MEDIA ALERT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ATTENTION: REPORTERS, NEWS AND ASSIGNMENT EDITORS
DATE: 26 JUNE 2023

OVERSIGHT VISIT TO KWAZULU-NATAL BY THE AD HOC COMMITTEE ON FLOOD DISASTER RELIEF AND RECOVERY- 27 – 29 JUNE 2023

The AD Hoc Committee of Parliament will be conducting an oversight visit to KwaZulu-Natal to assess progress on the implementation of programmes that have been made by the three spheres of government, national, provincial and the Mertro in addressing the damage that was caused by the 2022 floods.

The oversight visits will give the Committee an opportunity to have a clear understanding of the extent at which government has been able to provide assistance to the KZN province towards floods disaster relief and recovery from the 2022 floods and establish progress made to date.

The Provincial COGTA Portfolio Committee is part of the visits and plays an oversight role in ensuring the implementation of all disaster relief programmes.

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Issued

Communications Unit
Sina Nxumalo
082 9060449

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Issued by

Hon. Zinhle Cele, MPL
Chairperson of COGTA Portfolio Committee, KZN Legislature
For more information please contact the Chairperson: Cell: 060 501 7783

21 June 2023

MEMBERS OF THE KZN LEGISLATURE LISTEN TO SERVICE DELIVERY ISSUES DURING MULTI-PARTY DELEGATION VISITS

Members of the KZN Legislature who were deployed as part of the Multi-Party Delegation visit to Ugu District heard how the people of the district are battling with service delivery issues on daily basis.

Issues such as lack of water, high crime rate, unemployment, and lack of access roads dominated the deliberations on the first day of the delegation visits.

Multi-Party delegation visits are conducted in preparation for the Taking Legislature to the People which is scheduled to take in Ugu District in November this year.

During the two-day visits Honourable Members held meetings with communities in all four municipalities and on the second day they visited identified service delivery projects.

“Life is very difficult here because of lack of water. But what we don’t understand is how come it is only in our areas where there is no water. Here in Mandawe we are depending on water tankers but if you go across the N2 you will find that water is flowing easily. Sometimes I feel like relocating to Scottburgh to enjoy their quality of life,” said Xolani Cele, a resident of Mandawe outside Scottburgh under Umdoni Municipality.

Other community members told the delegation how frustrated they become because of rising crime incidents. They said the so-called “amaphara” are running amok in their communities.

“We are living in fear. Women and girls are raped on daily basis and there are no arrests. We are told that sometimes people are released because the police holding cells are full and the local prison does not have the capacity to incarcerate people who are arrested here,” said an angry Sipho Mnguni.

Honourable Members told the communities that they will bring the provincial executive arm of government to come and give responses to all the issues raised.

On the second day Members visited a stadium in Umzinto that has cost R10 million and almost all members were angry at the “shoddy work” done to renovate and upgrade the Umzinto stadium.

Honourable Nomakiki Majola, was very unhappy that the officials did not invite the contractor to come and respond to questions raised by Honourable Members. Her sentiments were echoed by Honourable Vusi Dube and other members.

Members were also disappointed when they visited Sivusisizwe Agricultural Co-operative in Dududu where they received a report that since 2017 the co-operative has been assisted with agricultural implements to the value of more than R700 000.

“Why are these gardens not fenced? What are you doing to help these people and be part of the main agricultural value chain. You have failed this co-operative,” said Hon Mondli Chiliza, who was one of the team leaders.

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For more information please contact Wonder Hlongwa at 0829083532.

20 June 2023

For Immediate Release

NEW PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS ELECTED IN THE KZN LEGISLATURE

There has been a number of changes in the leadership of Portfolio Committees of the KZN Legislature this week.

Former MEC for Human Settlements Honourable Jomo Sibiya was elected as the new Chairperson of the Human Settlements Portfolio Committee.

He replaced Honourable Linda Hlongwa-Madlala, who was elected as the new Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Oversight – a committee that exercises oversight on legislature.

Honourable Thulani “Two-Ways” Xulu, who is a former Umsunduzi Municipality Councillor was elected as the Chairperson of Finance Portfolio Committee.

The recent changes followed the appointment of former Finance Portfolio Committee Chairperson Sipho “KK” Nkosi who is now the new MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works.

It is believed that the recent changes will strengthen the legislature’s oversight and accelerate service delivery to the people of KwaZulu-Natal.

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Issued by KZN Legislature Communications Unit

For more information please contact Wonder Hlongwa at 0829083532

22 June 2023

For Immediate Release

HUMAN SETTLEMENTS PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE TO HOLDS PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE HOUSING CONSUMER PROTECTION BILL OF 2021

KwaZulu-Natal Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements will begin holding Public Hearings on the Housing Consumer Protection Bill of 2021 in Jozini tomorrow.

Public hearings are part of the law making process and they are designed to provide interested stakeholders with an opportunity to raise issues on the Bill that is being processed.

Housing Consumer Protection Bill seeks to repeal the Housing Consumers Protection Measures Act, 95 of 1998.

The Bill seeks to ensure adequate protection of housing consumers and effective regulation of the home building industry by, inter alia, strengthening the regulatory mechanisms, strengthening the protection of housing consumers, introducing effective enforcement mechanisms and prescribing appropriate penalties or sanctions to deter non-compliance by home builders.

The hearings will be held as follows:

Date: 23 June 2023

Time: 9am to 2pm

Venue: Emachibini Hall in Jozini

Interested parties and relevant stakeholders are invited to attend so that they can make their inputs. Those who will be unable to physically attend can follow the proceedings through the legislature’s social media platforms such as facebook and youtube.

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Issued by KZN Legislature Communications Unit

For more information please contact Wonder Hlongwa at 0829083532

Youth Parliament debates issues facing Young People in KwaZulu-Natal

On 14 and 15 June 2023, KwaZulu-Natal Youth converged at Ndwedwe Regional Sports Ground in Ilembe District for their Youth Parliament. Youth formations from 8 political parties that are represented in the Legislature met this year under the theme, “Accelerating Youth Economic Opportunities for a Sustainable Future”.  

The first session of the Youth Parliament took place in the form of Commissions, where delegates received presentations from government departments and public entities on various topics that were of interest to the youth. Delegates had an opportunity to engage on the presentations and raised issues that affected them and needed urgent intervention.

The second session of the Youth Parliament took place in the form of a formal sitting where delegates debated the theme “Accelerating Youth Economic Opportunities for a Sustainable Future”. Some of the critical issues which delegates raised during the debate include: the state of education in KwaZulu-Natal, economic opportunities that South Africa’s BRICS membership presents to young people, the mentoring of youth in governance matters and leveraging information technology training for gainful employment.

Other issues affecting young people that need urgent solutions include poverty, unemployment, crime and inequality.