FOLLOWING the lighting of the Freedom flame in Greytown on Thursday 1 June to mark the 16 years since the election of Umvoti’s first democratic council, an official group of dignitaries, including former MEC for Agriculture, Mr Cyril Xaba and Umvoti and Umzinyathi mayors moved to the main event at Busane stadium in Matimatolo.
Addressing the crowd at the function Xaba referred to the government’s back-to-basics campaign to ensure that all municipalities provide the core services of clean drinking water, sanitation, electricity, shelter, waste removal and roads for communities. He said he was happy to report that Umvoti Municipality was on track in providing basic and other municipal services.
He was impressed that council fast-tracked electricity projects by using internal funds to bridge-finance while waiting for grant funding, so Muden Woolstone and Ngome, now have electricity.
The more than R48 million Matimatolo housing project provided shelter to 600 beneficiaries. He was impressed by the 10 high masts installed at the cost of R5 million to combat the high crime rate in Eshane. Another impressive project was the cleaning up of the waste transfer station above Longhomes, Enhlalakahle.
At the end of the function the celebration flame was handed to the Msinga Police Station Commander to be lit by the Msinga mayor the following day.
The flame will be lit in all 61 KZN municipalities to mark 16 years of democratic local government.
