Visits

The Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform has allocated budget since 2016/17 financial year up to the current financial year for construction of the State of the Art Packhouse in Baltein Village in Ward 3 for Agro Processing of citrus that is exported to the European countries and some sold locally. The pack house is designed to meet the required global standards for exporting quality fruits.

MEC Xolile Nqatha for the Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (DRDAR) and Ngqushwa Mayor, Councillor Mnikelo Siwisa cutting the ribbon as a sign of official handover of Packhouse to Baltein citrus farmers; Mr Khayalethu Mpahla (Naudeshoek Farm), Mr Zukile Mgadle (Ripplemead Farm), and Mr Hambile Nyamezele (Siyamila Citrus Farm).

Eastern Cape Honourable Premier Phumulo Masualle, MPL, led the EXCO Outreach team in Ngqushwa Local Municipality, together with Human Settlements MEC, Mr. Mlungisi Mvoko,  Amathole District Executive Mayor Councillor Nomfusi Nxawe and Ngqushwa Mayor Mnikelo Siwisa on 23 August 2018.  The delegation kicked-off the day with the official handover of a Community Hall at Kwa-Shushu “A” Village in Ward 3.

From there, they launched a Local War-Room at, Kwa-Bhele in Ward 1 and later proceeded to a Community Engagement Session with the residents of Ngqushwa at large. The community had an opportunity to voice their concerns and got feedback on the implementation of service delivery programmes. Amongst the issues they raised were RDP housing delivery, water and sanitation, roads, fencing of grazing fields and scooping of dams.

The Outreach Programme is also used as a platform to strengthen Stakeholder and Integrated Government Relations. It has become a trusted platform for the majority of communities who use it effectively in partnership with government to address service delivery challenges.

The Mayor of Ngqushwa Local Municipality together with Council Speaker, Municipal Manager and project coordinator will officially visit the Innisfil Town of Ontario in Canada as part of relationship building between the two municipalities on the 24 February to 04 March 2018.

In November 2016, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities in partnership with the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) launched the Building Inclusive Green Municipalities (BIGM) Program to be implemented over a 52 month period. The programme is applicable to 6 municipalities in the Eastern Cape including Ngqushwa Local Municipality.

During October 2017, The Canadian delegation visited Ngqushwa Local Municipality, stakeholders and consulted on the design and development of the program implementation plan and collected baseline data on the indicators that will be used to measure progress towards the program’s expected results.

The aim of the visit is to improve the capacity in order to support effective service delivery, inclusive local green economic growth and enhanced climate change mitigation and adaptation measures. The program will pilot local economic development initiatives to promote job creation, poverty reduction, and enhanced well-being, while empowering women, youth and vulnerable groups, and ensuring their inclusion as decision makers and beneficiaries.

The Mayor of Ngqushwa Local Municipality, Cllr Mnikelo Siwisa said this is a knowledge exchange programme with million ideas that will benefit Ngqushwa communities. We go there to learn the best practices and share ideas in Local Economic Development and implement the strategies developed.