R56 Million to Boost uMhlabuyalingana Municipality

This comes after the provincial government took much-needed services to the people.
Yesterday the community braved the scorching heat to welcome the service delivery.
Premier Zweli Mkhize, accompanied by his cabinet, unveiled a R40million clinic, a traffic and licensing station worth R10million, a R6million water supply project and a R1million access road that links Manzwengwenya and Mseleni villages.
The unveiling of the project coincided with a provincial government report after the department of cooperative governance and traditional affairs took control of the Mbazwane municipality.
The deputy chairperson of the uMkhanyakude Traditional Council, Inkosi Mabhudi Tembe, said they appreciated that the government had responded to the community's cries and needs.
He said the communities had been battling to get proper services.
"There are challenges facing the community in our areas and as amakhosi we also want to play a pivotal role," Tembe said.
"We want the premier to create a channel to open a viable working relationship between amakhosi and councillors."
Overjoyed Nomagugu Mdlalose said the community's prayers had been answered.
She said they had never had proper service delivery in the area.
"The municipality had not been doing well or let us know what is happening," Mdlalose said.
"The only thing that we had seen before were government officials driving luxury cars at our expense.
"Those we have entrusted with the responsibility to govern our country had been failing us badly."
She said the community had to travel to Esikhawini when they needed services such as social grants and were often forced to bribe officials.
"What we have seen today is the beginning of the changing of our lives," Mdlalose said

January 8 Statement at Umhlabuyalingana on the 15 January 2011

A January 8 statement by the ANC would take place eMhlabuyalingana on the 15th of January 2011. The Preparation for the event has gone to far and they are nearing completion. The Venue is not yet confirmed but it has been decided that it would take place at any place conviniet to the People. The top leadership of the ANC would be lead by the State President on that day to announce the developmental priorities for 2011.
This event would attract almost everyone in this province. Nawe Manguzi awumncinyana

Mthunzini William Mahlangu heading for USA in January 2011

One of KwaNgwanase top Education officials by the name of Mthunzini William Mahlangu is heading for the USA in January 2011.

The trip is funded by the USA Government and Mthunzi will then share South African educational experiences with the Professors from different State Universities in the USA. Mthunzi would have to deliver a paper on education in rural and disadvantaged areas like Maputaland. His main focus would be challenges in our education system. The main purpose would be to compare our education in Rural Areas and Education in the USA in rural areas too. This is a long awaited trip Mthunzi has been waiting for. It would be the first of its kind for him to be abroad especially in the American soil. His role in this trip would be to represent the KZN Department of Education.

Mthunzi is also known for taking part in the creation of the new Policy Handbook for
Schools in KZN.

He is expected to visit more than 10 States in the US.

We hope and believe that this trip would indeed yield someting meaningful for the People of KwaNgwanase and the KZN-Department to Education.

Poaching at Ndumo Game Reserve still a serious problem

A white rhino was found dead with both horns removed in Ndumo, KwaZulu Natal, yesterday. "The rhino had been caught in a cable snare that seemed to have been deliberately set for big game, such as hippo, buffalo or rhino, all of which frequent the area. Both horns had been removed," Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife spokesman Jeff Gaisford said yesterday. It was believed the rhino was trapped in the snare on Tuesday, and was found by game rangers yesterday. "This brings the total number of rhinos killed by poachers in KwaZulu-Natal this year to 15," Gaisford said. The sex of the adult rhino was unknown and no arrests had been made. - Sapa

