KwaZulu-Natal Speaker Hon. Nontembeko Boyce and Deputy Speaker Hon. Mmabatho Tembe held a successful meeting with KwaZulu-Natal SALGA Chairperson Xolani Dube together with SALGA KZN PEC to establish partnership which will strengthen collaboration, share resources and coordinate strategies which will assist in supporting municipalities and the Legislature while conducting oversight across the Province.
Part of today’s engagement was to have discussions on the relaunch of a Provincial Speaker’s forum which will include municipal speakers. KZN Speaker’s Forum will assist in the empowerment of Speakers. Sharing reports on Legislature Municipal Committee activities undertaken in line with the agreement and overseeing administrative structures to implement provisions of the cooperation agreement and giving political direction.
KwaZulu-Natal Speaker Hon. Nontembeko Boyce visited Word of God Care Centre in Betania, under Ray Nkonyeni Municipality to handover cleaning materials as part of the Speaker’s Social Responsibility Programme.
To commemorate Human Rights Day, KwaZulu-Natal Speaker Hon. Nontembeko Boyce visited Word of God Care Centre in Betania, under Ray Nkonyeni Municipality.
Hon Boyce said, “It is important for the Legislature to visit this centre on Human Rights Day as the caregivers work tirelessly to take care of the elderly and disabled people. We appreciate the work done by these caregivers who ensures that the people at the centre get the dignity they deserve in society. By visiting the Word of God this Human Rights Day we wanted to donate cleaning supplies and thank the staff for their dedication and we hope that the centre will receive more donations to ensure that they continue with the work that they do.”
Founder of the Word of God founder Thandazile Nzama thanked the Speaker of the Legislature for the donation and dedicated support over the years. She said the main purpose was to care for the elderly and disabled give them shelter basic needs safety,security and emotional support.
The Word of God Care Centre houses the elderly and disabled people to ensure that the health issues are addressed. The Primary Caregivers have knowledge on aging, needs and care services for residents, and ways of providing individualized care and support for senior citizens housed in the centre.
Thandazile said,”The caregivers working at the care centre are trained in psychosocial issues and interventions for the institutionalized elderly. Our training programme has improved which includes knowledge about needs and psychological interventions for the elderly residents.”
Hon Boyce donated cleaning materials which included blankets and adult nappies which will assist the caregivers in their daily work.
#humanrightsday2025
Deputy Speaker of the KZN Legislature Hon. Mmabatho Tembe today visited single mothers from Ward 12 and Ward 1 in Howick to discuss issues affecting single mothers who raise children in hostile environment. The ladies had an opportunity to engage various government departments and also discuss some of the challenges which affect them as single mothers. Also in attendance was Hon. Fikile Masiko Chairperson for Quality of Life at the KZN Legislature
KwaZulu-Natal Legislators Raise Concerns Over The Suspension Of Conditional Grants To 25 KwaZulu-Natal Municipalities
Media Statement
For Immediate Release
KWAZULU-NATAL LEGISLATORS RAISE CONCERNS OVER THE SUSPENSION OF CONDITIONAL GRANTS TO 25 KWAZULU-NATAL MUNICIPALITIES
The Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) in KwaZulu-Natal has expressed deep disappointment and concern over the suspension of conditional grants totalling R861.4 million to 25 municipalities within our province.
It is particularly alarming that eThekwini Metro, the province’s only metropolitan municipality, severely challenged by service delivery issues, accounts for the bulk of the suspended funds, totalling R678 million. Furthermore, it is highly concerning that Msunduzi Municipality, the capital city of KwaZulu-Natal, also features prominently among those municipalities impacted by grant suspension, highlighting persistent governance and financial management challenges.
This situation is unacceptable, as these grants were specifically intended to improve the quality of life of residents through vital infrastructure projects such as electricity provision, water and sanitation improvements, and public transportation enhancements. Non-spending of allocated grants demonstrates poor financial governance and inadequate administrative management, depriving our communities of essential services and development opportunities.
