A closer look at Nongoma through the eye of “Operation Sukuma Sakhe”

An interesting establishment was that I managed to scoop information that at the Sizanani Goat Farming, there are a block of offices for use by its personnel. One of the office blocks is currently utilised for counselling of people affected and infected with HIV/ AIDS living around Osuthu and the surrounding areas of Nongoma. The NonGovernmental Organisation (NGO) known as “AIDS MANAGEMENT PROJECT”, a project aimed at encouraging people towards “positive living” which is managed by Ms Thuli Mahlambi and Messrs Ntokozo Zungu and Bhekithemba Zungu, with the latter also serving as a Councillor of the Traditional Leaders for the Ward 15 in Nongoma. The project’s brand name has not been officially launched but initially the projects aims amongst other aspects to:

- Creating awareness to people on the importance of healthy and positive living;
- Encouraging people towards testing for HIV and AIDS;
- Inculcating in people the sense of prevention of any health hazardous circumstances including behavioural traits;
- Providing care and counselling to those that are infected and affected by HIV and AIDS; and - Provide any other support and or care that may be deemed necessary to the needy people.

At this stage the AIDS Management Project is still an emerging institution which has a barrage of build-up mechanisms in contemplation for its proper establishment.

Another walk-about was conducted at Osuthu Clinic which a nearby site to the Sizanani Goat Farming Project. Interviews were conducted with Sir Manqele, a male professional nurse.

Day one’s site tour was concluded at the Falaza High School. The school is also part of Nomgoma and has from the rumour we heard been labelled and mudded by trouble school children. There was a rumour of the kids being unruly and delinquent. However, the visit gave another picture. As we arrived at the school’s entrance, we were crowded by school pupils dressed in a very beautiful black and yellow school uniform showcasing a sign of welcome to the visiting entourage. This to me resembled the opposite of what we have been told. While photo shots were taken, we then took straight for interview with Mr Mzeni Zungu, the Head of the Falaza High School.

Falaza High School has been established in 1984. According to Mr Zungu, “this school should in actual facts be registered as a comprehensive school and the provincial Department of Education is also aware of this status” said Mr Zungu. “The reason for it being a comprehensive school is that we still have technology structures at the school which active and sustained” he added. The school’s grading demarcation stands at Grade 8 to 9 for GET and with Grades 10 to 12 for FET. “I should also indicate that the school also has Grade 10 to 12 classes that specialise in the Mechanical Technology” stressed the Head of the Falaza. Other additional studies or curricula that the school covers include amongst others, Consumer Studies, Laboratory Studies, Welding, Motor Mechanic, Arts and Culture, Computer Studies, Natural Sciences and Social Science Technology.

When asked about the personnel capacity, he replied that “we have at this stage 41 educators of both genders and an enrolment of approximately 1160.” According to Mr Zungu, the school also offer most of the sporting codes for girls and boys respectively.

During day two of the site tour coordinated by Ms Nolwazi Nombela from the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Human Settlements, the “communications team” visited four housing projects in Nongoma, one at KwaNcwane in Nkonjeni, three at Matheni, Holinyoka were toured and a closing chapter was with a new R69 KwaKhangela new road construction project. Even though these projects were identified through the OSS campaign, the brain child of the end product was the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Human Settlements.

The first beneficiary of the house was Mr Mzwakhe Mazibuko, a very strong, positive but blind community member of KwaNcwane. Mr Mazibuko unfortunately sustained injuries by fellow co-workers that led to the loss of his eyesight while tendering a temporary job at a local company became a possible beneficiary from the government. He currently lives with a family of eight, his elderly mother, Ms Senzeni Luthuli, two siblings and two children born from his two sisters who also unfortunately passed on. According to Mzwakhe, he made his personal call and plea through the submission of a letter to the MEC for Health, Dr Dhlomo, while he officially opened and handed over a clinic around the area. However, the matter was also further pursued by the War Room Coordinators in collaboration with MEC Dhlomo where after the matter landed on the right hands of the Department of Human Settlements. The project was completed at the cost of approximately R64 042.86. This is a four roomed establishment with two bedrooms and an open plan structure. In commendation, both Mr Mazibuko and his mother expressed their appreciation to MEC Dhlomo for his urge to take up matter with sincerity and honesty, the community members within the area, the councillors and eventually the Premier for leading role on the “Operation Sukuma Sakhe”.

We then continued to KwaMatheni area in Holinyoka, Nongoma where three beneficiaries also had to share with us their excitement with their fulfilled gifts of hope. The first visit was to the Khumalo family with Mr Mandla Fondo Khumalo being the identified house beneficiary. Like the previous beneficiary, Mandla is also plagued by a disability factor. His case in this instance is a speech defect that is quite impaired. However, it is observable that Mr Khumalo can at least manage to see, listen and comprehend when communicated with. Before he was identified by the authorities, he was living a shack dwelling which was erected for him by his younger brother, Mr Zakhele Khumalo, who also because of work commitment does not stay with Zakhele to care for him on his daily chores.

Exclusive interviews were conducted with both the Khumalo brothers. It was also in a similar state of affairs in that they profoundly complemented the initiatives and support of the Provincial Government. Some brief video snippets of all the recipients were also taken for showcasing during the Premier’s Imbizo on the 26th of September 2012.

We then continued to the remaining two female beneficiaries being Mrs Mirriam Khumalo and Mrs Florence Khumalo. The two mothers received their homes after an extended consultation with the structures of the traditional councillors of the War Room of Holinyoka. After their formal submission for the application of houses was considered, the matter was positively resolved as both houses were almost completed within the similar time frame because they both together with their respective families occupied their houses by December 2011.

The most intriguing factor is that all the housing recipients have been provided for with all major basic services such as a shelter that has electricity and water. It should be acknowledged that there is still more to do by the Provincial Government. However, there is equally more positive pockets of success that the Province of KwaZulu-Natal Government has achieved in ensuring that basic delivery services are proffered to the needy, especially to the poorest of the poor.

In summing up and analysing the visit to Ulundi and Nongoma, it is indicative that there positive strides that the Provincial Government has registered. However, one must also acknowledge and confirm that despite the progress, there is still more work to digest through for ensuring that the people of KwaZulu-Natal are indeed on course in as far as development is concerned. Furthermore, the priority by Government to develop rural areas is the roadmap to success and true freedom. This may seem to be a slow pace... but it is a step ahead.