News & Events

On Friday the 2nd of August, uMgungundlovu Economic Development Agency (UMEDA), held a meeting with the Consul General of the USA Jasie Ratcliffe. She came on an information sharing mission and to apprise herself about the catalytic projects that have been identified for uMgungundlovu District Municipality. The Consul General expressed particular interest in further collaboration with UMEDA. going forward. She expressed her appreciation to the District Mayor Cllr Mzi Zuma for the work that is done with regards to HIV/AIDS, and for promoting and supporting Local Economic Development, specifically among the Youth.

uMayor womkhandlu wesifunda uMgungundlovu uKhansela Mzi Zuma, uphinde washaya adume ngazo ebungaza ogogo nomkhulu ezindlini zawo lomkhandlu namuhla. uMeya ubehambisana nosihlalo wekomidi lakwa " Community Services" ophinde abe ilunga lesigungu esikhulu somkhandlu, uKhansela Sphe Zungu, usihlalo wesigungu esibhekelela izaguga eMgungundlovu uMama u Zondi, ibamba likaMasipala uMnu Sithole, ihloko yomnyango wakwa"Community Services u Lihle Hadebe, nezimenenja zakwa Masipala. Iminyango kaHulumeni wesifunda ebikhona, ihhovisi lika Ndunankulu, kanye nomnyango wezempilo. Bezicela emashumini amathathu izaguga ebezibungazwazuvela komasipala basekhaya ngaphansi kwesifunda, zonke ezineminyaka eyikhulu kuyaphezulu. Echaza ngenhloso yalomncimbi uKhansela Zungu uthe " Nibaliluke kakhulu kuthina njengabantwana noma abazukulu benu. Nahlahla indlela yalenkululeko esinayo nahamba nayovota, nivotela lentuthuko esiyibonayo namhlanje. Siyanibonga kakhulu ngalokho". uNxamalala ube esekhuluma nogogo nomkhulu ethi " umsebenzi wethu njengohulumeni enawukhetha ukuthi sininakekele. Ngaphambilini, imali yesabelo, ibitholakala kanye emva kwezinyanga ezimbili noma ezintathu, futhi abantu abamnyama behola encane kunazozonke izinhlanga. Ngo 2008 singuhulumeni sakushintsha konke lokho imali yesabelo yatholakala zonke izinyanga futhi yalingana kuzona zonke izinhlanga". uMeya ube esebhekisa ngqo kulaba ababheke izaguga ethi. " suyabonga kakhulu umsebenzi eniwenzayo, futhi siyanicela niqhubeke njalo. Esik'celayo ikakhulu ukuthi lemali njengoba kungeyokubheka omkhulu nogogo, ayingasetshenziselwa okunye, ayenze umsebenzi wayo wokunakekela ogogo nomkhulu" kuyaleza uNxamalala. Esephothula uthe kubalulekile ukuthi ubuhlakani nolwazi olungabhaliwe phansi izaguga ezinalo, kusondelwe kubona ukuze siluncele, futhi kwenziwe nohlelo lokuthi baqoshwe benikezela ngalolulwazi ukuze lugcinwe, bese luyasetshenziswa. Emgodleni wezaguga bekukhona u- blanket, ithawula, i gown, i grocer, inyama kukuhle kunjeyaya. Onkabi besebezitika ke ngesidlo sasemini ebebelungiselwe sona.

