As part of KwaZulu-Natal Executive Council-led Operation Sukuma Sakhe's visit to uMzinyathi District Municipality on Wednesday 02 July 2025, the MEC for the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa, engaged with government stakeholders from the province, district and municipal officials in Hlazakazi, Nquthu, Ward 02, to pinpoint local challenges affecting service delivery and implement interventions for the community.

This forms part of the government's strategic platforms created to foster direct integration between government leadership and communities, which enables locals to raise concerns and receive progress reports on service delivery issues, including inspections of community projects. "The primary objective is to listen to the community's concerns and to have solutions to address the challenges plaguing the area. It's disappointing to hear that only 23 households participate in home gardens because each the Department is producing about 10 million seeds and seedlings," said Ms kaMadlopha-Mthethwa.

The MEC emphasised the importance of empowering people to achieve development, rather than merely ticking boxes. During the briefing, attendees discussed various social ills affecting the community, including high teenage pregnancy rates and crime rates, particularly killings and stock theft. Officials from the Departments of Health and Social Development attributed the high pregnancy rates to a lack of learner transport, which has led to male motorists taking advantage of young girls.

There is also concern regarding the non-functionality of the local Hlazakazi satellite police station, which has not operated since 2017 due to a lack of water.

The MEC has instructed relevant authorities to expedite service delivery, highlighting the need for her Department to reassess the area's challenges and provide interventions, including the repair of dip tanks, mobilising people to establish home gardens and addressing the limited uptake of agricultural programme including constructing a dip tank after a needs assessment.

Water was at the top of the agenda the OSS oversight visit in Nkunyana village, Ward 02 of Nquthu. At Nkunyana Combined School, authorities urged government officials to ensure the eradication of pit toilets being used at the school due to a lack of running water.

The school management appealed to authorities to expedite the provision of clean running water to the school and build toilets. "As an intervention, we can only do so much as Operation Sukuma Sakhe, but we have directed the National Department of Water and Sanitation and uMzinyathi District Municipality, as responsible Departments with competency, to prioritise this area," concluded kaMadlopha-Mthethwa.