KWADUKUZA: On Monday 26 June 2023, the MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works Honourable Sipho "KK" Nkosi together with KwaDukuza Mayor Cllr Lindile Nhaca joined forces to ensure that, the KwaDukuza Youth Economic Empowerment Programme (KYEEP) becomes a huge success.

 Third from left, MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works, Mr Sipho “KK” Nkosi, (far left) Cllr Njabulo Cele of KwaDukuza Municipality, KwaDukuza Mayor, Cllr Lindile Nhaca, Speaker: Cllr Dolly Govender, Senior Managers representing the KZN Department of Public Works are, Deputy-Director General, Corporate Services Mr Phiweyo Duma, Chief Director: Expanded Public Works Programme, Mr Bongani Dlamini

As part of youth month celebrations, various strategic government Departments were afforded an opportunity to make highly-informative presentations and also cascade relevant government information to the youth as intended recipients earmarked for business opportunities and access to funding where applicable.

Delegates who attended a-day long programme held at the KwaDukuza Town Hall were encouraged to partner with government through progressive youth formations and also woo private institutions to come on board and provide economic interventions where possible.

The KZN Department of Public Works (DPW) is fully behind the establishment of a One-Stop Shop with an intention to favour the general electorate with seamless access to government services. In his address, MEC Nkosi hailed the Mayor of KwaDukuza Municipality for being part of this engagement held during the Youth Month, June with special emphasis on economic opportunities for youth emerging contractors.

The current government is rolling out direct services to multi- racial communities across the country. Therefore, the DPW and its strategic partners are propelled to move with speed in an endeavor to address socio-economic challenges and unemployment in the province for the benefit of beneficiaries under the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) and emerging contractors alike.

It also emerged that, government has a mandate to create an enabling environment for youth to gain uninterrupted access to any funding set aside specifically for that particular purpose. The MEC also encouraged the local youth to formalize their business enterprises so that government may be able to relax red tapes and unblock bottlenecks which seem to hinder service delivery.

The meeting heard that senior managers from the DPW are working around the clock to establish a Youth Directorate which will oversee genuine concerns raised for implementation during future stakeholders' engagements of this nature.

Presentations which formed part of today's proceedings were presented by representatives from the Departments of Human Settlements, Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA), Small Enterprise Finance Agency (SEFA), Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) and KwaDukuza Municipality respectively.

Midlands Region: The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Cabinet focused its attention on Amajuba District Municipality on Tuesday, 13 June 2023, as part of Operation Sukuma Sakhe (OSS) Cabinet Day Programme.

The community of Dannhauser during Operation Sukuma Sakhe Programme

OSS is a Provincial Government outreach programme aimed at fast-tracking service delivery and it is also held in line with a clear Cabinet Resolution on War against Poverty in KwaZulu-Natal. It was established with an aim of addressing social ills that affect the communities negatively.

Given the aforesaid, the MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works Mr Sipho ‘KK’ Nkosi together with the Head of Department for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Mr Thando Tubane were deployed in Ward 6 at the KwaMdakane area to mingle with the general electorate and conduct sustainable service delivery interventions as required.

The project visits embarked on, included the Thembalihle Clinic, a local clinic which accommodates patients with different types of diseases including labour. During a brief interaction with the Operational Manager Nursing, Sister Dolly Nkosi - it was discovered that the clinic does not have a boardroom or isolation room, there’s inadequate signature and road leading to the clinic is not in a good condition.

This clinic was established in 1988 and caters for approximately 1200 patients per month.

Left, MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works Mr Sipho ‘KK Nkosi, (Right) Induna Mkhwanazi, the School Principal Mrs Xaba, HOD for COGTA and MEC Nkosi

Road L1572 which is currently under construction with a completion date initially scheduled for March 2023, is the second project that was visited by the MEC and his entourage.

The road is under disaster management which is part of an intervention from the provincial Department of Transport designed to fast-track the project completion within the newly-imposed timelines. MEC Nkosi further led the delegation to Mdutshulwa Primary School where he handed-over an array of sport kits to the School Principal, Mrs Xaba who expressed her gratitude to the MEC for extending such a meaningful gesture. History has it, that, the school was built by the progressive community in 1972 with an intention to prioritize education for the children of Rutland village outside Pietermaritzburg.

Immediately after the project visits were concluded, a community engagement was held at the Rutlands Sportsfiled where the MEC addressed community members who packed the meeting venue to the rafters.
Towards the end of the meeting, the community welcomed the MEC’s address which tackled a number of issues raised during a face to face interaction with government.

