Durban - KwaZulu-Natal Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Sihle Zikalala has called upon the management of the department to prioritise the interests of communities through efficient, effective support to the institution of traditional leadership and the sphere of local government.
He made the call on Monday when he met with the department’s management at the Cogta Mayville offices, where he also gave a snapshot of the work ethic that he wants to see displayed by the department’s staff.
Monday’s meeting was one of a series of engagements which Zikalala will be holding after he was announced as its new political head last week.
This was the first of a series of engagements that the MEC will have with both internal and external stakeholders as the MEC familiarises himself with the environment.
“As a department that is also tasked with the coordination of disaster response within the province, many communities rely on the department to ensure that interim and long-term relief is rolled out in an effective manner that takes into consideration their human rights,” Zikakala told department staff.
He emphasised the importance of professionalism in how staff conduct the affairs of the department.
The MEC called upon department units to prioritise innovation and embrace new ideas as they grapple with improving the economy of municipalities.
He stressed that by being innovative, the department would be able to respond promptly to disasters and ensure swift and efficient roll-out of basic services such as water, sanitation and electricity to communities.