The KwaZulu-Natal Legislature hosts the 2023 Civic Voter Education Campaign on 30 August 2023 at Dr JL Dube Stadium in Inanda and Bridge City Taxi Rank in KwaMashu.

The focus of the programme is to address the reported lower voter turnout over the past elections as well as to encourage voter registration and to create awareness around the 2024 National General Elections and to encourage and facilitate the applications for new Identity documents and collection of the still uncollected IDs.

The programme is being delivered in partnership with strategic partners i.e. the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and Department of Home Affairs (DHA).

(i)   The IEC will support both teams and will be focusing mainly on voter education, voter registration and checking as well as updating of details on the voter’s roll

(ii)  The Department of Home Affairs whose main role is the identity document drive (application for new IDs and issuing of uncollected IDs to applicants) will have 3 mobile units per venue each to process the ID applications for new applicants and those that have had their IDs damaged.

(iii) There will also be SAPS to ensure that those that need to do affidavits are supported at each site.

10 August 2023

Media Advisory

KwaZulu-Natal Legislature’s Public Works Portfolio Committee will be conducting Public Hearings at Sibusisiwe Hall in Mandeni tomorrow, 11th August 2023. Public Hearings will commence at 10am and end at 13:00pm

The purpose of the Expropriation Bill [B23B-2020] is to clearly outline how expropriation can be done and on what basis.

The Presidential Advisory Panel Report determined that the 1975 Expropriation Act was inconsistent with the Constitution, and that it “undermines the constitutionally enshrined principles of lawful, procedurally fair and reasonable administrative justice”.

The Bill was rejected in 2021 and reprised in 2022, starting with Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure. That committee’s task was to consider all public inputs on the amendments of the Act for the National Assembly to pass the Bill.

The National Assembly passed the bill in September 2022. From there, the bill was passed on to the National Council of Provinces, which has reopened the proposed laws for public comment.

It is this process which is taking place in KwaZulu-Natal and will end this coming Saturday on the 12th of August.

Ends
Issued by KZN Legislature Communications Unit
For more information please contact Wonder Hlongwa at 0829083532

Tuesday, 8 August 2023

KwaMashu Sports Centre

eThekwini Municipality

Theme: “Accelerating Socio-Economic Opportunities for Women’s Empowerment”
 
Programme Director:

Hon. P Mbatha-Cele MPL;

Chairperson: Standing Committee on Quality of Life

09h55 – 10h00

Announcement of the official start of the program and calling people into order before singing of the National Anthem
 
Hon. P Mbatha-Cele

12h10 – 13h00

Question and Answer Session

All
 
Women Parliament Dialogue

13h00 – 14h30

Women Dialogue

ACDP : 3mins

ATM : 3mins

MF : 3mins

NFP : 3 mins

EFF : 9 mins

DAWN : 12 mins

IFPWB : 15 mins

ANCWL : 42 mins

14h30 – 14h40

Presentation of 2023 Women Parliament Resolutions

14h40 – 14h50

Vote of Thanks

Hon. H Mavimbela

Chairperson of Chairpersons of Committees

@Kzn.Legislature

#kznmpls 

KZN Legislature commemorates Mandela Day by handing over a house, furniture and grocery to Gogo Ngcobo in Ward 10 in Umthonjaneni Municipality under King Cetshwayo District as part of the 67 Days to commemorate the call our former President and the struggle icon made to all South Africans to remember his role he played in the liberation struggle.

The KZN Legislature, led by the Chief Whip, Hon. James Nxumalo and Members from all Parties in the Legislature spent the day to hand over the house and goodies to the Ngcobo family with the support of the traditional leadership, ward councilor and locals.

This is part of the Legislature’s role to assist our needy communities to realise a better life.

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.

Ends

Issued

Communications Unit
Sina Nxumalo
082 9060449

Ends

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.

Ends.

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.

Ends

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.

Ends

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.

24 May 2023

For Immediate Release

HUMAN SETTLEMENTS PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON WELCOMES NEW MEC

KwaZulu-Natal Legislature’s Human Settlements Portfolio Committee Chairperson Honourable Linda Hlongwa-Madlala has congratulated and welcomed the appointment of Sipho “KK” Nkosi as the new MEC for Public Works and Human Settlements.

“Nkosi is a principled and experienced leader who has demonstrated strong qualities of fiscal discipline when he was serving as the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Finance. That experience is going to serve him very well when he steers the ship of Human Settlements and Public Works,” said Hlongwa-Madlala.

She said the committee hopes that Nkosi will prioritize the housing of last year’s victims of floods, filling of vacant posts and delivery of much needed housing units to deserving people throughout the province.

Hlongwa-Madlala said Nkosi has had a notable spell as the Chairperson of Finance Portfolio Committee and this will assist in curbing maladministration and mismanagement within the department.

“Having served in the legislature since 2009, we believe that he will appreciate the oversight role played by portfolio committees and will always attempt to make himself available to appear before the portfolio committees.

Ends

Issued by KZN Legislature Communications Unit For more information please contact Hon Hlongwa-Madlala at 0837447119

or Mr Wonder Hlongwa, the Committee’s Media Officer at 0829083532.