delivery, employment and need for skills.
During his address the Premier called on the people to report bureaucratic
bottlenecks which delay the provision of basic services. The Premier also
encouraged the communities to exploit opportunities presented by government. He
called on the people of the district not to wait for government to help them
but start initiatives that will draw government's attention.
Yesterday (22 August) the weekly KwaZulu-Natal Cabinet meeting was also held
at Nqutu. After the Cabinet meeting the Premier and the various MECs held
different stakeholder meetings in the Umzinyathi District with various
stakeholders relevant to their respective portfolios.
Premier Ndebele together with KZN MEC for Local Government, Housing and
Traditional Affairs, Mike Mabuyakhulu, met with approximately 200 people in
Nqutu including representatives from Heritage Forums, Amakhosi, Religious
Leaders and Community Development Workers.
Meanwhile, the provincial gender machinery in the Office of Premier Ndebele
will tomorrow (24 August 2007) hold a march to protest against the Umlazi pants
ban. The marchers will gather outside the Umlazi Magistrate's Court at 09h00
and will march from the Court to the King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium in
Umlazi.
All media are invited to attend. Please note picture opportunities. For
further information and enquiries on the march kindly contact Cecil Mandla
Msomi on 082 317 3727 or 072 671 0775.
For further information, please contact:
Logan Maistry
Premier's Spokesperson
KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
Cell: 083 644 4050
E-mail: maistryl@premier.kzntl.gov.za
Issued by: Office of the Premier, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
23 August 2007
