2019 Youth Parliament, Endumeni
Newly elected Kwazulu-Natal Legislature Speaker NN Boyce hosted her first sectoral Youth Parliament in Sibongile Township in Endumeni. She welcomed the delegates, who are the parliamentarians of the Youth Sitting, made up of the youth formations of all the political parties represented in the House.
The Speaker encouraged the delegates to hold constructive and vibrant debates under the Theme: â25 Years of Democracy: A Celebration of Youth Activismâ.
The Youth Parliament is held over two days, 14 and 15 June 2019. On the first day, the House received an update from MECs on the implementation of resolutions taken at the previous Youth Sittings.
Other topics covered on day one included:
° Centrality of youth in advancing the
agenda of a de-colonized and free
education system;
° Ocean economy: Is the youth
strategically positioned to seize
opportunities?
° Emulating the youth of 1976: Youth
championing the agenda to build a
crime free society and combating
social ills; and
° Expediting land expropriation process
and skilling the youth to ensure
productive use
The delegates thereafter broke into commissions on Social Transformation
(Health; Social Development; Arts and Culture); Social Transformation Cluster2
(Education, Human Settlements and Sports and Recreation) ; Economic Transformation Cluster (Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs; Transport; Public Works; Agriculture and Rural Development). ; Governance Cluster (Office of the Premier; Local Government and Traditional Affairs) and the Security Cluster (Community Safety and Liaison).
Commissions were held and the resolutions taken in Commissions are recorded, marking the end of day one.
The second day, 15 June 2019, saw delegates and community members being enlightened on Public Interaction and Petitions Awareness followed by an Address by the Premier, Sihle Zikalala.
The Premier highlighted the strides government has taken in uplifting and promoting youth. He also stated that the KZN Cabinet is in the process of rolling out a R50 Million fund for youth owned companies and that this amount has been increased by a further R20 Million.
The last item on the agenda for the second day is the Youth Parliamentarians Debate under the theme.
â25 Years of Democracy: A Celebration of Youth Activismâ
Transport Portfolio Committee takes a closer look at the South Africa/Mozambique Border
Transport Portfolio Committee takes a closer look at the South Africa/Mozambique Border
Concerns have been raised by Umhlabuyalingana community about the cross-border vehicle theft that is rampant on the border between South Africa and Mozambique. This has prompted the Portfolio Committee on Transport to visit the planned project of the department which seeks to respond to this challenge.
âWe are here to see how far and what plans have been established to respond to the cross-border crime as it remains our greatest concern as a Portfolio Committeeâ, said the chairperson of the Committee, Hon Ntombikayise Sibhidla-Saphetha.
Briefing the Portfolio Committee, the Department of Transport Project Manager, Mr Ndumiso Ndlovu, assured the Committee that the planned project, namely, the Jersey Barrier, includes the construction of the 8km wall along the border line as an initial construction. Responding to questions from members of the Committee, he emphasised that the project will be labour intensive with about 100 jobs to be created for the local people. Various stakeholders have been taken on board, and these include the local Council, Inkosi, suppliers and other relevant government departments.
It was also comforting for members of the Committee to learn that the Defence Force is present to minimise these crimes. However, it came to light that the Defence Force has numerous challenges in curbing these crimes. These include suspected information leaks to criminals regarding the movement of the members of the defence, flocking of civilians between borders and social activities that take place right in the border between South African and Mozambican civilians, the changing of personnel as Defence rotates the deployed of personnel in that area, the limited numbers of members on the ground as only about 47 to man a distance of 20 km etc.
In view of these challenges, the Portfolio Committee resolved to hold further meetings soon to establish amongst others, where the funding for this massive project will come from as was reported. The meeting will further seek to establish whether the funding is sufficient, and to interrogate other decisions that were taken which by the department, according to the Committee leaves it with more questions to ask.
WAR-ROOMS FUNCTIONALITY MONITORING PROGRAMME KWAZULU-NATAL LEGISLATURE 28-29 August 2018
KZN LEGISLATURE MONITORS THE NATIONAL AND PROVINCIAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS THROUGH INTENSIVE OVERSIGHT VISITS TO WAR ROOMS IN MUNICIPALITIES THIS WEEK (NDP & PGDP)
Over the next two days, 28 and 29 August 2018, the Legislature embarks on an intensive oversight programme to assess the impact of War Rooms in relation to service delivery in the entire KZN province. This move is in line with the constitutional obligation of the legislature as set out in Section 114 (2) of the Constitution which stipulates that, âprovincial legislatures must provide for mechanisms to ensure that all provincial executive organs of state in the province are accountable to it.
In this regard, the Legislature oversees parts of the NDP and PGDP through the War-Rooms Programme, which remains a vehicle to facilitate quick response to service delivery needs, by profiling households in a ward and the level of service delivery per household. It seeks to achieve Goal Three: Human and Community Development of the PGDP, with specific reference to the eradication of poverty and the improvement of social welfare.
The Legislature considers War Rooms a multi-purpose, multi-sectoral and the involvement of various government departments at different layers makes this kind of oversight critical in the exercise of the legislatureâs oversight role.
This oversight programme seeks to assess whether or not the War Rooms in the province are on track, and to assess whether what was set out in the design of the project is being accomplished within the time-frames required. The Oversight Programme will assess the following:
Composition of the War-Rooms; Frequency of meetings and participation by stakeholders; Cases dealt with and turnaround period; Data Management; Follow-up on issues; Processing of reports; Feedback to communities; and Overall percentage of functional OSS War-Rooms interventions on the spot.
War-Rooms, are a part of a broader programme, Operation Sukuma Sakhe (OSS). OSS is integrating all departments to focus on solving community problems from the grassroots level. The Programme aims at promoting human values, fighting crime, diseases and social ills, to ensure moral regeneration. As part of this programme, all government departments work together, visiting the poorest, most deprived households in the province to bring health, welfare and other services to them. OSS encompasses the âOne Home One Garden Programmeâ and ensures that families are assisted to register for birth certificates and identity documents. It promotes education, skills development and youth development and emphasizes the delivery of service and infrastructure development.
All media representatives are invited to attend this programme.
Attached is the deployment of the Members of the Provincial Legislature across KZN.
For more information contact:
Wesley Canham
Senior Practitioner: Media liaison and PR
KZN Legislature
Cell 0833 767299
canhamw@kznleg.gov.za