Page 87 - SCAT Rural Voice II - 35 Stories for 35 Years

MqAnduli
ADVICE OFFICE
Mqanduli is a small rural town in the picturesque Thembuland region of the eastern Cape, which is 30km south of Mthatha and 22km north-east of elliotdale. The town is named after a nearby hill called Mqanduli which means ‘grindstone-maker’.1
According to the 2011 Census, Mqanduli has a population of 2,647, 99% of whom are isiXhosa speakers.2 Mqanduli and Mthatha are part of the King Sabata dalindyebo Local Municipality which was established before the 2000 local government elections when the Mthatha and Mqanduli transitional and rural areas were merged.3 This is a beautiful rural area comprising about 44 villages. The municipality was named after King Sabata Dalindyebo because he was seen as a unifying figure to the people of both Mthatha and Mqanduli, a hero who fought for the freedom of Transkei and South Africa. The main economic activities of the town are community services (48%), finance (21%) and trade (18%).4
The Mqanduli Advice Office was initially started to assist retiring mine workers access their pension funds. Their success in assisting mine workers has resulted in funding support from the Department of Labour. The Advice Office deals with cases related to late birth certificate registrations, injury on duty, conflict resolution, consumer rights, service delivery issues such access to roads, water and electricity problems.
1. raper, P. (1987). dictionary of Southern African Place names (Vol. 46). https://doi.org/10.1080/10228195.2015.1113434
2. Frith, A. (n.d.). Census 2011: Main Place: Mqanduli. retrieved October 3, 2019, from census2011.adrianfrith.com website:
https://census2011.adrianfrith.com/place/294242
3. King Sabata dalindyebo Local Municipality - Overview. (n.d.). retrieved October 3, 2019, from https://municipalities.co.za/
overview/1032/king-sabata-dalindyebo-local-municipality
4. King Sabata dalindyebo Local Municipality - Overview. (n.d.). retrieved October 3, 2019, from https://municipalities.co.za/
overview/1032/king-sabata-dalindyebo-local-municipality
FAST faCts
NaMe: Mqanduli Advice Office
LeD By: Clarence Mtutuzeli Xiniwe
MaiN CHaLLeNGes faCeD By tHe CoMMUNity: unemployment, late birth registrations, gender based violence, lack of political education and power struggles MaiN aCtiVities: Labour rights and learnership programmes for ex-mine workers; counselling; paralegal support; youth development ,promoting women and children’s rights; lobbying of stakeholders; assisting in the establishment of income generating projects such as early child hood development centres, poultry projects, vegetable and crop growing projects; assisting the community with access to social grants and community outreach on human rights and taking parliament to the people. aDDress: C/o Main Street (behind Post Office), Department of Agriculture premises, Private Bag X 569, Mqanduli, 5080
CoNtaCt: Phone: 047 573 1041, Cell: 082 340 4944
Gender
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