24 March 2021
For Immediate Release
Attention: News/Assignment Editors, Political Reporters, Education Reporters.

KZN LEGISLATURE PAYS TRIBUTE TO ISILO SAMABANDLA KING GOODWILL ZWELITHINI KABHEKUZULU.

The KZN Legislature hereby gives notice of a Special Sitting to be held on the 26 March 2021 in honour of His Majesty King Goodwill Zwelithini. The Legislature further acknowledges the role played by the Zulu Monarch in bringing about democracy that the country enjoys today.

The departed King Goodwill Zwelithini continues to be considered by this institution as the voice of reason and the unifier of all people in the province. The Legislature acknowledges that His Majesty has remained an advocate for socio-economic development, including provision of infrastructure: roads, water and electricity for especially, people living in rural areas. In this regard the Legislature, staff and its Members value the involvement of the Monarch in its work, as He always encouraged effective oversight and strengthened service delivery to the people especially in the rural parts of our province.

Whilst King Goodwill Zwelithini has honoured without any failure his official address to the nation which precedes the State of the Province address every year, His wise words during these addresses will be missed by the institution on behalf of the people of KwaZulu Natal.
Media is invited to cover the Special Sitting to be held as follows:
Date: 26 March 2021
Venue: Legislature Chamber
Time: 10am

End

For media enquiries and interviews please contact:
Wesley Canham
Media Liaison and PR
KZN Legislature
0833767299

Nomusa Phungula
Media Liaison: Speaker’s Office
072 294 7237 / 071 851 0085

For Immediate Release

12 March 2021

STATEMENT BY KWAZULU-NATAL LEGISLATURE SPEAKER ON THE PASSING OF HIS MAJESTY KING GOODWILL ZWELITHINI KABHEKUZULU

The KwaZulu-Natal Legislature receives with great sadness the news of the passing of His Majesty King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu who was the leader of the Zulu nation.

True to his regal bearing, King Goodwill Zwelithini epitomised humility, dignity and a genuine love for his subjects. King Goodwill Zwelithini’s name will forever be immortalised by his good deeds and untiring endeavours for the welfare of not only his subjects but all South Africans.

On behalf of the legislature, I extend my deep sympathy to the Royal Family and the entire Zulu nation on this very sad day of the untimely passing of His Majesty. The legislature has benefited enormously from his warm, constructive and reciprocally valuable working relations it had with the King.

When we officially open the legislature at the beginning of every year, His Majesty provided solid and valuable guidance to the legislators and the Executive on what needed to be done to improve the lives of our people.

The King was always frank with us the legislative sector and more importantly, he had the courage of his convictions. One of those convictions was his unwavering belief that the legislature should not falter on its mandate of strengthening democracy as well as keeping a watchful eye on the executive arm of government.

The King was a peace maker. He always called for greater unity among political parties in KwaZulu-Natal as he strongly believed that tensions derailed the delivery of services to the people. We have no doubt that the collegiality we have among political parties we currently have in our legislature is because of perennial guidance we received from His Majesty.

May His Majesty’s soul rest in peace.

ISSUED BY KWAZULU-NATAL LEGISLATURE SPEAKER, HON NONTEBEKO BOYCE

For enquiries contact:
Nomusa Phungula
072 294 7237/ 851 0085

11 March 2021
Embargo: For Immediate Release
Attention: News/Assignment Editors, Political Reporters, Reporters
From: KZN Legislature Communications Unit

RE: HUMAN SETTLEMENTS PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE WELCOMES NEW MEC

The Chairperson of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements Honourable Linda Hlongwa-Madlala has congratulated the newly appointed MEC for Human Settlements Ntuthuko “Jomo” Sibiya.

Hlongwa-Madlala said the committee welcomes Sibiya and strongly believes that they will have an excellent working relationship.
Sibiya, is a seasoned politician and a senior leader in the province. He was the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Education before his appointment as MEC. Prior to that, he served in a number of other portfolio committees.

The changes to the provincial cabinet were necessitated by the passing of former Transport MEC Bheki Ntuli in January this year due to Covid-19 complications. Former Human Settlements and Public Works MEC Peggy Nkonyeni has now been moved to Transport and Community Safety.

Hlongwa-Madlala also wished Nkonyeni well in her new responsibilities saying the committee had a good working relationship with her.

“We are looking forward to a very good working relationship with the new MEC and his team. We wish him all the best,” said Hlongwa-Madlala.

Ends

Issued by the Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements

For more information please contact Committee Chairperson Hon Linda Hlongwa-Madlala at 0782923687 or Wonder Hlongwa at 0829083532

KZN LEGISLATURE MEMBERS VISIT SCHOOLS TO MONITOR THEIR FUNCTIONALITY IN THE FIRST WEEK OF THE 2021 SCHOOL CALENDAR YEAR

This week KZN MPLs are conducting oversight visits throughout the province to assess whether teaching and learning is taking place in a safe and conducive environment in public schools across the province.

The visits are taking place amid the deadly second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic which forced the government to delay the opening of schools for more than a month.

The visits, which enter the second day, have so far discovered that, most public schools have opened in a safe and conducive environment where teaching and learning is taking place smoothly.

