Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma visits Midlands Small Towns, 20 Jul

Minister Dlamini-Zuma and KZN COGTA Mec Hlomuka to visit Midlands Small Towns

The Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma together with the MEC of COGTA in KwaZulu-Natal, Mr Sipho Hlomuka will tomorrow visit Midlands Small Towns in the Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma Municipality in KZN. The Minister and the MEC will be accompanied by Senior Officials from both the National and Provincial departments, including those dealing with Disaster Management.

The visit will be around the small towns of Bulwer and Donnybrook in the Midlands and follows the torching of municipal assets, infrastructure and properties that accompanied the protests and looting which in some areas led to the affected municipalities not being able to render basic services to communities.

The violent and disruptive incidents bear major implications for local government operations especially planning and budgeting in respect of the costs of repairing or replacing assets which places further strain on limited financial resources that were intended to expand and better service delivery.

The two small towns to be visited by principals witnessed severe damage of infrastructure, as such during the visit, the principals will assess the extent of the damage to assets, infrastructure and properties. An engagement will be held with stakeholders on the rebuilding of the towns and the interim measures implemented to secure food supply and security for the communities in these towns.

Minister and MEC send sincere condolences to families who lost their loved ones as a result of the unrests. May they find comfort and strength during this difficult time.

Working together we can build the South Africa we envisioned in our constitution.

Source: Government of South Africa