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KZN LEGISLATURE INTENSIFIES VOTER EDUCATION CAMPAIGN IN THE PROVINCE

Tomorrow, 1 September 2021, the Legislature will continue with its voter education campaign to encourage citizens to participate in the upcoming local government elections next year. The campaign is planned as follows:

Ilembe District Municipality

King Cetshwayo Local Municipality

There will be briefing meetings with political leadership of the Legislature and local municipalities before the voter education campaign kicks off in the two districts. The briefings will take place in municipal council chambers. Home Affairs and IEC will be present to assist citizens as they prepare for registration, ID applications and other services as provided by these institutions.
The Legislature is the custodian of democracy and with this programme, the institution aims to strengthen participatory democracy by ensuring that all eligible voters participate in the local government elections to elect their public representatives where they live.

Media is invited to cover the event.

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For more information for, contact:
Wesley Canham
0833767299
Media Liaison and PR

From today 27 to 28 July 2021, KZN Legislature MPLs including MECs are conducting mid-year oversight visits in schools throughout the province to inspect their readiness to resume teaching and learning after the winter break.

The schools functionality monitoring programme which is conducted in the beginning of the year when schools open and in the middle of the year when schools reopen after the mid-year break aims to ensure that teaching and learning take place in a conducive environment in our public schools.

The visits include various stakeholders such as SGBs, Teacher Unions, Councilors, Community Leadership and various government departments.

MEDIA ALERT
DATE: 24 JUNE 2021
ATTENTION: REPORTERS, NEWS AND ASSIGNMENT EDITORS

KZN LEGISLATURE MULTIPARTY DELEGATION EMBARK ON OVERSIGHT VISITS IN UMKHANYAKUDE LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES

A high powered multiparty delegation of Members of the Provincial Legislature will be deployed in all local municipalities in uMkhanyakude to hold meetings with various stakeholders with a view to understand their service delivery challenges. The visits start on Friday the 25th and end on Saturday the 26th June 2021.

On 25 June, various teams will start the programme by visiting various projects that have been implemented by local, provincial and national government to bring service delivery in uMkhanyakude District.

Due to the outbreak of the 3rd wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and the country’s move to Alert Level 3 Lockdown Regulations, public meetings, which will be held on Saturday the 26th June, will only be limited to 50 people in each venue. People are encouraged to participate in these meetings by raising service delivery challenges in their wards by using the Legislature’s social media pages, Twitter: @KznLegislature, Facebook: KZN legislature.

The media is invited to attend the meetings which will also be streamed live on our social media pages.

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For more information contact:
Sina Nxumalo
Communications Manager
Cell: 0829060449
E-mail: nxumalow@kznleg.gov.za

Media Alert
For Immediate Release
24 May 2021

SPEAKER NONTEMBEKO BOYCE TO DELIVER KWAZULU-NATAL LEGISLATURE BUDGET SPEECH TOMORROW 25 MAY 2021

The Speaker of KwaZulu-Natal Legislature Honourable Nontembeko Boyce will present the Budget Speech for the KZN Legislature (Vote 2) for 2021/2022 financial year in the Legislature Chamber on the 25th May 2021 at 9h00.

The Speaker will unveil the Legislature’s ground-breaking programmes and initiatives which are set to change the way the Legislature operates during the 6th term.

Necessitated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the regulations put in place to curb the further spread of the virus, the Legislature continues to perform its core business of law-making, oversight, and public participation through various digital platforms.

The adoption of digital platforms aims to ensure that the business of the legislature remains in full force and that we continue to execute our constitutional mandate and place the citizen’s views at the centre of our work

The Speaker will deliver the budget speech in a hybrid sitting where Members of the Legislature (MPLs) will attend physically while others will participate in the sitting virtually. It will be streamed live on the Legislature’s social media platforms and YouTube channel.

Date – 25 May 2021
Time – 09:00
Members of the media are invited to cover the budget speech.

A limited number of media houses will be allowed in the chamber, kindly RSVP by 3pm today

ISSUED BY THE KWAZULU-NATAL LEGISLATURE OFFICE OF THE SPEAKER

Enquiries
Nomusa Phungula – 071 851 0085/ 072 294 7237

Voter Education Campaign got off to a good start at the weekend

The Legislature’s voter education campaign was launched successfully at the weekend in Zululand and uMkhanyakude Districts where Members of the Legislature (MPLs) conducted roadshows educating the public on the importance of voting in the upcoming local government elections to be held on the 27th October 2021.

The voter education campaign which was led by the top leadership of the Legislature including the Deputy Speaker, Hon Themba Mthembu, Deputy Chair of Chairs, Hon Makhosazana Zungu, and Deputy Chief Whip, Hon Vuyiswa Caluza aims to educate and encourage the citizens to participate effectively in the upcoming municipal elections.

