Local government excellence celebrated as KZN’s best performing municipality is crowned

Local government excellence in KwaZulu-Natal took centre stage at the 2018 Municipal Excellence Awards, held on November 30 at the Greyville Racecourse in Durban. The prestigious ceremony, which was hosted by the KZN Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) under the leadership of MEC Nomusa DubeNcube, saw the province’s best performing municipalities crowned.

The Municipal Excellence Awards, which are an annual feature on the province’s local government calendar, celebrate excellence within municipalities, which through innovation and creativity, finds ways to bring services to communities, sometimes under challenging circumstances.

“These awards are an opportunity to celebrate those who have gone beyond the call of duty to render services to our communities. They encourage our municipalities by rewarding success and by recognising the hard work of many dedicated officials who take their jobs seriously,” said Dube-Ncube.

The following municipalities were crowned as best performing in their categories:

• Best Performing District Municipality: Ilembe

DM

• Best Performing Municipality Providing All

Services (Special): City of uMhlathuze LM

• Best Performing Medium to Large

Municipality: Okhahlamba LM and Ray

Nkonyeni LM

• Best Performing Small Municipality:

Umhlabuyalingana LM

Awards were also given out for municipalities that got clean audits. These were:

• uMzumbe LM

• uMuziwabantu LM

• Okhahlamba LM

• City of uMhlathuze LM

• uMhlabuyalingana LM

• Ray Nkonyeni LM

The Amambo, Crop Production and the Mbabazane Packhouse, and Empangisweni Citrus and Vegetable Production were recognised for the best Best Amakhosi LED Project. The awards also recognised the municipalities that had the best IDPs. MEC Dube-Ncube urged winners to “never drop their standards and pursue excellence in every area”.

EThekwini Mayor Cllr Zandile Gumede receiving the award for the Municipality with the Best IDP from MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube (left) and Inkosi Chiliza, KZN Provincial House of Traditional Leaders Chair (right).

Dr N Sibeko, Municipal Manager of the City of uMhlathuze Local Municipality, receiving the award for the Best Performing Municipality Providing All Services. Presenting the award are MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube and KZN Cogta HOD Tando Tubane.

Ilembe District Municipality Mayor, Cllr S Gumede receiving the award for the Best Performing District Municipality from MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube and Acting Deputy Director General for Development and Planning at KZN Cogta, Barbara Mgutshini.

Mhlabuyalinga Mayor Cllr NS Mthethwa receiving the award for the Best Developed IDP by a Small Municipality from MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube and Inkosi Chiliza.