KWAMHLANGA — Residents, government stakeholders and traditional leaders gathered at the Old Legislature Government Complex in KwaMhlanga on Monday, 25 May 2026, for Thembisile Hani Local Municipality’s 2026/2027 Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and Budget Indaba.
The indaba focused on the municipality’s development priorities, infrastructure projects and strategies aimed at improving service delivery across communities.
Stakeholders in attendance included representatives from the Departments of Education, Public Works, Health and the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), as well as Eskom. Traditional leaders from the Manala Mbongo and Ndzundza Mabhoko royal houses were also present.
Executive Mayor Lesetja Dikgale said the municipality remains committed to addressing residents’ needs through improved service delivery and infrastructure development.
“The vision of turning Thembisile Hani into a smart city is alive, and we will work tirelessly to make that dream a reality,” said Dikgale.
He said the municipality is also working towards reducing unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure by 75%.
Dikgale added that the municipality is addressing water supply challenges through the Loskop Dam Project, which aims to provide communities with 20 megalitres of water per day.
He further said infrastructure projects such as the Entokozweni Booster Pump Station, Vezubuhle Community Clinic and Tidimalo School are underway and have created local job opportunities while improving service delivery.
The Executive Mayor added that the municipality allocates R5 million annually to support Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), including youth, women and persons with disabilities.
However, residents raised concerns about ongoing challenges such as crime, unemployment, substance abuse and undocumented migration in their communities.
Community member Moses Sebogwane from Phumula C said residents are facing serious challenges linked to crime and drug abuse in areas such as Sun City, Vezubuhle and Kwaggafontein.
“We appreciate that the municipality aims to improve our living standards, but we face daily challenges. There are issues with gangsters and drugs affecting our children,” he said.
He called for stronger cooperation between the municipality and law enforcement agencies to address crime and drug-related issues.
Sebogwane also raised concerns about undocumented migration and alleged failures by key government departments and stakeholders, calling for urgent engagement between authorities to find solutions.
Nkangala District Municipality Community Development Manager Vusimuzi Mahlangu said the district continues to engage communities and work towards improving service delivery across local municipalities.
Traditional leaders welcomed the municipality’s plans and committed to working closely with the municipality to improve living conditions. They also encouraged residents to pay for municipal services to ensure continued service delivery.
This year’s IDP and Budget Indaba focused on strengthening infrastructure, improving service delivery and promoting greater community participation in local governance.
