Office of the Premier
Speech
MEC of COGHSTA, Hon Speedy Mashilo
Executive Mayor of Ehlanzeni District Municipality, Cllr Terror Shabangu;
Executive Mayor of Nkomazi Municipality, Cllr Phindile Magagula;
Hon Members of the Legislature;
Councillors Present here;
The Director General, Ms Maggie Skosana, HODs and All Officials;
The Acting Municipal Manager of Nkomazi Municipality, Mr Oscar Nkosi
Traditional Leadership Present;
People of Nkomazi and Mpumalanga;
Community of Ntunda
Sanibonani,
- I am happy today to be in this place to hand over this state of the art Ntunda Social Amenities. We gather here at the special week before the official launch of the 16 Days of Activism to be held in Nkangala on Thursday, 27 November. We will be launching after His
Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa, has declared Gender Based Violence and Femicide a National Crisis. - Let me take this opportunity and pass my greetings to all present in this important historic hand over. What we are doing for our rural communities is something worth celebrating.
- Once again, it is an honour to continue to address challenges faced by rural arears by not only speaking but practically taking correct steps. Today’s event is a direct response to make sure that our agenda of dealing with rural community challanges is realised.
- After the handover today, Ntunda and Nkomazi will never be the same. The implementation of the Ntunda Social amenities was initiated following a formal request from Nkomazi Local Municipality in the then Department of Human Settlements.
- The Municipality identified an urgent need for community facilities to improve the quality of life for the residents of Ntunda.
- The beautiful Community hall you see today can accommodate +/-600 people seated (depending on the seating arrangement) including walkways. The total area for the hall includes:
- A fitted kitchen,
- Five offices (including a boardroom),
- Change rooms
- Ablution facilities
- An entrance lobby
- And a stage
- We also hand over the child care centre which consists of:
- 3 classrooms
- A medical room
- Sickbay
- Ablution facilities
- A kitchen
- Four storerooms
- A waiting area
- A reception
- 03 offices (Including an admin office)
- And a play area
- Both the Community Hall and Childcare Centre are enclosed with clear view mesh fencing, ensuring security while maintaining visibility. The total construction budget for both amenities is: Twenty-Eight Million Six Hundred and Four Thousand Two Hundred and Twenty-One Seventy-Four Cents (R28.604.221.74) excluding vat and contingencies.
- The good news is that the Municipality will generate revenue by utilising the community hall effectively, such as through venue high for various functions, including weddings and parties’ celebration.
- The youth can use the community hall for extra mural activities. The community hall can also be used for a multi- purpose centre by accommodating other departments to bring services closer to the people.
- Our children will have access to a formal Early Childhood Development and that is a benefit to the community of Ntunda and Nkomazi.
- Let us ensure that we employ Teachers with an Early Childhood Development Qualification. It is the only way to prepare our children properly at the early stages of their development. We dare not risk the future of our beautiful children.
- The following job opportunities were created during the construction of the Social Amenities:
- 39 Male adults
- 54 Male youth
- 10 Female youth
- 02 Female adults
- The total number of jobs created is 105
- Executive Mayor, I am happy to report that we have made all the necessary arrangements with Eskom to sort the issue of electricity however we are handing over the facility that is fitted with solar panels so that it can be used in the meantime.
- The Cooperate Social Investment (CSI), initiated by the Contractor is also something worth celebrating. The Contractor constructed a two-bedroom house for a family of 14 members.
- The newly built house features an open plan kitchen with fittings, as well as a fully functional bathroom that includes a toilet, shower and bathtub. To support sanitation, a septic tank was also installed for the toilet.
- Furthermore, the Contractor extended their support by donating two pressure pumps to the local Clinic, enhancing access to water and improving Healthcare Services.
- We wish that some contractors in the Province can learn a thing or two from the Contractor who has done a good work here.
- Let me also take this opportunity to thank all relevant Stakeholders who has made this Project a success. We are aware of all the challenges that the Steering Committee was able to deal with during the construction period.
- People of Nkomazi, especially the Community of Ntunda; Take Good Care of this beautiful facility. Let even those still to be
born, benefit from this facility. And that will only happen if we do Take Good Care of it. - Today’s event is a confirmation of what we mean when we say “KuBhunya Lithuli eMpumalanga”
- I Thank You
2025