THUSONG SERVICE CENTRE WEEK: PROMOTING ENVIRONMENTAL CARE AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT IN UMFOLOZI
The people of uMfolozi Municipality led by the Honourable Mayor Councillor Xolani Bhengu came together to celebrate Arbor Month through a series of community events organized by the Thusong Service Centre. These activities, held from the 15th until the 19th of September 2025, highlighted the importance of environmental preservation, cleanliness, and active community participation. On the 16th of September, the celebrations began at Khanyiselizwe High School in Ward 10. Students and teachers gathered to take part in tree planting and environmental awareness activities. The students enthusiastically planted trees, symbolizing both the growth of their community and their commitment to preserving the environment. The following day, 17th of September, the focus shifted to Ekusayini Sport Ground in Ward 15, where the community was also educated about HIV, with awareness activities aimed at empowering people with knowledge to make healthier choices and reduce stigma. On the 18th of September, the programme continued at Ezidonini MPCC Hall in Ward 18. The community was encouraged to keep planting and taking care of trees to create a greener and healthier environment. The event also promoted cleanliness and highlighted the importance of protecting the environment as part of Thusong Service Centre Week. The week’s activities concluded on the 19th of September with a visit to Ikhayalethemba Community Care Centre for the elderly in Ward 05. On this day, the elderly were presented with clothing items and walking sticks as a gesture of love and appreciation. Throughout the week, the Thusong Service Centre of uMfolozi, in collaboration with different partners, used the events as a platform to share information about the services available at the centre. The programme brought together a wide range of stakeholders, including the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), SASSA, KwaMbonambi Library, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), Mondi, Old Mutual, the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA), the Department of Health, and the Department of Social Development. The series of events was a great success, uniting people from different wards to celebrate Arbor Month while reflecting on their shared responsibility to care for the environment. As the week ended, residents of uMfolozi Municipality were reminded that every small action, such as planting a tree, makes a lasting impact in building a sustainable and healthier future.
IMBIZO TO FIGHT CRIME IN UMFOLOZI
The community members from different wards of uMfolozi Municipality raised their concerns to the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Honourable Thami Ntuli, particularly about crime and the challenges they face when reporting it. The residents had this opportunity during a crime imbizo held at the Inkosi Mangosuthu Sports Ground in Mabhakede on 02 September 2025. Premier Ntuli personally attended after the Honourable Mayor of uMfolozi Municipality, Councillor Xolani Bhengu, had reported to him the problem of crime, especially the increasing cases of women being murdered, which has severely affected Mbabe in Ward 08 and Ward 03. Mayor Bhengu expressed hope that since this imbizo brought together various stakeholders, including representatives of the provincial police, positive change would come. He emphasized that fighting crime cannot be left to the police alone — it requires everyone’s participation. He urged residents to work with community policing forums stressing that doing so does not make them informants. He further appealed for collaboration with community organizations, as they also assist government in solving challenges faced by society. Premier Ntuli assured the community that their grievances had been heard, but emphasized that collaboration was key, as his presence alone could not eradicate crime. He said that the people who remain in the area — the community itself — must work hand in hand with the police and safety structures to fight crime effectively. Before meeting with the community, Premier Ntuli had first engaged with community safety forums from different wards, where they also had the opportunity to share their views and concerns.
Inhlokomo eCinci uMasipala waseMfolozi wethula usonkontileka wohlelo lwezindlu
Luyaqalwa ngoLwesine uhlelo lokwakhiwa kwezindlu eCinci ku-Ward 11 kuMasipala waseMfolozi. Lokhu kuvele ngesikhathi uMhlonishwa iMeya kaMasipala uKhansela uXolani Bhengu, amakhansela, izinduna kanye nomphakathi bebambe umhlangano wokwethulwa ngokusemthethweni kukasonkontileka kule ndawo namhlanje mhlaka 25 August 2025. Lo msebenzi uzoqhutshwa inkampani iMakheleni Construction kanti kuzokwakhiwa izindlu ezingu-17 kulo nyaka wesabelomali. Kukhona nohlelo oluqhubekayo lokuhlola ezingu-97, izindlu ezasala zingaphelile eminyakeni eyedlule ukuze kwenziwe umbiko ozoyiswa eMnyangweni weZindlu ozocaba indlela eya phambili ngazo. Uhlelo lwezindlu kule ward luke laphazamiseka isikhathi eside kwaze kwaba nezingxoxo ezaqhamuka nesixazululo ngaphandle kwenkantolo njengoba sekuqhubeka ukwakhiwa kwazo. Usonkontileka uthe ngoLwesine izoqala ukusebenza iTLB ukuvula iziza kulabo asebehlonziwe ukuthi bazohlomula. Osonkontileka, uMnuz Dumisani Mdaka, utshele umphakathi ukuthi azoba khona amathuba omsebenzi futhi lawo angadingi amakhono angajwayelekile, azotholwa izakhamuzi nezinkampani zendawo ezibhaliswe ngokusemthethweni. IMeya uBhengu ithe bayaxolisa ukuthi kwaba nezinkinga ohlelweni lwezindlu lagcina luphazamiseka isikhathi eside. Uchazele umphakathi ngokuthi uhlelo lonke lwezindlu ezingu 1000 zakule ward luzohamba kanjani. Uthe akafuni ukuzokhuluma okungesilo iqiniso ngalolu hlelo ufuna konke kube sobala. IMeya uBhengu inxuse ukuba kungabi khona ukuphazanyiswa kukasonkontileka ngoba kukhona ogogo nezintandane abathembele kulolu hlelo. Unxuse nosonkontileka ukuba bawenze ngokushesha umsebenzi. Bekuduma ihlombe kube nenhlokomo ehholo ebeligcwele phama, amalungu omphakathi enanela inkulumo yeMeya uBhengu.
