Congratulatory Message from the Mayor of Newcastle Local Municipality to the Class of 2017

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The class of 2017, Amajuba District has once again made us proud by achieving the second place after the uMgungundlovu District in the Province of Kwa Zulu Natal, by attaining 80.51 %, we congratulate them by a job well done, we are still optimistic that there will be improvement in the coming years.

The achievement we believe would have not been possible without the commitment of the dedicated staff of the Department of Basic Education under the stewardship of the Former Director Rev. Sithole and the current Acting Director Mr. M. Khumalo should be applauded in all corners of our society, the hard work put together by the dedicated teachers who performed beyond expectation.

The hard work put together by the Learners who sometimes swim against the tide mostly because of conditions they had to prepare themselves under, we congratulate and wish them very well in their future endeavours, to those who did not make it because of various circumstances we wish to send a message that it does not end here, they must use opportunities presented to them to better their lives.

We convey the congratulatory message to all of them for making us proud, and we are keenly interested in them to keep doing hard work and never forget to keep their eyes on their ambition and focus on achieving more than they have already mastered. We wish them well in their future endeavours

We rise by lifting others!!!!!

Cllr. Makhosini Nkosi
Mayor Newcastle Local Municipality

Christmas Message From The Mayor

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Happy Holidays, Newcastle!

Mayor Makhosini Nkosi, on behalf of the Newcastle Municipality, wishes all citizens of Newcastle and KZN at large, a joyous festive season and a prosperous New Year.

Don’t drink and drive, obey the rules and regulations of the road. Enjoy with caution and a sense of responsibility.

Please remember that your life, as well as the lives of all citizens, is worth caring for.

Izilokotho Ezinhle kulaMaHolidi zeMeya Yomkhandlu

IMeya yaMasipala waseNewcastle uMakhosini Nkosi ufisela bonke abahlali base Newcastle
ne-KwaZulu Natali amaholidi amahle futhi agcwele injabulo noNyaka Omusha omuhle.

Abantu bayanxuswa ukuba bangashayeli bephuzile futhi bahloniphe imithetho yomgwaqo. Nizijabulise ngendlela evikelekile niphinde nihloniphe futhi nivikele izimpilo zenu Kanye nezabanye.

Municipal Manager Mswane Holds Engaging Session with Interns

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Municipal Manager; Mr BE Mswane addressing the interns

Newcastle Local Municipality Municipal Manager, Mr Bhekani Errol Mswane, held a meet and greet session for the newly hired interns of the Municipality. The session was held on 12 December 2017 at the Municipal Offices.
The purpose of the session was to introduce the interns to their new workplace environment as well as each other. Municipal Manager said all the interns need to be mentored and taken through the municipality’s work flow processes. Mr Mswane further highlighted the importance of the internship program and advised the interns to commit themselves to a good work ethic.

Mr Mswane also informed the interns that they are the successful applicants out of 1700 applications received by the municipality. “A rigorous screen process was used in the selection and we ask you to take this golden opportunity to gain valuable experience which could lead to you applying for relevant posts should it arise,” said the Municipal Manager.

While going through the process and functions of being Newcastle Municipality employees, Mr Mswane thanked the interns for trusting the Municipality to be they employer, and urged them to think of the future while also making a good name for themselves in the present. The Municipal Manger further emphasized the municipality’s commitment to improving service delivery and the valuable role interns could play in ensuring that the municipality achieve service delivery standards.

Newcastle Municipality believes in providing job opportunities and training for local graduates to help build a better skilled and knowledgeable community that will move Newcastle forward. The Municipal Manager closed by apologising to the parents and families that were affected by all the confusion during the intake process.

Senior Management and interns in attendance at the Information Session

Newcastle Municipality working towards a non – violent South Africa

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Newcastle Mayor Advocate E.M Nkosi, St Antony’s Mr Nzuza, ward Cllr D. Mnguni, Pastor Mahlangu and correctional services Fikiswa Hololo

Newcastle Municipality together with different stakeholders visited the St Antony’s children home on the 23rd of November with a spirit of commemorating the 16 days of activism with them.

Under the theme: “Count me in: Together moving a non –violent South Africa forward.” The 16 days of activism aims at encouraging men to remember their role as protectors in their households and also to attract all South Africans to be active participants in the fight to eradicate violence against women and children. This campaign still remains to be relevant in our country because lack of understanding of children’s and women rights has proven to be a challenge.

