Mayor Ngwenya urges youth to put education first

THEMBISILE HANI — Nkangala District Municipality Executive Mayor Cllr Thomas Ngwenya has urged young people to prioritise education as a way of avoiding teenage pregnancy, crime, substance abuse and other social challenges.

Ngwenya made the call at Thembalethu Community Hall in Thembisile Hani on 19 September during the final Integrated Development Plan (IDP) outreach programme of the current administration.

“Education is very serious and crucial. It is something that will take you out of teenage pregnancy, out of crime, substance abuse and other unwanted illicit activities,” said Ngwenya.

He encouraged young people to equip themselves with education and skills to participate in development opportunities across the district.

“Education is your way out and your way in. You can be in technical, you can be in Human Resource, you can be in Agriculture, but you need education to participate. We want every youth to be part of this development,” he said.

According to the Draft IDP, the district has set aside R5 million for the Mayoral Bursary Fund for the 2026/27 financial year. The fund supports students from Thembisile Hani wards to access universities, universities of technology and TVET colleges.

Other education programmes include career guidance, teenage pregnancy awareness and anti-drug and substance abuse campaigns.

While residents welcomed the emphasis on education, they also used the outreach to raise service delivery concerns.

Ward 19 resident Freddy Chauke welcomed the focus on education but raised concern that Lithabong Science School does not have a laboratory for science experiments.

Johannes Mulauzi from Pumula, Ward 23, raised concerns about electricity, unfinished RDP houses, roads, water and the condition of Jabulani Primary School.

“Roads in Pumula are not in a good condition, they need reconstruction and refurbishment. The paving project is not showing progress. We don’t have running water daily. And Jabulani Primary School needs renovations, it is not in a good state for our learners,” he said.

Mama Masilela welcomed developments in the municipality but raised concerns about graduate unemployment and the lack of a TVET college in Thembisile Hani.

“We appreciate everything that has been done, but the concern is that while sending children to tertiary institutions to study, they come back with those qualifications but the issue is unemployment,” said Masilela.

She also appealed for a TVET college to allow young people to study closer to home instead of travelling to other areas.

Responding to residents, Thembisile Hani Mayor Cllr Lisetja Dikgale said electricity falls under Eskom, but the municipality is working with the utility to accelerate connections. He said illegal connections remained a challenge.

“If people can stop illegal connections, everyone will have electricity daily,” Dikgale said.

On water, Dikgale said work is continuing on the Loskop Dam bulk water project, which is expected to improve water supply in Thembisile Hani once completed. The Loskop Regional Bulk Water Supply Scheme is a major project designed to augment water supply to the municipality, with further electrical connection work still appearing in 2026 procurement plans.

Dikgale said the municipality is also working with the Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport on roads, with projects being implemented in stages.

“These are projects that will take time to be finished, but as the municipality we make sure that every citizen has access to proper roads and everything they need because we are here to serve our residents,” he said.

On the demand for a TVET college, Dikgale said plans have been developed and discussions are underway about converting a school in Kwaggafontein, Entokozweni, into a TVET college for Thembisile Hani.

He said concerns raised by residents would be taken into account and followed up.

The outreach formed part of the municipality’s IDP community engagement process, providing residents with an opportunity to raise priorities and service delivery concerns for consideration in municipal planning and budgeting.