THE City of uMhlathuze scooped top accolades during the World Planners Day celebration held at iNkosi Albert Luthuli Convention Centre (ICC) in Durban on Tuesday.
It was honoured for being the best with its Industrial Development Plan, receiving the Most Credible IDP award for the third consecutive year.
‘This is proof of consistency with our planning. Our IDP is people centred and members of the public, other sectors including Amakhosi, professionals, business, industries, departments and entities, fully participate and contribute meaningfully, which becomes the solid foundation for our planning,’ said Deputy Mayor Cllr Vera Gumbi.
Planners Day celebrates innovations and new landscapes that Regional and Town Planners create for the province of KwaZulu-Natal.
‘The end result is an IDP that talks to the needs of the people we serve. This government encourages a participative system of governing, hence we maintain public participation in all our programmes,’ said Gumbi.
‘This accolade poses a challenge to the City to work hard to maintain its status and good governance. When we advertise on the media and other communication channels, people respond in numbers to voice their developmental priorities per ward or per cluster.
‘This gives us an idea of how to plan well in advance and allocate budget accordingly,’
Congrats to City of uMhlathuze for scooping the Most Credible IDP for 3 conservative times @ZOPublications pic.twitter.com/9DGvEqx12X
— uMhlathuze (@UmhlathuzeM) November 17, 2015
Residents should expect a new landscape in the City since a number of catalyst projects such as the relocation of the airport, new ICC, Alkantstrand Beach revamp, business hub at eSikhaleni and other projects in the pipeline.
The City has recently approved the appointment of a Mayoral Business Advisory Panel, which will advise the Mayor and the City with strategic projects that will take the City’s economy forward and create jobs and business opportunities for locals.
