To all media

20 April 2022

KZN Education Portfolio Committee mourns the passing on of learners

The Education Portfolio Committee expresses its sincere condolences to the families of learners who have passed on due to the recent floods in KwaZulu-Natal Natal. “We were witnesses to severe destruction of school infrastructure and with that came the shock of learning that we have lost a number of learners across the province.” Hon Sifiso Sonjica the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee speaking on behalf of the Committee continues; “we send our deepest condolences to all affected families and learners, and share the pain these families are feeling.  The committee acknowledges the work that has been done by government and the department so far, we call on the department to continue to do all it can to assist affected schools and learners with physiological help amongst other things. It is in times like these that we expect maximum benefit from various existing private and public sector partnerships as we seek to rebuild our schools, and so we call on all good corporate citizens to lend a hand as we face such difficult times”.

Amongst the many learners the province has lost are; Sibongukuhle Ncanana in King Cetshwayo, and Azokuhle Zama Grade 4 and Grade 6 respectively both from Overport Primary School in Durban “We are very saddened by losing such young lives”. The committee will be visiting some of the affected schools and families following the legislature program where MPLs will visit affected communities in various district today and tomorrow, 22 April.

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Wesley Canham                                

0833767299                                                   

Media Liaison and PR

20 April 2022

Media Statement

KZN MPLs COMMIT TO OVERSEE DISASTER FUNDS’ SPENDING

Members of the Provincial Legislature will be deployed to the five districts that were affected by the recent floods which wreaked havoc in the province leading to the declaration of the State of National Disaster by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday.

Honourable Speaker Nontembeko Boyce said Members will be deployed to these districts to conduct oversight to ensure that what was being reported to the legislature was indeed happening in the ground.

The legislature is mandated by the Constitution to make laws, encourage public participation and exercise oversight over the provincial government departments and its entities.

Tomorrow, immediately after the Provincial Prayer Day, Members of the Provincial Legislature will visit various wards in Ethekwini Metro to assess the damage and engage all stakeholders. On Friday Members will visit the districts of Ilembe, Ugu, Uthukela, King Cetshwayo and Umgungungndlovu.

“The devastation in Ethekwini could have been so well reported because it is a Metro and has access to members of the media but we do not have the full picture of what exactly happened to the other districts,” she said.

She was speaking in a special sitting called for the Honourable Members to debate the Executive statement delivered by Premier Sihle Zikalala on Wednesday where Members from all political parties expressed shock at the level of destruction caused by last week’s rains.

Members also welcomed the declaration of the State of National Disaster saying they will ensure that the funds which will be released to fix infrastructure and respond to human sufferings caused by the rains will be properly spent.

Minority Front’s Thakur Rajbansi and Economic Freedom Fighters’ Vusi Khoza called for the establishment of a multi-party committee to oversee the expenditure of the funds which will be earmarked for the disaster.

Other political parties such as Democratic Alliance condemned the conduct of the ruling party saying its’ activities were un co-ordinated and compromised by factionalism that has engulfed the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal.

Democratic Alliance leader Francois Rodgers said the recently elected ANC faction in Ethekwini has taken over the co-ordination of the activities relating to the disaster in the metro effectively side-lining the mayor and the metro.

Rodgers also took a swipe at Zikalala for allegedly having a water tank delivering water to his private residence in La Mercy. But Zikalala hit back saying he had been approached by the community and he called a meeting with representatives of the provincial government and Ethekwini Metro.

“The community approached me to assist and they did that because the Democratic Alliance councillor in that ward who is supposed to be helping them is nowhere to be seen. Maybe he is staying in some leafy suburbs with all amenities,” said Zikalala.

Leader of the Official Opposition Velenkosini Hlabisa warned against corruption and theft of resources earmarked for the desperate communities.

He said there is so much “trust deficit” that the billions of rands deployed as relief measures will not be received with gratitude but will be received with cynicism because the public think that those in power, together with their friends, will steal the money.

“Trust deficit on government is a measure challenge that we face as a country,” said Hlabisa.

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Issued by KZN Legislature Communications Unit

Contact Nomusa Phungula at 0718510085, Sina Nxumalo at 0829060449, Wonder Hlongwa 0829083532 or Wesley Canham at 0833767299