uMfolozi Municipality Leads Clean-Up Awareness Campaign in Mzingazi
The Honourable Mayor of uMfolozi Municipality, Cllr Xolani Bhengu, accompanied by councillors, the Municipal Manager Mr. Fred Mazibuko, departmental managers, municipal employees including CWP and EPWP workers, visited Mzingazi in Ward 06 for a clean-up awareness campaign on Friday, 15 August 2025. Residents were encouraged to dispose of waste in the correct places and to report those who dump waste illegally. The area has been affected by people from nearby townships who wait until dark and then dump waste in the area. Mayor Bhengu urged the community not to litter but to use the large bins that have been provided. He cautioned against sending children to throw away waste, as they cannot reach the top of the bins and end up placing the waste on the ground. He emphasized that keeping the area clean is everyone’s responsibility, not just that of EPWP workers.
uMfolozi Municipality Leads GBV Awareness Dialogue and March in Ward 10
The uMfolozi Municipality, led by Honourable Mayor Xolani Bhengu, held a community dialogue on the issue of gender-based violence (GBV) at Nhlabosini Hall (Ward 10), accompanied by a march condemning incidents of abuse. The purpose of the dialogue , which took place on Thursday – 14 August 2025 -was to hear the community’s views on possible solutions to this growing problem, as reports of child rape have been raised in the ward. Participants were encouraged to increase open conversations like this one across all municipal wards. Community leaders, non-profit organisations, police officers, social workers, and residents made presentations on the matter and proposed possible solutions. The call was made to return to cultural values, for people to follow their conscience and respect one another — men should not prey on school children, and children should respect elders, even if they are not their parents. Honourable Mayor Bhengu urged unity and ongoing discussions to find solutions to this challenge, anytime and anywhere people gather. Candles were lit in memory of women who lost their lives to abuse, followed by a joint prayer.
uMfolozi Mayor Condemns Rising Murders in Ward 08, Mbabe
The Mayor of uMfolozi Municipality, Councillor Xolani Bhengu, has expressed concern over the ongoing rise in murder cases in Ward 08, Mbabe. Mayor Bhengu made this statement on Monday, 11 August 2025, during a visit to the Mthiyane family in the ward to offer condolences following the discovery of the decomposed body of Khethokuhle Ncube (16). Khethokuhle, who was in Grade 09 at Gome High School, had been missing for seven days when his body was found near his home, along with his cellphone. Mayor Bhengu, who was accompanied by municipal councillors, pastors, and the Municipal Manager, Mr Fred Mazibuko, said the municipality strongly condemns this ongoing tragedy in the ward, particularly as the incident occurred during Women’s Month. He noted that in some of the cases, the victims had been in relationships with alleged perpetrators, adding that alcohol may be a contributing factor, and there is also suspicion of drug involvement. He stated that he has already reported the matter to the KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Mr Thami Ntuli, as the Department of Community Safety falls under his office. He added that there is a need to closely monitor the Mbonambi Police Station to see how it can be supported, especially since, despite there being more than ten such cases, very few arrests have been made. Thanking the Mayor and the municipal leadership on behalf of the family, Mrs Angel Mkhwanazi, expressed gratitude that the body was found so that it could be laid to rest. She also thanked the Mayor, Municipal leadership and the local ward councillor, Deputy Mayor Councillor Timothy Biyela, for standing with the family during this time.
