PHOTO: BABALWA NDLANYA
EasternCapecommitsR70m tocombatchildpoverty
SOCIAL Development in the Eastern Cape has set aside more than R70 million to tackle child poverty, malnutrition and teenage pregnancy in the province
Speaking during the tabling of the department's policy speech in the Eastern Cape Legislature, MEC Bukiwe Fanta said her department is determined to reduce poverty from spreading throughout families and communities
In response to the Human Rights Commission's recent findings on child poverty, Fanta said her department would ensure access and coverage for vulnerable mothers and children in the 39 poorest wards and child malnutrition hotspot areas through holistic services rendered in their Mother and Child Development and Support Programme
"In an effort to reduce poverty, the department during this financial year will establish a Food Bank which will contribute to the Provincial Food and Nutrition Security plan coordinated by the Department of Agriculture and respond to disasters and food shortages
"Food insecurity in this province has increased significantly, with grant-reliant households seeing an increase in moderate to severe food insecurity This underscores the mounting strain on disadvantaged groups, especially children, women and persons with disabilities," said Fanta
She added that the department will implement 138 household and 153 community profiling through integrated social mobilisation programmes, and in addition link social grant recipients to sustainable livelihood
initiatives to promote resilience, empowerment and participation
"Furthermore, we will mobilise 202 integrated community mobilisation structures targeting 36,776 people to coordinate their own development and enhance social inclusion This will contribute to the goal of promoting self-reliance and sustainability within communities, ultimately helping communities overcome poverty "
She added that the department remains committed to addressing food security in the province through implementing food security projects, community nutrition development centres and 345 household food gardens
Fanta added that an additional R8 9 million would be made available for food parcels in the province
In providing social protection to the poor and vulnerable groups, the department will continue providing Social Relief of Distress in the form of material aid, including food parcels, school uniforms, blankets and mattresses, targeting 4,626 people for the 2025/26 financial year
"The department has also set aside more than R46 3 million for Sanitary Dignity Packs for a targeted 138,794 learners The services of social protection will be extended to girl learners from Quintiles 1 to 3 and other children in support, special and farm schools to ensure that they are kept at school as contained in the Integrated School Health Programme (ISHP) 138,794 girl learners will be targeted for the distribution of Sanitary Dignity Packs "
Mbhashe Local Municipality spends R10m on a village road project
ZOLILE MENZELWA
IT will soon be a thing of the past for school-going children of Ntilini and Botwe vilages in Gatyana to be unable to go to school during heavy rains after the introduction of a contractor to construct an access road and a bridge
The multi-million rand project Hass been awarded to Mkoko Trading
The R9 9 million project will see a number of local SMMEs benefitting Municipal Babalwa Magqwanti said the project involved the construction of a spokesperson
5 5km access gravel road designed to have a width of 5 5m
"This road infrastructure initiative is not only aimed at improving connectivity in the region It will also create 20 new job opportunities for members of the Ntilini and Botwe communities The contractor anticipates completing the project within the next eight months," she said
A community member from Ntilini villages, Rich Mdunyelwa, applauded the municipality's efforts to develop such infrastructure in villages
"We appreciate the municipality's commitment towards enhancing our living conditions
and developing infrastructure in our communities The project stands as a testament to the municipality's commitment to infrastructure development for and service delivery to the residents of this area," he said
Magqwanti said it was a norm for the local authority to ensure that all communities within its jurisdiction had access to basic service delivery
"This is a basic service delivery initiative that will now allow people to have easy access to public facilities such as clinics and towns School-going children will be able to go to schools," she said
IN an ongoing effort to commercialize communal and emerging farmers, Eastern Cape Department of Agriculture MEC Nonceba Kontsiwe has handed over a multi-purpose shearing shed, fully equipped with holding kraals, modern shearing equipment, and a tractor with its implements, to support wool farmers in Naledi Village, Hershel, in the Joe Gqabi District
The R1 1 million project aims to enhance wool production and profitability by improving efficiency, quality, and market access for wool producers in the Mbonisweni and Rhodes localities
MEC Kontsiwe stated that, in its quest to support and develop the sector, the Department of Agriculture has built 18 shearing sheds
across the district over the past five years, representing an investment of over R18 million “Our goal is to unlock the economic potential of wool in the Senqu Local Municipality and the entire Joe Gqabi region We aim to empower communal wool farmers to participate meaningfully in the economy and help create much-needed jobs,” said MEC Kontsiwe She affirmed that the government is committed to assisting this district, which already contributes 7% to South Africa’s total wool production
Khayakazi Jakuja, Treasurer of the Mbonisweni Multipurpose Shearing Shed, shared that they faced many challenges during the application process “We were very persistent and patient We did not give up until our application was approved,” she said
KumkaniMhlontloLocalMunicipality:CFOsuspendedover‘governanceconcerns’
ZOLILE MENZELWA
KUMKANI Mhlontlo Local Mu-
nicipality's chief financial officer, Nandipha Sibobi, has been placed on precautionary suspension which is linked to the municipality's engagements with a mobile phone network provider Sibobi is also facing other allegations of contradicting stipulations of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) Municipal spokesperson, Mamela Mangcotywa, said the decision to place Sibobi on precaution-
ary suspension was resolved in a council meeting on 1 April
The precautionary suspension is linked to concerns over the engagements with mobile phone service providers Following the expiration of a previous contract, a new agreement was established with a new one However, it came to light that councillors and certain officials were reinstated with the former service provider, under the directive of the CFO – raising governance concerns " She said Sibobi, as part of a
council resolution, was given seven days effective from April 1 – to state why she should not be on full suspension "In addition, the CFO is also involved in another (alleged) wrongdoing related to the appointment of a VAT recovery service provider This appointment contradicts the stipulations of the MFMA A failure by the accounting officer of a municipality to comply with this duty (tax commitments) constitutes an act of financial misconduct and a financial offence," Mangcotywa said
Circular number 74 of the MFMA advises municipalities against engaging tax consultants or external service providers for preparing VAT returns, she said In a previous statement, Mangcotywa said employees had submitted a petition to the office of the CFO demanding answers "However, employees took a further step by visiting the office (of the CFO), demanding answers since no formal response was provided to their petition We deeply regret the oversight in not engaging our employees and
councillors to assess their needs and the impact on the work-life balance " She said it was important to maintain professionalism and composure in moments of disagreement or conflict "The municipality remains committed to upholding good governance, transparency and adherence to procurement framework We assure the public that all necessary steps are being taken to address this matter Further details will be provided as the situation unfolds," Mangcotywa said
ZAVELA MAKWABE
MEC for Department of Social Development Bukiwe Fanta tabling first policy speech at Bisho Legislature. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
