Today, 19th August 2026 Mayor Cllr Siphile Mdaka presided over a crucial District Development Model (DDM) engagement with traditional leaders, convened by the MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development in her capacity as the uMkhanyakude District Champion.
The high-level engagement forms part of efforts to realise the DDM’s “One Plan, One Budget” vision by ensuring that traditional leadership is placed at the centre of service delivery planning and budgeting, not as an afterthought.
The meeting deliberated on key catalytic interventions for the district, including, sustainable solutions to address youth unemployment, and maximising the vast tourism potential of uMkhanyakude.
Presiding over the session, Mayor Mdaka said the voice of traditional leaders is non-negotiable, as they govern over 2.8 million hectares of land in rural KwaZulu-Natal where service delivery is most needed.
“We cannot achieve seamless service delivery without Amakhosi. Their involvement ensures that when we plan and budget, we plan for the real needs of our communities on communal land,” said Mayor Mdaka.
The MEC Champion echoed the sentiment, stating: “We cannot plan for our communities without those who lead them. Traditional leaders must be at the centre of One Plan, One Budget if we are to succeed.”
