Newcastle Municipality does it again, by receiving the Govern Mbeki Award for the best Level 2 Accredited municipality in South Africa.  In a ceremony held in Johannesburg there to accept the award on behalf of the Municipality was the Mayor of Newcastle Cllr Afzul Rehman and the Municipal Manager Mr. Kebone Masange.

This accreditation means that Newcastle will  be planning and delivering housing opportunities with direct funding from the National Department of Human Settlements.

“It is an absolute honour and privilege to be the Mayor of this outstanding municipality at a time when it scoops up every award it is ever nominated for.” said Mayor Afzul Rehman.

When interviewed Mr.Masange was humbled by the whole experience. “Sometimes we do not realise the impact we have until we receive such awards. This is not only about housing but is about the creation of sustainable communities both in terms of service infrastructure and provision of community facilities offered by the Municipalities. In addition only two Municipalities were accredited Newcastle and EThekwini which is a Metropolitan; this goes to show that we are competing with the best.

The Municipality was previously accredited as an Level 2 municipality with 6 other municipalities in the province of KwaZulu Natal. On 25 April 2013 the Municipality further accepted the Govern Mbeki award provincially as the best Level 2 accredited municipality and now further to their amazement has received the National level.

Reciting  the Municipal theme for 2013 ‘Taking Newcastle to the next level’. The Mayor emphasized  that they have taken  planning for human settlement as a priority, with continuous meetings with the department of KwaZulu Natal and the Minister to ensure that housing projects are taken seriously

“ We have over a R1 billion rands of approved housing projects. We are going to ensure that there is housing in our communities, it’s a priority of our ANC led municipality.”

Govan Mbeki was a prominent ANC freedom fighter imprisoned with Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu and others on Robben Island, who He served in South Africa’s post-apartheid Senate from 1994 to 1997 as Deputy President of the Senate, and its successor, the national Council of Provinces from 1997 to 1999. His son Thabo Mbeki succeeded Nelson Mandela as President of South Africa.