Gert Sibande District Municipality: Innovation, Empowerment & Community Impact

Show Voice Options Sponsored by Gert Sibande District Municipality Visit www.gsibande.gov.za Equipping Learners with Essentials In March 2025, FBDM partnered with Lekwa Local Municipality to donate school uniforms and sanitary towels to students at Thandeka Primary School. This initiative supports learners from disadvantaged backgrounds, helping them focus on education without worry. Community leaders praised the effort for bringing joy and dignity back into classrooms. Wikipedia+15lekwalm.gov.za+15The Citizen+15gsibande.gov.za+2Gissa+2gsibande.gov.za+2 Inspiring Academic Excellence In January 2025, the municipality joined local leaders in handing out school shoes and refreshments to students at Jandrell Secondary and Hlobisa Primary Schools, ahead of the new academic year. The gesture supported learners who excelled academically—with one school achieving a remarkable 95% matric pass rate in 2024. lekwalm.gov.za Promoting Well being & Team Spirit At Ermelo’s AJ Swanepoel Stadium in March, Gert Sibande’s Employee Wellness Sports Day drew enthusiastic participation from municipal staff and neighbors, despite rainy conditions. Events like tug-of-war, aerobics, and sack races emphasized physical health, unity, and corporate engagement. Major sponsors like Sanlam Sky and IMAS also contributed wellness services on site. chiefalbertluthulinews.co.za Expanding Water Infrastructure & Quality During the 2025 State of the District Address, Executive Mayor Cllr. Walter Mgomezulu highlighted how the district invested heavily—R388 million in the 2023/24 financial year—to upgrade regional bulk water infrastructure. New water treatment plants in Dipaleseng, CALM, and Msukaligwa now bolster water quality across the district. Notably, the municipality’s water lab earned SANAS accreditation valid through 2027, enabling high-quality testing for all local municipalities. The Citizen+4chiefalbertluthulinews.co.za+4gsibande.gov.za+4 Driving Planning & Aerospace Innovation Through its Innovation Unit, GSDM supports local municipalities with town planning, rezoning, and land-use management, including approval for renewable energy initiatives on dozens of farms. The district is also home to the only municipality in South Africa with a civil-certified drone operations unit—complete with a mobile UAV control centre for agricultural mapping, disaster monitoring, and environmental analysis. Plans are underway for the Gert Sibande Aerospace Industrial Hub, designed to spark growth in drone integration, aircraft manufacturing, and R&D. lekwalm.gov.za+7gsibande.gov.za+7Edupstairs+7 Developing Skills & Creating Jobs Through the national Infrastructure Skills Development Grant (ISDG), the municipality is training and mentoring young graduates in fields such as GIS, environmental science, and town planning. These three-year contracts offer hands-on experience in infrastructure-related roles and contribute directly to local growth and youth empowerment. Edupstairs+1Gissa+1 From fostering education and health to transforming infrastructure and innovating for tomorrow, Gert Sibande District Municipality is demonstrating what impactful local governance looks like. Rooted in transparency, community collaboration, and sustainable development, their efforts are paving the way towards a more empowered, equitable, and resilient district. “We are not just planning for today—we’re empowering people to build the district of the future.” — Municipal leadership Discover more about the district’s initiatives at gsibande.gov.za