Namhlanje bekumnandi kudelile ka Ward 7 kwa Vulindlela, ngaphansi kwamasipala wasekhaya uMsunduzi, lapho iMeya yomkhandlu wesifunda uKhansela Mzi Zuma ube hlanganise amaciko esicathamiya kanye nengoma, waphinde wabaklomelisa gezizumbulu zika 5000 iqembu ngalinye. Bekunamaqembu amathathu esicathamiya, nayishumi nambili awengoma. Ngaphambi kokuthi athule uMayor, usihlalo we Portfolio Committee yakwa “ Community Services” uKhansela Sphe Zungu, uthe “ Kubalulekile ukuthi intsha izimbandakanye nezamaciko ukuze ningadukelani nemvelaphi yenu, nokuthi nihambele kude nezidakamizwa. Nina niyikusasa lalelizwe, ngakhoke amathuba eniwanikexws uhulumeni, ngenganamhlanje, kumele niwasebenzise” UNxamalala ube eseyilanda ekuqaleni ethi “ Ngo 1955 eKliptown, ilapho la kwahlanganiswa khona usomqulu owawuchaza kabanzi ngenkululeko esasiyifuna. Umyalezo omkhulu wa lowo somqulu wawuthi”The people shall govern’ okuchaza ukuthi abantu ibona abayolawula ukuphathwa kukahulumeni, njengoba kwenzeka manje. Ukuba khona kwethu la, sizolekelela intsha ukuthi yenze izinto ezizobenza babe abantu abangcono nabayikusasa lalelizwe” UNxamalala ukhale ngezinto ezilimaza I kusasa lentsha, njengokuthola izingane bengakakulungeli. “izingane ezineminyaka ephakathi kuka 10 no 13, zithola izingane okuyinto ewumkhuba omubi kakhulu. Izinto zamasiko njenganamaciko kanje, zifundisa ukuziphatha kahle, yingakho siluxhasa loluhlelo “ Isigungu samaciko saseMgungundlovu iCCIFSA, iluthakazele kakhulu loluxhaso lwaseNgungundlovu.

UNgqongqoshe weZokuhlaliswa kwabantu nemisebenzi yomphakathi uMhlonishwa uSipho KK Nkosi, ehambhisana noMeya womasipala wesifunda uMgungundlovu uKhansela Mzi Zuma kanye nobuholi bomasipala wasekhaya uMshwathi, bahambhele eTrustfeed kuward 9 kanye nasendaweni yaseCool Air kuward 7 engaphansi kwawo lo Masipala, ukuyomukezela ngamatayitela angama-262 kubantu. UNxamalala usishayele ihlombhe isenzo somnyango weZokuhlaliswa kwabantu nemisebenzi yomphakathi kusukela Trustfeed lapho uNgqongqoshe eqale khona eyovula ngokusemthethweni amaSolar Panels alekelela uma kuhambhe ugesi ezindlini ezakhelwe labo ababengamasosha ezempilo ngesikhathi sobandlululo. "Kuyasijabulisa kakhulu ukubona imzamo eqhamukayo kuhulumeni yokubhekana nenkinga kagesi ekhungethe izwe lethu. Ukufakwa kwamaSolar panels kuzolekelela nasekunciphiseni izindleko zokuthenga ugesi nokuwuhlelo olusazoqhubekake kwenziwe nakwezinye izindlu. Siphinde sincome kakhulu ukunikezelwa kwamatayitela kubantu bakithi. Lokho kuzobaqinisekisa ukuthi amakhaya sekungawabo” kusho uNxamalala. Uphinde waxwayisa kakhulu abantu ukuthi bangalinge benze iphutha lokubambhisa ngamatayitela abo uma befuna koboleka imali wathi lokho kungabafaka engcupheni yokuthi bagcine sebelahlekelwa amakhaya abo uma sebehluleka ukukhokha leyomali abasuke beyibolekile. Uphethe ngokuthi uhulumeni usazoqhubeka nokubakhathalela abantu uphinde wenze isiqiniseko sokuthi uyaziphucula izimpilo zabo.

Namhlanje ekuseni uMeya woMkhandlu wesiFunda uMgungundlovu, uKhansela uMzi Zuma ehambisana nethimba lakhe laseMgungundlovu uzifikele mathupha eMkhambathini ukuzohlola umsebenzi oqhubekayo wokuletha amanzi eManyavu ngaphansi kwe project ebizwa Nkanyezini Community Water Supply Scheme Phase 2. Ngaphansi kwale project kuchithwe imali engu R120 890 000 kanti babalelwa ku 24 624 abantu abazohlomula kuyo. UNxamalala uthe ethola umbiko wokuthi kunezingqinamba ngokungena kwamazi endaweni yaseManyavu wabe esephikelela khona ukuyoxoxisana nosonkontileka ukuzwa izinkinga ahlangabezana nazo kulomsebenzi. Kuya Els ukuthi ngesikhathi bevivinya ipayipi ukuthi lizowubekezelela yini unfurnished wamanzi, ilapho Kwavele khona Inkinga Edina nge ukuthi Keene kancane esikhathini okwakuvunyelwene ngaso. Usonkontileka uthembisile ukulungisa lenkinga maduze ukuze amanzi angene endaweni yaseManyavu kungekudala.

