24 May 2023

For Immediate Release

PUBLIC WORKS PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON WELCOMES NEW MEC

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

“Nkosi is a seasoned activist with a proven track record as the champion of the poor and the working class. With these attributes he is well positioned to drive the construction of government infrastructure such as schools and hospitals and prioritize the completion of repairing the infrastructure which was damaged by last year’s floods,” said Zungu.

She added that as a former Chairperson of the Finance Portfolio Committee Nkosi will be better positioned to curb issues of mismanagement of public resources and the committee will expect him to deal decisively with the contractors who are doing shoddy work.

Public Works Portfolio Committee is looking forward to working with Nkosi and his departments and we hope that having spent time at the legislature serving in a number of portfolio committees he understands very well the importance of oversight and accountability.

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Issued by KZN Legislature Communications UnitFor more information please contact Hon Zungu at 0839894400

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

KZN LEGISLATURE held its annual Workers Parliament under the theme “Defend and Advance Collective Bargaining in Honour of 50 Years for Worker Recognition”

On 19 May 2023, Workers from the three major union federations in the province which is Cosatu, Fedusa and Nactu, gathered at the Cecil Emmet Hall in Vryheid under Abaqulusi Municipality for their annual Workers Parliament where they deliberated on issues affecting workers as a sector. The issues that dominated the deliberations included the following:

• Labour Migration Policy, Compliance and Resource on National Minimum Wage Implementation and Challenges facing Unemployment Insurance Fund.
• Exploitation of EPWP workers in relation to the minimum wage.
• Challenges facing the Council for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA)
• Transnet Privatisation, road congestion post April floods and plans to overcome these challenges.

Workers Parliament is one of the Legislature’s public participation programmes which enables the Legislature to involve various stakeholders in its law-making and oversight processes. It gives various sectors a platform to raise issues that affect them as citizens of the province.

Workers adopted a set of resolutions that will be submitted to the Office of the Speaker for referral to relevant committees of the Legislature for consideration. After consideration by Legislature committees, the resolutions will be referred to the Executive for processing and implementation. Provincial departments are required to provide regular reports to committees on progress regarding the implementation of resolutions adopted by the Workers Parliament.

02 May 2023

Statement

KZN Legislature Passes Division of Revenue Bill

This morning, KwaZulu-Natal Legislature Speaker Honourable Nontembeko Boyce presided over a Special Sitting of the legislature to pass the Division of Revenue Bill.

The Bill, which provides equitable division of revenue raised nationally among the national, provincial and local spheres of government was unanimously passed by the House.

The Bill has been sent to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) as our Provincial Mandate for voting.

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Issued by KZN Legislature Communications Unit

For more information please contact Sina Nxumalo at 0829060449

20 April 2023

TO: ALL MEDIA

KWAZULU-NATAL LEGISLATURE TO VOTE ON THE KWAZULU-NATAL APPROPRIATION BILL 2023/2024

In performing its law-making function, the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature considers and passes the provincial budget to allow the Provincial Government to deliver services to the people of KwaZulu-Natal.

From the 18th to the 21st April 2023, all provincial departments have presented their Budget Votes to the Legislature where the Premier and Members of the Executive Council (MECs) outlined their departmental programmes that are designed to accelerate service delivery in the province.

The Legislature will consider and vote on the KwaZulu-Natal Appropriation Bill, 2023 on the afternoon of 21st April 2023 in the Chamber. The KwaZulu-Natal Appropriation Bill provides for the appropriation of money from the Provincial Revenue Fund for the requirements of the Province in the 2023/2024 financial year ending on 31 March 2024.

In performing its oversight function, the Legislature will closely monitor the spending of the Provincial Budget by departments to ensure the implementation of government programmes to bring about service delivery to communities. Legislature Committees will perform their oversight responsibilities over departments to ensure proper spending of departmental budgets and implementation of programmes to deliver services and development.

Ends

Issued by
Communications Unit: KZN Legislature
For more information:

Sina Nxumalo, 0829060449

Wonder Hlongwa, 0829083532

Annual Interfaith Symposium held in Alfred Duma Municipality

 The KZN Legislature convened people of various faiths in the province of KwaZulu-Natal in their annual Interfaith Symposium which took place in Alfred Duma Municipality under the theme, “Developing Boys to be Leaders in the Fight Against Gender Based Violence for the Restoration of Women’s Dignity”. 

The Interfaith Symposium is a platform for the Interfaith Sector to deliberate on issues of social ills facing society and to provide the Legislature and Executive with inputs on how they can address other societal challenges in their law-making, oversight and executive functions respectively.

The Interfaith Sector has committed themselves to the ideals of peace, restoration of moral values, fight against all forms of social ills including gender-based violence, and a search for a society that respects and acknowledges the values of Ubuntu.

The symposium, which met on the 12^th April 2023, adopted a set of resolutions that will be forwarded to the Legislature for consideration and further processing by its committees. After consideration by relevant committees, the resolutions will be tabled in the House for adoption and referred to the Executive for implementation.

Committees will perform their oversight responsibility on the implementation of resolutions in their monthly committee meetings. The Executive is required to present a comprehensive report on the implementation of the resolutions adopted by this year’s symposium at the next sitting of the Interfaith Symposium.

