Statement of the KZN Provincial Executive council following a meeting held yesterday
The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Executive Council Chaired by Premier Sihle Zikalala convened its first ordinary meeting for the year 2022 yesterday, 26 January 2022.
After deliberating on various matters impacting on the Province the following resolutions were taken:
KZN establish new community safety intervention units to prioritise violence against Amakhosi and Izinduna.
In the wake of safety challenges faced by Amakhosi and Izinduna, the Executive Council approved a decision by the Department of Community Safety and Liaison under MEC Peggy Nkonyeni to establish a new Community Safety Intervention Unit. The new unit will work in conjunction with law- enforcement agencies to deal with the specific challenges related to the safety and security of traditional leaders, Izinduna as well as other safety challenges facing the province.
The Community Safety Intervention Unit (CSIU) will undertake the following activities among others:
- Conduct security analysis related to any incident, threat or instability;
- Engage law-enforcement to facilitate appropriate deployment and investigation;
- Conduct analysis of underlying causes in the environment and formulate intervention approaches;
- Review the security situation on an ongoing basis and facilitate remedial/adjusted measures where necessary.
The Executive Council is concerned about the increase in violent attacks on Amakhosi and Izinduna as well as the safety of KwaZulu-Natal citizens in general. The new Community Safety Units will play a significant role in complementing the work of the South African Police Services and in bringing peace and guaranteeing the safety of citizens.
KZN provincial cabinet extends section 139 (1)(b) interventions in 8 municipalities
The KZN Provincial Executive Council also resolved to retain section 139 (1)(b) interventions in eight of the province’s municipalities. Having received a comprehensive report on the state of municipalities under intervention, the Provincial Cabinet has decided it was in the municipalities’ best interests to extend all current interventions, and to enable them to continue receiving support from the entirety of government due to the challenges they face.
The Municipalities which include Mpofana, Msunduzi, Inkosi Langalibalele, UThukela, Umzinyathi, Abaqulusi, Mtubatuba and uMkhanyakude face serious financial difficulties, such as unfunded budgets, huge budget deficits, persistent power cut threats from Eskom, infrastructure and service delivery challenges. Some are besieged by instability and parallel structures, while others are engaged in perpetual legal battles other than focusing on service delivery. The Executive Council is of the view that there is a need for the continuation of support to allow the technical experts to turn the situation around in these municipalities, and to refocus them on the basic issues of service delivery.
The interventions are extended for until 30 April 2022, after which the necessary assessments review and considerations by the Executive Council will occur.
The Provincial Executive Council believes that the extended municipal interventions are in the best interests of the citizens who are served by these municipalities and they will benefit from the support of the other spheres of government as prescribed by the Constitution.
KZN to convene summit on the development of land in rural areas and municipalities.
The Executive Council approved the hosting of the Land and Governance summit which will focus on the development of land in rural areas and municipalities. The summit will reflect on a number of land-related questions including planning issues, allocation and collaboration between Amakhosi and municipalities to improve service delivery. The Executive Council recognizes the call for efficient land administration and management, and the need to use land as an instrument to meet the development needs of citizens.
Fiscal adjustment plan to contain under and over-expenditure in KZN government departments
The Executive Council discussed and analysed the budget performance report by Provincial Departments. The Executive Council adopted a firm view that no department should under-spend or over-spend its budget allocation. The Executive Council has directed all departments to bring their budget to balance by cutting wastage and items that departments can do without, without compromising service deliver. The Executive Council has directed departments guided by the Provincial Treasury to develop turnaround plans to meet the expenditure controls.
Departments have been directed to ensure value for money on all transactions. The budget reprioritisation process must ensure that service delivery is a priority and is protected, while non-core activities such as accommodation and travel, office furniture, filling non–core posts, medico-legal costs should be curtailed to reign in runaway expenditure. Departments are to re-submit their turnaround plans to the Executive Council which will detail how they will stay within their allocated budgets.
KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Executive Council condemns spate of killings in the province including Councillor Minenhle Mkhize and Howick farmer Hedley Joseph Brown
The Executive Council reacted with great concern at the spike of incidents of murder reported in the Province recently. The Executive Council expressed its shock and outrage at the killing of youthful EThekwini Cllr. Minenhle Mkhize as well as that of elderly farmer Mr Hedley James Brown who was murdered on his farm in Howick.
According to reports Cllr Mkhize was gunned down while at his home while Brown was found badly beaten and stabbed in his garden on Monday. Police said three firearms and a laptop were also stolen during the incident at Mr Brown Lions River Farm. Both Cllr. Mkhize and Mr Brown’s death follows the host of murders in KwaZulu Natal including mass murders in Inanda and Richmond.
The murders of Mr Brown and Cllr. Mkhize are part of a very unfortunate wave of criminal acts which have recently besieged the province. There is a saddening and regrettable culture of violence and crime in KwaZulu-Natal and the country which spares no one, no matter their age, race or economic status. These murders are just some of many which reflect this unfortunate state of wanton criminality.
The Provincial Cabinet commends law-enforcement agencies for their swift action in arresting some of the suspects and has urged the security agencies to continue working tirelessly to arrest all those involved in these gruesome murders. The Provincial Government sends its deepest condolences to the families and friends of both Mr Brown, Cllr. Mkhize and many others who have lost their loved ones to various crimes. The KZN Government calls on the police to leave no stone unturned in an effort to apprehend the perpetrators of all these murders including those behind the deaths of of Mr Brown and Cllr. Mkhize.
2022 Human Rights Day to be hosted in Harry Gwala District
The Executive Council approved that the 26th commemoration of Human Rights Day for the year 2022, be held in the Harry Gwala District Municipality. Human Rights Day has its origins in the events that unfolded at Sharpeville on 21 March 1960 (known as the Sharpeville Massacre), when apartheid security forces mowed down peaceful marchers opposed to pass laws that had been imposed on black South Africans. The occasion will be utilized to promote unity and social cohesion and to also recognize the role played by women in the struggle for liberation.
