*OPERATION SUKUMA SAKHE OVERSIGHT VISIT IN UTHUKELA DISTRICT*

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube is on the ground, leading Members of the Executive Council as they cross rivers and mountains to assess the living conditions of communities and examine if government projects are making an impact in changing the lives of the people in UThukela District Municipality.

As part of Operation Sukuma Sakhe District Development Model, today Premier Dube-Ncube and all MECs travelled the length and breadth of Inkosi Langalibalele Local Municipality in UThukela District visiting various projects and interacting with communities about the impact of government’s interventions.

During the Operation Sukuma Sakhe oversight visit, Premier Dube-Ncube toured the Dalton Bridge Community Project which was established to carry out agricultural related projects such as planting, livestock farming and beadwork.

The community project includes pig farming, goat farming, poultry farming, planting of various crops such as maize, sunflower and dry beans.

The project is supported by the provincially government who invested R5.4 million in 2021 which went towards infrastructure upgrades, purchasing of equipment and establishment of a water irrigation system.

Premier Dube-Ncube was impressed by the success of the Dalton Bridge Community Project which continues to grow in leaps and bounds.

“This is a project of dreams, prosperity and economic transformation for the community of Inkosi Langalibalele Municipality. Today, we witnessed the fruits of labour by the community and we want projects like the Dalton Bridge Community Project to unlock business opportunities and lead to economic transformation for the community,” said Premier Dube-Ncube.

The Premier encouraged members of the community to start food gardens in their yards order to grow their own fruits, vegetables and herbs which is a more cost effective option than buying them from a grocery store.

“Growing a vegetable and fruit garden at home helps eliminate hunger and ensures continuous supply of fresh produce which is a culture we are trying to instil through the provincial government’s multi-planting season programme.

Government will continue to provide support in order for communities to make sustainable livelihoods. Through Operation Sukuma Sakhe, we are an activist-centred government that does not sit in offices but we go to the ground and get our hands dirty in our mission to improve the living conditions of communities,” remarked the Premier.

Operation Sukuma Sakhe is an outreach programme aiming to fast-track service delivery by promoting participatory democracy with communities having a direct opportunity to address government as citizens and beneficiaries of government programmes.

“Operation Sukuma Sakhe promotes integrated services delivery, integrated planning and participation of communities in decision-making. Through Operation Sukuma Sakhe, we narrow the gap between government as provider of services and the citizens who are beneficiaries but who also monitor and assess the impact of government’s service delivery programme. Importantly, government employees should always be of service to communities and respond to their concerns,”concluded Premier Dube-Ncube.

GOVERNMENT ENCOURAGED BY PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT IN UTHUKELA DISTRICT

Premier Dube-Ncube earlier today also visited the Shayamoya Rural Housing Project located within Ward 7 of the Inkosi Langalibalele Municipality approximately 15 kilometres South-West of Estcourt. Construction of houses is underway, and the project is targeted to deliver 200 houses by the end 2022/2023 financial year.

Members of the Executive Council also interacted with people in various wards and addressed specific community issues.

All challenges identified during Operation Sukuma Sakhe will be responded to through the ward-based war rooms which are located in communities and respond to daily issues affecting the community.

During the interaction today provincial government listened carefully while taking notes as members of the community raised issues related to safety, water, unemployment, housing, electricity, learner transport, access roads and other concerns which government committed to respond to urgently.

ENDS

Issued by the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government on behalf of Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube