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.