Amathole District Municipality EC

[Amathole Leads the Way To History Making As Their Seven Drone Pilots Take to the Skies To Ensure Enhanced Disaster Responsiveness] Amathole District Municipality is celebrating a remarkable and ground-breaking achievement, proudly positioning itself as a pioneer in the Eastern Cape through the successful training, graduation and certification of seven newly qualified drone pilots. The milestone, driven by ADM's Community Services Department, marks a significant investment in modernising disaster management, strengthening institutional capacity and embracing innovative technology to enhance service delivery and protect communities. The official handover and certification ceremony took place at Summit Lifestyle Conferencing Venue on 05 November 2026, bringing together Municipal Manager Dr. Bhekisisa Mthembu, Director of Corporate Services Dr. Vuyokazi Delaphantsi, Director of Community Services Ms. Nokuthula Zondani, Heads of Departments, Senior Managers and officials from Community Services, Fire and Rescue, and other municipal units. "This initiative sets the tone for how seriously the district takes matters of disaster management. Through this programme and the introduction of qualified drone pilots, we are not only capacitating our disaster management officers but also ensuring that they keep pace with technological advancements that can significantly improve the services we provide to our communities. Amathole District Municipality has made history by becoming the first municipality in the province to bring this drone pilot training initiative to fruition. We are proud to be trailblazers in this space and are strengthening our ability to build a disaster management unit that our communities can confidently entrust with their safety," said Zondani. #ADMIntroducesNewDronePilots #EnhancingDisasterManagement #HarnessingNewAgeTechnology #KeepingADMCommunitiesSafe #ProactiveDisasterResponsiveness #TheYearOfEfficiency #Siyakukhonza

[A Graduation That Sparks Bigger Dreams: ADM Ignites a Passion for Continued Learning, Skills and Entrepreneurship Among Mbhashe Youth Through Cellphone Repair Program] “Our responsibility as government and training institutions is to ensure that young people are not left behind, but are equipped with the knowledge, confidence and resources they need to succeed. Hence, the implementation of the cellphone repairs programme represents an important step in this direction. It demonstrates that practical skills can provide young people with an opportunity to participate in the economy, even in communities where formal employment opportunities are scarce” #SupportingLocalEconomicDevelopment #LongTermInvestments #CellphoneRepairProgram #GraduationDay #EnhancingCollaborativeEfforts #PromotingEntrepreneurship #TheYearOfEfficiency #DDMInAction #Siyakukhonza

[A Graduation That Sparks Bigger Dreams] For the 19 graduates, the ceremony represents both the culmination of a period of learning and the beginning of a new journey towards economic independence. As they take their skills into the marketplace, their progress will serve as an important measure of the programme’s long-term impact in empowering young people, supporting emerging businesses and contributing to local economic development across the Amathole District. #SupportingLocalEconomicDevelopment #LongTermInvestments #CellphoneRepairProgram #GraduationDay #EnhancingCollaborativeEfforts #PromotingEntrepreneurship #TheYearOfEfficiency #DDMInAction #Siyakukhonza

[ADM Inspires Bigger Dreams Through Youth Skills Development] Amathole District Municipality and its partners celebrated the graduation of 19 Mbhashe youth who completed cellphone repair training on 20 October 2026. Equipped with certificates and professional repair kits, the graduates are better positioned to pursue entrepreneurship and self employment. The programme’s impact extended beyond technical skills, inspiring further education, lifelong learning and bigger career ambitions while reinforcing ADM’s commitment to youth empowerment and local economic development. #SupportingLocalEconomicDevelopment #LongTermInvestments #CellphoneRepairProgram #GraduationDay #EnhancingCollaborativeEfforts #PromotingEntrepreneurship #TheYearOfEfficiency #DDMInAction #Siyakukhonza

🚒 HAPPENING NOW | IDDRR 2026 FIRE AND RESCUE TEAMS SET THE TONE! Amathole District Municipality's Fire and Rescue Parade leading municipal leadership through a ceremonial drill ahead of the official opening of today's International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction commemoration. The display places our emergency responders in the spotlight, recognising their vital role in protecting lives and strengthening community safety. 📍 Springbok Hall, Keiskammahoek 📅 13 October 2026 🏠 RESILIENCE STARTS AT HOME! #IDDRR2026 #ResilienceStartsAtHome #AmatholeDistrictMunicipality #FireAndRescue

