Annual Interfaith Symposium held in Alfred Duma Municipality

The KZN Legislature convened people of various faiths in the province of KwaZulu-Natal in their annual Interfaith Symposium which took place in Alfred Duma Municipality under the theme, “Developing Boys to be Leaders in the Fight Against Gender Based Violence for the Restoration of Women’s Dignity”. 

The Interfaith Symposium is a platform for the Interfaith Sector to deliberate on issues of social ills facing society and to provide the Legislature and Executive with inputs on how they can address other societal challenges in their law-making, oversight and executive functions respectively.

The Interfaith Sector has committed themselves to the ideals of peace, restoration of moral values, fight against all forms of social ills including gender-based violence, and a search for a society that respects and acknowledges the values of Ubuntu.

The symposium, which met on the 12^th April 2023, adopted a set of resolutions that will be forwarded to the Legislature for consideration and further processing by its committees. After consideration by relevant committees, the resolutions will be tabled in the House for adoption and referred to the Executive for implementation.

Committees will perform their oversight responsibility on the implementation of resolutions in their monthly committee meetings. The Executive is required to present a comprehensive report on the implementation of the resolutions adopted by this year’s symposium at the next sitting of the Interfaith Symposium.

Some of the resolutions that will be adopted by the Legislature will find expression in the law-making processes of the Legislature.

KZN LEGISLATURE SUCCESSFULLY HOSTS 84^TH EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE CPA’S AFRICA REGION

KwaZulu-Natal Legislature has successfully hosted the 84^th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association’s Africa Region Executive Committee meeting from the 3^rd to the 6^th of April in Durban this year.

 The Africa Region of the (CPA) comprises of the 63 national and subnational Legislatures and is governed by Co-ordinating Committee and the Executive Committee which are made up of all representatives from across the region.

The meeting was attended and addressed by Deputy Speaker of the South African Parliament Honourable Lechesa Tsenoli and Speaker of the KZN Legislature Honourable Nontembeko Boyce. Delegates showered Honourable Boyce with praises for the sterling work she did hosting the executive committee.

Members of the Executive Committee attending the meeting came from various countries throughout the continent.

The region’s President Hon A. Bundu comes from Sierra Leone; Chairperson Hon C.G Hara from Malawi, Vice Chairperson Hon. L. Sinimbo from Namibia, Treasurer Hon. N. Mekgwe from Gauteng, Vice Treasurer Hon. T. Mangwegape – Healy from Botswana, Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Chairperson Hon. Dr. Z. Gimba from Nigeria, CPA Africa Region Secretary is Ms. N. Mwihambi, ndc from Tanzania.

Ends

01 April 2023

Media Advisory

KwaZulu-Natal Legislature will be hosting the 84^th Executive Committee of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association’s (CPA) Africa Region from the 3^rd to the 6^th of April in Durban this year.

The Africa Region of the (CPA) comprises of the 63 national and subnational Legislatures and is governed by Co-ordinating Committee and the Executive Committee which are made up of all representatives from across the region.

Members of the Executive Committee attending this meeting come from various countries throughout the continent.

Our President Hon A. Bundu comes from Sierra Leone; Chairperson Hon C.G Hara from Malawi, Vice Chairperson Hon. L. Sinimbo from Namibia, Treasurer Hon. N. Mekgwe from Gauteng, Vice Treasurer Hon. T. Mangwegape – Healy from Botswana, Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Chairperson Hon. Dr. Z. Gimba from Nigeria, CPA Africa Region Secretary is Ms. N. Mwihambi, ndc from Tanzani

The mission of the CPA Africa region is:  “To promote and protect the interests and perspectives of CPA Africa Regional Parliaments and countries, into the Commonwealth and beyond, and to promote gender equality, emancipation of women, and respect for human rights, freedoms, democracy and good governance.”

Details of the meeting are as follows:

Date: 3-6 April 2023

Time: 9am to 4pm

Venue: Garden Court, Marine Parade (Durban)

For more information please contact Sina Nxumalo at 0829060449 or Nomusa Phungula at 0718510085

THE QUALITY OF LIFE STANDING COMMITTEE VISITS SPECIAL SCHOOLS IN ZULULAND DISTRICT

The chairperson for Quality of Life Standing Committee in the Legislature and a multiparty delegation of members of Parliament visiting special schools in  Zululand District with the intention of accessing the wellness of disabled pupils and look into conditions they live under, and also to ascertain the role of relevant departments (Health, Social Development and Education departments) on the role they play in supporting the needs of disable learners as per their legislative mandate.

