Home Politics Muzi Chirwa describes journey as ‘long, windy and rocky’ as mayoral term...

Muzi Chirwa describes journey as ‘long, windy and rocky’ as mayoral term winds down

SATISFIED: Gert Sibande mayor Muzi Chirwa has defined his term of office as one guided by a clear vision, mission and a focused objective of improving service delivery. PICTURE BY GSDM

He addressed the district through a video stream as the world continues to battle the SARS-COV2 disease.


Gert Sibande mayor Muzi Chirwa this week Thursday said a journey to development is “long, windy and rocky” and demands people who are equal to the task.

Chirwa delivered a virtual state of the district address Thursday 28 May 2020 and highlighted the district’s successes since he took office in August 2016.

He said the first thing that they did as district leaders when they took office was to alter the writings of the district’s vision and mission, make the words on it “more specific” and to use it to influence staff to strive for excellence when serving the people who elected them into office.

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Chirwa was elected mayor in August 2016, while Joshua Nkosi was elected speaker and the young Trevor Nkosi chief whip.

Chirwa said after changing the wording on the mission and vision of the municipality they were able to be guided by a “new path” and which enabled him, Trevor, Joshua, municipal manager Absenia Habile and the entire council to focus on service delivery.

“The district has been able to obtain a clean audit opinion from Auditor-General for the past two consecutive financial periods. This achievement has been overshadowed by the fact that some of the 7 municipalities falling under this district have regressed in their 2018/19 audit outcomes,” Chirwa said in his address.

Chirwa said among various things including assisting the youth fight poverty, his district was able to deliver services to the best of its ability.

This includes;

– Upgrading the Lusushwane bulk water supply project in Bettysgoed, Chief Albert Luthuli, and completing the upgrade at R67 million. He said phase 2 and 3 of this project which is the construction of bulk pipe lines from the water plant – supplying from Betteysgoed, Smithfield and Lochiel with reservoirs at a cost of R90 million, is done.

– The construction of a bulk pipeline in the Dipaleseng local municipality from Siyathemba to Grooitvlei was completed by Randwater at R38 million. 

– Phase 1 of a water treatment plant in the area of Sheepmoor, Msukaligwa local municipality was constructed at R3.5 million,.

– Upgraded phase 1 and 2 of the Amsterdam bulk water supply project for R21 million.

– Renovating the Mpuluzi and Methula water treatment plants at  a cost of R14 million. 

Chirwa said amongst the municipalities falling under his district that were struggling to get clean audits was Pixley Ka Seme in Amersfoort, Msukaligwa in Ermelo and Lekwa in Standerton.

“We have also set aside R525 000 to assist local municipalities with the review of their annual financial statement before submission to Auditor General.

Gert Sibande municipal manager Absenia Habile

Chirwa thanked all officials and other support staff in the district who have been assisting with essential service delivery during the Covid-19 outbreak.

“Since the 26 March 2020 (when President Ramaphosa announced the lockdown) we ensured the implementation of the lockdown regulations in all our communities” he said.

“We concentrated on #Stay@home, hygiene awareness through the environmental health practitioners, managing social distance, sanitisation of public-facilities and monitoring of sanitization in all private facilities,” said Chirwa, adding they also pushed awareness in communities on social distancing, screening and testing.

(edited by ZK)

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