Mkhanyakude Community to benefit from multi-million rands development
The community of Umkhanyakude, in far northern KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), will benefit immensely from government’s multi-million rands projects that will improve their lives for the better when provincial MEC for Social Development, Mrs Weziwe Thusi, officially opens an office complex and an Early Childhood Development (ECD) facility.
Costing R16 million, the KwaNgwanase Service Office is located in Ward 01 of uMhlabuyalingana Municipality and servicing 10 of the 17 wards. Departmental officials were previously operating from the old Magistrate Office Buildings, where they were allocated one office which was shared by five social workers, two community development practitioners, two administration clerks and two social auxiliary workers.
The congestion due to limited space had a negative impact on service delivery and professionalism, which resulted to poor staff morale and low productivity. Social workers ended up leaving the employ of the department en masse because they felt that the working environment was not conducive enough and was regarded as a health hazard. This was also against ethics in terms of social work profession.
In 2008 the office secured a site that was donated by Makhoba family and was used to put up a 12-roomed park home as a temporary measure to overcome the situation. The department thereafter managed to prioritise building of a permanent office structure in 2011. The office now employs 43 officials.
The Tete ECD came as a result of an 82-year-old community activist, Mrs Mashanti Ntuli, who travelled almost a thousand kilometres all the way to Pietermaritzburg and back as she wanted to meet the Former Premier, Dr Zweli Mkhize and the MEC for Social Development, to share their sufferings as rural community of the said area. A task team was then commissioned to assess the situation and propose necessary developmental interventions.
The team comprised of various departments, including the Office of the Premier and other relevant stakeholders. During interactions with Zama Zama community, there were numerous needs identified, including construction of an ECD centre.
The department then established Tete Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) to respond to institutional arrangements and then constructed the facility to the tune of R5, 3 million. The centre is now fully operational and caters for 140 children. It has created job opportunities and become a sanctuary for local children.
Section 28(1) (c) of the Bill of Rights emphasises improved quality of basic education, hence South Africa views Early Childhood Development as means to build a strong foundation to a better tomorrow.
This has even been informed by the 2012 Buffalo City Resolutions that government has to create enabling environment and provide resources to invest on the first 1 000 days of a child up to 4 years. To respond to the above, the Department of Social Development has formalised partnership with non-NPOs in order to take its services to the people. In pursuing this goal, there is a strong bias towards previously disadvantaged rural communities.
MEC Thusi will also join Mhlabuyalingana Local Municipality Mayor, Councillor Mkhombo in awarding educators and matriculants from local schools who performed well last year.
Details of the event are as follows:
Date: Friday, 24 January 2014
Time: 09h30
Venue: Manguzi Sports Complex
All media are invited to attend.
NB: Please note photo opportunity.
For more information:
Vukani Mbhele
Cell: 083 307 8964
