Harry Gwala District Municipality

MUNICIPAL NEWS

Harry Gwala District Municipality

Service Delivery News

The Harry Gwala District Municipality is located South-West of the province of KwaZulu-Natal, forming part of the border between KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape Province. It boasts a size of about 10 618.0 km2, dividing to form four local municipalities namely, Ubuhlebezwe, Umzimkhulu, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and Greater Kokstad.

Harry Gwala District Municipality is presently led by Mayor, Cllr. Zamokwakhe David Nxumalo, who is known for being proactive and firm when it comes to service delivery. The municipality, under his leadership, endeavours to fulfil the constitutional responsibility of providing clean drinking water and proper and dignified sanitation services to all local municipalities under the jurisdiction of Harry Gwala. To achieve this, the council and officials have adopted a “Proactive Approach” which involves the Mayor and/or a deployed Councillor, and official(s) routinely inspecting ground infrastructure and listening to various concerns of citizens spanning the length and breadth of the district.

This approach, amongst other things ensures and safeguards the process of public participation, thus guaranteeing smooth operation, and benefits include receiving firsthand information about progress, challenges and the overall condition of the water system and other service delivery inputs.

Mayor, Cllr. Zamokwakhe David Nxumalo

Mayor, Cllr. Zamokwakhe David Nxumalo is known for being proactive and firm when it comes to service delivery.

Harry Gwala District Municipality has noted that over the years people do not pay their water accounts and has opted for the move towards a smart prepaid metering solution that will compel residents and businesses to use water sparingly and also manage water appropriately. Those who can pay to use more than their allotted portion can then do so. The year 2021 began on a rather sombre note, with South Africa being hit by the second wave of the Corona Virus (COVID-19). During COVID-19, the District, along with its local municipalities followed procedures to address, prevent, and resist COVID19’s spread but despite the fact that their efforts were not in vain, they were saddened to experience loss of lives caused by the pandemic. Their citizen’s suffered, the mortality rate increased rapidly and many people were constantly in mourning.

In South Africa we also lost revered leaders such as King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu, the Minister in the Presidency Mr. Jackson Mphikwa Mthembu, who was also the DDM

Champion for Harry Gwala District, and the former KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Mr. Muntukayise Bhekuyise Ntuli. It is quite saddening and the municipality conveyed their deepest condolences to families and friends of the departed.

On a high note the matric class of 2020 performed exceptionally well with the pass rate increasing from 67% to 75%. The Matric Release Programme was conducted at the Little Flower Combined School in Ixopo, and the Mayor praised learner, Thembelihle Tsengane (18), from Little Flower Senior Secondary School, for lifting the District’s flag high and putting the town on the map in the 2020 Matric results. Thembelihle was ranked second on the National Best Performer’s list and was among the top performers in the KwaZulu-Natal province. The municipality vowed to assist with the construction of decent lavatories to restore the dignity of children and educators after outcries from numerous rural schools and as a result, have made it a goal to deliver on time and effectively, as inspired by His Excellency, President Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa’s powerful message “Thuma Mina”, which means “Send Me”.

They have commited to working hard at improving the lives of the people of Harry Gwala District by bringing services closer to them. Furthermore, they urged their communities to work hand in glove with the municipality in all its affairs, use water more sparingly, report leaks and illegal connections, provide input in development plans, and more importantly, ensure that all COVID-19 protocols are adhered to, as Covid-19 remains rife in South Africa.

Thembelihle Tsengane (18) from Little Flower Senior Secondary School

On a high note the matric class of 2020 performed exceptionally well with the pass rate increasing from 67% to 75%.The Matric Release Programme was conducted at the Little Flower Combined School in Ixopo.

Please follow the municipality on our various social media platforms such as Facebook (Harry Gwala District Municipality), Twitter(@GwalaHarry), Instagram(HarryGwala) and the website: www.harrygwaladm.gov.za