Members of the Executive Council will on Thursday 5 October visit the two families of the victims of the two separate fatal accidents which occurred at Dannhauser on Saturday, 30 September and eMadlangeni Local Municipality on Sunday, 01 October 2023 respectively where a total of 14 people lost their lives.
The Dannhauser taxi accident claimed the lives of 06 people most of whom were Traditional Health Practitioners travelling from Ladysmith back to their homes in Dannhauser.
The eMadlangeni Local Municipality accident took place in the process of celebrating a marriage union wherein approximately fifty-four (54) people were being transported by a truck from the bride’s home in Groenvlei to the groom’s residence Kwa-Hatting Area. The accident is suspected to have resulted from the trucks’ brake failure. However, a formal investigation is underway to determine more details surrounding the accident. Six people were pronounced dead at the scene and two died later in hospital resulting in the death of eight persons in total.
In line with the interim framework on the provision of support to bereaved families of road crash victims where five (5) or more are killed, the Provincial Department of Transport will lead the provision of support to the bereaved families.
The relevant government departments will provide the necessary support to the families including for the memorial services and burial of the victims. The Executive Council also conveyed the province’s condolences to the bereaved families during this time.
NEW PROVINCIAL NUMBER PLATE SYSTEM FROM 01 DECEMBER 2023
The province of KwaZulu -Natal is set to start migrating to the new “ZN” number plate system by the 1st of December 2023.
The Executive Council received a presentation from the Department of Transport on the proposed number plate system for the province of KwaZulu-Natal. The Executive Council noted the urgency of changing the current system since numbers depicting three alphabets such as NRB, NPN and NPS are now exhausted.
Motorists will be given two years (24 months) to migrate from the current number plate system to a new numbering system which will depict the province as “ZN”.
The Executive Council supported the changes but however emphasized that this process must not have an unnecessary financial burden on motorists and must consider the participation of the local manufacturers in the value chain.
The Executive Council further tasked the MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison Sipho Hlomuka to fast-track the public consultations through the issuing of government gazettes.
Government will also embark on aggressive communication to inform motorists about these changes and the benefits thereof, which amongst others will assist in the fight against crime and create a common sense of identity for the province.
UPDATE ON FIRE AT THE RICHARDS BAY WOOD FACTORY
The Executive Council received an update from the Provincial Disaster Management Centre (PDMC) under the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs on the major fire incident that was reported to the City of uMhlathuze Fire and Emergency Services under King Cetshwayo District involving NCT- wood chip factory. The area of uMhlathuze is made up of a number of industries most of which are Major Hazard Installations (MHI).
The Executive Council was apprised that:
● Upon receipt of the call, the municipality immediately dispatched the fire teams from the Richards Bay Fire Station to the scene. At the scene it became apparent that the available resources were not adequate to suppress the raging flames and they called for backup from Empangeni Fire Station. Other teams were then immediately mobilised from the neighbouring private sector which were placed in strategic positions to suppress the fire and prevent the spread to other wood stockpiles that were not burning.
● To date various stakeholders are are currently responding to the fire incident to provide support with fire suppression and prevention of the burning ambers from affecting the residential areas.
● The Executive Council noted that complaints and concerns have been received from stakeholders and communities regarding the poor coordination and integration by local authorities. This has necessitated the Provincial Disaster Management Centre to convene a Special Joint Operations Committee (JOC) in support of King Cetshwayo District Municipality and the City of uMhlathuze to ensure an integrated and coordinated response.
● The JOC was established as the central coordinating hub in the City of uMhlathuze to seat twice daily to monitor the situation. Meanwhile, the COU Control Centre has been activated as the Operational Centre that runs on a 24-hour basis to monitor progress, continuous engagement and risk developments.
● COGTA and the Department of Water and Sanitation have been requested to assist with the deployment of additional Water Engineers to augment the water supply pressure from the fire hydrants.
● As part of augmenting the aerial firefighting operation, COGTA has submitted an urgent request via the National Disaster Management Centre for the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to deploy additional resources to support the fire suppression operation. Ground resources are also being sourced from the neighbouring municipalities and stakeholders to provide relief to the operational staff who have been working since the start of this fire incident.
The Executive Council expressed its gratitude to all the officials and teams who have dedicated and volunteered their time to ensure the fire is kept under control and to prevent fatalities.
PAYMENT OF SASSA SOCIAL GRANTS AND CONTRIBUTION OF THE SECTOR TO THE RURAL AND TOWNSHIP ECONOMY
The Executive Council expressed concern over the delays or non-payment of SASSA social grants due to system glitches at Postbank. The Executive Council noted that these delays affect recipients, especially the elderly and the most vulnerable, many of whom are sole providers for their households. While noting progress that has been made in resolving the challenges, including promoting the usage of ATMs and retailers, the Executive Council implored those responsible for the system management to ensure that such glitches are minimized if not eradicated completely.
