NEWCASTLE KZN: Mayor promises to ‘fast track’ service delivery
In the next few months, the municipality will be conducting aggressive site visits to completed projects.
Newcastle Mayor, Dr Ntuthuko Mahlaba has reflected on the 20-year journey of local government.
“This year we commemorate, celebrate and reflect on the 20 year journey of Local Government Transformation. Local Government is a pivotal cornerstone through which we can accelerate service delivery, create a dignified life for all, empower communities to be self-sufficient and restore our people’s hope for a better life,” said Cllr Mahlaba.
He added that the Newcastle Municipality continued to envisage a future where every citizen has water, electricity, sanitation and shelter.
“As a service delivery oriented institution, we strive to continuously ignite the zeal to serve the electorate. The municipality remains committed to produce an inimitable workforce which boasts of being progressive, vibrant and innovative.”
According to Cllr Mahlaba, the municipality’s mantra for 2021 is to ‘bolster and fast track the dispensing of basic services’ as mandated by the constitution.
“Plans are afoot to aggressively provide housing, electricity and sanitation to first time home owners. Collectively, let us exhibit good citizenship by forging ahead to a brighter tomorrow in the spirit of Ubuntu and for the betterment of generations to come,” he urged.
Here is the rest of Cllr Mahlaba’s message to the community:
“Life as we know it is no longer the same, as the Coronavirus continues to reshape our lives and also rob us of loved ones. We continue to brave this invisible enemy and weather a storm whose end is fast approaching. In the spirit of goodwill and camaraderie, Newcastle Local Municipality wishes to also send words of encouragement to all who have lost loved ones to Coronavirus.
I remain forever humbled and grateful to the men and women who have spent endless nights in Covid-19 wards across the country, in particular in hospitals in Newcastle. These are our heroines and heroes; our knights in shining armour.
When these uncertain times are behind us, the municipality will definitely honour them for their indelible mark towards the advancement and betterment of humankind. I also wish to send my heartfelt gratitude to the teachers, pupils, and in particular matric learners, who showed resilience and courage during trying times.
They’ve produced impressive and pleasing results despite the Coronavirus global pandemic. As the Newcastle Municipality, we applaud and salute these gallant individuals who soldiered on in the face of adversity. The results bear testament that indeed the human race can achieve more if we remain determined, united and resolute.
The philosopher Socrates once said: “The secret of change is to focus all your energy, not on fighting the old but on building the new.”
The ultimate lesson that we’ve all learnt from Covid-19 is that we are all in this together, as humanity. We’ve adapted to a new life and we’ve made it work. As we reflect on our achievements and challenges in the last 20 years of local government, let us be cognizant that this government has improved lives for the better, and our pledge is to never cease doing so.
In the next few months, the municipality will be conducting aggressive site visits to completed projects, visits to wards which need our immediate attention and I’ll be interacting with residents across the municipality, with the aim of soliciting various views on how we can improve as an institution.
This year we say #Sihamba’ Ngolayini we-Service Delivery. God bless Newcastle and her people.”
Contact us
WhatsApp: 082 874 5550
Email: Reveshni Douglas (Editor) at reveshni@caxton.co.za
Make sure you follow us for regular updates:
