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1 “A hope for a better future” Transport Department: Transport Online Newsletter Province of KwaZulu-Natal Offi cial Newsletter of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport Zibambele Traffi c College Gets a continues Facelift Page 7 Above: Mr Thembinkosi Willies Mchunu (main picture), is the newly-appointed to shine MEC for KwaZulu-Natal Transport, Community Safety and Liaison. Mchunu has replaced Mr Bheki Cele (insert) who is now the South African Police Services (SAPS) National Commissioner. Eye Catching MEC Mchunu’s profi le: Personalised Licence MEC- Local Government and Traditional Affairs Numbers Member of the KwaZulu- Natal Provincial Legislature Page 8 Speaker of KZN Legislature Deputy Speaker of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature Member of the KwaZulu- Natal Provincial Executive Committee (ANC) and Provincial Working Committee of the ANC (1994 to date) The Government has committed itself to fi ghting KwaZulu-Natal ANC Deputy Chairperson poverty in KwaZulu-Natal especially for women and KwaZulu-Natal Chairperson children in rural areas. Pictured is a group of SACP Member of the Central Zibambele women who are among the 40 000 Executive Committee, SACP members of this road maintenance poverty alleviation Police will never Regional Convener and fi rst surrender Chairperson of the Northern programme. Natal Region of the ANC Page 8 Trade Unionist with COSATU Affi liates SANCO KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Working LISTEN TO OUR TRANSPORT RADIO Committee member PROGRAMMES If you Chairperson of Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital Board Ukhozi FM’s Transport Ibandla drink and drive Founder and Chairperson Listen to the Department’s Monday 11:30-12:00 pm of Isiphephelo Trust, a show on Gagasi 99.5 fm Tuesdays benevolent initiative you are Thursday 08:00-08:30 pm Chairperson of Cato Manor 6-7 pm To phone in call Development Association 089 310 9193 a bloody idiot KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport 2 “A hope for a better future” Zibambele, the pillar of strength for the poor he KwaZulu-Natal better. Shezi. government’s ef- Ms. Thembisile Phungula The Zibambele programme forts is renowned for from Greytown who is part requires 60 hours to be worked its pushing back the of the Zinenhlanhla Club each month in maintaining a frontiers of poverty. joined Zibambele in 2006 specific length of road. The TSince 1994, the government has after her husband, who was programme is structured in such been gradually unlocking the the sole breadwinner, passed a way as to encourage flexible economic shackles by means away. “It is very difficult for hours on road maintenance of innovative programmes that uneducated widows as we activities to allow households sought to address rural chal- usually depend on our husbands adequate time to deploy their lenges. to provide. However, since labour on other activities. The Zibambele Road joining Zibambele I have been Ms. Bekephi Zungu who Maintenance programme is trained and empowered,” says is part of the Siyethuka Club one such initiative It now Phungula. in Greytown was left with the boasts 40 000 members in the Ms. Thandi Shezi from responsibility to raise her aunt’s province, such programmes Nkandla, a member of the children when she passed away. are a benchmark against which Ukukhanya Kwesizwe Club, Her late aunt was also part of the the government can judge explains that the programme programme. “I was able to raise These are some of the members of the Department’s the progress it makes in the encourages them to save twenty her children who matriculated flagship poverty alleviation programme, Zibambele empowerment of rural women Rand from their earnings each and even went to tertiary, also (dressed in red safety vests) taken while cleaning the edges in particular. month. giving me a chance to raise my of the road. In the background are some of the Managers In South Africa the poorest “Through Zibambele, I have own,” explains Zungu. from the Department during an inspection visit in of the poor are found in women- been able to raise and educate Zungu has also supplemented headed households. Numerous my children. I had the intention her income through ordering preparation for the programme to be rolled out in all other statistical studies have always of finding ways to supplement and nurturing chicks, which she South African provinces as mandated by the country’s validated the plight of rural my income and I resorted to then sells for a profit. President Jacob Zuma. women who often happen to be buying seedlings and selling my “It was difficult even to do single parents. harvest. We are really grateful the simplest thing of thatching Zibambele has been Africa and President Jacob Igalelo recently visited some to our government, particularly my house without any income. recognised as “best practice” in Zuma has ordered that the of the Zibambele members to the Transport Department for It is this Zibambele that has South