Latest news with #MarlaineNair
IOL News
4 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
KZN elections for amakhosi and izinduna projected to cost R47 million in 2027
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) at the KZN Legislature portfolio committee on Tuesday. Image: KZN Legislature The elections for amakhosi and izinduna in KwaZulu-Natal could cost more than R47 million if they go ahead in 2027. This was revealed by the KZN Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) during a first-quarter report on 2025/26 financials to the KZN Legislature portfolio committee on Tuesday. The department receives an allocation of R187 million but still has to dip into its budget to cover the rest of the funding for approximately 300 amakhosi and izinduna in the province. Mthandeni Dlungwana, an ANC MPL, raised the question of whether izinduna and amakhosi have completed their five-year terms and when elections will be held. Video Player is loading. 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Next Stay Close ✕ Marlaine Nair, chairperson of the CoGTA committee, said they were told that the elections would go ahead in February 2025. Velenkosini Hlabisa, the minister of CoGTA, announced in May 2025 that the Constitutional Court ruled to extend the validity of the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Act (TKLA) for a further two years. Hlabisa explained that the Concourt has granted supplementary, just, and equitable relief to prevent the imminent expiry of the suspension period related to the declaration of constitutional invalidity of the TKLA. 'The declaration of invalidity of the TKLA has been suspended until 29 May 2027, allowing additional time for the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Bill to be concluded,' he said. This two-year extension enables CoGTA and Parliament to conduct thorough consultations and finalise the legislative process. Hlabisa has requested the Department of Traditional Affairs to intensify efforts to expedite the Bill's completion. He added that the TKLB is a critical piece of legislation. It seeks to formally recognise the Khoi and San communities and their leadership structures, while also addressing the deficiencies of the Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework Act, No. 41 of 2003. Once enacted, the Bill will provide a legal framework to recognize and regulate Traditional and Khoi-San leadership institutions, clearly outlining their roles, responsibilities, and engagement with the government. This represents both a responsibility and an opportunity to promote inclusive governance. Dr Joey Krishnan, acting HOD of CoGTA, stated at the legislature that processes are under way in the department to prepare for the elections. 'The quotation we received two years ago was R47 million as a province just to run the elections. We are busy working on it. We could use the Electoral Commission of South Africa or an election agency. The department had engaged an election agency previously for this purpose, and then the court challenge came along,' she explained. On the recognition of izinduna, she explained that the amakhosi nominate izinduna and not CoGTA. Once an induna is nominated, it has to go through to the provincial executive council for approval and recognition. 'When that happens, it is gazetted. It is only at the time of gazetting that CoGTA will then put the izinduna on the payroll. We now have a system in place where amakhosi and izinduna are comfortable with the headcount,' she said. Krishnan said that the amahhosi provides CoGTA with a monthly update on izinduna. 'We are undertaking the current confirmation of all izinduna. We have completed eThekwini, Ugu, and Amajuba municipalities. We went to the Cabinet a week ago. We are now recognising 35 izinduna through that process. We hope to have that concluded in this financial quarter. We are going through per district to fast-track the process,' she explained.
IOL News
5 days ago
- Health
- IOL News
KZN government allocates R17 million for medical aid to Izinduna
The KwaZulu-Natal government will spend R17 million annually on medical aid for 300 Izinduna, raising concerns about budget allocation and funding sources. Image: Shan Pillay Medical aid for 300 Izinduna will cost the KwaZulu-Natal government R17 million per annum, money they will derive from ending a building lease agreement in Durban. The KZN Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) revealed this during a first-quarter report on 2025/26 financials to the KZN Legislature portfolio committee on Tuesday. The committee chairperson, Marlaine Nair, a DA MPL, brought up the issue because most of the CoGTA budget went to traditional leaders, and there were inadequate funds for any other projects. In the CoGTA report presented on Tuesday, remuneration of Izinduna was at 54% of the annual budget spent as of the end of the first quarter. The department receives an allocation of R187 million and still has to dip into its budget to cover the rest of the money. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Nair was concerned that CoGTA was taking money from the baseline to top up the traditional leaders' funding. She was also concerned about the introduction of medical aid funding to Izinduna. Nair suggested that the department needed to find ways to take the pressure off its budget by either getting traditional leaders paid by the National Treasury or explore ideas to generate income from traditional land for them to benefit from. 'We can have more money for oversight and support of municipalities and disaster management as well as economic development. We need to unpack ideas, deliberate on them, and find a way forward in terms of generating income for this particular department. We must not come across as insensitive or uncaring to the Izinduna,' she said. Dr Joey Krishnan, Acting HOD of CoGTA, told the committee that the department was aware that there had been very little or no investment in economic growth and development in the rural community. She said the decision on stipends for Izinduna came from the national government, adding that R400 million goes towards the stipends. 'They are on our payroll, and they are able to take up medical aid and pension funds on their own. What we found from the 300 amakhosi that are on the payroll, 35 of them opted for medical aid. The cost of the medical aid they chose was extremely high,' she said. Krishnan said that CoGTA probed the matter and decided that if all 300 Izunduna took up medical aid options, the department would not be able to afford the medical aid contributions. She said they negotiated for better rates and a concession from a medical aid company which worked out to a much lower rate in comparison to what CoGTA pays for its staff. Izinduna get immediate cover, use of any private hospital, family benefits if the member dies, and a cancer benefit.
