The Minister in the Presidency, Mr Jackson Mthembu will on Saturday, 5 September 2020 at 09:00am and on Sunday, 6 September 2020, visit the Harry Gwala District Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal to assess government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the District.

This visit follows the decision of Cabinet to allocate Ministers and Deputy Ministers to become District Champions for specific Districts and Metros to strengthen efforts to mitigate against the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the fight against Gender Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) in South Africa.

As the Champion for the Harry Gwala District Municipality, Minister Mthembu will on Saturday, 05 September 2020, visit the Sunflower Creighton Shelter for victims of Gender Based Violence and the St. Apollinaries Hospital in the Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma Local Municipality in Creighton.

On Sunday, 06 September 2020, the Minister will conclude his visit to the district at the Christ of King Hospital in Ubuhlebezwe Local Municipality in Ixopo.

Minister Mthembu will be accompanied by the Kwa-Zulu Natal MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Mr Hlomuka, the Executive Mayor of the Harry Gwala District, Cllr Nxumalo, as well as other Senior Officials from the District. 

District Champions are to monitor the response to the pandemic in each district, identify weaknesses and provide support where necessary to address these through interaction with all spheres of government, social partners and structures of civil society. This approach is hinged on the District Development Model (DDM) which was adopted in 2019 by government to strengthen integrated planning, implementation and budgeting in regions of the country. 

Media Enquiries: Ms Nonceba Mhlauli - Ministry Spokesperson Contact: 0726233462/ Nonceba@dpme.gov.za 

 

Issued by GCIS on behalf of 

The Ministry in the Presidency of the Republic of South Africa

04 September 2020