AT the recent Executive Committee (Exco) uMgungundlovu District Municipality (uMDM) discussed some of the most pressing challenges that the district and South Africa is facing. These range from the devastating drought, the financial woes and following a series of racism-related events in South Africa in the past few weeks.
The uMDM Exco was further briefed on the latest drought information, including the fact that the district is one that is compelled to impose 15% water restrictions on domestic and industrial and/or commercial users and up to 50% restriction on irrigation and/or agricultural use.
The drought is affecting many parts of South Africa, including the Midlands. They are characterised by below level rainfall and excessive heat.
Exco has noted with sadness the accident which cut short the lives of two gifted young people - Maritzburg United striker Mondli Cele and a female SABC sports journalist Delisile Ngwenya. Various racism-related incidents that plagued the country in the last few weeks were also discussed. These incidents were sparked by racist posts in the social networks like Facebook, Twitter and Instargram, but soon gripped the country and got most people hot under the collar. Exco members were a given technical briefing on the financial state of the UMDM. What stood out is that the finances of the district municipality are in good hands and the municipality was dealing with the financial reporting challenges and budget allocations. Exco expressed its desire to obtain yet another clean audit in the 2015/2016 financial year and the early signs are that this goal is within reach.
“We have to maintain our achievement as the district so far. We have to do this to show the future generation of leaders that it can be done. We have to show that clean governance and service delivery go hand in hand,” said uMgungundlovu Yusuf Bhamjee.
Pressing challenges were discussed including devastating drought, the financial woes and