The Auditor-General’s (AG) recent report underscores that most municipalities in KZN have achieved unqualified audits with findings. This indicates significant deficiencies in compliance, financial management, and governance processes. Findings predominantly include unauthorized, irregular, fruitless, and wasteful expenditure; non-compliance with key legislation; weak financial reporting; and inadequate consequence management for those responsible for governance lapses.
It is imperative that municipalities vigorously pursue Section 106 investigations to enforce financial accountability. These investigations are crucial for addressing the findings raised by the AG, and where necessary, officials and political figures implicated in financial misconduct must be prosecuted swiftly and effectively.
Moreover, political parties governing these municipalities bear a direct responsibility for enhancing oversight and enforcing accountability. It cannot remain business as usual when nearly R900 million, critically needed for the development and welfare of KZN residents, is lost due to non-performance.
We, therefore, call on all political leaders at both provincial and municipal levels to prioritize stringent oversight and robust consequence management practices to ensure grant funding is utilized effectively and efficiently. The cycle of complacency must end, and swift action must be taken to address audit findings decisively to ensure meaningful improvements in governance, financial management, and service delivery.
It is our collective responsibility to ensure that every cent allocated to improving the lives of our people is spent wisely, transparently, and effectively. The people of KwaZulu-Natal deserve better.
Members of the CoGTA Portfolio Committee has called on the KZN Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs to furnish them with a detailed report outlining reasons why individual municipalities failed to spend their grants so that appropriate oversight interventions can be employed to assist.
ISSUED BY THE COGTA PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON, HON MARLAINE NAIR
For interviews: Hon Marlaine Nair 0726928963
For enquiries: Mr Bongani Tembe 0823272600
KZN Legislature Concludes Its Highly Successful Public Hearings On Independent Municipal Demarcation Authority Bill
MEDIA STATEMENT
26 March 2025
KZN LEGISLATURE CONCLUDES ITS HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL PUBLIC HEARINGS ON INDEPENDENT MUNICIPAL DEMARCATION AUTHORITY BILL
The Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) today wrapped up its public hearings on Independent Municipal Demarcation Authority Bill, which among other things, seeks to provide for the criteria and procedures for the determination and redetermination of municipal boundaries.
The public hearings were held in Harry Gwala District, Amajuba District, Zululand District and eThekwini Municipality from the 18th of March 2025. Commenting after the conclusion of the last public hearing in Zululand District today, Ms Marlaine Nair, the Committee Chairperson, has described the hearings as a resounding success. She added that the legislators had managed to receive valuable inputs from the public.
“The Bill we are processing is emanating from the National Parliament, and it is aimed at repealing and substituting the current Municipal Demarcation Act of 1998, to align it with the current demarcation board practices. It also deals with the introduction of a Demarcation Appeals Authority to allow for redress by persons aggrieved by a decision of the board and the renaming of the board to that of the Independent Demarcation Authority. We commend the public for the inputs they have made in all four public hearings. We are also happy that we had high turnouts,” said Nair.
Among the inputs made by the public in all the public hearings was the issue of transparency in the procedure and consultation with the public in the demarcation of wards, the need for qualifications of the Board members to be published, assessment of the socio-economic impact of the merger of wards.
The inputs made during public hearings will form part of the KZN Legislature’s report to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) and could possibly change the version of the Bill that is passed into law.
Members of the public who were unable to attend public hearings can still send their submissions to the Portfolio Committee Coordinator Mr Vusi Mthembu via email at mthembuv@kznleg.gov.za and via WhatsApp or cell at 060503219 no later than the 3rd of April 2025.
For interviews: Hon Marlaine Nair 0726928963
For enquiries: Mr Bongani Tembe 0823272600
ISSUED BY THE KZN LEGISLATURE COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON COOPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND TRADITIONAL AFFAIRS, MS MARLAINE NAIR