Community voices needs

 

September 19, 2008

Zululand OBSERVER

	Community voices needs City of uMhlathuze Speaker - Alphas Mbatha, City Mayor - Zakhele Mnqayi and Chief Whip and Councillor - Ntokozo Mbanjwa at the 2009/10 Integrated Development Plan (IDP) Public Participation meeting in Richards Bay Ronelle Ramsamy IN an effort to identify community needs prioritisation, the City of uMhlathuze has embarked on an Integrated Development Plan (IDP) Public Participation road show throughout rural and urban areas. The purpose of the interactive and consultative community sessions is to review the previous IDP in preparation for the compilation of the 2009/10 City budget. With meetings already held at eNseleni and the Khosa Tribal Authority, hundreds of residents of Wards 1,2,3 and 4 attended last week's IDP briefing at the uMhlathuze Civic Centre in Richards Bay. uMhlathuze City Speaker, Alphas Mbatha, told the Zululand Observer that through consultation with communities, the City were able to prioritise and identify the most critical issues in each ward. 'The attendance has been good and communities like Mandlazini and Mzingazi expressed unhappiness about the progress of basic services like water, electricity, sanitation and proper roads in their suburbs. We will appoint a consultant to conduct a survey in the area of the needs. We have already applied for government grants and, combined with our financial input, we aim to accelerate the process,' said Mbatha. Land According to uMhlathuze City Integrated Development Planning Director, Lindani Khoza, there were also historical land issues in certain suburbs where residents were still not rate-paying citizens. 'In areas like Mandlazini and Mzingazi residents do not have title deeds and are not formalised therefore are not registered to pay rates. 'The property belongs to the Trust and the Municipality has since taken a resolution to formalise areas in terms of the Development Facilitation Act. 'We will have to engage with the Traditional Authority and Indunas because these are sensitive issues.' Khoza added that communities indicated the need for a 24-hour clinic, schools social development, sport and basic services.