The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Executive Council, chaired by the Premier Sihle Zikalala held its ordinary sitting in Durban on 23 June 2021 and took the following decisions:
1. KZN Executive Council urges those involved in illegal mining to immediately leave the Kwahlathi site – final deadline today
The Provincial Executive Council having received a report on the outcomes of the investigations by a team of expert from the Geoscience Council. A report finalised by the Department of Minerals last week indicated that contrary to the expectations, no diamonds were found in KwaHlathi. Instead quartz crystals were found.
The government has re-affirmed its commitment to work even harder to respond to the service delivery needs of the people of KwaHlathi. The Provincial Government will undertake a visit to KwaHlathi in two weeks to facilitate responses to concerns identified and raised by the community regarding water, roads and other key service delivery needs.
The Provincial Executive Council has further expressed its concerns about reports that illegal mining is still continuing in the area. The Provincial Government is urging people to move away from the site and abide by the law with immediate effect.
The Executive Council expressed its concerns that the crowds at KwaHlathi were in violation of the country’s mining laws and flouted the Covid-19 regulations.
The Executive Council also expressed its concerns at the steep recent rise in the number of Covid-19 cases in the UThukela district. The rise was probably due to the influx of people into the area.
Government is also concerned that school children are spending time at the illegal mine instead of being at school. There is concern over the long-term environmental degradation which may lead to flooding in future.
Law enforcement to intensify from tomorrow
The Provincial Government appeals to everyone still involve in illegal mining at KwaHlathi to vacate the site today, Wednesday 23 June 2021. From tomorrow law enforcement will kick in and whoever remains will face the full might of the law.
As indicated in two weeks’ time Government plans to visit the area to attend to service delivery needs already identified, and to investigate further economic activities that may be undertaken in the area.
The site will henceforth remain cordoned off and inaccessible to members of the public/ without permission.
2. KZN Executive Council approves the bill amending the Gaming and Betting Tax Act
Provincial Executive Council approved for further processing the Gaming and Betting bill in a move that will radically transform the horse racing industry opening it to other players as opposed to having one operator.
This opens the industry to other types of horses including standardbred horses used in traditional horse races like Umtelebhelo etc.
This will also see the establishment and capitalisation of the Transformation Fund that will provide a source of funding for specific projects by gaming and betting licensees. The licensees will present a business case for transformation projects.
The Fund will be collectively managed by Gaming and Betting Board, EDTEA and the Provincial Treasury subject to agreed Terms of Reference.
Finalising the Bill will improve the fiscus of the Province as it increases the tax rate. The Bill will be processed as a Money Bill through the Provincial Legislature.
It deals with the increase of tax rates in the casino gaming tax, the limited payout machines gaming tax, and the betting tax on fixed odds bets on sporting events.
3. KZN Executive Council approves bills to rationalise the public entities in Kwazulu-Natal
KZN Executive Council has approved five bills that seek to rationalise the public entities in KwaZulu-Natal.
The rationalisation process seeks to reduce the current number of entities as part of cost cutting, and to align functions that are close to each other.
KZN Executive Council has identified the efficiencies that will arise from having fewer entities as necessary to service delivery, and to provide better use of the available resources by ending duplication of functions.
The Bills include:
- The KZN Growth Fund Bill which will convert the current private trust into a public entity;
- the Moses Kotane Research Institute Bill;
- the KZN Regulatory Authority Bill which merges KZN Liquor Authority and the KZN Betting and Gaming Agency;
- the KZN Destination Promotion Agency Bill which merges KZN Tourism and the Film Commission;
- the KZN Environmental, Biodiversity, Protected Areas and Human Interaction Management Bill which merges Sharks Board and the Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife
The bills will now be processed through the legislature.
4. Executive Council Calls For Rapid Response To Sewer And Water Challenges In eThekwini
Executive Council received a report following its visit to eThekwini Metro during Operation Sukuma Sakhe and undertook to implement a rapid response on the water and sewer challenges in municipality.
The Executive Council has also requested the eThekwini Municipality to pay more attention to technical capacity challenges. The Executive Council is concerned about the municipality being bloated on administration and remaining thin in the technical areas which perform the core functions of local government.
The Executive Council calls on EThekwini Municipality to prioritise its expenditure on service delivery to the people on social and infrastructure services.
5. KZN Government conveys condolences to the Khumalo family on the passing of Professor Mzilikazi Khumalo
KwaZulu-Natal government, conveys its heartfelt condolences to the Khumalo family on the untimely passing of Professor Mzilikazi Khumalo – South Africa’s celebrated composer, conductor and custodian of choral music.
Born from KwaHlabisa in northern KwaZulu-Natal, Professor Khumalo passed away early on Tuesday, a day after celebrating his 89th birthday.
Professor Khumalo was part of the committee that amalgamated the Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika prayer with Die Stem to form the post-apartheid South African national anthem.
The sad passing of this choral music giant and custodian of the isiZulu language and history, leaves our country poorer.
Professor Khumalo was famous for his exceptional and excellent choral music composition skills. He made his mark through evergreen compositions like UShaka KaSenzangakhona, Princess Magogo and Mangificwa Ukufa, to name a few among his more than 50 epic choral works.
The government noted that the timeless choral compositions revealed his passion and pride for the Zulu history and traditions.
Professor Khumalo may be gone but he will always be remembered for his earnest and selfless contribution to the promotion of isiZulu language, culture and history through his time-defying compositions.
The KwaZulu-Natal cabinet, deeply mourns the passing of this music maestro.
Rest in peace Mzilikazi KaMashobane, wena owadla umuntu umyenga ngendaba!
For more information contact:
Lennox Mabaso
Provincial Government Spokesperson
Cell: 082 884 2403
Thami Ngidi
Cell: 066 306 6793
