KZN LEGISLATURE COMMEMORATES AFRICA DAY – 25 MAY 2022

MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ATTENTION: REPORTERS, NEWS AND ASSIGNMENT EDITORS
DATE: 25 MAY 2022

KZN LEGISLATURE COMMEMORATES AFRICA DAY – 25 MAY 2022

Today, the 25th May 2022, the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature commemorates Africa Day which marks the birth of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) which was founded on 25 May 1963 in Addis Ababa Ethiopia to free the continent from the bondage of colonialism and to forge the unity and solidarity amongst African states. The OAU is a predecessor of the now African Union (AU).

As part of commemorating this important day, the KZN Legislature will be holding the inaugural Africa Day Webinar to be addressed by a panel of eminent speakers and presenters under the theme ‘’Strengthening resilience in Nutrition and Food Security on the African Continent: Strengthening Agro-Food systems, Health and Social Protection Systems for the Acceleration of Human, Social and Economic Capital Development”

Among the speakers billed to address the webinar is Nomfanelo Kota, a former spokesperson for the Department of International Relations and Cooperation and spokesperson for the ANC Caucus in the National Assembly. Other participants in the webinar include African nationals who live in South Africa and Members of the Legislature.

The webinar will start at 16h00 to 18h00. It will be streamed on the following platforms.

Twitter: @KZNlegislature
Facebook: KznLegislature
YouTube: Kzn.legislature
MS Teams (link to be shared on request)

Ends

Issued by

Communications Unit: KZN Legislature
For more information:
Sina Nxumalo: Cell: 0829060449
Wonder Hlongwa: Cell: 082 908 3532
Nomusa Phungula: Cell: 072 294 7237

Read More

Sitting 10 May 2022

Read More

KZN EDUCATION PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE MOURNS THE PASSING ON OF LEARNERS

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.

                                                                          End

For more information, contact:

Wesley Canham                                

0833767299                                                   

Media Liaison and PR

Read More

KZN MPLs COMMIT TO OVERSEE DISASTER FUNDS’ SPENDING

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.

Ends

Issued by KZN Legislature Communications Unit

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

Read More