The Executive Council also called for the dignity of the elderly and the vulnerable to be respected during payments of social grants by providing basic amenities like shelter and ablution facilities.
ITS ALL SYSTEMS GO FOR THE HOSTING OF THE MTN 8 FINAL IN DURBAN
The Executive Council hailed the hosting of the MTN 8 Final this coming Saturday 07 October as a welcome boost for the provincial economy and the tourism sector. The iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium will be converted into a battlefield for the Gauteng based Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates football clubs.
According to a statement from the PSL, tickets for this mouthwatering final were sold out in just 18 hours after they went on sale, and the Executive Council noted this as an affirmation that KwaZulu-Natal is indeed strategically positioned as a sport and tourism mecca.
One of the pre-match activities will be the breakfast hosted by the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, to be attended by some members of the Executive Council, and other strategic stakeholders. The Executive Council has urged the people of KwaZulu-Natal and eThekwini to fully participate economically in the windfall that comes with hosting this final in the province.
OCTOBER TRANSPORT AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT MONTH
The Executive Council received a joint presentation on the 2023 October Transport Month Campaign from the Department of Transport and Social Development Month Campaign.
The Social Development campaigns will focus mainly on social ills and fighting against Gender Based Violence and Femicide.
Transport Month, led by Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube and Department of Transport has already been launched through a massive enforcement operation held on the M13 Hillcrest, and the unveiling of new 55 trucks to drive pothole patching programme in the province. The 2023 focus is on fighting transgressions on the road through enforcement operations that will run from now until the end of the festive season.
Under the national theme: SIYAKHA…! Building better infrastructure to grow South Africa! the province will be running a provincial campaign on: Building KwaZulu-Natal together – Sakha iKwaZulu-Natal ekhulayo ngokubambisana.
This will enable the government to showcase the infrastructure strides achieved over the life of the 6th Administration since 2019. There will be focus on the use of public transport through the Public Transport Promotion Day. The Executive Council supported the roll out of the Transport and Social Development Months to be led by MECs in their role as district champions.
WARNING ON AVIAN INFLUENZA
The Executive Council received a briefing on the Avian Influenza that has been reported in some parts of the country. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is currently conducting tests to determine the latest on the prevalence in the province of this infectious disease which affects birds. All birds are thought to be susceptible to infection. Migratory waterfowl, especially wild duck, are natural hosts for Avian influenza and they are the most resistant to the infection while chickens and turkeys are particularly susceptible.
Although tests are still being conducted, the Executive Council was assured there is no need for alarm at this stage. The symptoms of Bird Flu are sometimes not visible and may result in a large number of sudden deaths in a flock sometimes as high as 100%. There haven’t been such deaths observed in the province. However, the province is monitoring developments closely.
STRONG ACTION AGAINST THOSE WHO PROVIDE SPACE MUFFINS TO CHILDREN
The Executive Council noted with disdain, reports of criminals selling muffins laced with marijuana to school pupils and children in communities. This challenge was raised sharply during the recent event to observe the International Day for Older Persons held in Inkosi Mtubatuba Local Municipality under uMkhanyakude District Municipality.
As such the Executive Council said that this scourge needs to be addressed urgently and called upon the law enforcement authorities to deal harshly with those who engage in this conduct.
The Executive Council also called for stringent control of the outlets in communities that sell expired confectionary goods like cakes to children which results in sickness or death of children and adults alike.
CANNABIS CONFERENCE TO HIGHLIGHT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PREVIOUSLY DISADVANTAGED INDIVIDUALS.
Meanwhile, the Executive Council has approved the rescheduling of the KwaZulu-Natal Cannabis Expo which was due to be held on 13 and 14 October 2023.
The KwaZulu-Natal Departments of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA), and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) were scheduled to host the KZN Cannabis Expo and this has now been rescheduled to 27 and -28 October at the Okhahlamba Multi-purpose Sports Centre, Bergville in the uThukela District.
The primary objective of the Expo is to highlight opportunities within the cannabis and hemp sector, identify investment opportunities, educate and train locals on cannabis and hemp regulations, and application processes to ensure that the previously disadvantaged individuals (PDI’s) enter the economic mainstream of the Cannabis Industry.
The Expo seeks to create a marketplace for education and innovative products and businesses serving the cannabis industry and its entire value chain.
Issued by the KwaZulu-Natal Executive Council