Keynote Address by Premier of KwaZulu-Natal Ms. Nomusa Dube-Ncube During Operation Sukuma Sakhe
Today the entire Cabinet of KwaZulu- Natal is visiting the district of Ugu which is famous for several factors.
Ugu forms part of what is the famous beautiful coast of KwaZulu-Natal that stretches from Kosi Bay in the North to the Wild Coast in the South. For this reason, this is a district of our pride where tourists come from far and wide on holiday to rest and to enjoy the sights of our province.
Together with its neighbouring District of Harry Gwala in our province and OR Tambo in the Eastern Cape, in the near future this will be home to one of the most developed, modern and SMART cities not only in South Africa, but I dare say the entire continent of Africa.
We are therefore pleased to have landed in what is a district of untold and unlimited potential, which in years to come will continue to be the envy of many, and an attraction to millions, generation after generation.
This is what we all want for this district, is that so?
For this district to become the leading district it must rise to the occasion and beat all the odds against it. Like Bafana Bafana, the Ugu District must shock those who believe that we will not be able achieve the dreams of our forefathers and founding mothers who told us that we too can become better than them and rise and travel longer distances than they ever did.
A government that listens and leaves no one behind
We are a government that listens, a government that does not listen to the cries of the community is a government that does not know what the communities are feeling, how they are suffering and importantly, what solutions they have in their minds.
Out of the many challenges we have heard about not only today but in the many times we have come here, we have stressed that it is important that we work together. There are no problems too big for us to solve together.
When we attack the challenge of water there is a role for government but there is also a role for you as the community. When we tackle criminality there is a role for the agencies of the state, but there is a role also for us all individuals. When we want to deal with drug and alcohol abuse, the role for the state is there, but we will not resolve this problem without working together.
Ugu District matriculants excel
We take this opportunity to congratulate teachers, learners, parents, school governing body members and education unions for ensuring that Ugu District maintains its first position as the best performing district when it comes to the matric results.
You deserve a huge round of applause for flying the provincial flag high. We are very proud of you.
Tertiary bursary recipients from Ugu District
Our government will continue to care for learners from disadvantaged backgrounds by giving them financial support to pursue studies at various tertiary institutions.
No learner should be deprived the right to learn because of her class or economic background.
Six learners from Ugu District are proud beneficiaries of government bursaries and they are presently pursuing their studies at various tertiary institutions.
These beneficiaries are:
Mngomezulu LBN who is doing a second year Bachelor of Law degree at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Mngomezulu hails from the district and lives with a father who is a pensioner.
Nhlumayo S, who lives with an unemployed father and a mentally handicapped mother, is also studying for a Bachelor of Law degree at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
Jama P who lives with an unemployed mother is doing a third year of the Bachelor of Medicine degree at the University of Pretoria.
Joji T is also pursuing a Bachelor of Medicine degree at the University of Pretoria and stays with a mother who works as a cleaner.
Ncane S, whose father is unemployed, is studying for a Diploma in Human Resource Management at the Mangosuthu University of Technology.
Khwela N who is an orphan, is studying for a Bachelor of Education at the Durban University of Technology.
Projects Visited– Nkulu Community Hall and Real quick layer
We visited the site for the construction of Nkulu Community Hall, in Ward 25 under Inkosi Mavundla. The project is valued at R7 048 453.69, and the main funds are sourced via the Integrated Urban Development Grant. The project started on 31 October 2022 and is scheduled to end in June 2023. This is a major development for the community with a total of 15 local labour staff members receiving basic safety training before commencement of work.
One of the examples of a food security project is the Real quick layer project that we also visited today, which is a poultry project situated in Gamalakhe area, owned by 1 Youth male.
One of the examples of a food security project is the Real quick layer project that we also visited today which is a poultry project situated in Gamalakhe area, owned by 1 Youth male.
The project involves a 2 X 300 broiler unit as the beneficiaries identified demand for eggs in the community and negotiated with local supermarket Pick Pay, and they now have an offtake agreement with the chain. We want to congratulate the farmer Mr Mbili for this initiative.
His project is going to start operating in May this year.
The province will also look at the security situation by installing the right equipment. We are in the process of addressing the water situation in the entire Ugu with interventions which are short term and short term. These include the establishment of boreholes, the provision of reservoirs and water tanks but also the building of water augmentation schemes. The province is making available training in business management skills working with the Department of Economic Development Tourism Environmental Affairs and will engage him regarding his challenges with logistics.
One Home, One Garden
The One Home One Garden is in Ray Nkonyeni which covers wards 4,9,12,15,20,21,23,29,30,31,33,34,35&36. The project is worth R375 000 and is funded by Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Local and District Municipality which will commence in April 2023 and will end in March 2024.
The project is to assist household to be able to produce enough food to meet basic household food security needs and where viable, to sell the surplus for generating income.