Among issues which are a menace to society, it came to light that, the Rutlands community faces issues of poverty, unemployment and crime. The MEC worked hand-in-glove with his delegation towards fulfillment of government’s constitutional mandate by directly confronting such challenges affecting the community.

The Provincial Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) Directorate in close collaboration with the National Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPW&I) hosted a-two-day Provincial Steering Committee Meeting to reflect on its operational mandate in line with relevant government prescripts.

From left: Mr Sduduzo Simelane, Ms Carmen-Joy Abrahams, Ms Lindiwe Nkuna, Mr Bongani Dlamini, Ms Nondumiso Mahlaba, Mr Devan Govender, Mr Gamelihle Sibanda and Mr Steve Siziba

This committee meeting held from the 22 - 23 June 2023 at the Ugu Sports and Leisure Centre comprises of various strategic stakeholders which among others include, Government Departments, Public Bodies, local and district Municipalities.

Meetings of this nature take place on a quarterly basis to discuss EPWP matters which directly speak to service delivery in KwaZulu-Natal. Over a period of 2 consecutive days, the focus was centred around the Reflections of Phase IV Performance, EPWP Coordination Structures, EPWP Wages, Increasing the Impact of EPWP and Planning for Development of Phase V.
All the attendees were filled with enthusiasm when the first session got underway as the deliberations taking place on these two-days were significant milestones that began to reshape the provincial government towards changing peoples’ lives for the better. Mr Thabani Mazibuko from the National Public Works and Infrastructure served as a programme director and subject presenter for the duration of the entire programme.

Left: DPW&I EPWP Deputy Director General Ms Carmen-Joy Abrahams. Right Mr Bongani Dlamini, Ms Delisile Mncube and Ms Nondumiso Mahlaba – KZN Department of Public Works

Representing the DPW&I, Deputy Director-General, Ms Carmen-Joy Abrahams provided a detailed presentation on the EPWP Phase V Planning Process and its related activities. She revealed that DPW&I is conducting consultation sessions on EPWP Phase V with all the provinces with KwaZulu-Natal being the first province to have this kind of session. Encouraging delegates, she spoke eloquently about prioritizing making a difference in peoples’ lives “If you did not achieve your target, people will not take you serious, so you need to deliver.” Said Ms Abrahams.

Breakaway sessions formed part of the proceedings which led to extensive deliberations on the aforementioned aspects.

Delegates during EPWP Steering Committee Session

On the second day of the programme, a throng of delegates who attended the session raised a series of critical issues which eventually formed part of resolutions - unanimously adopted and captured for prompt implementation. Sessions of this nature will indeed produce fruitful results as EPWP remains an extraordinary essence of changing a persons’ life, especially the poor of the poorest.

Head Office Staff came in numbers to welcome the MEC following his recent development to KZN Cabinet

The Honourable Member of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature and MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works Mr Sipho ‘KK’ Nkosi convened a productive face-to-face interactive with Head Office Officials on Tuesday, 6 June 2023 at the Oliver Tambo House in Pietermaritzburg. The visit comes after the MEC was officially sworn-in by the Executive Authority on 23 May 2023.

Leading the meeting was the Acting Head of Department Mr Sboniso Majola who welcomed all employees, he further introduced the MEC along with his staff who assumed their duties at Ministry Office. Mr Majola provided a detailed overview on the operations of the department and outlined the functionality of three (3) departmental programmes; namely Programme One – Administration, Programme Two – Programme Management and Programme Three – Provision of Buildings, Structures & Equipment.

MEC Sipho ‘KK’ Nkosi addressing Head Office Staff

Addressing the officials, MEC Nkosi raised his concerns about the insufficient budget allocated to the department. He indicated that “something needs to be done to beef up the budget of this budget and we are hopeful that KwaZulu-Natal Treasury will listen to our plea of requesting more funds.” He thanked his successor Dr Ntuthuko Mahlaba who handed over a baton to him for presenting a credible budget of R5, 512 billion to the Legislature in April 2023. “It is now left with us as the implementers of the budget to ensure that we are doing what we are expected to do.”

In respect of the poor performance by contractors, MEC stressed the importance of appointing capable service providers to avoid the collapse of the government. “We must not keep contractors who are not performing – we need to monitor the implementation of projects.”

He committed himself in assisting all management and staff in achieving the mandate of the department. “We are reminding ourselves that when we joined the KZN Legislature, Dr Zweli Mkhize mentioned that he would like to see Department of Public Works branded as an implementing agent of choice.” Reminiscing MEC during his address.

He applauded the department on the good progress of some projects such as Ilembe offices and JG Zuma School. In his closing remarks, MEC Nkosi called out for the department to empower women in managerial positions as he believes that women are capable and have skills just like males.