City of uMhlathuze Wins 8 Provincial COGTA Awards

(The Post News)– The City of uMhlathuze has cemented its place as a leader in municipal governance after scooping most accolades at the KwaZulu-Natal Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Municipal Excellence Awards held at the Greyville Convention Centre in Durban.

The awards recognised achievements in various categories, including good governance, audit outcomes, best integrated development plan, and cleanest town/city. According to KZN COGTA, the event served as a platform to highlight best practices and inspire all municipalities to strive for higher standards in serving their communities and fostering an environment conducive to investment.

UMhlathuze walked away with eight awards and R1 million after coming first in more categories than any other municipality and set a benchmark for municipalities across KwaZulu-Natal. Mayor Cllr Xolani Ngwezi dedicated the victory to his staff as well as Amakhosi municipal staff, executive leadership and coalition partners from IFP, DA, ACDP, FFP, and the NFP.

Ngwezi stated that the recognition is a testament to their team’s persistent dedication and collaborative efforts to create uMhlathuze a model town. He also added that this motivates them to quadruple their efforts in providing critical services to their residents—ensuring clean, running water, efficient garbage collection, well-maintained public spaces, and a safe, pleasant environment for everybody.

MEC for COGTA, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, emphasised the significance of municipal services, stating the the night was abaout recognising the the hard work of individuals who strive every day to ensure that their communites get the fundamental amenities they deserve: water, electricity, sanitation, and roads. Buthelezi furthe stated that These are not only amenities, but the cornerstone of human dignity and growth.

Umlalazi Local Municipality was awarded R500,000 for achieving the title of the cleanest town in KwaZulu-Natal, demonstrating their dedication to environmental stewardship and community well-being.

KZN Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli stated that these awards are recognising innovation, dedication, and excellence in local governance. According to Ntuli, these awards highlight municipalities that go above and beyond in supporting the people they serve, and collaboration, devotion, and steadfast commitment are the keys to achieving greatness in governance. Ntuli also stated that municipalities must strive tirelessly to offer quality services and improve the lives of all inhabitants in KwaZulu-Natal.

He also encouraged all municipalities to draw inspiration from such recognitions and redouble their efforts in delivering efficient, transparent, and accountable governance that prioritises service delivery.