PIETERMARITZBURG: On Tuesday, 18 July 2023 the Department of Public Works (DPW) Head Office officials commemorated the international Mandela Day, under the theme for 2023 “Climate, Food and Solidarity.”

Archived information points to the fact that - Mandela Day is an annual celebration of Nelson Mandela's life and a global call to action for people to recognize their individual power to make an imprint and change the world around them.

Captured above, government officials representing the KZN Department of Public Works together with colleagues from the Pietermaritzburg’s City Central Clinic

In line with the above, officials form the Department of Public Works commemorated the 2023 Nelson Mandela Day with colleagues from the Central City Clinic in Pietermaritzburg as they spent 67 minutes of goodwill offering various forms of government support and general assistance to patients who visited the clinic on the day.

The day started at the Central City Clinic under East Boom Community Health Centre (CHC), where the DPW officials were warmly welcome by the Primary Health Care Manger (PHCM) Mrs Mhlongo who lauded the department for such a good initiative.

Relevant Operations Manager, Ms Mlambo extended a word of appreciation to the KZN Department of Public Works (DPW) for ensuring refurbishments at the facility. DPW’s Director Organizational Development, Ms Jean Makhaye expressed her appreciation following a significant role played by all government officials who formed part of the programme. The delegation also visited the Department of Home Affairs and the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) to provide support to people seeking government services during the day.

Moments of the day’s activities

Story and images by Siyathuthuka Mthembu

EZAKHENI TOWNSHIP: The International Nelson Mandela Day is celebrated each year on the 18 July to honour the life and legacy of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, which is Tata’s Birthday. The United Nations officially declared the day in November 2009, with the first UN Mandela Day held on 18 July 2010.

The Department of Public Works - Midlands Region commemorated the 2023 Nelson Mandela Day on the 18 July 2023 with Sibusisiwe Home for the mentally disabled children at Ezakheni location in Ladysmith, spending their 67 minutes of Goodwill by renovating the facility.

The founder Ms Busisiwe Sthebe established the Sibusisiwe Home for the Mentally Disabled children in the 1980s. It emerged that, she identified a need for such a facility as she mothered a disabled child herself. Therefore, she realized that, it is important to help other parents who are in the same situation as hers.

This facility did not help only the community of Ezakheni but also the communities surrounding Ladysmith. When Busisiswe passed on she pleaded with her sister to not abandon the facility and continue to run the centre and that is why it is still standing even today.

The Sibusisiwe Home is a boarding facility which accommodates 18 disabled children between 6 and 18 years of age who are day scholars at Nkanyezi Training Centre in Steadville. It also came to light that, besides boarding fees paid by parents, this facility also depends on donations from community based Good Samaritans.

Mr Thabo Letompa; District Manager, uThukela District Office, mentioned that, the Department of Public Works identified different facilities around Ladysmith that required assistance and Sibusisiwe was one of the institutions that they chose to assist with overall renovations.

Here the celebration of Mandela Day saw 67 minutes spent productively with execution of electrical work, plumbing-installation of water pipes, roof top painting and alterations and installation of new ceiling boards. Accompanying the above article is one of Nelson Mandela’s popular quotes: “One cannot enjoy true freedom while others are still oppressed or discriminated against.” He believed the freedom and equality should be granted to all individuals regardless of race, ethnicity or social background.

Article by Hlengiwe Dlamini and Images by Sibongile Dlangalala

ETHEKWINI REGION: On Tuesday, 25 July 2023, the MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works, Mr Sipho ‘KK’ Nkosi played host to a strategic session with recruits who are part of a Furniture Manufacturing Learnership Programme (FMLP).

The aforesaid programme is aimed at creating a conducive environment for the youth to acquire advanced furniture production skills. This is a direct government intervention designed to address unemployment related challenges facing the youth and a number of historically disadvantaged individuals in KwaZulu-Natal. 

