Premier of the Province of KwaZulu-Natal,
Fellow members of the Executive Committee,
Amakhosi uMzinyathi Acting District,
Mayor Councillor NJ Mbatha-Madonsela,
Mayor of Msinga, Councillor F.J Sikhakhane,
Deputy Mayors,
Speakers and Councillors Present,
Heads of Provincial Government Departments,
Provincial and Local Government Officials,
Members of the Media,
Ladies and gentlemen.

The war against poverty in KwaZulu-Natal has reached Msinga!

As the uMzinyathi District Champion I welcome Premier Senzo Mchunu and fellow members of the Executive Committee for making this area the latest battlefront in the fight to improve the lives our people.

The Provincial government has adopted a multi-pronged attack with the launches today of both the Inkululeko Development Projects and the Poverty Eradication Master Plan for this area. Honourable Premier, you are well aware from your involvement in drawing up the Province’s Poverty Eradication masterplan that Msinga has been described as one of the poorest municipalities in the country.

About 85 percent of the population are dependent on social grants and 71 percent of the population is under the age of 30. Young people in the area have few post school opportunities and no jobs

Ladies and Gentlemen, this scenario is about to change and special attention is being paid to uplifting the lives of the youth of Msinga. We are here today to find out how the battle-plan to fight poverty and improve lives is to unfold. These will be spelt out by the Honourable Premier and his team as they discuss both the Poverty Eradication Master Plan for the area and the launch of Inkululeko Development Projects. I do not want to spoil the surprises that are yet to come, but I will drop a hint.

As a precursor to this event, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (KZN DARD) held a Goat Expo and Goat Dish Competition on Saturday. Msinga is one of the areas that has been worst affected by the current drought but there is a silver-lining as there is a large goat population within this municipality and goats thrive in dry conditions.

Saturday’s event was to mark the launch of a five-year plan to put goat farming on the map and to promote the sale and eating of goat meat as cheaper source of protein. Goat meat known as chevon, is popular the world over in countries in the Middle East, India, Pakistan and the Caribbean.

In promoting goat farming, we are also looking at the export market. The future of the commercialising of goat farming was cemented this morning when the Premier took part in a sod-turning ceremony to mark the site of a new Goat Abattoir in Mphelankani.

The abattoir is but one of a number of Inkululeko Development Projects set to be built in the area. There are many, many more in the pipeline which the Premier will be announcing shortly. The last launch of Inkululeko Development Projects took place in Ndumo, where the Premier announced development projects to the value of R1,5 billion in that area.

The development in Msinga will be known as Inkululeko Development two and will involve social and infrastructural projects that will be especially developed to eradicate poverty and improve the quality of lives of people in this municipality. Without further ado let us continue so that we can hear the good news about change and a better life to come for Msinga!