The campaign is focusing on the following important areas:

• Who can register as a voter?
• Where can you register?
• Why should you register?
• How do you check if you are registered?
• How to vote in municipal elections?

The KZN Legislature has a duty to conduct public education as part of its mandate of enhancing public involvement in the democratic processes. Voting is a democratic right and a civic duty which requires all eligible citizens to participate in it.

Members of the public who came out in large numbers during the campaign had shown enthusiasm and their readiness to vote in the upcoming local government elections. The Legislature will conduct the voter education campaign until the end of September.

13 May 2021
For Immediate Release
Attention: News/Assignment Editors, Political Reporters

SUBJECT: KZN LEGISLATURE EMBARKS ON VOTER EDUCATON CAMPAIGN TO ENHANCE DEMOCRACY AHEAD OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS

Following the announcement by the Presidency of the date of the local government elections to be held on 27 October 2021, the KZN Legislature will be conducting a series of voter education campaigns to encourage the citizens to take part in the upcoming local government elections. The voter education campaign kicks off this Saturday, 15 May 2021 and will run until September.

The Legislature will conduct the first phase of the campaign at the following areas:

Umkhanyakude District: 15 May 2021 from 9h00
Umhlabuyalingana Local Municipality,
* Ward 1 (Manguzi Town)
* Ward 4
Route: Thengani Evangelic Church, Mnyayiza, Mashalaza, Manguzi Shopping Centre
Umtubatuba Local Municipality,
* Mtubatuba Town
* Ward 3
*Ward 20
Route: Bhoboza, Msane, Mbatsheni, Delunina Low Cost Housing Settlements

Zululand District: 15 May 2021 from 9h00
Pongola Local Municipality
*Ward 2
*Ward 5 (Belgrade)
*Ward 10
Route: Ncotshane Township (Ward 10 and 2), Town

Abaqulusi Local Municipality
*Ward 18 – Vryheid
Route: Mondlo Township, Garage next to the Rank

The Legislature views the citizens’ participation in our democratic processes as essential to sustaining and enhancing constitutional democracy in our country. Elections are part of public involvement in our democracy and they allow the citizens to choose the government they want where they live.
“Our institution, through this campaign, aims to ensure that we approach the upcoming local government elections with well-informed citizens who are able to participate effectively, and that we strengthen our commitment with the voters to fundamental values and principles of constitutional democracy”, said the Deputy Speaker of the Legislature, Hon Themba Mthembu.

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For more information

Wesley Canham
Senior Practitioner: Media Liaison and PR
canhamw@kznleg.gov.za
0833767299,

Nomusa Phungula
Media Liaison in the Office of the Speaker
Phungulas@kznlegov.za
0722 94 7237
071 851 0085

Sina Nxumalo
Communications Manager
0829060449
nxumalow@kznleg.gov.za

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

RE: LEGISLATURE ACTIVITIES THIS WEEK (10-15 May 2021)

Monday (10/05/21): Today is reserved for party caucuses.

Tuesday (11/05/21): Finance Portfolio Committee will be meeting and also conduct Public Hearings in Bhongweni Hall (Kokstad) on the Division of Revenue Bill, 2021.
The following Committees will also meet to adopt Committee Budget Reports: Transport, Health, Community Safety and Standing Committee on Oversight.

Wednesday (12/05/21): Public Works Portfolio Committee, will conduct oversight visit to St Faith’s Hospital in Ulundi (9am) and move to Catherine Booth Hospital (KwaKhoza) in King Cetshwayo District.

Thursday (13/05/21): Today has been reserved for party caucuses, however if there are any developments Members of the Media will be informed as a matter of urgency.

Friday (14/05/21): Today there will be a Sitting of the provincial legislature (hybrid mode) from 9am to 17:30 for the general budget debate, voting on Finance Committee Budget Report and voting on Standing Committee on Oversight Budget Report. The link to the sitting will be made available on Thursday afternoon but Members of the media can also follow these proceedings on the legislature’s facebook page.

Saturday (15/05/21): This day has been set aside for voter education programmes in Zululand and uMkhanyakude districts. Please see the attached schedule for details of the wards where voter education will be taking place.

Ends

IQALE ngomfutho ingqungquthela yokuqala yesiShayamthetho saKwaZulu-Natali yomkhankaso waso wokuseka abantu abanobulili obuxubile kanye nabathandayo abonobulili obufanayo, abavame ukubizwa ngama-LGBTQIA+.

Lomcimbi, obizwa ngeKwaZulu-Natal Legislature’s LGBTQIA+ Symposium , ubuhanjelwe ngosolwazi, abazikabanzi ngalomkhakha, abamele izinhlangano, ama-LGBTQIA+, abemiNyango kahulumeni ehlukene, omasipala namalungu esiShayamthetho, ubuse-City Hall eMgungundlovu mhla zingama (date).