Ihambe kahle kakhulu imbizo kaMasipala wesifunda uMgungundlovu , ebibanjwe izolo. Lembizo ebibizwe uSomlomo womkhandlu uKhansela Nonhlanhla Gabela, ebihlanganise amakhosi aseMgungundlovu, abeholwa usihlalo wawo iNkosi uMajozi. Amakhosi abehamba noNdunankulu, izinduna kanye nonobhala besizwe, ngenhloso yokuzothamela ngohlelo lwentuthuko oludidiyelwe kanye nesabelo mali, bese futhi amakhosi abe nethuba lokuthi ubeke izimvo zawo ngalokhu. uMayor uKhansela Mzi Zuma, okunguyena obebika ngaloluhlelo emakhosini, ubehambisana noSomlomo, uSotswebhu uKhansela Scelo Majozi, uSomlomo, uDr Xolani Muthwa onguMasipala Manager obehamba nethimba lakhe lezimenenja zikamasipala. Kube sekwamukelwa ngesasasa uDr Zweli Mkhize ohlala kwipalamende likazwelonke, obemele uMinister uSindisiwe Chikunga ongushampeni walesifunda uMayor uNxamalala ube esethula umbiko wakhe, wawundlalela ngokuchaza ethi , "Sithanda ukubika emakhosini ukuthi ngesikhathi singena ehhovisi ngo 2021, safika salungisa i"budget" ukuthi ibe sesimweni esifanele, okungukuthi izinto esithi sizozenza, zihambisane nemali esinayo(funded budget). Kanti okusijabulisa kakhulu futhi ukuthi njengamanje, sinemali eyanele emkhandlwni ukuthi singakwazi ukusebenza izinyanga ezinhlanu singatholi mali( cash coverage ratio)." uNxamalala uqhubeke wathi, "iyasithokozisa imiphumela yomcwaningi mabhuku selokhu safika, lapho ethola ukuthi izimali zomkhandlu sizisebenzisa ngendlela(unqualified audit opinion), kanti mamakomidi akhiwe ngomyalelo womthetho, wonke akhona futhi asebenza kahle". Ithintwe kakhulu indaba yokushintsha kwesimo seZulu emva kombiko owethulwe imenenja yomnyango wezinhlekelele uMnu Mthembu. Amakhosi awuthakasele kakhulu lombiko, acela nokuthi wethulwe kwisizwe ngesizwe kubantu bawo, ikakhulukazi mayelana nokwakha ezindaweni ezinobungozi, kanye nokuvikela izinhlekelele zingakenzeki. uNxamalala ube esebika ngama "projects" komasipala abahlukene, ekhuluma ngezizumbulu zezigidi zamarandi azoletha intuthuko koMasipala abangaphansi kwawo, wabika nokuthi umkhandlu uzimisele ukusiza osomabhizinisi abancane emakhaya nasemalokishini ukuze basimame. Kuno R5million rand obekelwe lokhu, ngabe ama tuck-shop, ama internet cafe, imisebenzi yezandla njengokushisela, nokunye. Ube esenxusa amakhosi kubanjiswane nomkhandlu ukulekelela ukuthi izitolo zabantu bakithi esezasetshenziswa o "my friend", kanye nama "tuck shop", kubuyele kubantu. Enkulumeni yakhe uDr Zweli Mkhize, uthe "Njengoba kunezinqumo esezithathiwe kulomhlangano, kudingeka ukuthi kwakhiwe ikomidi lamakhosi elizolandela uzincomo ezenziwe, okuthinta abafuyi nabalimi, umhlangano nomnyango wezolimo ngendaba yogandanganda, ukubiywa kwamadlelo, ukwakhiwa kwezikiti kanye namadamu okuphuza izinkomo." uKhabazela uqhube wathi " kudingeka kwakhiwe i "schedule of time frames" yokwakhiwa kwama "boreholes", ukubiyelwa nokwakhiwa kahle kwamapitso, nomhlanhano wokudingida ngama"spaza shop", okuyilapho kumele kudingidwe nangodaba lokuthi laba balezitolo bakwazi ukuhlangana, bathenge ngokuhlanganyela ukuze kwehle amanani, nanokuthi babe nombono wokuthi basebenzele ukuba abanikazi bama" retail and warehouses, bazibambe ziqine kulomkhakha womnotho". kusho uGcwabe. Uvale ngokunxenxa amakhosi ukuthi kushunyayelwe ivangeli loxolo nokubekezelelana njengoba kuyiwa okhethweni.

