Amahlathi Local Municipality held a waste campaign in Keiskammahoek at the newly built Sophumelela Primary School on 05 February 2016.
The purpose was to educate learners on the importance of waste management and how to separate waste from personal hygiene. The key focus areas were ways of reducing waste,re-use and recycle.
After the educational session, municipal officials and the school children collect litter in and around the school in an initiative of keeping a clean country.
In South Africa today many communities are faced with challenges such as, abject poverty, unemployment, drug and alcohol abuse just to name a few which is affecting the general welfare of our communities.
Disadvantaged Childcare Centre’s do not have access to basic things such as proper structures, blankets, nutritional food therefore it becomes imperative for government to making sure that those who are vulnerable to these harsh conditions are assisted. Khanya Centre is a day-care to 25 children with 2 practitioners paid by EPWP. The conditions are not very good especially for a place that is occupied by children. It is said that the children were sleeping on the floor hence Amahlathi Local Municipality came to the rescue of the destitute and vulnerable, when the Hounarable Speaker Cllr N Magwaxaza donated 30 Day Care Mattresses to the disadvantaged crèche at Rhabe Village, she said one of our service delivery endeavours is to plough back to the community.
On 11 March 2016 in Keiskammahoek, Amahlathi Local Municipality in partnership with various stakeholders honoured and celebrated our great unsung Heroes and Heroines who played a major role in the liberation struggle in South Africa.
The purpose was to honour fallen heroes who sacrificed everything to fight for our freedom. Local communities and school children filled the tent to capacity. Stakeholders who participated in the event were Department of Education, and Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform, Amahlathi Crafters Association and local civil societies.
The message for the day was very loud and clear that communities must at all times preserve their history. All the speakers envisaged how important to know where you are coming from, where you are and where you are going so that other nations can learn from us.
The Amahlathi Local Municipality gave the community of Keiskammahoek a vacant plot where they will use to build a monument. The memorial will symbolizes the remembrance of those heroes. The monument will be a tourist attraction which will contribute to the socio-economic development of the Amahlathi Local Municipality.
Mr Norhushe one of the key speakers of the day, gave the attendees a clear narrative on the history of Keiskammahoek and the struggles that took place in the difficult days of fight freedom. Councillor Mhambi as the speaker of the day, stated that “there was always a better way” and it was very important to know our history instead of being ashamed about it.
The day was a huge success as community and school children benefitted from the useful information that was disseminated. We must always remember our icons.
Nothing about us without us was the slogan of the day at the Human Rights awareness held by Amahlathi Local Municipality for people living with disability at Mlungisi Community Commercial Park in Stutterheim.
The purpose of the day was to empower and highlight the rights of the physical challenged people and also to fight discrimination against them. The programme was a joint venture between the Municipality and other stakeholders such as the Department of Social Development. There were a number of speakers who were focusing on opportunities that are available for people living with disability, such as computer courses offered for those with grade 12 certificates. Ms Ziyanda Ntengu from Supply Chain Management further advised them to register companies so they could be able to get into the database of the municipality so they be able do business with the municipality as an initiative of boosting the Local Economic Development.
Amongst those people who attended the event was Mr Xhanya the Chairperson of the Disabled Forum who stated that the Amahlathi Local Municipality has helped the forum in so many ways hence they had solid relations as the forum with the Municipality. He maintained the fact that when you are physically challenged there are certain things that one is unable to do such as participating in some sport activities. The Disabled Forum has given hope to those who had lost it and also being disabled does not mean the end of the world but opens opportunities for those who still wish to pursue their dreams.
The forum has members who are part of the Amahlathi Goal Ball Team for the blind, which participants in games in the District and Provincial level and the last games were hosted by Amahlathi Team in Stutterheim. This proves nothing is impossible “Nothing about us without us”.