Some of the resolutions that will be adopted by the Legislature will find expression in the law-making processes of the Legislature.

KZN LEGISLATURE SUCCESSFULLY HOSTS 84^TH EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE CPA’S AFRICA REGION

KwaZulu-Natal Legislature has successfully hosted the 84^th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association’s Africa Region Executive Committee meeting from the 3^rd to the 6^th of April in Durban this year.

 The Africa Region of the (CPA) comprises of the 63 national and subnational Legislatures and is governed by Co-ordinating Committee and the Executive Committee which are made up of all representatives from across the region.

The meeting was attended and addressed by Deputy Speaker of the South African Parliament Honourable Lechesa Tsenoli and Speaker of the KZN Legislature Honourable Nontembeko Boyce. Delegates showered Honourable Boyce with praises for the sterling work she did hosting the executive committee.

Members of the Executive Committee attending the meeting came from various countries throughout the continent.

The region’s President Hon A. Bundu comes from Sierra Leone; Chairperson Hon C.G Hara from Malawi, Vice Chairperson Hon. L. Sinimbo from Namibia, Treasurer Hon. N. Mekgwe from Gauteng, Vice Treasurer Hon. T. Mangwegape – Healy from Botswana, Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Chairperson Hon. Dr. Z. Gimba from Nigeria, CPA Africa Region Secretary is Ms. N. Mwihambi, ndc from Tanzania.

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01 April 2023

Media Advisory

KwaZulu-Natal Legislature will be hosting the 84^th Executive Committee of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association’s (CPA) Africa Region from the 3^rd to the 6^th of April in Durban this year.

The Africa Region of the (CPA) comprises of the 63 national and subnational Legislatures and is governed by Co-ordinating Committee and the Executive Committee which are made up of all representatives from across the region.

Members of the Executive Committee attending this meeting come from various countries throughout the continent.

Our President Hon A. Bundu comes from Sierra Leone; Chairperson Hon C.G Hara from Malawi, Vice Chairperson Hon. L. Sinimbo from Namibia, Treasurer Hon. N. Mekgwe from Gauteng, Vice Treasurer Hon. T. Mangwegape – Healy from Botswana, Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Chairperson Hon. Dr. Z. Gimba from Nigeria, CPA Africa Region Secretary is Ms. N. Mwihambi, ndc from Tanzani

The mission of the CPA Africa region is:  “To promote and protect the interests and perspectives of CPA Africa Regional Parliaments and countries, into the Commonwealth and beyond, and to promote gender equality, emancipation of women, and respect for human rights, freedoms, democracy and good governance.”

Details of the meeting are as follows:

Date: 3-6 April 2023

Time: 9am to 4pm

Venue: Garden Court, Marine Parade (Durban)

For more information please contact Sina Nxumalo at 0829060449 or Nomusa Phungula at 0718510085

QUALITY OF LIFE STANDING COMMITTEE VISITS SPECIAL SCHOOLS IN ZULULAND DISTRICT

The chairperson of Quality of Life Standing Committee in the Legislature and a multiparty delegation of Members of Parliament visited special schools in  Zululand District with the intention of assessing the conditions and wellness of disabled pupils where they live. Members were also there to ascertain the role of relevant departments (Health, Social Development and Education) which they play in supporting the needs of disabled learners as per their legislative mandates.

All relevant departments were summoned to account as per the roles they play and support they give to ensure that teaching and learning takes place in a condusive environment, and that resources and equipments needed by learners with special needs are provided for, as this would allow learners with special needs to exercise their constitutional rights of equal access to education. The chairperson applauded the initiative by government to install water boreholes in remote rural schools, especially in Districts that are experiencing water shortages. “Though there is still so much to be done but you are on the right track, keep up the good work” said Phumzile Mbatha-Cele chairperson of Quality of Life Standing Committee.

07 March 2023

Media Release

For immediate release

KZN LEGISLATURE’S COGTA PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE TO UNDERTAKE A STUDY VISIT TO JAPAN

KwaZulu-Natal Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Co-Operative Governance and Traditional Affairs will undertake a study visit to Japan from the 27^th May to the 4^th June 2023 as part of the Legislature’s Members’ Capacity Building Programme.

Today, the Legislature Speaker, Hon Nontembeko Boyce and COGTA Portfolio Committee Chairperson, Hon. Zinhle Cele met with the Japanese Embassy led by Ambassador Tasuku Takanishi to discuss the preparations and programme for the visit.

Amongst the issues discussed with the Embassy which forms part of the study visit include the following:

• Disaster management
• Water and sanitation
• Meeting with the City Council of Yokohama City
• Visit to the Coal Plant using coal imported from South Africa
• Waste management
• Meeting with Political counterparts and Speaker of Japanese Parliament
• Visit to NISSAN Headquarters

On returning from the study, the committee will compile a report which will be submitted to the Speaker, and tabled in the House for debate and adoption.

During this 6^th term of the Legislature, most committees have visited various countries throughout the world to learn best practices to improve our law-making and oversight functions.

Ends

 For more information, please contact.

Hon. Zinhle Cele, Chairperson of COGTA Portfolio Committee

Cell: 060 501 7783

Issued by Communications Unit: KZN Legislature

Sina Nxumalo: 0829060449