BY GCWALISILE MHLABANE
SIPHOFANENI— Government’s Regional Development Fund (RDF) has placed more than E6 million within the reach of Communities under Siphofaneni Inkhundla, with residents urged to turn the accumulated funding into projects that can improve livelihoods and drive meaningful local development.
The call was made during the Community Development Mobilization Exercise 2026, held at Nceka Chiefdom on August 15, 2026, where government officials challenged residents to take ownership of development and make meaningful use of the funding available through the RDF.
The engagement, hosted by the Ministry of Tinkhundla Administration and Development, focused on community development, appropriate technology, the RDF and strengthening the HIV response within communities.
Regional Community Development Officer (RCDO) for Lubombo, Busisiwe Kunene, urged residents to take advantage of the opportunity presented by the accumulated funds.
“We want the community to make use of the opportunities available through the RDF. There is a need for residents to come forward with projects that can bring meaningful development to Nceka,” said Kunene.
Kunene gave an overview of development in Nceka Chiefdom and encouraged residents to identify viable projects that respond to local needs while creating sustainable economic opportunities.
Regional Assistant Officer Mfundo Mkhonta also challenged residents to view the RDF as a key instrument for transforming the socio-economic fortunes of Nceka.
“The RDF is a resource for the community. You need to come together, identify projects that can benefit the people and use this opportunity to promote socio-economic development in Nceka,” said Mkhonta.
He highlighted the fund’s potential to support grassroots initiatives, empower residents and strengthen livelihoods, urging the community to work collectively when identifying projects.
Siphofaneni Member of Parliament Nomalungelo Simelane, popularly known as Make LaZwide, also encouraged residents to seize the opportunity presented by the RDF.
“Let us make use of the RDF and use it to support and grow our development initiatives. These opportunities are there for the community, and we should ensure that they benefit the people,” said Simelane.
Acting Minister of Tinkhundla Administration and Development, Nonhlanhla Dlamini, emphasised that the RDF was established to empower communities and belongs to the people.
“The Regional Development Fund belongs to the people. It is meant to empower communities, support grassroots projects and improve livelihoods, so our communities must make use of it,” said Dlamini.
Dlamini urged residents to work together to identify their most pressing development needs and channel the available resources into projects capable of producing lasting benefits.
“The responsibility is also on the community to take ownership of development. We cannot have funds available while communities do not use them to address their development needs,” she said.
The mobilisation exercise also exposed residents to appropriate technology, highlighting the importance of using practical and locally suitable solutions to address community development challenges.
Strengthening the HIV response within communities also formed part of the engagement, reinforcing the need to combine economic empowerment with initiatives that contribute to healthier and more resilient communities.
For Nceka, the more than E6 million accumulated under the RDF represents a significant development opportunity. The funding could support initiatives that generate income, strengthen household livelihoods, create employment opportunities and address some of the community’s development priorities.
The mobilisation exercise therefore placed the responsibility firmly in the hands of the community to move from identifying needs to implementing sustainable solutions.
With the funds available, the challenge before Nceka is now to turn the E6 million RDF pot into visible development, ensuring that the money accumulated translates into projects and opportunities that benefit residents for years to come.
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