Nkandla, 8 May 2025 – Less than a month after announcing plans to build the Nkandla Disaster Management Centre, KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, working with the Nkandla Local Municipality, has moved swiftly to prepare for the multimillion-rand project.
As part of the Nkandla Integrated Service Delivery Programme held on Thursday, MEC Buthelezi, together with Nkandla Municipality Mayor Nonhlanhla Nzuza, visited the site identified by the municipality for the construction of the disaster management centre.
Nkandla and its surrounding areas are highly prone to fire disasters due to their bushy terrain and dense forestry. For years, residents and businesses, particularly in forestry and farming, have suffered significant financial losses due to wildfires.
This dire situation prompted MEC Buthelezi to prioritise the construction of the Nkandla Disaster Management Centre, with a budget allocation of over R14 million.
With the site already identified, consultants have begun with the planning phase.
MEC Buthelezi confirmed that construction is scheduled to begin next month, with the aim of reducing the impact of disasters in the Nkandla area. The project will also create job opportunities and skills development, as local youth will receive training in firefighting.
“King Cetshwayo District Municipality has just received a donation of fire engines from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. We will request that some of these fire engines be stationed here in Nkandla to assist local communities and businesses. Once the project is complete, we want young people from this area to be trained as firefighters,” said MEC Buthelezi.
“As a department, we are planning to commence construction in June. Our team will work closely with the municipality to ensure the land is suitable for the structure and that it can accommodate all the required resources for the Disaster Management Centre such as fire engines,” he added.
Mayor Nzuza expressed her appreciation to the department. She committed that the municipality will finalise the necessary plans to ensure construction begins in June.
“This is a major boost for our communities. For many years, wildfires have destroyed livestock, grazing fields, and homes because we do not have fire engines in Nkandla.
We hope this project will attract investment to our town and strengthen our disaster management capacity,” she said.
MEC Buthelezi also announced the expansion of the electrification project in the Maphumulo area, also in Nkandla. Over 60 households will be connected to the electricity grid.
Addressing the community, MEC Buthelezi stated that the department aims to complete the projects by December.
“As we visit this area, we are here to implement the programmes we announced when we tabled the budget before the legislature.
Each financial year, we will continue to expand electrification in rural communities until everyone has access to electricity,” said MEC Buthelezi.
Ends