Statement of KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Executive Council meeting of 15 June 2016
The Provincial Executive Council (‘Executive Council’) held its meeting on Wednesday 15 June 2016 in Pietermaritzburg. Today, 19th June 2016, the media and public at large are informed of the decisions of the executive council.
Key issues:
1. Forensic Investigation into alleged irregularities in the RDP Housing allocation.
KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government is the first province to have conducted the Citizen Satisfaction Survey which was undertaken in 2015 as collaboration between the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government, represented by the Provincial Planning Commission and Statistics South Africa. This survey was a perception survey done in a very representative sample of 22 000 households across the length and breadth of our Province.
This survey indicated that although 64% of the KZN population was happy with the services it received from Provincial Government, 36% were not satisfied. This survey also clearly pointed out what KZN citizens regarded as key priorities they want Provincial Government to attend to.
At the top of this list is the need for increased employment opportunities, followed closely by a need for accelerated housing delivery. A third clear priority is pointing to the need to attend to matters related to crime and corruption.
It is for these reasons that the executive council has prioritised interventions to eradicate corruption associated with the allocation of RDP houses. It is alleged that houses are allocated to friends, relatives or political connections who do not qualify in terms of national allocations criteria. It is further alleged that houses are sold by councillors for personal gain.
On the other hand councillors are allegedly allocating houses or taking possession of houses which they use to collect rentals from tenants for personal gain. In some instances members of the executive council have received complaints that more than one house illegally allocated to one household or persons.
The Executive Council supports the commissioning by the provincial Department of Human Settlements of the University of KwaZulu-Natal, through the Maurice Webb Race Relations Institute, to conduct research on alleged irregularities in the ‘RDP” housing allocation process as well as the phenomena of “shacklordism” in informal settlements. This investigation will be undertaken over a period of 9 months ending in February 2017.
2. Desalination Programme for the Province of KwaZulu-Natal
The Executive Council received a report on the current drought in KwaZulu-Natal. The prolonged drought has been experienced in KZN since 2014 and two declarations have been made to date. The first in December 2014 and the second in December 2015 after all district municipalities were severe affected.
The South African Weather Services continues to advise that the likelihood of breaking through this heatwave scenario causing drought, is anticipated to be during next Spring Season – September 2016.
Drought is recurrent and KZN has not been prepared for drought and it is for this reason a desalination programme has been identified as one of the long-lasting solutions. South Africa’s water supply is entering the stage of being physical shortage of water. The country currently has 3 main water resources:
- Surface water (rivers, dams etc) – 77%
- Return water (from various treatment facilities) – 14%
- Ground water (boreholes etc) – 9%
A major priority is to diversify these sources given the high risk of water shortages in the short to medium term. A renewed focus on effluent treatment in inland areas and on desalination in coastal areas will be necessary to adequately diversify resources.
The Executive Council supported in principle, the Desalination Programme initiated by the Provincial Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs.
A Water Crisis Task Team comprising of MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube (Convener); MEC Mthandeni Dlungwana, MEC Themba Mthembu and MEC Belinda Scott was established. The team will work with all relevant stakeholders in the Country and internationally. They would also explore the possibility of undertaking a study tour to desalination plants. These will include Robben Island and other areas.
The Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs was also requested to develop draft Terms of Reference for the Water Crisis Task Team.
3. Appointment of Chairpersons of Executive Council Clusters
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Willies Mchunu remarked: “Clusters and Sub-committees foster an integrated approach to governance that is aimed at improving government planning, decision making and service delivery. The main objective is to ensure proper coordination of all government programmes at national and provincial levels.”
The main functions of the clusters and sub-committees are to ensure the alignment of government wide priorities, facilitate and monitor the implementation of priority programmes and to provide a consultative platform on cross-cutting priorities and matters being taken to the Provincial Executive Council.
The Executive Council approved the appointment of the following Chairpersons of Subcommittees:
- Public Protests, MEC Mxolisi Kaunda;
- Major Events, MEC Sihle Zikalala;
- Disaster Management Committee, MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube;
- Management of Provincial Assets, MEC Ravi Pillay;
- MINCOMBUD, MEC Belinda Scott;
- International Relations, MEC Sihle Zikalala;
- Radical Economic Transformation, MEC Sihle Zikalala;
- Rationalisation of Public Entities, MEC Belinda Scott;
- Languages Bill Task Team, MEC Bongi Sithole-Moloi;
- Task Team on Ingonyama Trust Taxes levies by Amakhosi, MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube; and
- Social Cohesion Task Team, MEC Ravi Pillay.
4. Revised Clusters and Executive Council Sub-committees
The Executive Council approved the composition of Clusters with the following Chairpersons:
- Governance and Administration: Premier Willies Mchunu;
- Economic Sectors and Infrastructure Development (Economic Cluster), MEC Sihle Zikalala;
- Social Protection, Community and Human Development (SPCHD) Cluster, MEC Weziwe Thusi;
- Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster, MEC Mxolisi Kaunda.
It was reiterated that the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Department of Community Safety and Liaison are members of the Social Cluster.
The Technical Cluster Chairperson are:
- Government and Administration, Office of the Premier, Director-General);
- Economic Sectors and Infrastructure Development (Economic Cluster), Head of Department: Provincial Treasury;
- Social Protection, Community and Human Development (Social Cluster), Head of Department: Arts and Culture; and
- Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster, Head of Department: Community Safety and Liaison.