Africa. The KwaZulu- programme be rolled out to all establish how the programme this programme that has changed rescued me from my financial Natal government has set the provinces. has changed their lives for the our lives for the better,” says woes,” she says. standards for the rest of South Vukuzakhe produces successful contractors the likes of Thatheni Women improve their businesses, they give them profit, but it also Construction owned by Mrs. have been able to provide jobs helps to boost the economy Thatheni Zondi, and Fynn to unemployed members of of the country. It is clear that Construction owned by Mr. communities both as temporary Vukuzakhe members take their Pollen Fynn. There is also and permanent workers jobs seriously as Thatheni says: Zwelonke Construction owned respectively. “I am happy that I have excelled by Mr. Noah Maphumulo and Nyandeni of Wonder Dream in my duties in the construction Wonder Dream Projects by Mr Projects is still exuberated of the new King Shaka Airport Linda Nyandeni, to mention but by the growth of his business in La Mercy.” She says a few of the 37884 emerging because he has managed to Thatheni Women Construction contractors who are on the buy more equipment like the are grateful to the South African Black entrepreneurs are now controlling construction sites Department’s database. excavators, graders, compacting Government for giving them in line with the Department’s vision of “Prosperity through These government rollers, tip trucks and abnormal an opportunity to take part in Mobility.” Job creation and wealth generation are some of contractors have all become trucks which make it easier for the construction of a historical the core priorities of the Vukuzakhe emerging contractor experts in the construction his employees to perform their airport in KwaZulu-Natal. programme aimed at upgrading and extending the rural industry and they also contribute duties efficiently. Thatheni is positive that if the road network including foot and vehicle bridge towards job creation and poverty Biyela of Mfihleni Vukuzakhe programme could be construction. alleviation in the province. It Construction says he is proud of implemented in other provinces, ukuzakhe is Dr. Sbusiso Ndebele initiated the is almost hard to believe that his achievement in constructing it will be a definite solution to a strategic Vukuzakhe programme during when they attended a summit P399, a provincial road in poverty in the country. programme by his tenure as MEC for Transport that was called by former the Pietermaritzburg region. The success of these the government in KwaZulu-Natal. Ndebele KwaZulu-Natal Transport MEC He says it gives him great programmes (Vukuzakhe and that empowers is now National Minister of Ndebele, they had no clue what satisfaction when he goes to Zibambele) has led to the South Vpreviously marginalized South Transport. the construction industry was sleep at night knowing that he is African President Jacob Zuma Africans to be part of the Vukuzakhe has led to all about. This soon changed making a huge difference in the ordering National Minister of construction industry. Besides a number of successful through the diverse training lives of people who had nothing Transport, Dr. Sbusiso Ndebele helping them to run viable contractors emerging in the programmes that were provided but now they have jobs so they to ensure that such programmes businesses, the programme also construction industry including to them by the Department of are able to feed their families. are implemented in other creates jobs for the communities Mfihleni Construction, which is Transport. Through training in These contractors are provinces. This initiative has where construction is taking owned by Mr. Mandla Biyela. administration functions such very passionate about their once again put KwaZulu-Natal place. Former KZN Premier, The programme has produced as daily costing and ways to work because it does not only on the map. ‘prosperity through mobility’ KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport 3 “A hope for a better future” Unique Success Story: From Maintenance Worker to Field Support Officer as that of Ms. Khonzeleni she was destined for greater their renewals, just to mention Nhlenyana of Jozini. Like things because after joining a few.” many others, Nhlenyana was a Zibambele, she obtained her What is it that keeps her member of the Zibambele Road drivers licence. Her promotion motivated? “My love of people Maintenance Programme. came in December 2008 in the and the need to help wherever She says: “I was an unemployed form of a position as the Field I can. I always want to make youth who had just finished Support Officer (FSO) for the a difference in people’s lives Grade 12 and had no finances to road she had previously been and that of their families. Every Zibambele Forelady Khonzeleni Nhlenyana relates her further my studies. I then joined maintaining as a Zibambele day I set goals for myself to success story of how she was promoted from being a Zibambele and was responsible contractor.