KING Cetshwayo District Municipality Mayor Ntombenhle Mkhulisi has vowed to do everything in her power to push for rural development in areas under traditional leadership.
Mkhulisi made this commitment when addressing the district Council of Traditional Leaders on Tuesday in Richards Bay.
‘As the incoming leadership of this district municipality, we felt it was imperative to have an engagement with the Amakhosi to strengthen relations between ourselves and also to present opportunities for development that are available in the district, particularly those being championed by this municipality.’
She said her municipality was concerned about the high unemployment rate ravaging rural communities and those living in urban areas.
‘Part of the reasons why we are here today is to give you an assurance that you are not alone. We will travel this journey with you. We have set up plans in motion to alleviate poverty, but we will engage you more on these rural development initiatives once we have finalised them,’ Mkhulisi said.
‘Our view is that we have not fully exploited initiatives such as farming.
‘We can assure you that you will not be excluded from any projects aimed at unlocking rural development. We have received a directive from the national government to pilot RASET and Agriparks rural initiatives, which we will unpack to you in the near future.’
Revamp
The district mayor also announced plans to revamp King Cetshwayo’s burial site, which is in Ward 14 in Nkandla.
‘We were grateful to have had this municipality renamed after King Cetshwayo after thorough consultation with Amakhosi and His Majesty the Zulu King. We are planning to have annual festivities to commemorate King Cetshwayo, educate our people about the role he played in the struggle, all this under the theme of heritage and toursim,’ she said.
In response, District Traditional Council Chairperson iNkosi Victoria Dube said they were touched by the mayor’s approach in pledging to work with the Amakhosi.
‘It is always gratifying to see local government coming closer to the Amakhosi, unlike in the past when the two institutions were working separately, thus creating conflicts.
‘At least now we will have answers when people ask about any development taking place in their areas. This bodes well for the future,’ she said.
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