MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR MAYOR LOUISA LEONORA DOLLY BRUINTJIES Nxuba Local Municipality is a local municipality in the Amathole District, situated in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Its administrative seat is the town of Adelaide. The entire municipal area falls within the former Ciskei homeland area. The urban population is mainly located in the two small towns of Adelaide and Bedford. We should all endeavour to work together as partners in finding solution to our common goals where there are differences, real or perceived, let us engage in constructive dialogue in order to establish common ground and reach amicable solutions. As this municipality we will continue to be respective to constructive criticism and suggestions as well as remain accountable to the communities. Scattered, low-density rural settlements dominate the municipality. 80% of households reside in urban type settlements. These settlements are scattered throughout the entire municipal area and are surrounded by communal lands. The minority of residential structures are self-built. Apart from a few trading stores, there is little sign of any significant economic activity within the area. Many of the families in the rural and urban areas of the municipality were formerly supported by men who worked as migrant labour in mines. Subsequent retrenchment at the mines has left these communities with scant means to survive. About 80% of households can be regarded as indigents with access to either no income or incomes of less than R800 per month others depend on Agricultural vegetarians . Most of the education institutions in Nxuba cater to lower level schooling no tertiary institutions as a result high rate of illiteracy became a challenge . The schools in the Nxuba area overcrowded or highly overcrowded. The spread of HIV/AIDS is an extremely severe and urgent challenge in the area. In 2009 the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate was as high as 50%-60% among tested cases; these cases were mainly females who participated in voluntary testing during their regular pregnancy visits to local clinics. Local government elections are just over and we notice that it is the most contested terrain, it is vital important that the unity we had in this municipality is also an important ingredient for economic development and we should all strive to improve the lives of the people to be better. We were blessed by the visit of the EXCO on the 4TH & 5TH August 2011, whom we have managed to seek assistance to some of the projects which we think that will yield the results, because we now have business plans for all those projects submitted to him. MRS. LOUISA LEONORA DOLLY BRUINTJIES HON MAYOR