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MPLs go fact-finding at municipalities

MEMBERS of the KwaZulu-Natal provincial legislature will embark on Mandela Week activities ahead of Mandela Day on Sunday by visiting various municipalities throughout the province.

The fact-finding mission starts today and ends on Friday.

Mandela Day was created to inspire people from all over the world to promote Mandela's values, such as democracy, equality, reconciliation, diversity, responsibility, respect and freedom.

Legislature speaker Neliswa Nkonyeni, her deputy, Mtholephi Mthimkhulu and MECs will lead various delegations to several municipalities in the province.

This is part of a build-up to Mandela Day. The purpose of the visits is to familiarise MPLs with challenges facing the municipalities in carrying out their duties.

"In terms of section 154 (1) of the constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, provincial governments must support and strengthen the capacity of the municipalities.

"In our dedication and commitment to service delivery in this province we want to actively engage municipalities to understand the challenges they face and areas in which they require assistance," Nkonyeni said.

"In 2008, at Hyde Park in London during his 98th birthday celebrations Mandela said: 'Where there is poverty and sickness, where human beings are being oppressed, there is more work to be done. Our work is for freedom for all'."

"We as legislature want to bring truth to these principles by visiting municipalities that are facing challenges to see how best we can help them to overcome the challenges."

The visit will include Umgungundlovu, Umkhanyakude, Zululand, Umzinyathi, Uthungulu, Uthukela, Ugu, Sisonke, Ilembe, eThekwini and AmaJuba.

Several municipalities in the province have experienced problems that have resulted in some being placed under administration.

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