IOL News
10-08-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Empowering women through resilience: The story of public servant Marlaine Nair
Democratic Alliance member and Cogta Portfolio Committee Chairperson Marlaine Nair Image: Supplied In a world where challenges often overshadow possibilities, Marlaine Nair stands out as someone who sees solutions where others see roadblocks. A public servant, mediator, motivator, and teacher at heart, Nair has dedicated her life to helping people especially women and youth to unlock their potential by transforming the way they think. She described to the Daily News how she overcame personal threats in the political arena to championing mental health and empowerment of others. Nair, a member of KwaZulu-Natal Legislature, where she chairs the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs' portfolio committee, has lived a life that is a testament to her resilience, faith, and purpose. She said one of the greatest qualities was her ability to see solutions where others saw problems, and Nair never shies away, even when dealing with strangers. 'I'm also a teacher at heart, passionate about breaking down complex ideas, especially when it comes to the Bible, so that the messages are easy to understand. Along the way, I've also become an accredited commercial mediator and a motivator, helping people see possibilities where they thought there were none.' Key for Nair solving problems was to help people with their thinking. Nair said she was a firm believer of the phrase: 'As a man thinketh, so is he.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Nair emphasised the importance of women taking control of their thoughts. On her love for Politics, she highlighted her displeasure with the injustice or the mistreatment of people. 'Even before I was in politics, I'd challenge systems and decisions that didn't make sense. I've always had an overwhelming love for people, so in 2015, when the opportunity came to serve as a DA councillor, I grabbed it. It felt like a natural extension of who I already was'. Through her staunch opposition to injustice, Nair said it brought her enemies and threats, but reasoned that to be a yardstick, indicating that she was making progress. Once she was hijacked while doing councillor duties, but that didn't deter, it gave her added motivation. 'Politics isn't for the faint hearted. we often joke that you need either incredible tenacity or a little madness to keep going'. Nair advocates for attention to mental health for women because many were stuck in abusive relationships due to financially dependency on their partners. She believes that skills and the virtues of independence must be taught at a young age so that they learn to support themselves, DA member Marlaine Nair Image: supplied 'But it's not only about money, even highly educated women sometimes stay because they don't believe they deserve better. Women need to know their worth and value themselves,' Nair emphasised About equal opportunities for women, Nair argued that preparation meets opportunity, adding that she did not want an opportunity simply because she was a woman. "If opportunities are going to be presented, it must be presented purely because it brings something valuable to the table." For women wishing to venture into political space, Nair said they must first know the spin-offs beforehand, remain disciplined and balanced so that they can last in the field. 'Never show your hand too early, and work hard to build your credibility. And above all stay teachable. No matter how much you know, there's always more to learn,' she said. On juggling her public and personal life, she admitted that it took her time to adjust, but turning 50 was a wake-up call. She said the change that politicians want for the country won't come from one person, and it won't happen in one lifetime. Nair said that task must be a collective effort. 'To do my part well, I now make time for my health, my spiritual life, and my family. "A sharpened axe cuts better and right now, I'm sharpening mine,' Nair conceded.
IOL News
08-08-2025
- Business
- IOL News
KZN Legislature tackles financial challenges in Nongoma Municipality
Members of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature and officials from Nongoma Local Municipality at a meeting on Thursday. Image: Supplied The new leadership in the Nongoma Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal is expected to turn things around from poor financial controls dating back to 2023. The KZN Legislature Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Portfolio Committee held a meeting with municipal officials on Thursday, to address challenges highlighted by the Auditor-General of South Africa (A-G). Marlaine Nair, the portfolio committee chairperson, said the committee had resolved to hold meetings with municipalities that have received adverse audits, disclaimer audits, and qualified audit reports from the A-G in the last financial year. She said that Nongoma's 2023/24 audit reflects areas of concern that require attention. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ 'After four consecutive years of unqualified audit opinions, the municipality has now received a qualified opinion, which indicates a weakening of internal controls and governance processes,' she said. Nair said this is accompanied by notable compliance challenges, including R65 million in unauthorised expenditure written off, R45 million in unresolved irregular expenditure, as well as persistent weaknesses in procurement and financial management. Nair stated that financial sustainability is also under pressure; according to the A-G report, the municipality faces a growing debtor book, with R79 million in outstanding debt, most of which is over 90 days. Additionally, government departments owe over R34 million, placing further strain on cash flow and the municipality's ability to maintain consistent service delivery. Nair said that Thursday's engagement was not just about identifying shortcomings, but also about finding practical solutions and supporting the municipality in getting back on track. 'We are here to work together towards improving public confidence, ensuring responsible financial management, and ultimately strengthening service delivery for the people of Nongoma,' she said In July 2025, the Inkatha Freedom Party took charge of the municipality after a vote of no confidence was passed in the municipal council against the National Freedom Party (NFP) leadership. Mbekezeli Zondo was elected as the new mayor, with Sinethemba Mbongwa elected speaker and the EFF's Mthokozisi Luvuno voted deputy mayor. At the meeting on Thursday, the Nongoma Municipality stated that it has capacitated its Supply Chain Management systems and taken steps to resolve the findings in a turnaround plan. Staff from the expenditure unit will also undergo Municipal Standard Chart of Accounts (MSCOA) training by August 31, 2025. A cash flow committee is expected to be established by the end of August 2025. The municipality stated that in its turnaround strategy, it has limited the outsourcing of municipal services, including the hiring of cars and trucks. Members of the portfolio committee commended Nongoma Municipality for implementing the turnaround strategy to improve performance.
