The Minister for the Public Service and Administration, Honourable Inkosi Mzamo Buthelezi, visited the Zululand District Municipality in northern KwaZulu-Natal this week as part of his role as District Champion under the District Development Model (DDM). His visit marked a critical step in addressing pressing service delivery challenges and reaffirmed government’s commitment to a more integrated and responsive approach to local development.
Zululand District, which comprises the local municipalities of Ulundi, Nongoma, eDumbe, AbaQulusi, and uPhongolo, holds strategic significance in the province due to its cultural heritage, agricultural potential, and transport links connecting inland areas with the coast and the broader Southern African region. Despite these strengths, the district continues to face severe service delivery constraints.
Key issues include deteriorating infrastructure, unreliable water and sanitation services, poor road conditions, and inconsistent electricity supply in rural areas. These challenges are compounded by shrinking budgets, aging infrastructure, and a shortage of skilled technical personnel within municipalities.
As part of his oversight role, Minister Buthelezi conducted an inspection of the wastewater treatment plant in Vryheid, located in the AbaQulusi Local Municipality, on Thursday. The facility has become a source of concern due to environmental and health risks caused by poor maintenance and a lack of funding for essential upgrades.
Following the site visit, Minister Buthelezi convened a high-level briefing session with political and administrative leaders from all five local municipalities. The discussions focused on identifying the root causes of service delivery backlogs and improving intergovernmental coordination. The Minister emphasized that strong leadership, accountability, and collaborative planning are essential to unlocking Zululand’s development potential.
The visit forms part of the broader District Development Model — a government-wide initiative aimed at improving cooperative governance and service delivery through better alignment of planning and budgeting across all spheres of government. Each district is assigned a political champion to help drive progress. Minister Buthelezi has been appointed as the Presidential Champion for Zululand.
Recognizing the district’s pivotal role in agriculture, tourism, and cross-border trade, the Minister reiterated that Zululand can play a vital part in South Africa’s economic recovery – provided urgent action is taken to resolve infrastructure and governance bottlenecks. In his address, Minister Buthelezi stated:
“I look forward to championing the development priorities and challenges of the Zululand District. As the appointed Champion of this district, I will do everything in my power to ensure that all the necessary stakeholders, across government, business, traditional leaders, and civil society, are brought together to find lasting solutions to the challenges hindering effective service delivery. Our people deserve better, and together, we can deliver.â€
In recognition of Youth Month, Minister Buthelezi also engaged with young people from across the district to discuss opportunities, empowerment, and access to services on Friday. He encouraged youth to consider farming as a viable career, to form social support networks to share information on available opportunities, and to use existing resources to upskill themselves. Importantly, he urged them to hold political leaders accountable for failures in service delivery. Various government institutions were on-site, rendering services directly to the community. The event provided a meaningful platform for the youth to connect, learn, and take charge of their future.
Minister Buthelezi’s visit is expected to catalyze a renewed focus on infrastructure revitalization, economic development, and improved governance across Zululand.
