MAYOR’S FOREWORD
Greetings, municipalities are tasked with providing democratic and accountable local governance, ensuring the delivery of essential services, promoting social and economic development, and fostering a safe and healthy environment. They achieve this through various functions, including developing and implementing policies, managing their administration and finances, and engaging with the local community.
Intergovernmental Relations
While on the topic of education and its importance, I embarked on the back-to-school programme where I handed over school shoes to those children in need. This program will continue to ensure that there is no child that does not go to school due to the lack of school shoes. We want to ensure that the municipality plays its role in ensuring that teaching and learning is unhindered. I wish to take this opportunity to commend educators for the work that they do to shape the future of our children.
The KwaZulu-Natal MEC for COGTA, the Honourable Rev. Thulasizwe D. Buthelezi, has done the sod turning to build the Nkandla Disaster Management Centre. This will ensure that as Nkandla we are able to swiftly respond to any kind of disaster happening in our area.
Furthermore, the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Honourable Dean Macpherson and the Premier of KwaZulu Honourable Thamsanqa Ntuli handed over the land for the purposes of development in July 2025.
This land will be used to build the shopping centre, which will assist in job creation and eradicate poverty. It is anticipated that thousands of jobs will be created in this development.
Service Delivery
The municipality has capital projects planned for 2025/2026 financial year. These projects are from the needs that were raised by the communities during the Integrated Development Plan Roadshows. However, due to the limitation of budget we can do all of them in once. We will keep on pushing to ensure the lives of our communities become better than before. The approved projects are as follows:
Name of the Project Amount
EEDMS Phase 2 R 3 478 261.00
Ezingelevu Electrification Phase 2 R 2 478 261.00
Nkandla Sub Station R 8 695 652.00
Songeni Gravel Road Ward 3 R 2 173 913.00
Maphothwe Causeway in Ward 11 R 3 652 174.00
Mvumangoma Community Hall Ward 11 R 3 478 261.00
KwaVumbu Creche in Ward 12 R 2 608 696.00
Upgrading of Nkandla CBD Road Phase 2 (Maree Road) Ward 5 R 9 130 435.00
Unqualified Audit Opinion
Nkandla Local Municipality received an unqualified audit opinion for the year 2023/2024. This was achieved through extensive collaboration by Administration and Councillors. Auditor General applauded the municipality on the functionality of oversight structures (Municipal Public Accounts Committee, Performance Audit Committee and Risk Management Committee). These structures play a vital role in ensuring that the municipality performs its functions diligently.
Conclusion
As I conclude, I wish to remind all of us the we made commitments to our communities that we shall serve them and provide a service that will be of quality. If we are to provide such a service, we must ensure that we protect the image and culture of the institution. It will be required from all members of the Management that are led by the Municipal Manager to commit in the change of culture and image of our institution so that the ideals of our manifesto are realized.
I pledge to work and support all offices within our municipality, all councillors of Nkandla Local Municipality, the District Municipality, Provincial and National government departments, workers of Nkandla Local Municipality, rate payers, citizens, Business Sector, Community Based Organizations, NGO’s, TVET College, Stakeholders, and all traditional leaders towards improving the capacity of the municipality to deliver on its commitments.
“SETHEMBE SIYATHUTHUKA ENKANDLA”
I thank you