Umkhanyakude in Crisis

Mchunu, who represented Premier Zweli Mkhize during Women's Day celebrations, said at least 887 in 100000 people had TB due to the high prevalence of HIV-Aids in the district.
uMkhanyakude consists of Mtubatuba, Hlabisa, Hluhluwe, uMhlabuyalingana and Jozini municipalities.
"HIV-Aids and TB are a huge drain on resources, with affected patients taking up the bulk of beds in health care facilities. It is for these reason that this government launched a provincial partnership to fight the scourge.
"This partnership involves political, traditional, religious leaders and those in civil society," Mchunu said.
"We must mobilise local leaders to ensure that support is given to people who get treatment for TB.
"In this way we will reduce defaulters and ensure completion of treatment. Support groups must also be formed in all wards in this district to ensure that all affected individuals receive comfort and protection. People must also be encouraged to go for the voluntary counselling and testing. Only when people know their status will they be able to live healthy lifestyles.
"Our view is that the fight against HIV-Aids should be closely linked to the fight against poverty and underdevelopment."
Mchunu also said over the period 2002 to 2006, the percentage of children who went hungry was substantially higher in female-headed households than in male-headed households.
"For example, in 2006 in 3,4percent of female-headed households, children went hungry as against 1,6percent in male-headed households," Mchunu said.
Out of an estimated population of 573341 people in uMkhanyakude, 54,8percent is female and 45,2percent male.
"Clearly, women are the most vulnerable as they lack access to economic opportunities. The economic well-being of this municipality cannot be achieved if women are massively underprivileged."

A newly designed interactive website (www.kosibay.za.net) is now available to serve people of Maputaland

Another addition to The Maputaland Business and Information Directory. Now there is an employment section where employers can post jobs and applicants can apply for employment. This section will only get going when there are jobs on offer, so if you are an employer get listing its FREE. That's right FREE like most of the functionality on the Directory. check www.kosibay.za.net

Mom, girl found hanged - Used condom found near dead women

POLICE have opened an inquest docket after a 36-year-old mother and her 14-year-old daughter were found hanging not far from their home in the Hlalanathi area of Jozini, northern Zululand.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Vincent Mdunge said a used condom was found next to the dead bodies of Refilwe Goodness Duma and her mother Bahlekile.
“The women were hanging from a tree branch. One was hanged with an electric cable and the other with a rope.
“It is difficult at this stage to say whether there was foul play or not, but the fact that a used condom was found on the scene has made the police suspicious.
“A postmortem will be conducted with a view to shedding light on how the two died,” Mdunge said.
Meanwhile, a community policing forum leader in Manguzi, KwaZulu-Natal, was allegedly killed in police cells by prisoners awaiting trial.
“Mphephu Ngubane, a leader of the community policing forum in KwaMnyayisa outside Manguzi, died in the police cells immediately after he was arrested for assault,” Mdunge said.
Mdunge said two men in the same cell as Ngubane were charged with murder and would appear in the Manguzi magistrate’s court soon.
“Ngubane was arrested after he allegedly hacked a man with an axe during a fight over a woman,” Mdunge said.
“He was charged with assault with the intention to cause grievous bodily harm.”
He said it was believed that one of the prisoners awaiting trial had told other inmates that Ngubane had “harassed” him during his arrest.

R2m fakeBafana Bafana jerseys seized at Manguzi

Nine men were arrested for allegedly possessing over 3000 fake Bafana Bafana jerseys with an estimated street value of R2-million on the border of South Africa and Mozambique, KwaZulu-Natal police said on Monday.
"Nine men were allegedly found throwing the jerseys over the fence bordering the South Africa and Mozambique border on Saturday.
The street value of the goods is estimated to be about R2-million," said Lieutenant-Colonel Vincent Mdunge.
Mdunge said it was believed that the gang leader was from Chesterville and had driven to Mozambique where he boarded a plane to China.
"The man came back from China and hired a bakkie in Manguzi. He allegedly off-loaded the goods on the border. Eight men were found throwing the goods over the fence," Mdunge said.
The porous 54km border fence was notorious for the smuggling of goods from South Africa to Mozambique.
Mdunge said the nine men were due to appear in the Manguzi Magistrate's Court on Today.

ROOTING OUT CORRUPTION IN TENDERING

KZN officials have their hands full trying to get rid of corruption within government's tender processes.

Earlier this month, Finance MEC Ina Cronje announced that they were doing a complete revamp of local government's "suppliers database." This means that all companies which were given tenders in all provincial departments will be evaluated over the next few months, to ensure that they meet the proper requirements and that there isn't any corruption involved. The process has started and officials have been holding meetings with business in northern KZN over the past few days. Finance spokesperson, Joyce Msutu says today they're in the Illembe district and they're also giving information to interested companies on how to go about getting on the database."We've got a new system that will be starting in July and we want to ensure that all suppliers of goods and services for provincial departments are registered on the supplier database. We've been to Zululand to Umkhanyakude District, Amajuba district and Sisonke District."

