OPENING REMARKS BY HIS WORSHIP HONOURABLE MAYOR COUNCILLOR SIYABULELA ZANGQA ON THE OCCASION OF THE 2021 STRATEGIC SESSION HELD ON THE 09^TH TO 11^TH MARCH 2021.

Speaker of Council, Office of the Honourable Premier, The Chief Whip; Executive Committee Members ,Chairpersons of our Section 79 Committees; All Councillors present here today; Abahlekazi abahle Traditional leaders!!, Municipal Manager, Management and all officials present, All sector departments present, Distinguished Guests; Ladies and Gentlemen. Good Morning! Molweni, Program director

Yesterday the 08^th March is an important day in our home, Engcobo Local Municipality same as it is a significant day in our nation’s memoir and in international community. It marks 128 years anniversary of the birth of DR AB Xuma. We shall always commemorate lifetime of DR AB Xuma for his extraordinary contribution in the liberation struggle of country. We shall always learn and seek to emulate the visionary and strategic eloquence which he bestowed. We meet exactly a year ago when we held Special Official funeral of Dr Xuma.

Engcobo Local Municipality delegation led by Hon. Mayor Cllr. Siyabulela Zangqa with Traditional authority delegation led by Chief Gwarubana went to Abethembu King`s House in Nkululekweni on Tuesday the 06th of October 2020, to meet Abathembu king with intentions of resolving extention 11 housing project challenges between Engcobo Local Municipality and Chibini residents which delayed multi-million rand housing project at extension 11. During 2017/2018 financial year contractor was appointed to build government subsidised houses (RDP houses). The building of RDP houses was meant to better lives of people who are in need of government subsidised houses and further more local people were going to benefit from the project as it was going to require human resources to perform its duties. Unfortunately contractor had to stop its work because of dissatisfaction from Chibini residents who demanded to be added on lists of beneficiaries.