In what will be a welcome relief for many residents in the eastern parts of the province, OR Tambo district municipality bosses will soon be able to generate electricity to ease load-shedding and water-shortage challenges, especially in Mthatha.In 2003, the Mthatha-based district authority was appointed by the national government to provide clean water to residents of the KSD, Mhlontlo, Port St Johns, Ingquza Hill and Nyandeni local municipalities.
The OR Tambo district municipality is doing everything in its power to provide clean, piped water and adequate sanitation, mayor Mesuli Ngqondwana says.
When 11-year-old Lilitha Matshisi was asked to hop onto a kayak earlier in 2023, he found himself shaking with fear. “I have never been that scared in my life. I kept on thinking, what if I drown?” Meanwhile, 14-year-old Akhumzi Ndabeni felt a huge adrenaline rush. He has been swimming in rivers for as long as he can remember and the prospect of trying his hand at kayaking excited him.
KSD mayor Nyaniso Nelani went on a charm offensive to try to woo residents in some communities in Mthatha, promising that a positive change was coming to their lives while asking them to offer ideas to transform the municipality into a thriving rural metro. Speaking at a mayoral imbizo on Thursday, he told residents of ward 3 including Ngangelizwe, Waterfall, Mdlekeza and New Bright that the municipality was involved in many projects that would bring about development in their communitie.
An invasion of slithering snakes and other creepy critters has so spooked government employees that officials have had to close at least two offices in the Eastern Cape. Provincial social development department bosses have temporarily closed the service office in Mthatha because of the reptile rebellion.