Issue 2 APR/MAY/JUNE 2019 ZF MGCAWU DISTRICT NEWSLETTER NORTHERN CAPE P a g e 2 ZF MGCAWU DISTRICT EXECUTIVE MAYOR’S MESSAGE In addition to that, I would like to forward my sincere gratitude to the Local Munici- palities and stakeholders for the helping hand and cooperation they have shown. I have witnessed the greatest support among stakeholders in the District and Province at large. And my wish is that we continue working together and show teamwork of a high standard. I would like to thank the Department of CLLR. JJJ OLYN Education and stakeholders that partici- pated for a remarkable and successful This is the first edition of the ZF Africa Day Annual Celebration. We are cer- Mgcawu District Publication I get to tainly going to continue with the wishes of convey a message to the people and the former Executive Mayor, Abraham stakeholders of this District. Vosloo that the celebrations should be hosted on an annual basis. We are hoping I’ve been serving as a Councillor in the that this event will be attracting more District and I am delighted that I took tourists to our district and that we will over the reigns at an institution and a have a bigger media coverage over the place that I am familiar with. I know the coming years. needs of the people of this District and I will work twice as hard to ensure that To the people of the ZF Mgcawu District, I the ZF Mgcawu District Municipality, its thank you for putting your faith into our Local Municipalities and the State De- hands and trusting us to govern the Dis- partments deliver the services that we trict with you. If we work together, we can promised prior to 2019 elections. bring about change in our society. P a g e 3 ZFM bids farewell to Councillors Following the May 8 2019 General and Provincial Elections, the ZF Mgcawu District Municipality has had to bid farewell to its Executive Mayor, Councillor Abraham Vosloo (ANC Direct Elected Councillor) as well as Councillor Priscilla Isaacs (Dawid Kruiper DA seconded Councillor). Both Councillor Vosloo and Councillor Isaacs have been appointed as members of the Provincial Legislature in the Northern Cape. In terms of Section 27 of the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, a Council- lor vacates office is he or she resigns in writing. The two Councillors have vacated office and as such there are vacancies within the ZF Mgcawu District Municipal Council. In terms of the Independent Commission’s Election Guide with regards to PR (Proportional Representatives) Councillors the affected Political Party must submit to the IEC a party list as well as the names that appear on the list in order of the par- ty’s preference. The ZF Mgcawu District Municipality wishes to thank Councillor Abraham Vosloo and Councillor Priscilla Isaacs for their service to the people of the District and their con- tribution towards the promotion of service delivery. We wish them well with their new appointments and accompanying responsibilities and all other future endeavours. P a g e 4 ZF MGCAWU DISTRICT P a g e 4 ZF MGCAWU DISTRICT NEWSLETTER Meet your Provincial Members of the Executive Council On 29 May 2019, Northern Cape Premier, Zamani Saul unveiled his Provincial Cabinet. His now reduced cabinet consists of five women and four men implementing equality. He has introduced new faces to the cabinet. During his inaugural speech, the Premier highlighted very crucial aspects of how he will run the Province and bring about change. Dr. Saul announced that there will be no new vehicles for the newly appointed MEC’s and that no official photos will be displayed at institutions. Back (Left to right): Nontobeko Vilakazi (Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison), Maruping Lekwene (Department of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism); Nomandla Bloem (Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, Rural Development and Nature Conservation), Abra- ham Vosloo (Department of Roads and Public Works); Mase Manopole (Department of Health); Barbara Bartlett (Department of Social Development); Mac Jack (Department of Education) Front (Left to right): Bernice Sinxeve (Department of Sports, Arts and Culture); Dr. Zamani Saul (Premier); Bentley Vass (CoGHSTA) LIBRARY SERVICES FOR THE DIFFERENTLY ABLED The Dawid Kruiper Municipality, the Department of Sports Arts and Culture and the South African Li- brary for the blind launched the availability of equipment for the visually impaired recently. The event which took place at the main library in town was attended by visually impaired, differently abled people and members of the community. The library received document readers that can scan a book onto a Universal Serial Bus (USB) stick or a Compact Disc (CD). The visually impaired persons also received DAISY readers which