“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.