Pushing back the frontiers of poverty

THE level of unemployment in Nkandla has prompted the local municipality to kick start projects that will address and alleviate poverty in the area.

This became evident last week, when the Mayor of Nkandla Municipalty, Cllr Thamsanqa Ntuli launched the Nkandla Cooperatives.

Speaking to the Zululand Observer, Ntuli said even though his municipality did not have sufficient funding, they could not fold their arms and watch people of the area suffering.

‘With a budget of R181-million, servicing thousands of people in this area, most of whom come from impoverished communities, we are doing the best we can to lend a hand.

‘We are doing this as an intervention to our communities, to say even if you are not employed, do something to uplift yourself.

‘We are inspired by the ideals of great statesman like iNkosi Mangosuthu Buthelezi, who instilled a culture of self reliance and self help among the people of KZN and South Africa as a whole.

Ntuli said there were many sustainable projects, mostly led by women who were inspired by iNkosi Buthelezi and his ideals, some years ago.

‘Even the government’s One Home One garden concept is derived from Buthelezi’s ideals.

‘Our main objective with this initiative is to unlock rural development and stimulate local economic development as a whole. For years cooperatives have proved to be the only mechanism to alleviate poverty in rural communities,’ he said.

Ntuli donated about 14 sewing machines, 14 tents with gas stoves and two pots, 14 backing stoves, 14 laptops and printers and 14 umbrellas and foldable tables to Nkandla informal traders who have organised themselves into cooperatives.