While the programme dubbed, the MEC's Interaction with the Furniture Manufacturing Learners was in progress at the Department of Public Works’ (DPW) Archie Gumede Conference Centre in Mayville, the MEC created a platform for seamless interaction with learners who are part of the provincial FMLP which resides with the Department.

The participants recruited are anticipated to use their newly acquired skills to enter the furniture manufacturing industry with specialization in furniture making. Currently over 20 learners are being trained and equipped with practical woodwork skills on how to manufacture furniture, develop innovative designs by using various types of wood and related accessories.

The department has forged partnership with the KZN Department of Education (DOE) in an endeavour to fast-track refurbishment of old and broken school furniture like desks and shelving cabinets.

In an effort to establish and maintain good working relations, MEC Nkosi presided over a face-to-face engagement with a further 100 recipients including representatives from the DOE as a progressive stakeholder on board.

A myriad of exit strategies presented during the day’s session were accompanied by detailed testimonials made by some learners who are part of the programme. This attests to the fact that, such an initiative will yield positive end-results which will ultimately benefit the youth from all corners of the province.

YOUNG FURNITURE GURU URGES GOVERNMENT TO SUPPORT LOCAL FURNITURE MANUFACTURERS

Invited Guest Speaker, Ms Mandisa Mwandla who is the Director of a Mandeni-Isithebe based furniture manufacturing entity, HAVE A SEAT Stylish Furniture Manufacturers delivered a motivational presentation with an intention to encourage maximum youth participation in the furniture making discipline.  

As a female youth entrepreneur, she is a living testimony that, the furniture manufacturing industry is away-to-go for aspiring young individuals who intend to tap into this particular type of business. Ms Mwandla says, one of the significant bottlenecks which hinder growth in this industry is access to market and a hard-hitting blow suffered by local furniture manufacturers as a result of furniture imports.

As an essential sector of the country’s economy, she called on government to protect the industry by providing necessary support through implementation of policies which promote local production and pronounce restrictions on imports. She also applauded the DPW for hosting such a programme and further made a plea with government to consider procurement of office and school furniture from the youth-owned enterprises.

EThekwini Municipality’s Deputy Mayor: Cllr Zandile Myeni pledged the municipality’s support towards the programme as she encouraged learners to visit relevant municipal offices for easy access to various programmes designed to offer assistance to the youth.

MEC’S KEYNOTE ADDRESS TOUCHES ON THE TENETS OF THE FREEDOM CHARTER

In his keynote address, MEC Nkosi congratulated all learners and urged them to stay focused in order for their enterprise to thrive. “We are handing over the future of our country to you and we are confident that you will contribute positively towards the economic growth of South Africa.” He also advised the Departmental senior managers to forge partnership with institutions of higher learning like the Coastal College and other credible TVET colleges which serve as a fountain of knowledge and practical skills transfer.

The MEC further emphasised on skills development and the importance of distribution of economy in line with Clause 3 of the Freedom Charter. In conclusion, the MEC directed relevant government officials to ensure a speedy formalization of partnership with the KZN Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA) in order for the emerging youth entrepreneurs to gain access to government funding.

INFORMATIVE PRESENTATIONS ADD SOME LUSTRE ON THE DAY’S PROGRAMME

A plethora of presentations followed by lengthy discussions enhanced the aforementioned programme.
The first presentation on Furniture Manufacturing Learnership Programme was made by the Director: Youth, Women, People with Disabilities and Military Veterans, Ms Delisile Mncube who served as a team leader during planning meetings held prior to the actual programme.

Other presentations for the day included EPWP Exit Strategies - Formation, Registration of Cooperatives (Co-Ops) and Small, Medium Micro Enterprises (SMME) Support by EDTEA representative Ms W Nyembe.

The Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) was represented by Ms S Sabela who was also offered a slot for presentation followed by Mr P Pillay who on behalf of the Department of Higher Education made a presentation on Building Environment Opportunities at TVET Colleges in KwaZulu Natal. Towards the very end of the programme, attendees received the last presentation from Mr T. Mkhwanazi, a representative of the Small Entrerprise Finance Agency (SEFA).

