29 August 2007
The KwaZulu-Natal Cabinet met today (Wednesday, 29 August 2007) in
Pietermaritzburg and considered a number of issues pertaining to governance in
the province.
One of the issues discussed was the current format of izimbizo in the
province. Cabinet felt the new format of bringing instant services at izimbizo
should be encouraged as it has been established that service delivery backlogs
remained relatively high among communities. Previously izimbizo were used as a
communication tool where the public expressed their delivery wishes and the
government listened with a hope of addressing requests at a later stage. But
now services such as application and instant granting of identity documents,
child and social grants, including free medical examination and care, are being
delivered at the izimbizo. Cabinet felt there was effective service delivery in
some areas and that the present izimbizo were doing well.
Cabinet also felt there was a need by various government departments to
co-ordinate their social services to school children and the indigent in as far
as feeding centres were concerned. Currently the Departments of Social Welfare
and Population Development, Education and Health ran various feeding schemes
throughout the province.
Cabinet also received a comprehensive presentation by Justice Jerome
Ngwenya, the Chairperson of the Board of the Ingonyama Trust on the Act that
governs the trust.
As part of provincial government's efforts to increase the participation of
blacks in the economy, Cabinet approved a new Broad-Based Black Economic
Empowerment Strategy developed by the provincial Department of Economic
Affairs. KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sibusiso Ndebele urged that major government
infrastructural projects, such as the development of the Dube Trade Port and
the Moses Mabhida stadium, should generate excitement among emerging black
business through practical benefits.
Cabinet also supported moves by provincial Treasury to transfer Local
Government Levy from the provincial Revenue Fund to respective municipalities
for financial years 2003/04, 2004/05, 2005/06 and 2006/07. It also received a
report on the provincial budget performance which indicates that there had been
an over-collection of revenue by departments.
Cabinet also expressed shock at the death of Inkosi Simon Hulumeni Gumede
and conveyed condolences to the family and friends of Inkosi Gumede who died in
a car crash this morning. Cabinet also received with sadness the news of the
death of Inkosi Mkhwanazi of Mpukumnyoni. As a result the provincial
government's 'Taking Government to the People' programme that was scheduled to
take place in KwaHlabisa on 1 and 2 September 2007 has been postponed.
Issued by: Office of the Premier, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
29 August 2007