Namhlanje kwethulwe uhlelo lwezixwayiso ngokuguquguquka kwesimo sezulu i- Integrated Climate-driven Multi-hazard Early Warning Systems eThembalihle eward 36 ngaphansi komas’pala uMsunduzi eMgungundlovu. Bukueusuku lweSine nje ngalokho loluhlelo laqala ngoMsombuluko e Ascot Inn, kanti luyaphothulwa khona kusasa. Namhlanje ekseni, umphakathi wase Thembalihle namaphethelo, ulamukele ngentokozo loluhlelo olwethulwe uMasiPala wesiFunda uMgungundlovu oholwa uMeya u Cllr Mzi Zuma. Loluhlelo beleethulwa abakwa South African Weather Services kanye nezinye izinhlaka zikahulumeni. Loluhlelo lwenzelwe ukuqinisa izindlela zokugwema ukuthikanyezwa izihlekelelele ezidalwa isimo sezulu, ukuqeqesha umphakathi ngeqhaza ongalibamba ukuze uzilungiselele futhi uzivikele ungathikanyezwa isimo sezulu esibi. Ubaba uMkhushulwa weSouth African Weather Services ,ophinde sbe umethuli wesimo sezulu ngolwimi lwesiZulu kwaSABC TV, ukhulume kakhulu ebhekise kubafundi ngokubaluleka kokukhetha izifundo zeSayensi ezibalulekile umazifundela ukuhlaziya isimo sezulu. Uphinde wagcizelela ukuthi kubalulekile konke lokhu ukuze kukhuselwe ingqala sizinda yesifundazwe. Obekhulumela ubuholi bendabuko iNkosi uMkhize waseMbo, uzwakalise ukuthokoza ngaloluhlelo esho ukuthi lufike kahle ngesikhathi sezenzeka kaningi lezinhlekelele ezindaweni eziningi esifundazweni ikwaZulu-Natal. uNxamalala Ubonge ubuholi bendabuko ngokuthamela loluhlelo. Ubeseqhuba ebonga ubuholi beSouth African Weather Services,amakhansela onke akade ekhona obekubalwa kuwo u Cllr Sphe Zungu no Cllr Sox Dlamini. Ubeseqhuba egcizelela ukuthi lubalulekile loluhlelo ngoba izinhlekelele zesimo sezulu azigcini ngokuthikameza ingqalasizinda kuphela kodwa zithikameza ngisho umnotho wesifundazwe.Uphinde wanxusa ukuthi umphakathi ubambe iqhaza kuloluhlelo njengokugcina indawo ohlala kuzo zihlanzekile, unciphise ukugencwa kwezihlahla ukuze kongiwe imvelo. Unxuse ukuba kuqalwe uhlelo lokutshalwa kwezihlahla emphakathini. Esevala ucele ukubambisana nezinye izinhlaka ukwenza uhlelo lwezixwayiso ngokuguquka kwesimo sezulu ukuze kuvikeleke impahla yabantu futhi kuthuthukiswe umnotho wesifunda.

A stakeholder high level engagement meeting was held between UMDM and uMgeni-uThukela Water today. The District Mayor Cllr Mzi Zuma led the delegation comprised of the Speaker Cllr N Gabela, Council Whip Cllr S Majozi, Acting Municipal Manager Dr X Muthwa, HOD Technical Services Mr J Dlamini and CFO Mr V Kunene. The Mayor outlined the purpose of the engagement , which was for the UMDM leadership to be apprised on progress regarding water supply projects within the District that UMgeni uThukela Water was busy with, and to deliberate on any related issues that may be challenges in the execution of the projects. The entity then made a presentation to cover all projects that are either underway or at at initial stages. The report was welcomed by the leadership, and progress was acknowledged. What raised a bit of a concern was that the Mpophomeni Water treatment plant which was due to be completed in Mach, will now be completed in June. This was due to contractual issues between the contractor and uMgeni-uThukelaWater. Whilst the medium to long term solutions were much appreciated by the leadership, the Mayor raised a need for short term solutions in hotspot areas. Nxamalala said “The situation In some areas is hostile and volatile. Maqongqo, Ndaleni and Haza/ Mpophomeni areas, need short term solutions, whilst mid and long term solutions are ongoing. The two teams need to come together, wear their thinking caps and come up with solutions to present to the leadership”. This master was resolved as such and a follow up meeting will take place on Monday the 22nd of April. The Mayor also raised concern regarding the tariff increase, saying that considerations must be made for the entity and the Municipality to find middle ground. “We are a Municipality that is by and large rural, and therefore do not have a revenue base that eThekwini has, or Msunduzi for that matter. Unemployment rate in the District sits at 34%, and more than 60% of the people live below the poverty line,“ said the Mayor. “When we assumed office in 2021, the indigent register had 1500 beneficiaries, and we had 10 000 by June last year. This matter therefore requires that we have an engagement regarding the tariff “ concluded the Mayor.

