The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Executive Council chaired by Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube convened its first ordinary meeting of the year on Wednesday, 24 January 2024.
The Executive Council expressed contentment with the Province’s preparation to host two strategic events to be led by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday 31 January 2024. Cabinet also reflected on other pertinent issues in the state of the province and resolve in the following manner:
1. KWAZULU-NATAL READY TO HOST SOUTH AFRICA’S LAUNCH TO COMMENCE PREFERENTIAL TRADE UNDER THE AfCFTA
The Executive Council welcomed the state of readiness of the Province to host the 13th African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Council of Ministers’ meeting and South Africa’s launch ceremony to commence Preferential Trade under the AfCFTA.
The launch will be officiated by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday 31 January and will take place at the Port of Durban. The meeting of the AfCFTA Council of Ministers (COM) responsible for Trade will take place at Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre from Tuesday 30 -31 January 2024
The event marks the start of a historic trade on the African continent through the shipment of manufactured products to AfCFTA State Parties that have started preferential trade, such as Ghana, Kenya, Egypt, Algeria, Cameroon, Rwanda and Tunisia, etc. The Province was earmarked as the preferred destination to commemorate South Africa’s expanded intra-Africa trade under the AfCFTA.
The Secretary-General of African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, Mr Wamkele Mene, Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition of South Africa, Mr Ebrahim Patel, Premier of KwaZulu-Natal Ms Nomusa Dube-Ncube, Government Officials, Ministers Responsible for Trade, the Diplomatic Corps, Heads of Businesses and the Media from the rest of the Continent will be part of this historic event.
2. OFFICIAL HANDOVER OF COMPLETED WELISIZWE RURAL BRIDGES
The Executive Council applauded the completion of Welisizwe Rural Bridges in some parts of KwaZulu-Natal. President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Wednesday, 31 January 2024 lead the launch of the Welisizwe Rural Bridges initiative at Ngilanyoni Sportfield, Ward 7 Mkhambathini Local Municipality uMgungunglovu District
This collaborative effort between the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure and the South African Defence Force aims to construct 96 bridges during the 2023/2024 financial year, as outlined in the State of the Nation address.
The Welisizwe Bridges programme forms part of government’s response to addressing challenges faced by citizens and children who previously navigated perilous rivers and streams to access schools and essential social services.
The Executive Council hailed the Welisizwe Rural Bridges initiative as a gamechanger and government’s direct response in the rehabilitation of infrastructure damaged by floods and will immensely contribute to the economic recovery programme.
3. CABINET INTERVENTION AT ABAQULUSI LOCAL MUNICIPALITY
The Executive Council resolved to intervene in terms of section 139(1)(b) of the Constitution at Abaqulusi Local Municipality. The Municipality was placed under intervention in February 2019 after the Executive Council resolved that the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs be authorised to appoint a Ministerial Representative to solve a plethora of challenges facing the Municipality.
On 27 April 2022 the Executive Council resolved to retain the intervention for a further period to 31 October 2022. On 2 November 2022 the Executive Council resolved to extend the intervention for a further period until 30 April 2023
The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs however has been unable to implement intervention measures due to a court application launched by the Municipality challenging the decision of the Provincial Executive Council to extend the intervention.
The proposed intervention was triggered by, among other challenges, the Municipal Council not functioning optimally, failure to fill vacancies in the Executive Committee in terms of section 43 and 47 of the Municipal Structures Act 117 of 1998 as amended, administrative instability and labour issues and failure and/or refusal to implement investigation findings and recommendations of the investigation instituted in terms of section 106 of the Municipal Systems Act 32 of 2000.
As such Cabinet has approved the intervention at Abaqulusi Local Municipality in terms of section 139 (1)(b) and assumes the functions specified in terms of Sections 51, 56 and 57 of the Municipal Systems Act as well as those related to Financial Management.
The Executive Authority also approved that the MEC for COGTA appoints a representative or representatives to be based at the Municipality who will prepare and implement the recovery. The MEC for COGTA has been authorised to conclude all formalities related to this intervention
4. KWAZULU-NATAL TO HOST THE TRIPLE THREATS CONFERENCE IN MARCH 2024
The Executive Council approved the hosting of the Triple Threats Conference on adolescent teenage pregnancy, Gender Based Violence and HIV and Aids. The Conference forms part of the World Population Day 2023 post intervention activities in the province to fight social ills affecting youth under the theme: Unleashing the power Of Gender Equality: Uplifting the Voices of Women and Girls to unlock our World’s Infinite Possibilities.
The Triple Threats Conference will be led by the Provincial Department of Social Development and involve strategic partners in the sector and is scheduled to take place from 14 to 16 March 2024 in KwaZulu-Natal.
The conference aims to create a platform to address triple threats prevalent among young people particularly since the likelihood of realizing the demographic dividend also depends on addressing the plethora of challenges facing the youth. These challenges include lack of employment opportunities, poverty, substance abuse and limited access to education and health services.
Besides these challenges, teenage pregnancy, Gender Based Violence (GBV), and HIV and AIDS continue to pose a serious threat to the wellbeing of youth, especially adolescents and the realization of demographic dividend in the province;
5. FILLING OF POST OF HEAD OF DEPARTMENT FOR SPORT ARTS AND CULTURE
The Executive Council endorsed the appointment and concurred with the recommendations of the interviewing panel that Dr C.T Sifunda be appointed as Head of Department for Sport, Arts and Culture.
The post of Head of Department for Sport, Arts and Culture emanated from the merger between the Department of Arts and Culture and the Department of Sport and Recreation. The post has since been occupied on an acting capacity.
The Executive Council welcomed the appointment of Dr Sifunda whose experience, expertise and knowledge will ensure stability while strengthening human capabilities, institutional capacity, which are the basic tenets of building a capable, ethical, developmental and democratic state.
Ends
For more information contact
Head of Provincial Government Communication
Bongi Gwala on 072 793 4757
or
KZN Premier Acting Media Liaison Officer
Joseph Cubai on 061 421 5853
Issued by the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government