The Alfred Nzo District Municipality held its State of the District Address (SODA) at Sophia Park in Mount Frere recently, seeking to maintain an ongoing process of engagement between government and citizens.
Delivering the SODA, executive mayor of the municipality, Councillor Vukile Mhlelembana, started by condemning Gender Based Violence (GBV) in the district, and made a call for men to take the lead in the fight against GBV.
He further noted the progress made in the provision of water and sanitation, while also acknowledging that a long way still lies ahead to get the people of Alfred Nzo to universal access to clean drinkable water.
Mhlelembana highlighted how the district municipality still needs more resources to reduce the backlog.
He also shared information on how the municipality has set aside funding to purchase additional water carters to assist in the delivery of water services when there is an interruption in the water supply in certain areas, and for areas with zero water schemes.
Responding to the slow economic growth challenges which he noted, Mhlelembana said that the district municipality, through its Planning and Economic Development Unit, is currently implementing an Agri-Park Programme, which aims at commercialising the agriculture sector, eradicating poverty, and minimising unemployment rates in the district.
“In support of this programme, the municipality is presently assisting agricultural Small Medium and Micro Enterprise (SMMEs) through a Cropping Development Project. Farmers are assisted with production of several commodities, which include maize, dry bean potato, sweet potato and cabbage,” he said.
He also highlighted that this municipality had obtained Unqualified Audit Opinions for consecutive years. Mhlelembana said Alfred Nzo and its local municipalities obtained unqualified audit opinions.
“To top it further, Winnie Madikizela Mandela did not just obtain an unqualified opinion, but went further to receive a clean audit.”
He urged the people of Alfred Nzo to unite in fighting the vandalism of infrastructure which negatively affects government services to needy communities.
