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WELCOME TO THE CITY OF MATLOSANA CITY OF PEOPLE ON THE MOVE ALFRED NZO DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY

Draws inspiration from the courage and works of anti-apartheid activist, Alfred Nzo

Alfred Nzo District Municipality, a predominantly rural community, located in the north-eastern periphery of the Eastern Cape Province, is named after veteran politician and anti-apartheid activist Alfred Nzo.

As South Africa commemorates Heritage Month, we pay tribute to a revolutionary par-excellent Alfred Nzo and the contribution of Alfred Nzo municipality to the social, economic and cultural development of our country.

Born Alfred Baphethuxolo Nzo, Alfred Nzo was the longest serving African National Congress Secretary General, and the first Minister of Foreign Affairs after independence in 1994.

Early this year, Alfred Nzo District Municipality approved and adopted a budget of R1.6 billion, with providing clean water to many rural villages marked as a priority.

In the true spirit of Alfred Nzo, and its quest to achieve development for its people, the Alfred Nzo Municipality, completed Ntabankulu Sewer Project, phase 1A of the reticulation of the Greater Mbizana Regional Bulk Water Supply, and allocated R70 million to complete Fobane Water Scheme.

Part of the budget went towards local economic development through Agri Parks, a project assisting in job creation.

Speaking during the State of the District Address (SODA), Alfred Nzo Municipality Executive Mayor Vukile Mhlelembana expressed commitment to the development of his community, for which Alfred Nzo paid a price –arrested, tortured and exiled for his activism.

“We took a decision to put at the centre of our everyday effort, the prioritisation of our rural communities. Against this backround we prioritise our people that for the remainder of our term, we will prioritise rural development,’’ said Mhlelembana.

Like Alfred Nzo who became a champion of people’s health during apartheid when he became a Health Inspector, Alfred Nzo Municipality is committed to the provision of water, and health services to its community.

A Category C municipality, the Alfred Nzo District Municipality has 72 clinics, 8 hospitals and 2 community health centers.

Mhlelembana expressed his commitment to prioritise the provision of clean water to avoid the outbreak of waterborne diseases, as well as the eradication of poverty and unemployment through local economic development programmes.

As a result of effort towards achieving equality for all its people, Alfred Nzo District has a Gini coefficient of 0.52, which is the lowest, compared to the other districts in the province and is below the provincial index value of 0.62.

The smallest district in the province, covering only 6% of the geographical area, Alfred Nzo Municipality is comprised of the Matatiele, Ntabankulu, Mbizana and Umzimvubu Local Municipalities.

In spite of challenges, Alfred Nzo Local Municipality is inspired by Alfred Nzo, the revolutionary, to follow the path of growth, development and empowerment.

Historically part of the Transkei homelands, Alfred Nzo District Municipality has transformed over the years to become a force to reckon.

Executive Mayor Vukile Mhlelembana

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