uMfolozi Municipality Hosts Successful Councillors’ Workshop
The two-day councillor training workshop of the uMfolozi Municipality, led by the Honourable Mayor Councillor Xolani Bhengu, focusing on municipal policies and regulations, was a success. It began on Thursday, 07 August 2025, and concluded today, Friday, 08 August 2025. The workshop was attended by Inkosi Mthiyane from eMambuka, Mayor Bhengu, Deputy Mayor Councillor Timothy Biyela, Speaker Councillor Mkhangezeni Mthiyane, honourable councillors of the council, the Municipal Manager Mr. Fred Mazibuko, senior managers, various departmental managers, and staff members who delivered presentations. On the first day, the focus was mainly on policies relating to the Human Resources Department, while on the second day, attention was on policies concerning finances — their usage, management, and collection from those liable to pay for services. Councillors were given the opportunity to ask questions for clarity on the policies and to make suggestions for consideration during future reviews. In closing the workshop, Mayor Bhengu expressed that since yesterday he had been saddened by incidents of women being killed in Ward 08, which have painted a negative image of uMfolozi. He conveyed his gratitude to the honorable councillors for attending the workshop and for the suggestions they made, which showed that they had been attentive during the discussions.
Weather Warning
Kuphasiswe eyekomidi lokuThuthukisa uMnotho waseMfolozi
UMasipala waseMfolozi oholwa umhloniswa iMeya uKhansela uXolani Bhengu namuhla ngoLwesithathu mhlaka 30 July 2025, ubambe umhlangano womkhandlu oyisipesheli. Kulo mhlangano wamakhansela nabaphathi beminyango eyehlukene kamasipala kudingidwe eyokusungulwa KweKomidi lezokuhlela kanye nokuthuthukiswa komnotho (iPlanning and Economic Development Portfolio Committee ). Kulo mhlangano kuphinde kwakhethwa namakhansela azohlala kulona. Leli Komidi lizobhekana ngqo nezindaba ezithinta ukuhlelwa nokuthuthukisa idolobha laseMbonambi kanye nokuthuthukiswa komnotho wendawo ukuze kuzodaleka amathuba omsebenzi. Okunye okudingidwe kabanzi kube wukuba abaHlonishwa amaKhansela bacijwe kabanzi ngemigomo kaMaspala nokuthi isebenza kanjani. Kudingidwe nangombiko womcwaningi mabhuku wangaphakathi kwavunyelwana ukuthi kulandelwe izincomo azenzile ukuze kulungiswe okungahambi kahle.
Kuvulwe ngokusemthethweni imigwaqo kuMasipala waseMfolozi
UMasipala waseMfolozi uvule ngokusemthethweni imigwaqo emibili. i-Ezinyosini Access road eNtambanana eward 17 mhlaka 22 July 2025, ne-Newyork Access Road eNtshingimpisi kuward 14, mhlaka 23 July 2025. Imeya yoMasipala waseMfolozi,uMhlonishwa uKhansela Xolani Bhengu benze lo mcimbi ehambisana nobuholi bomasipala kanye noMenenja kaMasipala, uMnuz Fred Mazibuko. Ikhuluma eNtambanana, iMeya uBhengu ucele umphakathi ukuba uhlale uthandazela abaholi babo, ukuze bahole ngendlela eqotho, bengenzi ngokwezifiso zabo, kodwa benze intando yalabo ababathumile. Uthe kumele bakhulekelwe ukuth baphathe izimali zikahulumeni ngobuqotho nangokunakekela, ngoba leyo mali ingeyabakhokhintela. UMhlonishwa iMeya uphinde yathinta udabai lokuhlukunyezwa kwabantu, ikakhulukazi abesifazane nezingane. Ucele umphakathi ukuba umkhuleko uhlale ugxile nasekulweni nalesi sihlava kanye nabalo asebengene ezidamizweni ukuthi baziyeke ngoba akekho umuntu osuke enguye nje, ongabulala omunye umuntu athi uyamthanda. Abahlali baku-ward 17 bathole ithuba lokukhala ngokuntuleka kwamanzi kanti uSomlomo woMasipala uKhansela uMkhangezeni Mthiyane, uthe bayazi ngenkinga yamanzi kule ndawo. Waphawula ukuthi nakuba kunguMasipala waseKing Cetshwayo obhekelela ukuhlinzeka ngamanzi, kunemizamo eqhubekayo yokulungisa isimo. Uveze ukuthi muva nje kube nomhlangano phakathi kobuholi bendabuko, uMasipala waseMfolozi kanye noMasipala waseKing Cetshwayo kule ward mayelana nohlelo oluzayo lokufakwa kwama-borehole. Ngesikhathi kuvulwa i-New York Access Road. iPhini leMeya uMhlonishwa uKhansela Timothy Biyela ugcizelele ukubaluleka kokunakekelwa kwengqalasizinda esuke yethulwa emphakathini. Uthe lomgwaqo omusha awusona isipho sikaMasipala kuphela, kodwa uyimpahla yomphakathi futhi kuyisibopho sawo wonke ununtu ukuthi unakekelwe.