On the 1st of March 2024, the Minister of Water and Sanitation Honourable Senzo Mchunu, accompanied by Hon MEC for CoGTA Ms Bongi Sithole Moloi, District Mayor Cllr Mzi Zuma, Msunduzi Mayor, Cllr Mzi Thebolla, uMshwathi Mayor Cllr Mandla Zondi, Amakhosi, Board members of UMngeni/ uThukela Water and officials from various departments and Municipalities, launched the Services on Privately owned land policy. This historic event was held for the first time in the country at Cool Air sports field, uMshwathi in the uMgungundlovu District Municipality. The next stop will be Limpopo and all other provinces will follow until the whole country has been covered. The policy that the Minister was here to launch, is a culmination of the work done in 2011 when the Department developed a draft water and sanitation services policy on privately owned land. This policy development was in response to the 2017 Court Case of Mshengu vs uMsunduzi, uMshwathi Local Municipalities, uMgungundlovu District Municipality and others, including DWS as the sixth respondent. On the 29 July 2019, the court declared that the Municipalities failure to provide farm occupiers and labour tenants who are residing within its areas of jurisdiction with access to basic sanitation, sufficient water and refuse collection services is inconsistent with the constitution of South Africa. • The court also directed the Municipality to comply with Regulation 3 of the Regulation relating to Compulsory National Standards and Measures to Conserve Water by: • Installing enough water use connections to supply a minimum amount of portable water of 25liters per person per day, or 6kl kilolitres per household per month to farm occupiers and labour tenants residing within its area of jurisdiction. • Ensuring that the water use connection supply water at a minimum flow of not less than 10 litres per minute and • Ensuring that the water user connections supplied are within 200 meters of the farm occupiers’ households. • The court also ordered the Municipality was also directed to provide farm occupiers and labour tenants with access basic sanitation by installing Ventilated Improved Pit toilets (“VIP toilets”) • Furthermore, the court ordered the Municipality to priorities the rights of farm occupiers and labour tenants in its integrated development plans. The Minister and his entourage paid a visit to the home of Mr Zabalaza Mshengu, who together with Ms Thab’sile Ngema and AFRA, took government to court over lack of provisions of basic services like water and sanitation. This was mainly as a result of owners of private land, especially farms, refusing municipalities access to their properties to lay infrastructure to bring services to the people. The entourage then proceeded to the Windyhill farm to see the borehole project that was brought by UMDM to provide water to the farm dwellers. Addressing the people there, UMDM Mayor, Cllr Mzi Zuma said to the farm dwellers who were there, “ We are happy that you now have clean running water here, but this is not the end. We want to ensure that each household has water inside their yard, and we are working on that. We are also aware that there is a shortage of toilets, which forces households to share toilets. We have finished with our planning regarding that. We will start building toiles for each household this month. “ said Nxamalala to ululations and whistles of joy and approval. When the Minister addressed the masses from the farms who were in attendance, he said,” The policy that we are launching today, was developed through extensive collaboration with stakeholders, experts and the affected communities. It underscores the dedication of the South African government’s commitment to an inclusive, efficient and environmentally responsible approach. It outlines guidelines that foster partnerships between government agencies, local authorities, private land owners, and service providers. Our shared responsibility is to ensure that every individual, no matter where they call home, can exercise their basic human right to access clean water and adequate sanitation.” He emphasised that any one who denies the Municipality access to their land to provide services to the people living in that property, will be breaking the law.