In pursuit of GKM’s vision to evolve into a people-centered city of economic opportunities by 2047, public investment becomes indispensable.

On the 26th of March, Greater Kokstad Municipality (GKM) Mayor, Cllr Lwanda Madikizela, headed a pivotal event, the Economic Development, Tourism, and Investment Business Breakfast, at the Rest Assured Bed & Breakfast Conference Center. This gathering was a strategic endeavor aimed at forging robust partnerships with the Greater Kokstad business sector and pertinent stakeholders towards achieving the Municipality’s vision.

The essence of this initiative lay in fostering open dialogue and fortifying collaborations between the private and public sectors, thus catalyzing investments in Kokstad's economic landscape. Moreover, the business breakfast served as a catalyst for local enterprises to actively engage in economic development endeavors thereby fostering sustainable solutions to job creation and combating poverty.

Distinguished academics, business leaders, community influencers, and various stakeholders freely contributed their insights, expertise, and experiences to enrich the local business community, at no cost.

During his keynote address, Mayor Madikizela underscored the pivotal role of effective planning, initiation, and implementation, especially in infrastructure development, if Kokstad aims to ascend as a smart city and attract substantial public investments. He articulated; "To cultivate Kokstad's growth, we must ensure an uninterrupted energy supply. Adequate electricity is imperative to entice investors to establish factories within our town. Hence, we've bolstered our grid with the 20MVA Singisi Sub-station."

The Mayor further emphasized the significance of water infrastructure, stating that "access to water is fundamental for population expansion and urban development”. To address this, the Mayor said the Municipality has partnered with the Department of Water and Sanitation and the District Municipality, investing over R160 million to enhance the capacity of the Kempsdale dam. “This augmentation ensures ample water supply for Kokstad's inhabitants well into the next century," said the Mayor.

Additionally, Mayor Madikizela outlined ambitious plans for road infrastructure development, highlighting ongoing projects such as the SANRAL N2 interchange and the rehabilitation of key roadways. These endeavors align with the Municipality's aspirations to fulfill its Eastern Seaboard plans.

In a poignant reflection, Mayor Madikizela acknowledged the imperative of shared responsibility, stating, "It cannot solely rest on the Municipality. This breakfast serves as a platform to collaboratively devise strategies to empower businesses and Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs). Through our Local Economic Development unit, we endeavor to facilitate opportunities for SMMEs to thrive. Whether established corporations, burgeoning formal enterprises, or township-based ventures, all stakeholders stand to benefit, thereby bolstering our local economy and addressing unemployment and poverty."

In essence the Economic Development, Tourism, and Investment Business Breakfast epitomized GKM's commitment to fostering symbiotic relationships between stakeholders, igniting economic prosperity, and charting a trajectory towards a vibrant and inclusive future for Kokstad.

By Kamvalethu Xhelithole

The R18 million construction of Hawthorn Street is now practically complete, and the contractor is finalizing the snag items to completely validate the end of the project before the official handover.

Hawthorn Street is one of the backyard access streets within the Greater Kokstad Municipality’s Central Business District (CBD). The street is predominantly residential with Jens Senior Primary School and Kokstad Junior at one end. In line uplifting the face of our CBD and fulfilling priorities set out in the Integrated Development Plan (IDP), the project to reconstruct the existing Hawthorn Street was funded through Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) to enable it to serve its primary function as a traffic relief route to relieve main streets in town as well as to formulate effective engineering solutions for the Reconstruction of Hawthorn Street Phase 1 to serve the community of Greater Kokstad Municipality as well as road users. 

The scope of this project was to reconstruct Hawthorn Street from Chainage km 0+000 (R56) to Chainage km 0+280 (Wylde Road) and introduce a centre Island from Chainage km 0+280 (Wylde Road) to Chainage km 0+780 (Barclay Street). The total length of Hawthorn Road to be constructed under this contract is 780m long and a width of 12m including the 2m wide Island. This included the surfacing of the pavement by 30mm thick asphalt, and the grassing of the Island planted with ground cover flowers. The road includes a sidewalk on one end and open channel drains on the other side. Some sections have underground stormwater to collect and channel water across the road at various intervals. 