In his address, Newcastle Mayor Cllr M.E Nkosi said that it is important to know that we as parents are the only people that can protect our children from abuse. “We have been preaching the same gospel to men for over a decade but it seems like it is falling on deaf ears, our women are still crying and our children are still being abused” reiterated Cllr Nkosi.

Every South African is urged to support this campaign by wearing the red ribbon during the 16 day period as a symbol of peace and commitment to never commit or condone violence.
The programme ended on a high note with the local recording artist singing his heart out and with the Mayor handing over gifts to the children.

Children receiving goodies from the Mayor

Recording artist Mcebo “Khazozo” Makhaza, with Newcastle Mayor E.M Nkosi, ward Cllr D. Mnguni and Manager Special Programmes Samke Dube

 
 

Newcastle Disaster Management Advisory Forum is ready for the Festive Season

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The Fire and Disaster Management Services in consultation with the Newcastle Disaster Management Advisory Forum held a Mock Exercise on Motor Vehicle Accident at Asiphephe Drive on Thursday, 23 November 2017.

With the Festive Season around the corner, the aim of the mock drill was to sensitise the Community of Newcastle of possible accidents that may happen during the festive season and measures they should take. It was also to see if all the different stakeholders that are within the Newcastle Disaster Forum are ready for the Festive season and that they can work together collectively without any problems.

“We can see the direction that this forum is taking and we are very much satisfied with what we have achieved thus far, we are now working towards sustaining this achievement” said Acting Chief of Fire who is also the Chairperson of the Disaster Forum Advisory, Mr Nelson Mpeko.

As part of the mock the Advisory was given a scenario for them to tackle out , the scene was of a taxi that was travelling from Madadeni to Town carrying 19 passengers with an allegedly drunk driver that collided head on side with a taxi that was carrying 8 passengers while trying to avoid a stray cow.

Newcastle Municipality wins at the National Awards for the second time in 5 years

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Newcastle Municipality wins at the National Awards for the second time in 5 years

Following the Best Level 2 Accredited Municipality Award in the Provincial Govan Mbeki Awards in September, Newcastle Municipality was presented yet again with the Govan Mbeki Best Accredited Municipality Award for the Best Performing Accredited Municipality on Level 2 (the highest Accreditation Level) in the country at the recent Excellence Awards.

 

The highly sought after accolade was presented at a ceremony at the Gallagher Estate in Midrand, in Gauteng, on 9th of November 2017. The Minister of Human Settlement, Ms. Lindiwe Sisulu applauded the outstanding performance of all the winning Municipalities in other categories. Newcastle Mayor; Cllr Makhosini Eric Nkosi and Municipal Manager; Mr Bhekani Errol Mswane accompanied by the municipal officials from the Department of Development Planning and Human Settlements, took to stage to accept the award for Best Accredited Municipality: Level 2. Newcastle Municipality can pride itself in that it has won the Award twice in 5 years, in other years being number 2.

 

With Councilor Matthew Shunmugam at the helm as Portfolio Chair and, Ms. Nokuthula Thusi as the Strategic Executive Director, are tasked with marshaling a skilled team of built environment professionals that deliver various products (typologies). The department is active in not only building close to 700 new houses every year but is also refurbishing tons of government owned flats. Home ownership is promoted by handing over title deeds to flats once the department has verified that the occupants are the lawful beneficiaries.

Newcastle Municipality collects yet another award at EPWP Kamoso Awards

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Newcastle Mayor Makhosini Nkosi and his team receiving the award from MEC of public works Ravi Pillai

Newcastle Mayor Makhosini Nkosi and his team receiving the award from MEC of public works Ravi Pillai

The KwaZulu- Natal Department of Public works successfully hosted their 2nd, EPWP Kamoso Awards on the 19th of October 2017 at the Golden Horse Casino in Pietermaritzburg.

The Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) is a government initiative designed to create job opportunities, promoting sustainable livelihoods and skills development for poor and unemployed people through labour intensive construction methods and infrastructure related programmes

An overall objective of EPWP Kamoso Awards is to reward excellence and innovation by public bodies and non-state organisations involved in the implementation of EPWP projects across all four economic sectors, namely infrastructure, social, Non-state, Environment and culture.

This event saw the Newcastle Municipality receiving an award for the best maintenance programme- Environment and Culture sector for the second time, last year the same award was

The ceremony was attended by our Honourable Mayor Cllr. M.E Nkosi, Portfolio chairperson for Technical Services Cllr. R.M. Molelekoa and EPWP/CWP Champion, Mr. Mthandeni Myende. Our Mayor was afforded an opportunity by MEC to welcome all guests who attended the ceremony.