USomlomo wesiShayamthetho saKwaZulu-Natali uNksz uNontembeko Boyce wethule ingqikithi yalenhlanganiso wagcizelela ngokuthi bazimisele ukuqhubeka nezinye izingqungquthela zalolu hlobo ukuze bezofunda kabanzi ngama-LGBTQIA+, kanye neminye imikhakha engavikelekile, bese bewaseka ngendlela efanele.
“Esikuqondayo kwisiShayamthetho wukuthi ngokoMthethosisekelo wakulelizwe, sonke siyalingana futhi sonke sinamalungelo avikelwe nguSomqulu Wamalungelo Abantu (Bill of Rights). Lawo malungelelo kumele ahlonishwe yiwo wonke umuntu wakuleli,” kusho uSomlomo.

“Yingakho sikubone kumqoka ukuthi sihlangane kulengqungquthela ukuze sizofunda izinto ezithinta ama-LGBTQIA+, siphinde sikwazi ukuyeka lokhu ebesithi siyakwazi ngawo noma sizitshela ukuthi kuyiqiniso ngawo. Ukusebenzisa usiko nenkolo ngendlela engafanele ukubacwasa ngendlela abaphila ngayo, konke lokho yizinto esifisa ukuziyeka. Kodwa inkolo nosiko kumele kusetshenziswe ngendlela efanele yokubaseka, sibakhombise nothando,” kuqhuba uSomlomo.

Wenze isibonelo ngesishoshovu se-LGBTQIA+ uMnuz Lindokuhle Cele waseMlazi, owabulawa ngo-2020 ngesihluku ngenxa yempilo ayiphilayo. Uthe izigameko ezifuze lezi kumele zinqandwe futhi kuliwe nazo.

“Abantu abaningi abathandana nabantu abanobulili obufanayo mabangacwaswa ngendlela abaphila ngayo, bazizwe bengaphephile emphakathini; nokuyinto okumele iphele. Ayemukelekile nhlobo, siyayigxeka kakhulu,” kusho uSomlomo. UMnuz uChris McLachlan, i-Clinical Psychologist esibhedlela e-Edendale, uthe baningi abantu abangaqondi ngempilo yama-LGBTQIA+, nokwenza impilo yawo ibenzima.
“Okokuqala nje uma ingane izalwa, kubhekwa ukuthi wumfana noma yintombazane. Bese-ke ngalokho beyikhethela ukuthi izogqokani nokuthi izoba umuntu onjani emphakathini. Uma kwenzeka kuba khona umuntu ozizwa ngenye indlela abantu bake badideke, abanye bengakwazi ukwamukela.

“Izinto ezifana nezinto ezincane zenza ama-LGBTQIA+ abe nezinselelo njengokuthi asebenzise ziphi izindlu zangasese emphakathini, ngoba emphakathini kukhona ezabesilisa nezabesifazane kuphela ezindaweni eziningi. Wena uma unomzimba womuntu wesilisa kodwa uzizwa ukuthi ungowesifazane, uba nenkinga. Kokunye uze ubone ukuthi kumele ungazisebenzisi nhlobo izindlu zangasese ngoba uyacwaseka. Ezikoleni naseziteshini zamaphoyisa khona abangakutholi ukwesekwa, bacwaseke.”

Uthe njengomuntu obuye esebenze eThuthuzela (lapho kusetshenzwa amacala okudlwengula ezibhedlela) uke abone kukhona nabasaba ukuzobika amacala ngoba besaba ukuthi ngeke benzelwe ubulungiswa noma bahlekwe. “Abanye uma bexoshwa emakhaya, abazi bazoyaphi ngoba nezikhungo ezigcina abantu kunendawo yabesifazane nabesilisa kuphela. Kuningi okusamele kulungiswe ukweseka ama-LGBTQIA+ emphakathini,” kusho uMcLachlan.

Ovela eNdlini yabaHoli boMdabu, Inkosi NC Molefe, uthe uyaqonda ukuthi ezindaweni zasemakhaya nezamakhosi kusekhona ukungemukeleki nokucwaswa kwama-LGBTQIA+ kodwa bafisa ukufundiswa ukuze bezokwenza kangcono. “Siyaqonda ukuthi zikhona izinselelo ezindaweni zasemakhaya, kuba nzima ukuphila nathi emphakathini ngenxa yengcindezi ekhona. Kusenzima ukuthi sibemukele njengabanye abantu. Kokunye asibazi nokuthi bakhona ezindaweni zamakhosi ngoba bazifihlile ngoba besaba ukucwaseka.

