The year 2023 brought with it a mixed bag of fortunes for the province of KwaZulu-Natal. We all rejoiced when our own Zakes Bantwini and Nomcebo Zikode brought back a Grammy Award for Best Global Music Performance. DJ Black Coffee hoisted our flag high when he made history by becoming the first South African DJ and producer to perform at a sold-out Madison Square Garden Show.
Sport once again proved to be a vital instrument that unites our people. We lined the streets to celebrate the Springbok’s historical back-to-back Rugby World Cup triumph and appreciated the 9 Sharks Rugby Team players who were part of the 2023 Rugby World Cup Champions squad. Durban KwaZulu became the first destination to receive the Netball Cup Trophy when it landed for the first time on African Soil.
We also rejoiced when the labour statistics recorded a marked rise in the number of employed people in KwaZulu-Natal in the third quarter of 2023. Our government also demonstrated maturity and good governance in the financial management as six departments all attained clean audits.
All these and other positive developments, were as a result of the ingenuity, fortitude and resilience of the people of our province. For these developments, we are extremely proud.
It was also a year where we witnessed the continued devastation caused by severe weather, a direct result of the ever more noticeable effects of climate change. We were saddened by the continued attacks on our leaders, including Amakhosi and Councillors. We also witnessed the passing on of great luminaries of our times, including an astute administrator and former MEC, Ms. Ina Cronje, the Prince of KwaPhindangene, Inkosi Mangosuthu Buthelezi and latterly theatre doyen, Mbongeni Ngema.
Throughout these good and bad times, it is the resilient spirit of the people of KwaZulu-Natal that carried us through.
On the service delivery front, we were pleased to note the 2022 Statistics South Africa’s Census outcomes which recorded positive gains in access to flush toilets (60% of households) and access to electricity (97%) piped water access at over 50%, in our province.
The opening of Dr Pixley ka Isaka Seme Memorial Hospital in KwaMashu by President Cyril Ramaphosa, marked a turning point in our continued quest to bring quality health care services closer to our people. Over 1.5 million community members of the Phoenix, Inanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu (PINK) area will benefit from this facility.
Youth Empowerment Fund and Operation Vula Fund programmes continued to support businesses owned by the Previously Disadvantaged Persons. This year also saw government, through Human Settlements, accelerating the handing over of title deeds to our people, allowing them to live in dignity in homes they can call their own.
We have made great strides in realizing the eight key priorities that we outlined in the State of the Province Address. These priorities remain more relevant now as we pledge to accelerate our efforts to make the lives of our people better.
These successes could not have been achieved without collaboration with our social partners – business; civil society and the labour movement. We are grateful for these partnerships and the constructive criticism that has given us counsel over the past year. Ours is to serve our people. Ours is to build a country that we can be proud to bequeath to future generations.
As we draw the curtain on year 2023, we remain inspired by the collective pursuit of a goal to build a province characterised by equality, prosperity and peace; a province where human life is sacrosanct and where women and girl children can walk the streets without any fear; a province where budding entrepreneurs can fulfil their wildest dream; a province that attracts investors and where unemployment, poverty and inequality are tackled by all social partners working in collaboration.
On behalf of the Provincial Government I would like to take this opportunity and wish all of you success, prosperity, peace and love in 2024. Working together, we remain optimistic about the prospects of 2024.
Working together, we have the power to make 2024 an even better year. Let us rise to this challenge. Let us build a better KwaZulu-Natal, together.
HAPPY NEW YEAR
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For more information contact Head of Provincial Government Communication Bongi Gwala on 072 793 4757 or Joseph Cubai Acting Media Liaison Officer 061 421 5853
Issued by the Provincial Government Communication.