The MEC for Social Development, Mbali Shinga, visited Umzumbe Local Municipality to commemorate World Population Day recently.
The event was held at Nkanini Sports Complex, where Shinga said it was important to know how many people are in South Africa and who they are.
“It also helps us to shape the way in which we deliver services. It is also a platform to speak to the youth about social ills.”
She said many homes are still headed by young children, and there is a high rate of teenage pregnancies, therefore, statistics collected help relevant departments plan how to help people.
“It also involves issues of migration, where people move from one province to another and end up changing the population numbers between provinces because they need better services.”
She said Umzumbe was chosen as gender-based violence issues are high in the area.
The mayor of Umzumbe, Bongani Nyuswa, said the government sets the budget based on the population; therefore, it was important to know how many people are in KZN.
“In the southern part of KZN, people from the Eastern Cape come into KZN and use the services provided. As a budget has been set according to the population, it gets short-changed along the way because the population has changed.”
Nyuswa said a way to avoid or help ease this situation would be to boost the economy in the area.
The MEC was joined by traditional leaders, councillors, church leaders and senior officials.
Shinga also celebrated the day with six elderly people and shared gifts with them. She encouraged young people to always protect older persons in the communities.
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