A ROLE MODEL TO MANY
King Cetshwayo District Municipality
The King Cetshwayo District Municipality, located in the north-eastern region of the Kwazulu-natal province on the eastern seaboard of South Africa, is a category C municipality. It covers an area of 8 000 km², from the agricultural town of Gingindlovu in the south to the Umfolozi River in the north, and inland to the mountainous beauty of rural Nkandla.
This paradoxical district comprises the best and worst of the two economies of this country. It’s home to several of the largest industrial giants in the world, the mining and production sector in the urban areas are burgeoning with economic activity, the agricultural and tourism potential is boundless, and there are ever-increasing opportunities for local economic development.
On the other hand, crippling droughts and rural communities living in abject poverty are also strong characteristics of the King Cetshwayo district, with a backlog of water and sanitation service delivery topping our list of priorities.
The following local municipalities fall within the servicing area of the King Cetshwayo District Municipality (DC28):
• UMFOLOZI Municipality (KZ 281)
• UMHLATHUZE Municipality (KZ 282)
• UMLALAZI Municipality (KZ 284)
• Mthonjaneni Municipality (KZ 285)
• Nkandla Municipality (KZ 286)
District Vision
To be an economically viable district with effective infrastructure that supports job creation through economic growth, rural development and promotion of our heritage.
District Mayor: Cllr Nonhle Mkhulisi
Mayor Cllr Nonhle Mkhulisi has been working in government since 2009, when she served as a Member of Parliament. In 2014 she moved to the KZN Legislature. In August 2015 she joined King Cetshwayo District Council as the Deputy Mayor.
Prior to her political career, she was a teacher, and has a degree and a diploma in education. She was a teacher for 19 years, 12 of which she served as a principal.
Raised in the rural and remote area of Mfanefile in the Mthonjaneni area, she grew up in a big family. Her mother is still her pillar of strength today. Mayor Cllr Nonhle Mkhulisi is a single mother to Simphiwe and affectionately known as Mam’ Nonhle to many because of her nurturing approach to the youth in the district.
A vociferous campaigner for human rights, she was a member of SADTU, Chairperson of the Education Bargaining Council, and a gender activist of note, also leading programmes on HIV/AIDS. Her approachable and down-to-earth nature is one of her most endearing qualities, but it should not be mistaken for weakness. She is a strong fighter for what is morally correct and strives for equality and good governance. She also champions economic emancipation for rural women and youth.
the District With Mayor Mkhulisi
at the helm
As part of preserving and honouring the rich history of the region, the district recently underwent a name change from UTHUNGULU District Municipality to King Cetshwayo District Municipality.
Under Mayor Cllr Nonhle Mkhulisi’s leadership the district recently achieved its fourth consecutive clean audit outcome from the Auditor-General of South Africa.
This local government term started with the de-establishment of one of the previous six local municipalities in
the district, Ntambanana Municipality. The smooth transition to incorporate Ntambanana into the municipalities of UMHLATHUZE, Mthonjaneni and UMFOLOZI was closely managed by the district-run Change Management Committee and is another of the Mayor’s significant achievements.
King Cetshwayo District Municipality is the proud recipient of the Business Excellence in the Public Sector award, which judges the organisation’s commitment to the implementation of the Batho Pele Principles. The signing of the Protocol Agreement with local mayors in the district was a significant step towards the promotion of harmony and a unified approach to leadership of the King Cetshwayo Family of Municipalities.
Mayor Cllr Nonhle Mkhulisi is driving a steadfast economic development agenda within the district. Her primary focus is to change the status quo of rural communities through agricultural initiatives aimed at poverty alleviation. The establishment of the District Fresh Produce market is one such vehicle which seeks to assist to commercialize local farmers. Through the RASET (Radical Agrarian Socio-Economic Transformation) Model, the district ensures meaningful participation of previously disadvantaged individuals in the food value chain.
The current extreme drought conditions have hit our rural communities the hardest and many are struggling to survive on water tanker deliveries. The District Municipality has worked tirelessly to implement interventions to ensure continuous water delivery to the communities who depend solely on the municipality for water service delivery. Some of these drought interventions include the drilling of boreholes, spring protection in areas where natural springs exist, linking of weirs and small dams to larger reservoirs to supply small towns, and desludging of dams.
The district is further characterised by large infrastructure backlogs, particularly in respect of water and sanitation, mainly in the rural areas. We have achieved phenomenal success in the eradication of our backlogs in the past ten years. In 2001 we had water backlogs of 81 %. At the end of the 2012-’13 financial year, our backlogs had been reduced to 41 %. Our sanitation backlog was at 89 % in 2001. At the end of the 2015-’16 financial year, our backlogs had been reduced to 37 %. In three of our municipalities we have achieved 100 % sanitation, and are now busy with infills – new homesteads that have sprung up after the initial planning was done.
A Role Model to Many
Mayor Cllr Nonhle Mkhulisi is a widelyrespected leader in the community, a champion of civil rights, and a fearless woman who tackles corruption with conviction. She is committed to serving the disadvantaged in the communities, and advocates equality of women and youth, as well as economic justice.
She has recently been awarded the Business Woman of the Year award in the local government category. She is also the Chairperson of the following committees: • Executive Committee, Financial
Services Portfolio
• District Intergovernmental (Mayor’s
IGR) Forum
She is also an active participant in the Section 79 Committee: Performance Management.
Her contribution to society is evident in her daily activities and she is well-known for her efforts to promote governance, investor confidence and charitable causes.