COUNCILLORS from King Sabatha Dalindyebo (KSD) Local Municipality conducted a mayoral Imbizo at Chief Ntabozuko Njemla’s Great Place at Kwa Lindile location in Mthatha, last week.
According to the municipal manager for KSD Local Municipality, Ngamela Pakade, the purpose of the outreach was to engage communities with government programmes that seek to advance service delivery within the area and KSDM in general.
The public participation is informed by Chapter 4 of the Municipality Systems Act, Act 32 of 2000 as amended.
Various sector departments participated in the stakeholder engagement session, including the Department of Health, the Department of Education, the Department of Home Affairs, members of South African Police Services (SAPS), the Department of Social Development, Eskom, and the O.R. Tambo District Development Model Hub Office, representing the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) and DBSA.
“These departments shared the list of service delivery programmes earmarked for the ward. This is also informed by the directive of the constitution. The proposed programme has also ensured that there is representation of the relevant government departments,” said Pakade.
He confirmed that the programme was coordinated by the Executive Mayor, Councillor Nyaniso Nelani, and he presented all the municipal programmes and relevant government programmes that could benefit the community of Ward 14.
He emphasised the need to speed up the development of the special economic zone, the proposed upgrades of the N2 and R61, the resolution of pending land claims and the finalisation of the Vulindlela Industrial Park, to encourage the manufacturing sector, which contributes less than 4 % to the gross domestic product (GDP).
“He outlined a need to unlock property developments to create opportunities for property ownership for the middle class and to enhance municipal revenue.”
He added that there were challenges that were highlighted by communities, including: the increase in crime, slow progress on house provision for the victims of the disaster, a shortage of water supply, facilities for social amenities, poor support for agricultural initiatives and poor road maintenance.
He said that the municipality and the traditional leadership agreed that the challenge of the land claims and land invasion was hindering the growth and development of the city and joint working arrangements were proposed to improve the current challenges.
KSD Local Municipality spokesperson, Sonwabo Mampoza, said the municipality aimed at bringing all the departments to the people in this financial year of 2021/2022.
“Due to the new demarcation that was made by the demarcation board, our wards have increased from 36 to 37,” said Mampoza.
– ISSUED BY KSDLM