Newcastle Gets a Visit From The Military

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A delegation of top rank generals with Newcastle Mayor, Adv. E. M Nkosi

Newcastle Mayor, Adv. E. M Nkosi, welcomed a delegation of top ranking Generals from across the African continent on the 3rd of November 2017 at the Newcastle Airport.
Generals from Zambia, Sudan, Tanzania, Kenya and Mozambique landed at the Newcastle Airport for a meet and greet session with Newcastle Mayor and SANDF Military stuff led by Lieutenant Colonel Zama and later proceeded to the Municipal Council Chambers.

“The Generals are in South Africa for a senior rank military training where they will be learning about battle strategies for a period of 12 months. This is the main reason why we have decided to visit KwaZulu- natal because of its rich history in battles”, said Staff Officer Mkhulise; a Communications Officer for the South African Defence Force.
Welcoming the delegation at a briefing , the Mayor said it is such a historic moment for Newcastle to receive this very important delegation.

“Our country experienced the iron rule for 35 years as a result of repression and the killing of our leaders of the struggle and it was through a collective effort of the African states that South Africa found victory over Apartheid.’’

“We cherish our historical relationship with Africa and we realise we have so much in common that unites us and we should never be divided”, alluded Nkosi.
The Mayor wished the delegates a fruitful tour around KwaZulu –Natal, he further shared with them the history of battles in KZN and made mention of King Shaka Zulu’s battle strategies and hoped it will assist them with their training.

In closing Mkhulise thanked the Municipality for their hospitality and warm welcome, He further cited that after this visit, these Generals will return to the respective countries and share what they have learned with their military forces.

Before their departure Mayor Nkosi passed his deepest condolences to friends and family of Ngaleka, a fellow SANDF member who was killed in the DRC.

The Mayor, Adv E. M Nkosi, with high rank military Generals

SALGA KZN Provincial Members, Comes To Newcastle

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Newcastle Local Municipality hosted over 250 delegates in a SALGA KZN PMA which took place on 02 & 03 November 2017 at Vulintaba Country hotel.

Present at the event were MEC’s, Mayors, Deputy Mayors, Councillors, Chairperson of SALGA KZN Province, Municipal Managers, Officials, different stakeholder and partners.
Welcoming the delegates to the vibrant town, Newcastle Mayor, Advocate E. M Nkosi thanked SALGA for affording Newcastle the opportunity to host this important gathering.
“We believe the experience and the warmth of our hospitality will see most of you coming back again on holiday. As we always proclaim ‘in Newcastle you visit once, you belong” added the Mayor.

The PMA’s (Provincial Members Assembly) have traditionally served not only as a constitutional obligation to receive mandates from members, but also as a platform where local government leaders can:

  • Analyze the state of local government at a strategic and holistic level,
  • Engage and network as colleagues in a spirit that fosters creativity and innovation
  • Influence other spheres of government as well as each other.

The KZN PMA discussed some critical aspects that require urgent attention, including:
-The climate of intimidation in local government.
– Community protests and lack of social cohesion.
-Financial management weaknesses and the opportunities for economic transformation.
-While SALGA KZN supports municipalities in tariff setting; municipal tariffs remain unsustainably low in the face of utility price increases.
-The senior management regulations have limited municipalities from negotiating salaries with and retain senior managers.

The Assembly was a definite success.

Delegates that attended the conference

SALGA KZN Provincial Members Assembly

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Click here to download the SALGA KZN PMA Invite

The Provincial Members’ Assembly (PMA) 2-3 November 2017, is a constitutional meeting of all municipalities which is convened in between Provincial Conferences. In terms of Article 23.1 of the SALGA constitution, Kwazulu-Natal as a provincial member shall, at least once a year, hold a meeting of members to be known and described in the notice calling such meeting as the Provincial Members Assembly.

The KZNPMA has traditionally served not only as a constitutional obligation to receive mandates from members, but also as a platform where local government leaders:
– Analyze the state of local government at a strategic and holistic level,
– Engage and network as colleagues in a spirit that fosters creativity and innovation
– Influence other spheres of government as well as each
other.

Your attendance will be highly appreciated.

Cllr M. Ndobe
SALGA KZN Chairperson

Click here to download the SALGA KZN PMA Invite