can play a disc of a book in a form of an audiobook. This enables the visually impaired persons to listen to the con- tent of the book. The device (DAISY) can forward, play and pause the content for the person to follow it. The same service is also available at library in Askham. Visually impaired persons will be assisted by library assistants when they visit the libraries. The Dawid Kruiper Municipality want to encourage the partially impaired persons to apply for the DAISY readers at the main library in town. DAWID KRUIPER WINS AFRICA DAY SINGING COMPETITION The best choir competition category was recently won by the Dawid Kruiper Municipality during the 2019 Africa Day Celebrations. The event was attend- ed by various government departments. The depart- ments participated in the best attire category, best cuisine and best choir category. The Speaker of the Dawid Kruiper Municipality received the trophy on behalf of the municipality. P a g e 6 ZF MGCAWU DISTRICT ZFM Elects New Executive Mayor As his first order of business, Cllr Olyn tabled the Annual Budget to Council in terms of the Municipal Finance Management Act. The Ex- ecutive Mayor highlighted some concerns in terms of funded budg- ets for Municipalities, “I am con- cerned about the trend of shrink- ing government income and as you know our disadvantage as the Northern Cape is that we are the biggest Province with the least population and this hugely affects the allocations we receive both on Provincial and Local Government During a Council meeting held on the level,” he said 30th May 2019, the ZF Mgcawu District Councillor Olyn brings with him a wealth Municipal Council elected its new Execu- of experience in Local Government having tive Mayor. served previously as the Mayor of Kai Following the resignation of the former Garib and has acted in various capacities Executive Mayor Cllr Abraham Vosloo, a including being the Speaker and Execu- vacancy occurred in this regard. tive Mayor of the District Municipality. In terms of Section 55 (2) of the Local The ZF Mgcawu District Municipality wish- Government: Municipal Structures Act, a es to congratulate the newly elected Exec- vacancy in the office of the Executive utive Mayor Cllr JJJ Olyn and trusts he will Mayor must be filled when necessary and lead the District to higher heights. as such Council was obligated to elect an Executive Mayor as a matter of urgency. A formal nomination process took place The Former Executive Mayor, the Honour- and the incumbent, Councillor Jan Johan- able MEC for Roads and Public Works, nes Jacobus Olyn was elected Executive MEC Vosloo graced the District with his Mayor unopposed. presence to officially hand over the reigns to the new incumbent. P a g e 7 ZF MGCAWU DISTRICT TODAY IN HISTORY 28 JUNE 2002 Cosatu and TAC table a National HIV/AIDS plan On 28 June 2002 the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) tabled a national HIV/AIDS treatment plan in the National Economic, Development and Labour Council (Nedlac). This was intended to allow Cosatu to declare a dispute with government and business should there be no agreement reached in Nedlac on the implementa- tion of the treatment plan. A key aspect of the plan involved making antiretroviral drugs available in the public health sector for those with HIV. Both Cosatu and TAC emphasised that, although the drugs were expensive, the social and economic costs to South Africa, of not providing the drugs, were far higher. Zwelinzima Vavi, General Secretary of Cosatu believed that government was in a position to produce generic antiretroviral drugs for the whole of Africa. He criti- cised them for spending billions on an arms deal while its citizens are dying from HIV/AIDS in tens of thousands. According to Cosatu, to increase generic produc- tion would reduce costs, stimulate the local pharmaceutical industry and provide jobs. In contradistinction to the government's strategy of denial of home-based care to HIV/Aids sufferers, Cosatu and TAC said their plan was aimed at keeping millions alive for longer. I s s u e 2 P a g e 8 D.K.M MAYOR ADDRESSED THE M A S S E S The Mayor of the Dawid Kruiper Municipality, Cllr Micheal Segede, addressed the concerns of the residents of ward 8 in Paballelo on Wednesday, 19 June 2019. Paballelo is the home of the Upington 26 political stalwarts. The meeting was a follow-up meeting that the Mayor had with the residents in the previous week. The area was very volatile and the Mayor went to the community amidst the burning of tyres and concerns over his safety. The Mayor assured the residents that the electricity project of ward 8 would re- sume from 1 July 2019. There was loud applause during this announcement. The Mayor also promised the residents that the buckets will be emptied on a regular basis.