5. Legislature activities
The Leader of Government Business, MEC Sihle Zikalala, presented a memorandum to appraise the Executive Council of the following:
- The Legislature Sitting scheduled for Tuesday, 21 June 2016;
- The Youth Parliament scheduled for 23-24 June 2016; and
- The Legislature Sitting scheduled for Thursday, 21 July 2016.
It was reported that the 2016 Youth Parliament will take place on 23-24 June 2016 at John Langalibalele Dube Stadium, in iNanda, eThekwini Metro. The theme is: “Youth as Partners for Improved Local Government”.
6. Appointment of Members of the Executive Council as District Champions under the Operation Sukuma Sakhe Programme
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Willies has reiterated that Operation Sukuma Sakhe should be used as an instrument to assess the impact that government is making in relation to service delivery. Importantly, Sukuma Sakhe should be sustained to inculcated and promote the habit of firm consideration to the plight of the electorates.
Members of the executive council will visit War Rooms to assess the impact of government programs and to ensure the participation of ordinary members of society in the improvement of service delivery. Operation Sukuma Sakhe will ensure the integration and joint delivery of departmental programs and services in War Rooms across the province.
All MECs including the Premier have been assigned to act as champions of service delivery in various district municipalities across the province under Operation Sukuma Sakhe campaign. The Premier and MECs will give ordinary members of society the opportunity to monitor the speed in the delivery of services. “We want community members to be part of all efforts aimed at finding solutions to local challenges,” Premier concluded.
The Executive Council approved the appointment of District Champions for Operation Sukuma Sakhe as follows:
- Premier Willies Mchunu
- MEC Sihle Zikalala
- MEC Nomsa Dube-Ncube, eThekwini
- MEC Sbongiseni Dhlomo, Amajuba;
- MEC Weziwe Thusi, uGu;
- MEC Ravi Pillay, Harry Gwala;
- MEC Belinda Scott, uMgungundlovu;
- MEC Themba Mthembu, uMzinyathi;
- MEC Mxolisi Kaunda, Zululand;
- MEC Mthandeni Dlungwana, iLembe;
- MEC Bongi Sithole-Moloi, uThungulu.
7. Progress report on the Glebelands Residential Unit
The Executive Council was informed of the progress made in the implementation of initiatives and interventions undertaken by the Inter-ministerial Task Team in close corporation with SAPS and other relevant government departments including eThekwini Municipality within the Glebelands Community Residential Unit.
The executive council endorsed the establishment of a Peace Negotiation Team in Glebelands comprising of all the relevant stakeholders. The Ten-aside Glebelands Negotiating Committee will be involved in the promotion of Peace Dialogues. Critically, we want to ensure that there is free activity inside the hostel allowing community members to pursue a common goal of creating an environment characterised by peace
The executive council reiterated its vision of ensuring a state that is accountable and responds to the expectations and needs of the population, especially vulnerable groups such as women and children. Women and children are the ones who have been greatly affected by the killings at Glebelands. The executive therefore recognises the centrality of state-society relations in protecting these vulnerable members of our society.
8. Upcoming events
1. 21st International Aids Conference from 18 – 22 July at the ICC
The Executive Council received a report on the preparations for the 21st International AIDS Conference.
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Willies Mchunu in his capacity as the Chair of the Provincial Council on AIDS has expressed his appreciation to the President of the South African Government led by His Excellency Mr J.G Zuma and the international community for choosing KZN to host the 21st International AIDS Conferences.
The Conference provides an opportunity to tell the world about KZN successes in the fight against HIV and AIDS. Importantly, the conference provides a platform for Government to strengthen our efforts in the fight against this scourge.
The presence of international delegates will enable KZN to learn best practices and enhance strategies in order to make an impact at local levels. KZN government wants to emerge out of the conference with strategies that will ensure an improvement in the AIDS awareness campaigns as well as health promotion activities.
Leading up to the 21st International Aids Conference, it is extremely important to inform members of the public of the steps that the provincial government has taken to intensify the fight against HIV and Aids.
KZN government will work with ordinary community members and leaders of society including organized labour and big business to ensure that they feel part of the activities aimed at ensuring that this 21st International Conference becomes a success.
Critically, the executive council resolved to use this conference to strengthen government’s campaign on behavioral change targeted at older man and young people.
2. Presidential Visit to the Vulindlela People’s Housing Project on 23 June 2016 at Taylor’s Halt Sports Ground Ward 6
The Executive Council was informed of the visit by His Excellency President, Mr J.G. Zuma to the Vulindlela People’s Project in the Msunduzi Municipality. The purpose of the visit is, inter alia, to celebrate the province’s contribution to National Human Settlements’ delivery process of 4.3 million houses and subsidies benefitting 20 million people since 1994.
3. Commemoration of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking: 26 June 2016
The meeting was informed of plans for the commemoration of International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking scheduled for 26 June 2016. The Department of Social Development under the leadership of MEC Weziwe Thusi will lead this event aimed at eradicating socials ills from our communities.
4. Social Cohesion: Festival of Beads Activation Programme
The Executive Council was informed of UMuziwabantu and Edumbe Festival of Beads activation programmes to be held on 19 and 24 June 2016 at Edumbe Local Municipality. The Department of Sports, Arts and Culture under the MEC Bongi Sithole-Moloi is the lead department.
Members of the media are informed that on the 22nd June 2016 members of the executive council will attend a photo session. As per government protocol, as soon as new members of the executive council take office, official portraits of the executive councils must be produced and displayed across all government departments including official campaigns.
In addition, the 22nd of June 2016 will be set aside for the induction of the new executive council.
Enquires:
Ndabezinhle Sibiya
Cell: 082 3754742
E-mail: ndabezinhlesibiya@yahoo.com
