The year 2016, marks 16 years of a democratic local government in South Africa where all municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal will reflect on the road travelled towards creating a better life for all citizens through provision of service delivery over the years.

Amajuba District Municipality and its local municipalities marked a momentous milestone as they mirrored on the 16 year journey of local government and its successes through the 16 years of local government celebrations.

Present to receive the flame from the UMzinyathi District Mayor Cllr Ngubane and his entourage of local Mayors was, Mayor of Amajuba DM Cllr Jabulile Khumalo and her local Mayors. The flame crisscrossed the district from the 5th-7th June 2016 with the aim of highlighting the key achievements of local government.

The first day of the 16 Years of Democratic Government Celebrations saw the flame visiting the Newcastle Municipality in the Amajuba District with focus on key projects implemented by the Municipality. It was taken to the newly tarred roads, play parks, best war rooms, newly built bridges, newly constructed legal mortuary and the housing for the disabled project.

Also present to witness this prestigious event with the NLM Mayor Cllr A.F Rehman was Deputy Minister Barbara Thompson, M.E.C for health and Sukuma Sakhe Amajuba District Champion, Dr Sbongiseni Dlomo, the Mayor of Amajuba DM Cllr JCN Jabulile Khumalo, NLM Councillors and senior government officials.

The flame was well accepted by the majority of people who have seen the good work done by this government whilst giving hope to those who are still waiting for more government services.

As we continued with highlighting the achievements of our democratic local government, day two took us to the people of Dannhauser who have seen the best of this government. This is the municipality which holds the record of being the first municipality to have 100% electricity infrastructure, the municipality with one of the fastest developing town. The flame was taken through projects such as one of the biggest sports complex – state of the art (Durnacol Sports Complex), Ramaphosa Housing Project, Sanitation Project in the Buffalo Flats areas, one of the highly rated clinics in South Africa, Nellies Farm Clinic.

The last day saw the flame travelling through the lovely valleys and mountains of Emadlangeni, Utrecht to authenticate that this government has touched even the lives of the people residing in the most deep rural areas. The celebrations took on a much different approach when the flame visited the most destitute communities to show government’s commitment in ensuring that people from there are also part of the service delivery plans.

“As much as there are people who are still living in poverty stricken areas , government has ensured that they have basic services such as electricity, water, roads, schools, healthcare etc.” Deputy Minister Barbara Thompson eluded when addressing the community of Emadlangeni

The flame went through the recently electrified Emgundeni area, the Balele Game Park owned by the municipality and the most exciting solar powered water reticulation systems and it was then handed-over in style to the Zulu-Land District Municipality who had MPL Jomo Sibiya representing them on behalf of the MEC Champion of the district.