The Citizen
03-08-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Vryheid residents outraged over inflated municipal utility bills
'This is outrageous!' That's the overwhelming reaction from residents upon receiving their latest municipal utility bills. Many have raised concerns about unexplained and seemingly incorrect charges added to their accounts. Among the most common complaints is a charge for 'added sewage', with units exactly matching water consumption figures. Some residents were stunned to find a R113 charge for a borehole on their bill, even though they do not have one. However, the most frustration has been directed at the exorbitant increase in domestic electricity tariffs and the widespread confusion over the extra charges appearing on bills. One resident told the Herald that the bill was the highest she had received in over 30 years of living in the same house. 'The account shot up almost R2000 compared to my June bill – how is this even possible?' The Vryheid Herald reached out to the municipality for clarification on the new tariffs and additional charges, but at the time of going to press, there had been no response. In an interview with the Herald, Marlaine Nair, Chairperson of the KwaZulu-Natal Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Portfolio Committee, urged residents to make use of the municipality's dispute resolution mechanism if they believe their utility bills are incorrect. 'Residents should first raise concerns formally with the municipality or contact their ward councillor, who can escalate the matter on their behalf,' she advised. 'Should those avenues fail, residents can start a petition and hand it to the mayor. If no action is taken, the next step is to submit the petition to the legislature speaker for consideration by the Petition Committee.' She added that residents and councillors can also write directly to the MEC of Cogta to request an investigation into possible malpractice or corruption. 'Stakeholders can even write to me directly,' said Nair. 'My only request is that residents first exhaust all internal channels within the municipality before escalating the matter to the provincial level.' Meanwhile, representatives of the Ratepayers Association have tried to schedule a meeting with the municipality to demand clarity and accountability. Unfortunately, by the time of going to print, no further information was available. There are also moves afoot to mobilise residents into formal disputes over their utility accounts. Residents have been advised by the organisers to complete dispute letters and email them directly to the email address below. Following the steep increase in tariffs, prepaid electricity users are also urged to file disputes. A sample dispute letter—based on an article titled 'How to effectively dispute and rectify municipal billing discrepancies' (Daily Maverick, February 1, 2024)—is available on the AbaQulusi Ratepayers WhatsApp group. For those needing assistance, Chantell Els of Pixelation Photo Lab & Studio has offered to print, scan and email documents free of charge. Donations as a token of appreciation are welcome. Responding to the outcry, Eugene van Aswegen, AfriForum's Provincial Coordinator for KwaZulu-Natal, confirmed that the organisation is actively addressing the matter. 'AfriForum is currently busy with the issue,' Van Aswegen said. 'We will take the necessary steps to ensure the municipality is held accountable and transparent about the processes that were followed.' How to lodge a dispute: Residents who wish to challenge the charges on their municipal accounts can do so by submitting a formal dispute letter. Here's how: Prepaid electricity users: Use your prepaid account number, not the card number. This number is 11 digits long, typically starting with 04 and ending with 81.' Find it on your prepaid electricity slip after a purchase. Alternatively, retrieve it by entering '00' or '100' on your prepaid device. (Note: Methods may vary depending on meter type.) Conventional account holders (water, refuse, sewer, rates, etc.): Use the account number as shown on your AbaQulusi Municipality statement. Conventional account holders with prepaid electricity: Include both your prepaid meter account number and your AbaQulusi municipal account number in the dispute letter. Completed letters must be submitted via email to: [email protected] ALSO READ: 967 homes to be electrified in AbaQulusi Municipality rollout The news provided to you in this link comes to you from the editorial staff of the Vryheid Herald, a sold newspaper distributed in the Vryheid area.
