Uthukela District Municipality tackles economic challenges to alleviate poverty

UThukela District Municipality in conjunction with the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) hosted a two-day District Growth and Development Summit at the Ladysmith Town Hall from June 25 to 26.

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The summit was organised as a crucial part of government’s plans to tackle poverty and create job opportunities.
The purpose of the event, as outlined by the Municipal Manager Mr SN Kunene, was to afford different stakeholders an opportunity to engage each other and discuss developmental issues in the district.

“We are all aware that the level of unemployment in our district is very high. Our people are thus expecting the municipalities to lead around the issues of development,” Mr Kunene alluded.

He acknowledged that there are certain areas without access to basic services like potable water and hygienic sanitation.

“It is clear that we should be emerging from this summit with a long-term sustainable Growth and Development Plan co-owned by all four social partners; labour, business, civil society and with strong inter-governmental co-operation, in order to ensure that the economy of uThukela district diversifies and builds a strong foundation to achieve the growth,” concluded Mr Kunene.

Delivering his keynote address, uThukela District Mayor Mr AS Mazibuko gave a holistic overview of the district as vast and mostly rural. He said in terms of administration, our district is rendering services to both rural and urban areas.

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“In the process of bringing services to the people, there is a challenge that people are not willing to pay for services. This in turn has a negative impact in terms of rendering services effectively,” said the Mayor.

Mr Mazibuko then encouraged all participants to work together in different forums across the district. He also mentioned that stakeholders must create platforms for young people so they can be mentored and grow economically.
He also emphasised the need to find solutions that are sustainable and that he was confident the commissions will emerge with deliberations that will take the district forward.

During the presentations made by various stakeholders, the much-talked about project, which is envisaged to create many job opportunities for the people of the district, took centre stage.

The Sinosa Smelter Park Project to be based in Colenso had everyone’s interest. The project is expected to create many economic activities and employ a large number of people once it is operational. The Executive Chairman Mr B Mavundla said this is one of the biggest projects in the country, which will benefit a lot of people in more ways than one.

The summit addressed the different challenges of unemployment, poverty and the gap between rich and poor, as well as the low levels of skills to ensure that people are able to make inroads into the second economy. Provincial government played a supporting role with the district and the local municipalities in the district as stakeholders emerged from the summit with tangible outcomes.

The District Summits are meant to ensure that the South African government’s plans for economic growth and its fight against poverty and unemployment is taken to the ground, discussed and implemented.

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