🎉 AMATHOLE COMMUNITIES, TODAY IS YOUR DAY! 🏠 RESILIENCE STARTS AT HOME! From our villages to our towns, every household deserves to be safe, informed and prepared for disasters. Today, 13 October 2026, Amathole District Municipality invites residents, families, community leaders and stakeholders to join us in commemorating the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR 2026). 📍 Venue: Springbok Hall, Keiskammahoek, Amahlathi Local Municipality 📅 Date: Tuesday, 13 October 2026 🚨COME, LEARN AND BE PART OF THE SOLUTION! Discover practical ways to protect your home and loved ones through fire safety demonstrations, disaster preparedness information, early warning systems, flood risk awareness and interactive exhibitions. Your participation matters! Together, we can protect lives, livelihoods and our communities. KNOW THE RISK | PREPARE TODAY | PROTECT TOMORROW #ADM_IDDRR2026 #ResilienceStartsAtHome #PuttingItsCommunitiesFirst #Siyakukhonza #ADistrictThatWorksForAll

🎉 *AMATHOLE COMMUNITIES, TODAY IS YOUR DAY!* 🏠 *RESILIENCE STARTS AT HOME!* From our villages to our towns, every household deserves to be safe, informed and prepared for disasters. Today, 13 October 2026, Amathole District Municipality invites residents, families, community leaders and stakeholders to join us in commemorating the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR 2026). 📍 Venue: Springbok Hall, Keiskammahoek, Amahlathi Local Municipality 📅 Date: Tuesday, 13 October 2026 🕗 Time: 08:00 – 15:30 🚨*COME, LEARN AND BE PART OF THE SOLUTION!* Discover practical ways to protect your home and loved ones through fire safety demonstrations, disaster preparedness information, early warning systems, flood risk awareness and interactive exhibitions. Your participation matters! Together, we can protect lives, livelihoods and our communities. *KNOW THE RISK | PREPARE TODAY | PROTECT TOMORROW* #ADM_IDDRR2026 #ResilienceStartsAtHome #PuttingItsCommunitiesFirst #Siyakukhonza #ADistrictThatWorksForAll

[COUNTDOWN | A DAY TO GO BEFORE THE IDDRR COMMEMORATION] On Tuesday, 13 October 2026, Amathole District Municipality will join the global community in commemorating the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction under the theme: RESILIENCE STARTS AT HOME. 📍: Springbok Hall, Keiskammahoek, Amahlathi LM 🕗 : 08h00 - 15h30 We've shared the warnings, discussed the risks and encouraged households to prepare. Now comes the important question: HAVE YOU TAKEN ACTION? Because disaster preparedness is NOT about counting the days. It's about making every day count! Know the Risk | Prepare Today | Protect Tomorrow #ADM_IDDRR2026 #ResilienceStartsAtHome #DisasterRiskReduction #TogetherWeBuildResilientHouseholds #TheYearOfEfficiency #Siyakukhonza

🌙 Lights have going down, but the countdown's still glowing — 10 days to go! 🏠✨ While the Amathole district settles in for the night, resilience never sleeps. Tomorrow's a new day to prepare, protect and plan. Sweet dreams — and don't forget to check that your family's emergency plan is tucked in right alongside you. 😴 Resilience Starts at Home. 🌟 #IDDRR2026 #ResilienceStartsAtHome #CountdownToIDDRR #ADM_PuttingItsCommunitiesFirst #Siyakukhonza

Singing from the same hymn book on Foxwood Dam! 💧 Today’s oversight engagement brought leadership and stakeholders onto the same page on the project’s current status, the stages ahead and its long-term potential. With a shared understanding, the focus is on progressing towards improved water security, reliable irrigation and opportunities for agricultural growth that will benefit communities—while keeping immediate water needs firmly on the agenda. #AmatholeDistrictMunicipality #WaterAndSanitation #FoxwoodDam #AWB #RaymondMhlaba #WaterSecurity #WorkingTogether #AgriculturalDevelopment #ServiceDelivery #Siyakukhonza

