KwaDukuza Local Municipality: We wish to inform the people of KwaZulu-Natal and KwaDukuza in particular that we will continue to use an integrated approach, involving all spheres of government to speed up the rollout of human settlements.

In view of the recent floods that wrecked-havoc and left a trail of destruction, we are required as government to give a feedback to communities about our plans to ensure the acceleration of rebuilding efforts.

It is for these reasons that we have taken a decision with the Mayor of KwaDukuza Local Municipality Councillor  Lindile Nhaça and other local leaders to move with speed to ensure the rollout of  human settlements projects in the municipality.  

In particular, the governing party, the African National Congress, has mandated us as elected public representatives to strengthen the local sphere of government as engines of service delivery.

On Thursday we appeared before the Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements. We presented disaster relief interventions and progress around the construction of temporary residential units to house affected communities. We also presented a comprehensive report detailing the reprioritization of funds in order to address the disaster interventions.

We are pleased with the support from honourable members, across all political lines, for our new business plans. We presented revised targets and blow-by-blow account and on how to ensure speed and integrity as we rollout human settlements.

Critically, we understand that when residents of KwaDukuza Local Municipality went to the polling stations on the 1st November last year, they voted for a municipality that responds to their needs. They voted for services such as access to water, electricity and a government that will provide decent houses for their families.  With the recent floods, residents who have been waiting patiently for their houses, are interested to know more about progress their government is making.

Tomorrow we will collectively brief residents the Nyathikazi Human Settlement Project with a budget of more than R23, 6 million.  This is a an in-situ brownfields and greenfields informal settlement upgrade project that is part of KwaDukuza Municipality’s Slum Clearance programme.

The total extent of the project area is approximately 141,5 Hectares and will yield 912 approved units with 753 beneficiaries confirmed. The KwaDukuza Municipality appointed Isiphethu Development Consultants on a Turnkey Strategy to implement Stages 1, 2 and 3 respectively.

We extend an invitation to the members of the media to attend the Nyathikazi Human Settlement Project Feedback Session Scheduled as follows:

Date: 29 May 2022

Time: 11h00

Venue: Nyathikazi Sports Field Ward 03 (KwaDukuza Local Municipality)

Notes: Media to RSVP with Mbulelo Baloyi 083 320 0274 / 0833200274

It should be remembered that, the governing party, undertook to use the construction of houses as a catalyst for local economic development and job creation for local communities.  We will continue to ensure that local emerging contractors are prioritized as part of driving radical economic transformation through the rollout of human settlements.

In addition, we will use expanded public works programme to ensure the training and employment of local youth during the construction.

 

Issued by the MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works Jomo Sibiya