Page 24 - UGU Dstrct Mun IDP Report '21-22

The main purpose of the KZN PGDS can be summarised as, being the primary growth and development strategy for KwaZulu- Natal to 2030; mobilising and synchronising strategic plans and investment priorities in all spheres of government, state owned entities, business, higher education institutions, labour, civil society and all other social partners in order to achieve the desired growth and development goals, objectives and outcomes; to spatially contextualise and prioritise interventions so as to achieve greater spatial equity; and to develop clearly defined institutional arrangements that ensure decisive leadership, robust management, thorough implementation and ongoing review of the growth and development plan.
The KZN PGDS sets out seven goals which are as follows:
1. Inclusive Economic Growth
2. Human Resource Development
3. Human and Community Development
4. Strategic Infrastructure
5. Environmental Sustainability
6. Governance and Policy
7. Spatial Equity
2.6 State of the Province Address
The State of the Province Address delivered by the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal Mr. Sihle Zikalala on 04 March 2020, presented under the theme “Together, Creating Our Common Future” The Premier of KwaZulu-Natal Mr. Sihle Zikalala reiterated the Province’s commitment to the realisation of the Country’s as well as the Province’s visions. The provincial vision is to be realised through continued implementation of the seven provincial strategic goals as outlined in the PGDS. The following eight (8) provincial priorities were highlighted in the 2020 SOPA:
1. Basic services (especially access to clean potable water)
2. Job creation
3. Growing the economy
4. Growing SMMEs and cooperatives
5. Education, health, and skills development
6. Human settlements and sustainable livelihoods
7. Building a peaceful province
8. Building a caring and incorruptible government
2.7 Applicability to Ugu District
The Ugu District Municipality as a water services provider will contribute immensely in the development of strategic infrastructure in its endeavours to eradicate water and sanitation backlogs in the district. Furthermore, the district municipality as the champion of the Ugu DGDS needs to ensure that the four local municipalities work together towards a shared vision and that tourism and agriculture which are the core economic sectors are strategically positioned in the path that the province is taking to ensure that the population of the Ugu District area of jurisdiction benefits optimally.
2.8 Local Government Back to Basics Programme
The core services that local government provides is clean drinking water, sanitation, electricity, shelter, waste removal and roads which are basic human rights, essential components of the right to dignity enshrined in the Constitution and Bill of Rights. The government vision of developmental local government was that it would be the building block on which the reconstruction and development of the country and society was built, a place in which the citizens of the country could engage in a meaningful and direct way with the institutions of the state. Local government is where most citizens interface with government, and its foundational ethos must be about serving people.
Local government has been a primary site for the delivery of services in South Africa since 1994. Tremendous progress in delivering water, electricity, sanitation and refuse removal at a local level has been made. However, notwithstanding delivery achievements thus far, it is evident that much needs to be done to support, educate and where needed, enforce implementation of local government’s mandate for delivery. The transformation of the local government sector remains a priority for the current administration.
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