Article and Images by Sibongile Dlangalala

“MEC "KK" Nkosi conducts Operation Sukuma Sakhe UMgungundlovu Cabinet Day.

On Wednesday, 26 July 2023, the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government as always, was hard at work. This, was through Operation Sukuma Sakhe (OSS) Cabinet Day session conducted by honorable MEC for Public Works, Mr. “KK” Nkosi. The MEC led a team made up of government officials from various provincial government departments to inspect the progress on two construction sites and concluded the day with a community engagement session.

The sun-shining, warm-spirited and cool-weathered day began with a Greys Hospital project site visit situated in Ward 25. Ms. Nokwanda Gcaba (Regional Director, Southern Region) welcomed the team and explained to the MEC that the two projects being visited fall under the Southern Region of Public Works since the Southern Region is made up of Umgungundlovu District Municipality, in addition to Harry Gwala District Municipality and Ugu District Municipality.

Greys Hospital CEO, Mr. Brian Shezi, stated that his hospital provide services to medical service needy patients, referred to it by various hospitals situated outside of UMgungundlovu District Municipality. The hospital has about 2000 staff members. Greys Hospital is currently outsourcing quarters for nurses and doctors. Having the staff accommodation flats renovated, will surely cut the accommodation rental costs, saving the government a lot of money. Concluded the CEO.

The Greys Hospital project is tasked with the renovation and upgrading of flats in nurses and doctors quarters, situated in the hospital’s premises. The contractor responsible is Mangqamgqeshe Trading and Phumelele Dlomo Construction. The original contract period is 14 months and this specific project is expected to be complete by September 2023. This is a R40 Million contract, 41% of which has already been paid by the department. Factors leading to the project delays were addressed accordingly, narrated Ms. Gcaba.

Ms. Nobukhosi Xulu (Northdale Hospital CEO) briefed the team on the second project. “This is a district hospital which has not had any renovations done since 1974, almost 50 years ago, when it was built. Population growth and aging of the facility have long ago demanded for extension, upgrades and renovations. The project of staff residence renovation will, in the end attract necessary professionals to the hospitals. This project was supposed to be complete by June 2024. And it just started about 5 months ago because of delays.”

“So far, this project is progressing quite well. We are hoping to meet the set deadline in accordance.” Explained Mr. Musa Mseleku from Ojama Projects. “Among our workforce, we took in newly graduated youth and also freshly matriculated local people of Ward 34. In a way, this is an effort of injecting skills and economic development to the local community. We are also giving opportunities to local sub-contractors. Our supervisors monitor them closely in order to ensure quality work We have sub-contracted more than 45% to previously disadvantaged communities.” Concluded Mr. Mseleku.

In addition to other qualities, our KZN Provincial government is also known for accountability. Indeed, this is a characteristic of a democratic government. For this reason, MEC Nkosi led the team to the day’s 3rd station situated in Eastwood Community Hall. In the hall, community members in their variety and multitudes packed up the venue with a greatest anticipation to engage their government of the day. Here, the government was represented from both provincial and local level.

Community members of different genders, ages and ethnicities voiced their cries to government representatives about various problems ranging from joblessness, drug abuse, lack of proper housing, poorly maintained infrastructure such as roads and community halls, crime in the area, lack of services from the municipality such as grass cutting, refuse collection, street lights fixing, high and unjustified exorbitant prices for water and electricity and lack of consideration of old age citizens by the municipality.

In conclusion, MEC Nkosi took to the podium and addressed the audience. “We cannot sit down as communities and hope that police will fight crime alone. Why are we not forming street committees and work with the police against crime? We took a decision in in February 2023 that all government departments must each put aside R10 Million from their own budget so as to make a provision to buy additional vehicles for the police in order to improve police visibility. Additionally, we need to install cameras in the main roads for the whole KZN province.” The audience whistled and clapped hands in appreciation.

By Bheki Khawula and Neliswa Nhlabathi.