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WARM greetings to the Kokstad community and community at large.
STRENGTHENING WAR ROOM
As Mandela Month draws to a close, GKM honoured Madiba by strengthening War Rooms as they are the nerve centre in attending to pressing socio-economic needs of the people of Kokstad.
On Monday, July 23, the Harry Gwala District Municipality held a District Task Team meeting where the process of auditing of war rooms was outlined and the toolkit was explained which will be utilized to check the gaps and provide a way forward and assistance to all municipalities.
From July 24 to July 26, 2018, the team crisscrossed all wards in the Greater Kokstad Municipality, conducting audits and providing support where required. The strengthening of War Rooms is in line with the call made by the Premier of KZN Willies Mchunu during the State of the Province Address in 2018. The GKM appreciates the initiatives by the Office of the Premier to assist in strengthening integrated services delivery by government to the people. We will continue to provide integrated services and involve people at a grass-roots level, which assists government in delivering relevant services at relevant intervals.
MAYOR PROVIDE CLARITY ON ELONWABENI OLD AGE HOME CHALLENGES
The challenges continue in administration of the Elonwabeni Old Age Home. The home is funded by the Department of Social Development to sustain and protect the elderly people of Kokstad. After several request of intervention by people of Kokstad to the mayor, he finally intervened and requested the MEC of Social Development to urgently attend to the matter. Several meetings were held and a way forward was mapped. However, community members felt that there is need for them to get clarity on developments in the old age home as people affected are their parents, where some of them were including the removal of elderly people to other homes and deregistering the home as a way of resolving the issue. The mayor explained the decision of deregistering the NPO to the community, and further explained that all board members have resigned. Emphasis was made to the community that the old age home is a function and core mandate of the Department of Social development, therefore there are laws in place which need to be respected as we move forward. The department will guide the processes in paving a way forward. The Municipality played its role in assisting the department to solve the challenges. The department will be informed officially on the assignation of board members.
KOKSTAD YOUTH BENEFIT FROM INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME
Skilling our youth remains an apex priority for GKM. The municipality, in collaboration with Department of Human Settlement and NHBRC, saw the need to develop the youth of Makhoba through a learnership programme. This programme is going to benefit 50 beneficiaries who are going to be trained in bricklaying, plastering and carpentry. The training is going to focus on theory for three months and practical for six months. Upon completion, these youngsters are going to be assisted by GKM LED department in opening their own business. This pool of learners is also going to be prioritized in municipal projects.
MAMISA DEVELOPMENT PROGRESSING WELL
Greater Kokstad Municipality was not making a tagline when aspiring to be a city by 2047. Earlier this week, the team from the municipality paid a visit to Mamisa Development. Mamisa Development is building properties next to Mount Currie Inn with the intention to grow the residential areas in Kokstad. This visit by the team is in line with the Development Facilitation Act that requires municipalities to evaluate property developers on conditions of approval. The property developer is on track and is currently in Phase 2A and 2B that entails constructing of roads and street lights. Let’s meet again same time same place!