All relevant departments have been summoned to come and account as per the role they play and support they give to ensure that teaching and learning takes place and that resources and equipments needed by  learners with special needs are provided for and adequate enough to allow those kids to exercise their constitution right of equal access to education, as we do to normal schools. The chairperson applauded the initiative by government to at least install water boreholes to remote rural schools, especially in Districts that are engulfs by  terrible shortages of water. “Though there is still so much to do but you are on the right track, keep up the good work” said Phumzile Mbatha-Cele chairperson of Quality of Life Standing Committee.

07 March 2023

Media Release

For immediate release

KZN LEGISLATURE’S COGTA PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE TO UNDERTAKE A STUDY VISIT TO JAPAN

KwaZulu-Natal Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Co-Operative Governance and Traditional Affairs will undertake a study visit to Japan from the 27^th May to the 4^th June 2023 as part of the Legislature’s Members’ Capacity Building Programme.

Today, the Legislature Speaker, Hon Nontembeko Boyce and COGTA Portfolio Committee Chairperson, Hon. Zinhle Cele met with the Japanese Embassy led by Ambassador Tasuku Takanishi to discuss the preparations and programme for the visit.

Amongst the issues discussed with the Embassy which forms part of the study visit include the following:

• Disaster management
• Water and sanitation
• Meeting with the City Council of Yokohama City
• Visit to the Coal Plant using coal imported from South Africa
• Waste management
• Meeting with Political counterparts and Speaker of Japanese Parliament
• Visit to NISSAN Headquarters

On returning from the study, the committee will compile a report which will be submitted to the Speaker, and tabled in the House for debate and adoption.

During this 6^th term of the Legislature, most committees have visited various countries throughout the world to learn best practices to improve our law-making and oversight functions.

Ends

 For more information, please contact.

Hon. Zinhle Cele, Chairperson of COGTA Portfolio Committee

Cell: 060 501 7783

Issued by Communications Unit: KZN Legislature

Sina Nxumalo: 0829060449

21 February 2023

Media Statement

KZN LEGISLATURE PUBLIC WORKS PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE CALLS FOR THE EVICTION OF “HITMEN” OCCUPYING LEGISLATURE HOUSING UNITS IN ULUNDI.

Members of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature’s Public Works Portfolio Committee have called for the eviction of alleged hitmen who have taken over housing units and government flats at the old legislature complex in Ulundi, north of KwaZulu-Natal.

Portfolio Committee members heard how apartments that were built to house government employees and some houses built for the provincial government ministers have been hijacked by armed hitmen who are refusing to vacate the properties.

Provincial Public Works Department Head Mr Siboniso Majola told the committee which met at the KZN Legislature Complex today how he was intimidated by one of the alleged hitmen.

“I went to the old legislature complex in Ulundi to talk to some of the illegal occupants that they needed to vacate the flats. One of the illegal occupants pulled out two firearms, placed them on the table and said ‘yes Mr Majola, we can talk now’. I was terrified”, said Majola.

The Chairperson of the Provincial Public Works Portfolio Committee Honourable Makhosazane Zungu condemned the conduct of the alleged hitmen.

The committee resolved to formally request the South African Police Services and the department to work together to evict illegal occupiers. Zungu said the committee would give the SAPS and the department six months to ensure that illegal occupiers of the buildings are removed.

Committee member Honourable Sthembiso Mshengu said he was shocked at the derelict state of provincial government flats and some ministerial houses in Ulundi adding that the complex is so neglected that it is still emblazoned with the coat-of-arms of the old KwaZulu Homeland government.

Committee member Honourable Hlengiwe Mavimbela, who is also Chairperson of Committees commended the adoption of the resolution saying the committee cannot keep quiet as if it condoned the illegal occupation of government property.

The committee also heard that the departments which have been owing the Public Works Department hundreds of millions of rands have begun to settle their debts. Majola said this was in response to a directive issued at the provincial cabinet lekgotla that departments must pay before the end of the current financial year.

Committee member Honourable James Nxumalo commended those departments who have paid saying it was unacceptable that others were not quick to settle their debts in order for the department to be able to carry-out its responsibilities.

Committee member Honourable Vusi Dube said even those who were legally occupying the flats must pay so that the conditions of the complex could be improved.

The old legislature complex in Ulundi houses a number of government departments and the house of traditional leaders. Some residential flats are legally occupied by some of these officials.

Ends

Issued by KZN Legislature Public Works Portfolio Committee Chairperson Hon Makhosazane Zungu, contact details 0839894400

OR Committee Media Officer Mr Wonder Hlongwa at 0829083532

Mr Siboniso Majozi, KwaZulu-Natal’s Head of the Department of Public Works