It is with great pleasure that I assume this esteemed position that I have been elected to serve in.

I am your humble servant, as I take up the task of leading this magnificent district for the remainder of the term of Council.

I have been acting in the position of the District Mayor since the start of this financial year, and they have been very big shoes that I have had to fill.

Our former Mayor, the current Premier of the Province of the KwaZulu-Natal, Hon Thami Ntuli, laid a firm foundation in the years that he led us.

I have no doubt that if we continue along that same trajectory, we will retain the momentum for success.

The journey that this Council has taken since we came to office in 2021 has been exciting and we have made firm strides in making service delivery a reality for the communities living in the deep rural areas of the district.

Our 1,5 Billion Rands budget was crafted to be significant and live-changing, and to focus on issues of economic growth, social development, delivery of services and safer communities.

We are still in the second quarter of this financial year and there is much work to be done in the remaining seven to eight months.

We have almost concluded our first round of IDP Roadshows, and it is heartening to see the manner in which our communities bring forth their needs to us through these public participation engagements.

The commitment to ensuring that service delivery is efficient, cost-effective and of high quality is still intact.

I am also committed to maintaining a strong and close relationship with Amakhosi in the district. We are greatly anticipating the completion of the Amakhosi headquarters in Eshowe, which will be a landmark building that reflects the dignity and reverence of the traditional authority.

In terms of economic development, we are moving full speech ahead with the applications for funding women and youth in business, as well as various other agriculture, tourism and LED activities.

Construction of budgeted water and sanitation projects are moving at high speed, with R703m (64% of total operational budget) set aside for Infrastructure Services, highlighting the emphasis that has been put in prioritizing funding for basic service delivery.

Since the start of this financial year we have kick-started several major infrastructure projects, which are anticipated to bring us closer to reducing our backlogs.

I will do my best to uphold the promises that we have made to our citizens, and I commit myself to doing all within my power to contribute towards good governance and more clean audits going forward.

As I conclude, I wish to quote the wise words of the late, great former Prime Minister of the Zulu Nation, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi:

"I remain your servant and I will do as you ask of me."

Thank you

 MAYOR'S OFFICE
 Email: gumedesn@kingcetshwayo.gov.za
 Email: chilino@kingcethswayo.gov.za
 Tel: 0357992722