October 2008 - City of uMhlathuze

Lines of communication
opened with Amakhosi
“We are proud to be the first municipality in the uThungulu District to
be signing a Memorandum of Understanding with our Amakhosi.”
Speaking at the signing of the MOU for the Synergistic Partnership
Programme between the local Traditional Leaders and the uMhlathuze
Municipality, Mayor Zakhele Mnqayi said that when they came into
office, that he and the Council took the initiative to open the lines of
communication with the five Traditional Leaders within the City and
is pleased that there is now a formal agreement in place.
“Officials of uMhlathuze will now take and follow this agreement
by informing the relevant Inkhosi of decisions taken by the Council on
developments that are planned for their respective areas. There have
been mistakes made in the past because of a lack of communication
with the local Amakhosi, but it is hoped that through this partnership
with the Amakhozi we will no longer make that mistake,” said Mayor
Mnqayi.
Nominated to represent the five local Amakhosi, Inkosi John
Mkwanazi from the KwaMkhwanazi Traditional Council agreed that it
had been “hurtful to see municipal vehicles in our areas without being
informed of what is happening. We do want services and development,
the only thing is that we must be informed.”
The other four Amakhosi within the City of uMhlathuze are Inkosi
ZK Zungu – KwaMadlebe Traditional Council; Inkosi MP Khoza –
KwaBhejane Traditional Council, Inkosi M Mthiyane – eMambka
Traditional Council, and Inkosi MS Dube – KwaDube Traditional Council.
Outlining the basis of the Synergistic Partnership Programme
between Municipalities and Traditional Leaders and the Protocol Policy
Framework, Assistant Manager Urban and Rural Development:
Department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs Dumisani
Bukhosini said that this programme would strengthen the functioning
structures of the two parties.
“In terms of the programme, a Joint Co-ordinating Committee
(JCC) is to be established with equal representation from both parties.
The JCC would have on its agenda development issues within the
City of uMhlathuze in terms of all challenges faced and discuss how
they can jointly come up with strategies to deal with these challenges.
These issues cannot be dealt with by one party without input from the
other.
“The department has provided an operating budget of R350 000
to cover expenses in establishing the JCC as well as capacity building
where we will go through and workshop all the relevant legislation to
ensure that both parties understand their respective roles and
responsibilities.”
He added that he appreciates the spirit of co-operation that already
exists between this municipality and its Amakhosi. “The commitment
has been made and it is now up to the department to ensure that it
is a success by providing the support required.”
This is the seventh Memorandum of Understanding between
Traditional Leaders and their respective Municipalities in KZN. The
six municipalities who have signed their memoranda of understanding
and who have established their respective JCCs are the municipalities
of Ndwedwe, Phongolo, Jozini, uMgeni, Ladysmith and Nquthu.
6
Having signed the Memorandum of Understanding
between the local Traditional Leaders and the Muncipality,
Inkosi John Mkhwanazi (left) and uMhlathuze Mayor
Zakhele Mnqayi (right) shake hands. Overseeing the
signing of the agreement was Dumisani Bukhosini,
Assistant Manager Urban and Rural Development:
Department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs.
Further commitment to
skills development
The uMhlathuze Fire Brigade is to apply for South
African Emergency Services Institute and Local
Government Sector Education Authority (LGSETA)
accreditation to provide Fire Fighter 1 & 2, Hazmat
Awareness and Hazmat Operational courses.
The accreditation would benefit not only this
municipality but also neighbouring municipalities as
well as private industry and individuals who can make
use of the training provided by the municipality.
The courses are presently provided by Rustenburg,
Boksburg, and eThekwini Fire Brigades as well as
private service providers. However, they are often fully
booked which means that uMhlathuze Fire Brigade
personnel have to wait a long time before they can
attend these courses.
The uMhlathuze Fire Brigade has appointed a
Divisional Officer: Training who is a qualified Fire Fighter
1 & 2, Hazmat Awareness and Hazmat Operational
instructor and who was part of the working committee
involved in the accreditation of the Rustenburg Fire
Brigade as a Fire Training Academy.
Accreditation of the uMhlathuze Fire Brigade as a
training provider will save the municipality close on
R14 000 per person in training and accommodation
costs as well as providing income from the training of
fire fighting personnel from other municipalities and
private individuals.