UMzumbe, 12 May 2026 – KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, has today officially handed over Local Economic Development (LED) assets to 43 Amakhosi and Ondlunkulu within the Ugu District.
The handover, held at the Nkanini Sports Complex was witnessed by over 2,000 community members, included catering equipment, mobile fridges, marquees, and chairs.
This initiative is a strategic move to Amakhosi toward financial self-sufficiency, enabling them to host events and launch small businesses that create rural employment.
MEC Buthelezi emphasised that this programme is a direct investment in the dignity of Amakhosi. “Our mandate is to ensure that Amakhosi are not merely ceremonial figures, but active drivers of the rural economy,” the MEC stated.
He further announced that the department will hand over 36 additional vehicles in June 2026 to ensure Amakhosi possess the necessary mobility to fulfil their administrative and developmental duties.
Inkosi Madlala, speaking on behalf of Amakhosi in the Ugu District, welcomed the intervention as a “breakthrough” that empowers amakhosi to active players in the economic upliftment of their communities.
This Ugu rollout follows similar successful interventions in uMkhanyakude and iLembe, forming part of a province-wide strategy to stimulate economic growth within their communities.
The Department remains committed to ensuring that the tools of trade and LED support reach every district in KwaZulu-Natal.
Issued by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