Tembe Brothers at Loggerhead with Ismangaliso (Bangnek Beach Camp)

A battle between iSimangaliso Wetland Park and the developers of an illegal tourism development in the park resulted in the demolition of the buildings yesterday. The development was undertaken by Madolwane Mthembu and Simon Mlabane Tembe (who are referred to as the Tembe brothers) at the Bhanga Nek Beach Camp in the coastal forest reserve.

Last year, park officials, with the support of the KZN Nature Conservation Board and the minister of water and environmental affairs, secured high court orders against developers, including the brothers, who were building holiday cottages in the park. The developers were ordered to stop building, demolish what had been built and to rehabilitate the areas.

If the developers failed to do this, the park was given the authority to do the work and claim costs.The Tembes were given until April 30 this year to vacate the land on which they had already started trading.While the other developers complied with the court orders, the Tembe brothers continued building after the April 30 deadline.Park officials then applied in the Durban High Court in March this year for the Tembe brothers to be found in contempt of court and to be jailed. In his affidavit, the park's senior conservation compliance manager Peter Hartley said the Tembe brothers had been "confrontational and self-righteous", making death threats against officials and saying in a letter that no one would stop them from building.

A letter said: "No matter we are arrested... we will proceed developing on our land (sic)."The Tembe brothers opposed the application and Judge Chris Nicholson reserved judgment in the case last Friday. The brothers claim in papers before the court that they had the permission of the late acting chief Phasula Tembe and councillors of the KwaNgwanase administrative area to build on the site. iSimangaliso said on Tuesday that the demolition had been done according to a responsible demolition and restoration plan and the Tembes had been given prior notice on May 8. iSimangaliso board chairman Mavuso Msimang said demolition had been the last option.

KwaNgwanase Education Stakeholders Forum a huge success

The Forum has had a giant leap. Almost all the delegates agreed to assist in refining and developing education in our region. This has been seen as a first step to assist Learners with financial problems at the institutions of higher learning.

The forum intends to alleviate a number of educational related problems in this region. Different Governmental departments were represented i.e. NCS, Health, Social Development, Traditional healers, Principals of schools, Political Parties, Church Ministers, Officials from the Dept of Education, Teachers Unions and many more other departments who committed themselves in lending a hand.

The forum is a brainchild of Inkosi M.I. Tembe. It is a dream come true. It is now clear that there are so many people from Manguzi who spend time thinking much about our education in the area.


The Chairperson on behalf of the Forum extended words of thankfulness to all those who made the conference a success.

Mr Vibe secured a recording deal,

Mr Vibe aka Cebo Mthembu popurlaly known for his talents in Radio Broadcasting, Teaching, and Choir conducting and Mastering has now secured a recording deal. His new album would soon been on shelves. His forthcoming album is titled DONGWE LAMI. Uke wavela nakwi FAMILY BONDS, Kwi DVD ka Mjosty ethi UMPHATHISWA. He is really multitalented. Siyabangena.

Kentuky Fried Chicken (KFC) cooming soon eManguzi

KFC franchise would soon be cooming to Manguzi before the Fifa World Cup. Why not Chicken, eMabovini and formerly Dr Moodley's surgery building would soon be occupied by KFC Franchise. Infact it is long overdue, KFC should have occupied that building by February 2010. A lease was signed somewhere last year.

Manguzi drinking water the worst in the Country

A government report detailing the performance of the country’s drinking water quality management, has found that the Manguzi Area has the worse drinking water in the country. Among bad performers were uMkhanyakude District Municipality in KwaZulu Natal which scored 16% for the water quality in the Manguzi area in northern Zululand.

The top ten performers were eThekwini Municipality, City of Johannesburg, City of Cape Town, Bitou municipality, Ekurhuleni, City of Tshwane and Mogale City, Kgatelopele, George and Dr J.S Moroka local municipality.However, nine municipal water authorities have snubbed government's water quality assessment programme. Another concern is that of 787 municipal water authorities assessed, only 38 obtained the Blue Drop for 2010.

