KZN Premier embarks on Operation Sukuma Sakhe
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.
As part of Operation Sukuma Sakhe District Development Model, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube and all MECs recently 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 included pig farming, goat farming, poultry farming, planting of various crops such as maize, sunflower and dry beans.
The project is supported by the provincial government that 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 Dube-Ncube.
She encouraged members of the community to start food gardens in their yards in 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,” she said.
She added that 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.
She said: “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.”
Also, Dube-Ncube recently also visited the Shayamoya Rural Housing Project located within Ward 7 of the Inkosi Langalibalele Municipality approximately 15 kilometres South-West of Estcourt.
In the area construction of houses is underway, and the project is targeted to deliver 200 houses by the end 2022/2023 financial year.
Members of the KZN Executive Council also interacted with people in various wards and addressed specific community issues.
Dube-Ncube said 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.
She said some of the concerns raised by residents included issues related to safety, water, unemployment, housing, electricity, learner transport, access roads and other concerns, saying that government committed to respond to urgently.
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