The newly formed Dr AB Xuma Local Municipality will spend nearly R100 million on service delivery to honour its namesake.
The local entity, previously know as Engcobo, is the home of the late Xuma – medical doctor in his time. Xuma is also a former president general of the ruling ANC.
Speaking during a media briefing on Wednesday, June 8 mayor Siyabulela Zangqa said nothing more than R400 000 would be spent on logo development and signage change, an indication of the municipality’s commitment on service delivery.
“We have over R90 million from the Office of the Premier in the small town revitalisation programme. We will use R30 million to build a road and a bridge in ward 9. We will also construct a bypass to connect R61 and R408 and these will go on tender before the end of July,” he said.
To honour Xuma’s passion for agriculture, the local authority has partnered with the department of rural development and agrarian reform to construct an agro processing facility.
“To ensure employment is not seasonal we need an agro processing facility. We have already organised cooperatives and we know through agriculture we can be the food basket of the country,” Zangqa said.
National Heritage Council CEO, Sonwabile Mancotywa, said Xuma’s remains were repatriated to his home village in Ngcobo last year.
“His grace being a national heritage site in Gauteng has been extended to where his remains were reburied. You must remember his grave was not removed but only his remains were removed,” he said.
Xuma left SA for the United Kingdom in 1906 to further his studies and qualified as a medical doctor.
To rename the municipality in his name, Zangqa said all 20 wards, traditional leaders and faith based organisations were consulted. The municipality is expected to formally unveil the new name before the end of July.
“Along with this will be the unveiling of Dr AB Xuma and OR Tambo’s statues. An AB Xuma annual lecture will also be conducted to motivate the Walter Sisulu University medical students,” he said.
OR Tambo was also from Ngcobo. Others include the late former ANC secretary general Walter Sisulu and current party provincial chairperson and premier Oscar Mabuyane.