For our part as provincial government we are fencing 100m ², land preparation, supplying production inputs, water harvesting equipment and gardening tools.
This project is currently to benefit the local communities and 15 beneficiaries have received training in vegetable production, disease and pest control, harvesting, marketing and Agro-processing.
The One Home One Garden project the following objectives will be achieved: the home stead becomes food secure, while their nutritional and health status improves.
The One Home One Garden has the potential to address not only food security, but also to provide jobs and to help grow local economies.
Homebased agriculture is fast evolving around the world and from relatively small space neigbourhoods can grow food for consumption but also to generate income on a sustainable basis with prospects for growth.
Update on Water responses
Working with the province, Ugu has developed a strategic 6-Point Plan to tackle water issues and the plan is closely aligned to the KZN Provincial Water Master Plan.
Implementation of short-term interventions
St Helen’s Rock Refurbishment -Critical maintenance and repairs to existing infrastructure costing R 15 300 000 is now complete with effect from 30/01/2023. This secures bulk water in the Bhobhoyi water system.
Gamalakhe Pipeline Replacement – which cost R 3 536 022 was completed on 31/08/2021 and ensures sustainable supply in Gamalakhe.
Marburg Pipeline Replacement - replacement of existing 1,7km, Asbestos Cement Pipeline at R 35 993 313 was completed on 05/08/2022 covering Wards 17, 18, 20 and 21. The project now ensures more sustainable bulk supply to Marburg and Oslo Beach areas.
Msikaba Water Supply - Phase 1 construction of 5.5km long steel pipeline from Nsimbini Pump station to Bhomela North Reservoir at R 25 750 000 was completed on 28/02/2023. The project supplies sustainable water to Bhomela Reservoir.
In the St Helen’s Rock refurbishment, the overhauling of the low lift pumps has contributed positively to the water level of the Off-channel storage dam which had its share of running dry in 2022.
As a result:
- The dam has steadily increased to above 98% after the peak season and continue to rise;
- There are more energy savings expected in future as the St Helen’s Rock Pump station will only be pumped during off-peak period which is targeted to save at least 12 hours of pumping and financial savings of about R 1 500 000.00 per month.
Across the district short-term and long-term measures are being implemented such as The Bulk raw water transfer from Weza River to Harding Dam project to be completed in April 2023 to provide sustainable bulk water to the Harding system.
In Umuziwabantu Ward 9 Production Boreholes were drilled and equipped at a cost of R4m were completed on 30/07/2022 benefiting Umuziwabantu Wards 1, 2, 4, 7 and 10.
The KwaNyuswa- Pipeline Replacement Project involves the replacement and upsizing of the existing rising main pipeline to deliver reliable water to KwaNyuswa community.
The Mhlabatshane scheme is a 4ML by design, but due to high demand from the customer, the plant is being pushed to operate at about 6ML. This led to many areas not having water for long periods. This is what has led to load shedding rising as high as stage 6 which basically sees about 8 to 10 hours down time each day.
The refurbishment of Pump stations has been prioritized on refurbishment of pump stations across Ugu in Gwabe, ABC, KwaMchunu, Dunjanzane, Jesus Location.
All nine (9) water pump stations have been completed and the operational efficiency has improved on these pump stations. The aim is to reduce on number of water tankers as the bulk pumping system gains momentum. The initiative with water tankers was intended as a temporary measure, but the status quo with water supply constraints makes this a challenge.
We have installed 10 boreholes in the following areas Dumezulu, Mcabashi, Slwane, Madlala Tribal Court, Mehlomnyama, Dududu, Mahelani, Sihoqo, Ndunge, Nyavini totalling 334 across Ugu.
Emergency Borehole Programme: Planning, Drilling of new boreholes, refurbishment of existing boreholes and spring protection systemsEmergency Borehole Programme Phase 1 – Planning R30 185 282.80 30 June 2022.
The Phungashe Mahlabatshane Water Treatment project has been recommissioned and water reticulation at R 140 000 000 is scheduled to be completed on 30/04/23 providing a sustainable supply to the Mhlabatshane Water Supply System.
Other approved major projects such as Umthamvuna refurbishment and critical maintenance and repairs to existing infrastructure ease bulk water supply in the Umthamvuna water system.
The refurbishment of water and wastewater infrastructure for St. Helen’s Rock, Bhobhoyi WTWCritical maintenance and repairs to existing infrastructureR27 000 000.0030 June 2022.
Margate waterborne sanitation and sewer reticulation at R103 000 000.00 the contract has been awarded and construction will commence upon approval of WULA.
All in all, the Municipality has through the 6-point plan identified pipeline replacement as one of the key components into providing a sustained and reliable water supply. The estimated cost to eradicate the aged infrastructure is close to R1billion rand.
Siyabonga !
