DURBAN - KWAZULU-NATAL MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Sipho Hlomuka, this morning handed over a state-of-the-art fire-fighting vehicle and a water tanker to the community of Ndwedwe.
Speaking during the handover, Hlomuka said the handover was a major boost to the community and would greatly improve water access for residents and strengthen disaster management capacity.
Hlomuka stressed his department’s commitment to supporting municipalities in fulfilling their constitutional mandate of providing services to communities.
This rural municipality experienced a tragedy last year when five people died in a house fire in Mthebeni, Ward 11.
"Today’s handover is a significant milestone in our efforts to improve the safety of our communities and speed up the response time by our fire and rescue teams whenever they’re called upon," he said.
The truck is fully funded by Cogta and will serve areas within the Ndwedwe local municipality, which is one of the areas still falling behind in terms of water provision.
Mayor of the district, councillor S Gumede, and Ndwedwe mayor councillor N Chili were present at the handover and welcomed this investment by the department in building capacity within the district which comprises some of the most rural municipalities in the province.
IOL