Declaration of interest forms are crucial in maintaining transparency and accountability within organizations, including municipalities. By requiring individuals to declare their interests, organizations can identify and manage potential conflicts of interest, ensuring that decisions are made objectively and in the best interests of the organization. Therefore, it is essential that individuals comply with the requirement to declare their financial interests to ensure transparency, accountability, and ethical decision-making

In summary, signing declaration of interest forms is essential for maintaining good governance, preventing conflicts of interest, and promoting transparency and accountability within organizations.

The mayor of iLembe District Municipality, Cllr. Thobani Shandu accompanied by the Council Speaker (also the SALGA Women’s Commission KZN Provincial Chairperson), Cllr. Dolly Shandu, EXCO Members and Councillors received the first consignment of 11 of the 30 water tankers today that the District Municipality has procured directly in an effort to reduce reliance on contracted services (outsourcing).

The current Council whose tenure began in November 2021, inherited an institution where there was a contract with a private service provider to supply the municipality with a total of 106 vehicles. This included 30 water tankers. In the 2023/2024 financial year, the Council took a decision to insourcing the fleet, where it sought that in two (2) years the entire fleet should be owned by the municipality, as opposed to being leased.

As a start, the municipality procured 65 bakkies from Isuzu which were delivered in December 2023. Today’s addition of 30 water tanks that will all be delivered by the end of October 2024 will bring total of insourced vehicles to 95.

In welcoming the consignment of tankers, Shandu thanked the administration for delivering on the Council decision thereby ensuring that water provision is done responsibly and sustainably “This will save Council funds enormously, the R18 million we had budgeted for the 2024/2025 financial year has been depleted just three (3) months into this financial year, clearly indicated that we could have possibly spent in region R100 million at the end of the financial year.”

“We will still use contract services to plug gaps where there is a dire need, however, it is important to note that the monies that the District Municipality will be saving now that the decision to insource is being implemented will be reinvested into service delivery projects that will ensure water is delivered through yard connections for every household in the iLembe District.” Concluded Shandu.

The thirty (30) 16,000 Water Tankers have been procured at a once-off cost in the region of R95,3 million including VAT.

In preparation for the summer season, iLembe District Disaster Centre and the Provincial Disaster Management Centre conducted a refresher training program for disaster volunteers, made up of selected ward committee members, community development workers and other relevant members of the community.

The program took place at Sibusisiwe Hall and was well attended by internal and external role-players, as well as Councillors. Various presentations shared include filling of damage assessment forms, introduction to disaster management and volunteerism, integrated institutional mechanisms and other disaster management legislative matters.

According to the District Disaster Manager Sifiso Ngubane the role volunteers play is vital because it doesn’t start only when disasters strike, but during ongoing prevention and mitigation programs. “It is also your responsibility to help with identifying and profiling risks in your areas or wards, while analyzing vulnerabilities in the community, championing community awareness and educational campaigns and assisting in developing and reviewing disaster management and contingency plans, as well as providing early warning mechanisms to the community,” said Ngubane.

Provincial Disaster Management Centre representative Bheki Phungula outlined the roles and responsibilities for the three spheres of government in disaster management and fire services as well as the protocol to be followed when disaster occurs, including how to fill the disaster management assessment form. “It is important that we all understand our roles and responsibilities to ensure that relief is coordinated early, and the lives of the people affected is able to go back to some level of normality, as soon as possible,” said Phungula.

Umasipala wesiFunda iLembe uholwa uMeya, Khansela Thobani Shandu uyaqhubeka nokwenza umsebenzi wokufakwa kwamanzi eNdwedwe.

INdwedwe ingezinye zezindawo ezingenawo amanzi empompini kodwa eziwathola ngamaloli amanzi. Ngonyaka owedlule umasipala wesiFunda iLembe wethula umsebenzi wokufakwa kwamanzi eNdwedwe obizwa ngo – UMshwathi Bulk Water Supply Scheme ozodla izigidi zama Randi.

Lomsebenzi uzokuba izikhawu eziningana ngenxa yobukhulu bomsebenzi. Ezinye zezindawo ezizohlumula inxenye eningi yase Ndwedwe ( Nondabula, Bhamshela Town, Ireland, Hlathikhulu, Gobinsimbi, Echibini, Newspaper, Gqolweni, Kho, Ngcongangconga, Nsuze Dalibho, Gcwensa, Msengeni, Onyazini, Mary Gray, ESidumbini, Kwathayela, Luthuli kanye naseBhidakhona).

