Ward committees’ importance stressed
They also serve as a link between municipal officials, councillors and communities and their contribution cannot go unnoticed
WARD committees are the most important structures in the local government sphere as they play a pivotal role in facilitating and driving service delivery initiatives.
They also serve as a link between municipal officials, councillors and communities and their contribution cannot go unnoticed.
This viewpoint was shared by City of uMhlathuze Speaker, Cllr Silondile Mkhize when addressing the city’s 340 ward committee members who converged last week at eSikhaleni New Hall for the 2020/2021 IDP Review Roadshow. ‘As a municipality we felt it was imperative to start presenting the IDP Review to you as ward committees before going to the public.
‘It is essential that you fully understand this programme, so as to assist with interpretation when we go to various communities within our city. ‘Our first engagement was with traditional leaders that fall within our municipality.
From here we will embark on community roadshows, and we will be going there as a team,’ she said. City’s IDP Manager Zodwa Mdluli, who gave a brief overview of the city’s Integrated Development Plan said the municipality was still on course to fulfil the promises made.
‘Part of what we are here for, is to ensure that the needs and priorities of the community are reflected in the IDP. ‘We are driven by a motto that says the community should have a bigger say in how their municipality’s budget is spent.
‘As a city we can commit that projects such as the KwaDlangezwa swimming pool will be done. ‘About R11-million has been set aside for that particular development. ‘The construction of two kick-abouts (sport and leisure) for Ward 33 and Ward 29 will be done and some R300 000 has been made available for that project.
‘As we strive to move the city forward, we have not neglected traditional areas. Around R12-million has been set aside for High Mast Lighting installation. ‘Moreover we have set aside R63-million for the Ntambanana Water Reticulation project and have made available R1-million for the construction of Dumisani Makhaye Village Community Hall.
‘There are many other projects in the pipeline, including housing developments,’ she said. Ntobeko Hlatshwayo and Goodman Nzimande gave respective progress reports on the Spatial Development Framework and Integrated Human Settlement Plan.
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