JOZINI mayor, Cllr Delani Mabika has appealed to community members to fully participate in government intervention programmes, aimed at addressing poverty and unemployment.
Mabika was speaking during the handover of a fully furnished four-roomed house to the Dlamini family, held on Monday at Esizibeni Reserve, Ward 2 in Jozini.
He said the house was a result of the public participation programme called Operation Sukuma Sakhe, where community members participate in war room meetings to identify needy families and seek solutions.
He said six families were identified during the war room meetings and all have benefited with houses through Operation Sukuma Sakhe.
‘The Dlamini family is one of them. We therefore believe it is imperative that all our councillors and community members participate in these meetings.
‘These meetings do not only address housing challenges, but they help identify those who need social development assistance and health issues.
‘Our main challenge here is that the water supply falls under the jurisdiction of uMkhanyakude District Municipality.
‘Recently the Ubombo prison, Bethesda Hospital, local businesses and the community as whole were struggling to get clean water.
‘This is owing to failure of our district municipality to deliver water services to the community, and as local municipality, we wish to take over the water services from the district.
‘We are also engaging with department of Co-Operative Governance and Traditional Affairs to see whether we can install more lightning conductors in the area,’ he said.
House beneficiary, Joyce Dlamini (49) said she was grateful to get a proper home.
‘I have been living with my two children in a house which was not conducive for human habitation,’ she said.
The event was also graced by the IFP leader, Inkosi Mangosuthu Buthelezi, who said he was inspired to see community leaders such as Mayor Mabika, who put the interests of the people first, rather than enriching themselves.
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