Umsebenzi uyaqhubeka izinkontilika zikhona ziyasebenza.

Kunxenxwa umphakathi ukuba ubambisane futhi uyivikele inqalasizinda kamasipala.

iLembe District has played host to the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Development (KZN DSD) International Day for Families.

Mandeni: Ziyashukana kuMayoral Cup enkundleni yezemidlalo yaKwaNcedomhlophe eMandeni. Kungokokuqala ngqa ukuba uMkhandlu weSifunda seLembe ube nalendebe engumantuntanendishi. Lemidlalo iqalise ekuseni ngomjaho ongu-5km nongu-10km obuzungeza emalokishini kanti ngaphezu kwelikanobhutshuzwayo kuphinde kube khona nebhola lomnqakiswano lamantombazane nelabesilisa.

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The Mayor and Speaker of ILembe District Municipality today were both witnesses as one of the long-awaited diesel generators arrived at Sundumbili Water Works in Mandeni.

Today the 16th of May 2024, at eBandla Hotel, iLembe District Municipality and Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) hold joint consultation engagement session on the professional isation of the local government.

The central ideas of the session are to capacitate engineering practioners to be relevant to the modern standard of ECSA and assist municipalities to identify engineering skills need.

The Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) is a statutory body established in terms of the Engineering Profession Act (EPA), 46 of 2000. The ECSA’s primary role is the regulation of the engineering profession in terms of this Act. Its core functions are the accreditation of engineering programmes, registration of persons as professionals in specified categories, and the regulation of the practice of registered persons.

Importance of registration as it is a requirement in terms of Engineering Professions Act

In attendance were senior officials from iLembe District Municipality, Ms C Mbola, MISA Energy Specialist – Mr M Msibi, JG Africa Technical Director – Dr. J Pilusa, Umgeni Maintenance Engineer – Mr M Nkonyane, ECSA Manager Regulator Instruments – Ms N Mtshali, CETA Manager Strategic Partnership & Projects – Ms K Maimela.

Opening remarks were made by the iLembe District Municipality Technical Services Senior Manager, Ms Cingisa Mbola “Highlighting the importance of embracing the concept of “Identitication of Engineering work”. For engineering practioners and registered persons to be effective and protect the space. Emphasizing on engineering practioners to be qualified and suitable for the job. Also to encourage safe and sustainable environment while remain accountable.

Remarks by the ECSA Manager Regulator Instrument, Ms N Mtshali highlited on ” Importance of registration as it is a requirement in terms of Engineering Professions Act. Also spoken about the process of registration and existing paths and categories and minimum competency requirements. Also mentioned that this IDoEW has been gazzetted and in future engineeing practioners will not be allowed to practice in the engineering fraternity without being registered.

The session was accompanied by numerous presentations from different engineering fraternity ;Roles of Professional Engineers, Mentor-Mentes Connected Program, Identification of Engineering Work and Candidacy Support program.

Delivering the acknowledgements and vote of thanks iLembe District Municipality Human Resource Manager, Ntokozo Nzuza appreciatiated all partners and guest who participated. He further emphasised good conduct and self development in all local government officials.

Mayor Shandu welcomes announcement by MEC for EDTEA at his Department’s Outreach Programme held at Emakhempini in Mandeni.

In a affort to uplift and to revive local economic development and growth, the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Economic Development, Tourism, and Environmental Affairs, Mr. Siboniso Duma stewarded an Outreach Programme at Emakhempini area in the locality of KwaSithebe under the iLembe District Municipality Municipality in Mandeni, Ward 18.

Emakhempini holds historical significance as it is the place where Former President Nelson Mandela participated in the mass funeral of nine compatriots who were murdered in cold blood almost on the 20th of May in 1995.

The programme dealt with consumer education issues, presentations from EDTEA entities and various crucial topics aimed at addressing and improving socio-economic challenges and improving the quality of life for the iLembe District and her children. An astounding highlights was the MEC’s announcement that the department had concluded negotiations and consultation that will see the fruition in the coming months with The Foschini Group (TFG) set to open ten (10) factories in the Isithebe business precinct.