JOINT MEDIA STATEMENT AMATHOLE DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY AND THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND SANITATION FOXWOOD DAM OVERSIGHT VISIT REVIEWS PROJECT PROGRESS AND PRIORITISES CONTINUED WATER SUPPLY ADM HEADQUARTERS: SUNDAY, 04 OCTOBER 2026 Amathole District Municipality (ADM) Executive Mayor, Cllr Anele Ntsangani, welcomed progress on the proposed Foxwood Dam project during an oversight visit with Minister of Water and Sanitation, Hon. Pemmy Majodina, near Adelaide in Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality on 4 October 2026. The visit provided an opportunity to review the project’s technical preparations and preliminary implementation programme, discuss matters requiring attention before construction, and emphasise the continued provision of water to communities while the project advances. Participants included the ADM Municipal Manager, leading the district’s administration, Department of Water and Sanitation Deputy Director-General for Infrastructure Management, Mr Luvhuwani Mabuda, representatives of Amatola Water Board, Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality’s political leadership, technical officials and local stakeholders. According to the technical presentation, the proposed Foxwood Dam will have a storage capacity of 54.9 million cubic metres and a dam wall extending 485 metres. The project is intended to augment domestic water supply and provide reliable irrigation water for a planned 1,250-hectare irrigation scheme in the region. Executive Mayor Ntsangani highlighted the project’s potential to unlock economic opportunities through irrigation and strengthen citrus production. He noted his sustained advocacy for the development across various platforms, including Parliament. The preliminary programme presented provides for: • Detailed design: September 2026 to September 2028. • Contract procurement: September 2028 to January 2029. • Construction: January 2029 to June 2031. These dates are preliminary and remain subject to change as the project progresses. The project is currently in the planning and design phase; construction has not yet begun. Minister Majodina emphasised that communities must continue receiving water while awaiting construction and must not be left worse off during this period. Immediate water needs must remain a priority alongside preparations for the long-term infrastructure development. The Minister also stressed the importance of completing the necessary planning and design processes properly. She explained that early feasibility cost estimates should not be treated as final project budgets, as costs may change as the scope and technical requirements become clearer. Early social facilitation was identified as essential to communicating implementation arrangements, managing local expectations and minimising disruptions. The Minister called on Executive Mayor Ntsangani to coordinate with local mayors in supporting stakeholder engagement before construction. The engagement further highlighted the need to verify any outstanding land claims affecting the project area and clarify existing land uses, potential impacts on farms and any relocation requirements. The technical team explained that compensation values would be determined through assessments by the Office of the Valuer-General, with objections addressed through the applicable process. The visit identified the following priorities for follow-up: • Continued attention to communities’ immediate water supply needs while the project progresses. • Coordination with local leadership to support early social facilitation and stakeholder engagement. • Verification of land-related matters that could affect implementation. • Clear communication on project stages and preliminary timelines to ensure communities receive consistent information. ... Enquiries: ADM Spokesperson, Ms Sisa Msiwa : 0798894921 Department of Water and Sanitation Spokesperson Ms Wisane Mavasa : 060 561 8935

📍 HAPPENING TODAY | Oversight Visit to Foxwood Dam #ADMExecutiveMayorCllrAneleNtsangani hosts #DWSMinisterHonPemmyMajodina for an oversight visit to Foxwood Dam, Koonap River, Adelaide. 09h00. Updates to follow. #AmatholeDM #FoxwoodDam #BeWaterWise #DWS #Siyakukhonza

[Inkciyo kaXhosa Inspires a Generation Rooted in Culture, Discipline and Purpose] As Heritage Month drew to a close, the spirit of cultural pride, identity and preservation came alive at Nqadu Great Place as Amathole District Municipality (ADM), together with its partners, supported the 4th Annual Inkciyo kaxhosa, a growing cultural programme dedicated to guiding young people through the values, customs and traditions of amaxhosa. Now in its fourth year, Inkciyo kaxhosa continues to provide an important platform for cultural education, promoting dignity, self-respect, discipline, education and pride in identity among young boys and girls. More than a celebration of culture, the programme seeks to ensure that indigenous knowledge and positive traditional values are passed from one generation to the next. #InkciyoKaXhosa2026 #AmatholeDistrictMunicipality #CelebratingHeritageAndCulture #NgaduGreatPlace #AmaxhosaKingdom #OurHeritageOurPride #TheYearOfEfficiency #Siyakukhonza