Members are interacting with various stakeholders including teacher unions, department official, school governing bodies and members of the community to get their views on the challenges that are experienced by schools since the academic year officially started on February 15.

A comprehensive report on these oversight visits will be compiled and presented to the Speaker which will finally be debated in the House by all political parties represented in the Legislature. This forms part of the oversight processes of the Legislature to ensure the delivery of quality education in our province.

MEDIA STATEMENT
17 JANUARY 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
STATEMENT ON THE PASSING OF MR BHEKUYISE MUNTUKAYISE NTULI

KWAZULU-NATAL LEGISLATURE MOURNS THE UNTIMELY DEATH OF ITS MEMBER AND MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE MEC, MR BHEKUYISE MUNTUKAYISE NTULI

Yesterday , 16 January 2021 we learned with deep shock the news of the untimely passing of KwaZulu-Natal Legislature Member, Mr Bhekuyise Muntukayise Ntuli. He passed away at a Durban hospital yesterday evening due to COVID-19 related complications. He had been unwell for some time.

Affectionately known by his clan name “Mphemba”, served as a member of National Parliament of South Africa from 1999 to 2003 before joining the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature during the 4th term where he served as a member of the Transport Portfolio Committee and Chairperson of the Community Safety and Liaison Portfolio Committee. Mr Ntuli was sworn in to the position of MEC in September 2019. Throughout his life in politics, he has been a humble, loyal, dedicated, hard-working and exemplary servant of the people of KwaZulu-Natal.

He was a seasoned politician and a union activist. He held Primary Teachers Certificate from eMadadeni College; a degree in Management from UCT Graduate School of Business; a Certificate in Leadership from Wits University; and Post–graduate Diploma in Research, Strategic Diplomacy and Transitional Justice from University of Johannesburg.

Mr Ntuli’s rare qualities of being a peacemaker even under difficult circumstances earned him respect among his peers. This is not surprising because throughout his life, he performed extraordinary deeds in various structures and domains he served in.

In recognising his leadership qualities, his organisation, the ANC, elected him to serve as the Chairperson of the ANC in the Musa Dladla Region for more than 15 years. He served for more than 20 years as a member and leader of the ANC sub–committee on Peace and Stability.
Despite his tasks and responsibilities being complex and sensitive in nature, he tackled them with calmness. Passionate for peace in the province he had begun to implement a number of programmes that were aimed at reversing the tide of Gender-Based Violence, Taxi Violence, and reducing the carnage on the province’s roads. He has consistently displayed exceptional leadership and wisdom, with his passing, our legislature and indeed the entire country has lost an upright leader, a deep thinker, and a true servant of the people. We pray for comfort in this hour of grief.

On behalf of the legislature community, I would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the Ntuli family, his friends, the people of KwaZulu-Natal and the organisation he represented in the Legislature, the African National Congress. May his revolutionary soul rest in peace.

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE KWAZULU-NATAL LEGISLATURE SPEAKER MS NONTEMBEKO BOYCE
For more information contact:
Nomusa Phungula
Office of the Speaker Media Liaison
071 851 0085/ 072 294 7237

18 November 2020
Embargo: For Immediate Release
Attention: News/Assignment Editors, Political Reporters, Reporters
From: KZN Legislature Communications Unit

RE: KZN LEGISLATURE’S AGRICULTURE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE CALLS ON FARMING COMMUNITIES TO BE VIGILANT AGAINST BRUCELLA BACTERIA

KwaZulu-Natal Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development has warned communities living in areas where there has been an outbreak of brucella bacteria to be vigilant when dealing with suspicious animals.

Brucella Bacteria is an animal-borne disease which causes abortion, infertility, reduced milk production and weakened joints in bovine animals and infected people.

Brucellosis is primarily a cattle disease but may affect most other mammals, including humans. Humans who are at risk of contracting the disease are people who work with animals such veterinarians, farmers, farm workers and abattoir employees.

The Portfolio Committee has noted the intervention of the provincial department of Agriculture and Rural Development which has embarked on a campaign to vaccinate animals in affected districts and educate communities affected by the bacteria.

“Agriculture has been identified as a key driver in ensuring food security and radical economic development in the province. We need to work together to deal with anything which seeks to threaten our agricultural potential such as the Brucella bacteria. We urge our communities to co-operate with departmental officials and attend information sharing sessions so that they understand the bacteria and know how to identify its symptoms,” said Committee Chairperson Honourable Ntombikayise Sibhidla-Saphetha.

The portfolio committee will monitor the department’s intervention strategies as part of its oversight exercise on the department.

The committee also sends out its deepest sympathies to the farmers who have lost their livestock.
“We understand that most farmers are dependent on this livestock for their livelihood. It is for this reason that we appeal to the farmers to co-operate with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development so that they will be familiar with protocols to be followed to minimise the impact of this outbreak,’ said Sibhidla-Saphetha.

Ends
Issued by the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development Hon NN Sibhidla-Saphetha Cell No: 0833013622.
For media inquiries please contact Committee Media Officer Wonder Hlongwa at 0829083532