jody.frank@supertechgroup.co.za – Page 2

SPEAKER OF THE KZN LEGISLATURE, HON. NONTEMBEKO BOYCE, JOINED THE TVET COLLEGE COOK-OFF CHALLENGE GRAND FINALE AT LA LUCIA RIDGE.

Speaker of the KZN Legislature, Hon. Nontembeko Boyce, joined the TVET College Cook-Off Challenge grand finale at La Lucia Ridge.

This exciting event brought together talented culinary students from TVET colleges across South Africa, showcasing their skills and creativity in the kitchen.

Speaker Congratulated Nqolokazi Mciza from King Sabata Dalindyebo TVET College in the Eastern Cape, the overall winner of the Cook-Off Challenge beating contestants from other provinces.

#KZNLegislature #kznmpls #TVETCookOffChallenge

FUTURE CAREERS TAKE CENTRE STAGE AT SPEAKER’S SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY EXPO

Learners from across Ezinqoleni came out in numbers to attend the Speaker’s Social Responsibility Career Exhibition Expo, held at Dlovinga Community Hall. The event brought together government departments, tertiary institutions, private sector companies, and development agencies to provide career guidance and empower young people with knowledge that will help shape their futures.

Speaking at the event, the Speaker of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature, Hon. Nontembeko Boyce, said: “This programme is critical in shaping the future of our learners. In many of the schools I have visited in Ray Nkonyeni Municipality through the Legislature’s Civic Education Programme, I have seen how some learners still struggle with subject choice — and how many end up choosing subjects that will not serve them when they finish school. Through this initiative, we aim to reach as many high schools as possible, and hopefully make a lasting difference in the lives of our young people.”

Delivering the keynote address, Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Hon. Zuko Godlimbi, emphasised the link between subject choices and career success. He said: “The choices you make today about which subjects to study will determine the doors that open for you tomorrow. We want you to be deliberate, to think about the future, and to take subjects that will place you in fields where South Africa needs you most. To encourage you further, I am committing to donate 10 laptops to learners who will submit essays explaining the work of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition. I look forward to seeing your submissions.”

Also in attendance was Mr Walter Tebogo Letsie, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education in Parliament, who interacted with learners and addressed some of their questions.

The Expo was a collaboration, with institutions such as NSFAS,the Department of Higher Education and Training, the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, and the National Youth Development Agency. Home Affairs also provided on-site services, assisting learners and community members with ID applications.

To close off the event, the Speaker hosted a Civic Education Quiz, where learners competed for prizes that included laptops, tablets, school bags and power banks, further reinforcing the link between knowledge, participation, and empowerment.

Through this programme, the Hon. Boyce continues to demonstrate her commitment to ensuring that rural learners, who often lack career guidance resources, have access to information, opportunities, and role models that can help them thrive in a changing economy. Working with sponsors and partners, the Career Exhibition Expo will be hosted annually, ensuring that learners continue to benefit from this important initiative.

Issued by the Office of the Speaker of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature

KZN LEGISLATURE DEPUTY SPEAKER HON. MMABATHO TEMBE COMMEMORATES ARBOR MONTH AT JOEL PRIMARY SCHOOL

KwaZulu-Natal Legislature Deputy Speaker, Hon. Mmabatho Tembe, joined learners and educators at Joel Primary School in Maphumulo to commemorate Arbor Month through tree planting and the creation of a vegetable garden.

Addressing learners from the school’s Natural Science Class, Hon. Tembe highlighted the importance of caring for the environment and the critical role young people play in building a sustainable future.

“I am so happy to be here with you today. We are gathered for an important reason, to celebrate and care for our environment. As Natural Science learners, you know how everything in nature is connected, the trees, the soil, the rivers, and even the air we breathe. All of these work together to keep our planet alive and healthy.

But our environment is under pressure. Pollution, climate change, and natural disasters like floods are threatening our communities. Here in KwaZulu-Natal, floods have become more frequent and severe. They wash away soil, damage plants and trees, and make it harder for wildlife and people to thrive. Floods remind us just how important it is to take care of our land and water, because a healthy environment helps reduce the impact of these disasters.

One of the simplest and most powerful ways we can help is by planting trees and indigenous plants. Trees are more than just nice to look at, they clean the air, provide homes for birds and insects, and even help prevent floods by holding the soil together. Every plant you put in the ground is a small superhero protecting our planet.

Today, as we plant our trees and create our garden, remember that you are helping fight climate change, reducing pollution, and making our community greener and healthier.

So let us work together, plant, water, and care for our gardens. Each small action matters, and together, we can make a big difference for our environment, for our province, and for the future.”

The tree planting activity formed part of the Legislature’s ongoing programme to raise awareness about environmental sustainability and to encourage communities, especially the youth, to play an active role in protecting natural resources.

#kznlegislature #ArborMonth #EnvironmentalAwareness #kznmpls

ESWATINI VISIT MEDIA ALERT

MEDIA ADVISORY

September 2025

KWAZULU-NATAL LEGISLATURE TO HOST A HIGH-POWERED DELEGATION FROM ESWATINI PARLIAMENT THIS WEEK

The KwaZulu-Natal Legislature, under the leadership of Speaker Honourable Nontembeko Boyce, will be hosting eSwatini Parliament on a two-day visit. The two institutions will share parliamentary best practices under the auspices of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) that they are both members of.

The high-level delegation will comprise members of the Senate, the Deputy Speaker as well as members of Parliament and it will be in the province from the 4^th of September to the 5^th of September 2025.

The session is part of the resolutions adopted during CPA’s last session held in New South Wales, Australia last year under the theme ‘Engage, empower, sustain: charting the course for resilient democracy’. The engagements between KwaZulu-Natal Legislature and eSwatini Parliament are therefore designed to serve as a platform for sharing best practices in legislative governance and operations.

All formal sessions will take place at the legislature in Pietermaritzburg, and they will commence at 8am. For media enquiries contact Mr Bongani Tembe on 0823272600

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