[Honouring the Voices of Our Heritage: Celebrating Traditional Healers and Praise Singers as Custodians of South African Culture] Amathole District Municipality Executive Mayor, Cllr Anele Ntsangani, invites Traditional Healers, Praise Singers and members of the Ngqushwa community to the Traditional Healers and Praise Singers Indaba, taking place today, 29 September 2026, at Ncumisa Kondlo Hall, Ngqushwa LM, 11am. As we bring Heritage Month to a close, the Indaba will create an important platform for Traditional Healers and Praise Singers to engage government and relevant stakeholders on challenges affecting their work, while exploring ways to strengthen the recognition and inclusion of indigenous knowledge, traditional medicine and cultural practices within governance processes. The gathering follows a series of Imbizo’s held across local municipalities and seeks to turn community engagements into practical, actionable interventions that can better support Traditional Healers and Praise Singers. Come and be part of the conversation as we preserve our heritage, elevate indigenous knowledge and strengthen the voices of those who carry our traditions from one generation to the next. #AmatholeDM #NgqushwaLM #HeritageMonth #TraditionalHealers #PraiseSingers #IndigenousKnowledge #PreservingOurHeritage

[HAPPENING TOMORROW | INKCIYO KAXHOSA 2026] ADM communities are invited to join the 4th Annual Inkciyo KaXhosa Celebration at Nqadu Great Place, Mbhashe Local Municipality, from 28–30 September 2026. Come out in numbers to support and celebrate our young girls and boys, stand with the Nqadu community, and honour the leadership of the Queen of the amaXhosa Kingdom as we embrace our culture, heritage and the values that continue to shape future generations. Masibuyeleni ezingcanjini zethu. Masixhase abantwana bethu. Masigcine amasiko nezithethe zethu ziphila. #InkciyoKaXhosa2026 #AmatholeDistrictMunicipality #CelebratingHeritageAndCulture #NqaduGreatPlace #AmaXhosaKingdom #OurHeritageOurPride #TheYearOfEfficiency #Siyakukhonza

[Boma Pass Revival: Reclaiming Amathole's Heritage, Protecting History and Unlocking Tourism Potential] As South Africa celebrates Heritage Month, Amathole District Municipality in partnership with Amahlathi Local Municipality, Ngamile Environmental and Forestry Consulting (Pty) Ltd and Inkcubeko kaNomenti Tourism Revival, commemorated Heritage Day by turning remembrance into action through the Revival of Boma Pass Heritage Site programme. Held on 25 September 2026 under the theme "Tourism Revival," the programme featured a heritage hike, historical lecture, environmental clean-up and greening activities aimed at preserving local history, promoting environmental responsibility and unlocking the tourism potential of Qoboqobo (Keiskammahoek). Heritage Month provides South Africans with an important opportunity to celebrate the country's diverse cultures, histories and traditions, while recognising the responsibility of present generations to preserve this inheritance for those who will follow. At Boma Pass, this responsibility took practical form as government, community stakeholders, learners and young people came together to reclaim a historically significant landscape and restore the dignity of a site that carries an important chapter of Amathole's past. The programme carried a powerful message for Heritage Month - that the mountains, landscapes, stories and struggles inherited from previous generations are part of the identity of present-day communities. Protecting them is therefore not merely about looking back with pride, it is about ensuring that heritage becomes a foundation upon which future generations can build knowledge, opportunity and sustainable livelihoods. At Boma Pass, history is not only being remembered, it is being reclaimed, preserved and positioned to contribute towards the future of Qoboqobo and the greater Amathole District. #HonouringTheGreat #BomaPassHeritageHike2026 #ADMHeritagelnitiative #PreservingCultureAndHeritage #PassingOnKnowledgeToFutureGenerstions #AmatholeRichInHistory #EmbracingDiversity #TheYearOfEfficiency #Siyakukhonza

[WISHING ALL ADM COMMUNITIES A HAPPY AND UNITED HERITAGE DAY] As we celebrate our living heritage, let us honour the cultures, traditions and values that shape who we are, while strengthening the ties that unite us as communities and as South Africans. #HeritageDay2026 #EmbracingOurDiversity #ADMHeritageExplored #PreservingCultureAndHeritage #TheYearOfEfficiency #Siyakukhonza