“Esikushoyo manje wukuthi abangesabi, abaphumele obala, sibazi. Sazi izidingo zabo. Yizingane zethu lezi, esizithandayo. Kumele kube nezinhlelo ezifuze lezi umphakathi ufundiswe ngama-LGBTQIA+, kungagcinwa emadolobheni, kuyiwe ezindaweni zasemakhaya. Kumele uma ehlukumezekile akwazi ukuyofaka amacala konkosi bebike. Awanganikwa amagama awacwaswayo kodwa anikwe uthando nokusekwa lapho ekhona, angaze abalekele emadolobheni lapho ezokwamukeleka khona,” kusho Inkosi uMolefe.

Omunye obekulengqungquthela wuSamkelo Dindi, oneminyaka ewu-19, waseMkhuze, onxuse ukuthi kube nocwaningo emadolobheni nasemakhaya ukuze kube nolwazwi olulodwa ngomkhakha we LGBQTI+.
“Mina ngaze ngaba neminyaka engu-16 ngingakaze ngimbone omunye umuntu ophila impilo yabathandana nobulili obubodwa. Ngakho nganginemibuzo eminingi ukuthi ngathi ngiwumfana kodwa ngizizwa ngiwumuntu wesifazane. “Ngaba nenkinga nasesikoleni emathoyilethi abafana khona owazama ukungidlwengula. Ngase ngicela ukusebenzisa awamantombazane kodwa babengayizwa kahle leyo. Kwelothisha bathi ngeke besebenzise amathoyilethi nomfundi. Ngagcina nginikwa elalingasetshenziswa umuntu ukuthi kube ngelami. Kuningi ukucwaswa engakuthola ngenxa yempilo engangiyiphila. Ingqungquthela enje eyenziwe yisiShayamthetho iyasilekelela ukuthi sikhulume ngezinselelo esibhekana nazo nsuku zonke. Sifisa iqhubekele phambili nakwenzinye izindawo,” kusho yena.

Ilungu leSishayamthetho uMnuz uMarthinus Meyer lithe njengoba laphumela obala ngokuba owesilisa othandana nobulili obufanayo, kusabikwa ukuthi kukhona abasacwaseka. “Ngizizwa sengathi sizenzela phansi izingane zethu uma zisathola ukucwaseka ezikoleni namanje. Abanye bakhala ngokuthi amakhansela naseziteshini zamaphoyisa bayacwaseka. Lokho kumele kuphele. SiyisiShayamthetho kumele sizibophezele ekufundiseni abaholi emphakathini ukuthi ama-LGBTQIA+ aphathwa kanjani uma enezidingo,” kusho yena.
UMnyango wezeMpilo, uMnyango wezokuHlaliswa kwaBantu, uMnyango wokuThuthukiswa koMphakathi ithe inezinhlelo eziseka ama-LGBTQIA+ eminyangweni yazo.
UDkt u-Amet Tshabalala, woMnyango wezeMpilo, uthe kuseyinselelo ukuthi izibhedlela nemitholampilo zihlukaniswa ngowesilisa nowesifazane kuphela. Uthe kuningi okunye abazama ukukushintsha ukuze ama-LGBTQIA+ amukeleke kahle kwezempilo.

UNksz uGugu Luthuli, woMnyango wezokuHlaliswa KwaBantu, uthe kukhona uhlelo lwezinhlangano ezingenzi inzuzo, zokubhalisela ukuxhaswa ngendawo yokuhlala bese behlalisa abathandana nobulili obufanayo uma befakwe ngaphansi kwabantu abazohlomula.
Uthe nezindlu zomxhaso bayakwazi ukuzibhalisela uma nje izimo zabo ngokusebenza zivuma ukuthi baxhaswe.
Bathe bayakuqonda ukuthi kulezindawo ezikhoselisa abantu kusenenselelo yokuthi bahlukaniswa ngobulili besifazane nabesilisa. Bathe lokhu ngokunye okusadinga ukulungiswa.

UKhomishana weGender Equality, uNksz Busisiwe Deyl, uthe zisekhona izinselelo ababhekana nazo emsebenzini wokulelwa amalungelo abesifazane nokulingana kwezobulili ezweni. “Phakathi kwezinye izinselelo yimishado yezinkolo ezehlukene namasiko ahlukene. Umsebenzi wethu ukuthi siseke amalungelo abantu, siyakwazi ngisho nokuya ezinkantolo njengoba kwenza ihhovisi loMvikeli woMphakathi uma kukhona okumele sikulelwe ukuze kube semthethweni, ukuze kube nobulungiswa,” kusho yena.
Kulo mcimbi bekulandelwa yonke imithetho yokuphepha kwiCOVID-19, kuqhelelwene, kusetshenziswa nezifonyo ezimibalabala eziseka ama-LGBTQIA+.