19 Oct 2011
The KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) government initiative to govern at household level is visible and is changing people’s lives for the better at rural Impendle. This initiative is part of the provincial government’s Flagship Programme known as Sukuma Sakhe aimed at integrating the work of all departments to focus on solving community problems on the ground, starting with areas of abject poverty and making a difference by partnering with the communities.
The household visits yesterday, prior to the official launch of the Operation Sukuma Sakhe by Impendle Local Municipality Mayor, Mr Sizwe Ndlela and MEC for Finance, Mrs Ina Cronjé who is the Political Champion for uMgungundlovu District, was a visual evidence for the progress of a job-well done.
His life will never be the same, thanks to Operation Sukuma Sakhe:
The first stop was at kwaKhetha area, at the unemployed Moses Madlala’s house. He is 39 and had to drop out of school because his parents could not afford his education at that time when there were no ‘no-fee-schools’ in the country. He used to collect steel and metal to sell to the local scrap yard. With the little money that he collected, he managed to build his own small recording studio at home which he calls Moslet Sound Entertainment.
Madlala uses his small studio to record and produce music for the local youth in a bid to take them away from the streets and bad habits. Out of nothing, he managed to produce ten albums for local artists last year. “Our main challenge is distribution. Our music is so popular here such that we are failing to meet the demand from the retailers,” said Madlala (076 352 8859).
Through Operation Sukuma Sakhe which goes house to house rooting out challenges at household level, the KZN Music Warehouse was wrapped in to assist Madlala with training and music distribution.
The Head of Marketing for the KZN Music Warehouse Mr Thabang Mofokeng (072 772 0853) who was also part of the visiting delegation said, “we will assist Madlala with licensing contract or agreement to distribute and market his music because he has already recorded and produced his music”.
MEC Cronjé said that this is a living example of what is encouraged by the KZN government’s Operation Sukuma Sakhe.
“Communities are encouraged to do it for themselves. Further to that the government will come to your household and know you in person as a citizen then work together with you as an individual to root out poverty and hunger in our province. We congratulate Mr Madlala for being exemplary,” said Cronjé
Her life will never be the same, thanks to Operation Sukuma Sakhe:
The second visit was at KwaGomane in a one year old Ayabonga Duma’s house, who lost her mother few weeks after birth. She now lives with her unemployed grandmother Dombi Duma. The anxious family was discovered through Operation Sukuma Sakhe, as the grandmother had no clue where to go to get support for the infant. The child will get a birth certificate and the grandmother will get foster care grant.
Giving the Duma family a temporal three months R1 610 grocery-voucher or coupon to get food whilst waiting approval for the foster care grant, Cronjé advised the Duma family to buy proper and healthy food. She also gave them food parcels to keep them going, and seeds to plant food for the near future.
Duma, who could not hold tears of happiness, said, “I thank the Youth Ambassadors who came to my house from the government. I had no clue what to do with this child and did not know where to go, but they changed my life for the better.”
Addressing the hall full of Impendle community at the launch, Cronjé said “we want you to feel the presence of government, we are bringing it to your door step, and by the same token, we are encouraging people to rise and do it for themselves”.
Mayor Ndlela 082 838 1441 mentioned that the main challenge at Impendle was that most parents die before their kids could have birth certificates which poses challenges for kids to get identity documents. “Through this initiative, we are now fast-tracking this process because all departments are here and we are tackling this problem head-on.”
“No child must be at home because parents cannot afford the child’s education – government pays for the children if parents do not afford. The people who aspire to be business people must formalise their vision in a business plan, present it to government. The provincial government has put aside R184 million towards assisting small and upcoming businesses. But we need well-thought and proper business plans. We are simple asking you to do your part and the government will do its part,” concluded Cronjé.
Enquiries:
Musa Cebisa
Cell: 071 687 8777
Issued by: KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Treasury
19 Oct 2011
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