Deputy Water Affairs Minister Rejoice Mabudafhasi was quick to point out that the quality of water and water authorities that failed to obtain the Blue Drop status was not necessarily poor or unsafe to drink.

'Tap water must be safe'

In the 269-page report, the assessors said it was unfortunate that nine were found to portray a disregard for drinking water quality management when they chose not to adhere to the call to be assessed.Addressing the media before the report was made public, Mabudafhasi said her department would pay attention to the municipalities which were not assessed, saying that it was paramount that tap water was safe.

KwaNgwanase Education Stakeholder Forum 23-25 April 2010

Some concerned member of the community met to discuss Educational related problems in the area. More Learners in the area are faced with many problems i.e. poor matric results, placing learners in the institution of higher learning, Financial aid (Bursaries/Loans).

All these are problems that have been raised recently and they culminated towards the mobilization of the people of the area. A summit of some kind has been organized to deliberate on such critical issues in our district. This in due course would be forced to yield tentative solutions to these problems. Local people are urged to support this initiative since it has got a potential to bring about quality outcomes. The summitt would have an opening day on Friday 23 April 2010 at the Tribal Authority Hall. The business of the day would take place at Esicabazini Multipurpose Centre on Saturday 24 April 2010. For more on this keep peeping on www.manguzinews24.blogspot.com

Charlize Theron: Supporting Umkhanyakude Community

The first time I ever visited the Umkhanyakude district in South Africa was to celebrate the launch of the initial Mpilonhle mobile health unit, which my charity -- the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project -- helped to fund. Mpilonhle is an organization that provides innovative health and education programs to this rural district's schools and communities. Run by Dr. Michael Bennish, Mpilonhle uses mobile health units to treat individuals' medical, psychological, and sociological needs. This care would not otherwise be available in these areas due to the extreme level of poverty.

During this first trip, Dr. Bennish educated me on the challenges individuals face in the Umkhanyakude district. The statistics blew me away. For example, youth growing up in this region have a 50% chance of contracting HIV in their lifetime. 50%! How could that be? With all of the resources today, I found it heartbreaking that people in this country, in my home country, continue to face infection rates like this. Upon learning these facts, there was no question in my mind that my Africa Outreach Project was in the right place to lend our support, and we continue to work with Mpilonhle and their mobile health units.

The Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project develops awareness, generates supporting funds, and participates in the enhancement of Mpilonhle's medical units and mobile computer labs. The beauty of the units is that they bring resources to communities that have no means of transportation and are miles away from health services. Mpilonhle's computer labs provide basic computer literacy to students and community members. Through the work CTAOP and Mpilonhle are doing together, many local individuals, especially children, are seeing doctors and experiencing technology for the very first time.

Over the last two-and-a-half years, I have seen Mpilonhle grow -- adding two additional mobile health units and now serving over 10,000 students and 20,000 community members.

Every time I return to South Africa, I can see and feel the difference in the students we serve. This past December, I went back down to visit the students and their villages in the Umkhanyakude district. Traveling with the mobile health units, I went from school to school expressing our support and experiencing what the organization has begun to do for communities. Meeting with local leaders, we worked together to develop new ways to better serve the population in the district.

I was also fortunate enough to sit in on a sexual education class led by an Mpilonhle staff member. Rather than shying away from the topic of sex education, the students in the class were so engaged and honest. I was in awe at the fact that these teens volunteered to demonstrate the correct use of prophylactics using prosthetics. There was a comfort between the youth and the session leaders that showed a desire to protect themselves from the spread of disease. They were willing to push their personal discomfort aside and engage in an education that would inevitably save their lives.

After my visit, Dr. Bennish told me that 75% of the students at the schools want to be tested for HIV, which is an incredibly high number. Students at these schools want to know their status, and they feel safe enough with the Mpilonhle staff to be tested. It's an incredible success and a testament to the impact of the mobile units.

I am excited for the continued service we are providing to the residents of South Africa. Sometimes it seems like change cannot happen, but if you can commit yourself to a cause and to the people, change is absolutely possible.