The new roadway accommodates two traffic lanes separated by a centre Island constructed per the COLTO standards will have a pavement consisting of a roadbed 150mm ripped and compacted to 95% MOD ASSHTO, G6/7 selected layer compacted to 93% MOD ASSHTO, C4 sub-base 150mm thick, G2 base 150mm thick and 25mm asphalt blacktop surfacing and paving for the sidewalk. At full completion, the stormwater drainage facilities will consist of approximately 850m long 600mm diameter stormwater pipes and 120m long 950mm diameter concrete stormwater pipes. Some existing underground pipelines, cables and services were envisaged to be relocated during the construction process.

The road is now practically complete, and the contractor is finalising the snag items to justify Completion.

By Zolani Siqwayi

The Greater Kokstad Municipality has fully thrown its weight behind ensuring that the reading capabilities of pre-scholars are honed while they are still young.

The Municipality has done this by being part of promoting the Early Childhood Development Programme, an initiative by the country’s President Cyril Ramaphosa by playing a pivotal role evidenced when the Municipality’s Deputy Mayor Councillor Karen Walker and the Speaker, Cllr Bheki Nozaza led the council to Siyakhula Day Care and Pre-School where they handed over school equipment to better assist the children with their education.

The municipal leadership believes that investing in educating the children is one of the key pillars to becoming "A People-Centred City of Economic Possibilities by 2047”. During the handover, Cllr Nozaza highlighted that “As the government, it is imperative to lend a hand to those who are trying to create jobs and make a change in the lives of people.” He further mentioned that the government appreciates the initiative that the Principal of the Pre-School, Ms Nomonde Moya, has taken in educating the little ones as it will help to keep them off the streets in their youth.

The Deputy Mayor concurred with this statement by saying: “I would like to request the teachers to print the picture of these children and place them on the wall, and make a follow up on the progress made by the children in the next 5-10 years. I believe that they will appreciate it and it will give them motivation to advance themselves and become whatever they ought to be in this lifetime".

The Principal said most of the children in the Pre-School are from the Marikana area which is one of the places in Kokstad that has a high number of disadvantaged families. Ms Moya further relayed a word of gratitude to the Municipality, saying: “We would like to thank the Municipality for responding to the call when we asked for assistance”. She further mentioned that she was very happy to see heaters as it gets very cold in winter and this will help the little ones stay warm and focus on the lessons given rather than being preoccupied with the means to get warm as it affects their concentration. “I pray you will do the same for others,” said Ms Moya in closing.

By Nomzekelo Selani

The Company's manager wants to take pride in what he will be doing for the people of his hometown

To ensure road infrastructure goes parallel with stormwater drainage projects, the Greater Kokstad Municipality has wasted no time and officially handed over a site to the appointed contractor, Shearer Group (PTY) LTD.

This is a local contractor, which the Municipality has conferred the responsibility to complete the works related to stormwater upgrades and constructions. The service provider will commence related work in May until December.

The purpose of constructing and revamping stormwater drains is to prevent water from damaging existing roads during rainy seasons and to avoid damage to infrastructure that is still under construction.

This is in the wake of the Greater Kokstad Municipality Mayor, Councillor MNL Madikizela’s announcement of operation Qhuz’uthuli which translates into a massive road rehabilitation programme intended to and improve the face and esthetics of Kokstad.

Operation Qhuz’ uthuli loosely translates to "raising dust" which symbolizes a busy construction site.

The Greater Kokstad Municipality Deputy Mayor, Cllr Karen Walker, the council speaker, Cllr Bheki Nozaza and Ward 3 Cllr Nokuphila Mda were part of the official handover. 

The contract value is R 6 946 453, 39 million.

The Deputy Mayor urged the contractor not to do the job for the sake of meeting a stipulated time of completion and for financial gains but they should do a quality job.

“Please ensure that you pay the workers on time because in so many instances the infrastructure projects have been disrupted and some have not been completed within reasonable timeframes because of the non-payment of staff,” said Cllr Walker.

Buntu Mapekula, the Director of Shearer Group (PTY) LTD vowed to do the job according to tender specification saying he was born and bred in Kokstad and will ensure he takes pride in what he will be doing for the people of Kokstad.

By Andile Moshoeshoe and Nomzekelo Selani