As we approach the end of another calendar year, I want to take a moment to extend my warmest festive wishes to each and every citizen of the Pigg’s Peak. To many of us, this is a special time when we gather with family and friends to celebrate the joys and blessings of life. It is also a time to reflect on the year gone by and to appreciate all that we have experienced and overcome together.
In the midst of our celebrations, let us also remember those who are less fortunate and may not have the opportunity to celebrate in the same way. May the true spirit of the season inspire us to open our hearts, extend kindness, and lend a helping hand to those in need. I encourage all residents of Piggs Peak to use this time to bring positive change to our communities, uplifting those around us through acts of generosity and compassion. Let us spread festive cheer wherever we can.
As the Mayor of Piggs Peak Town Council, I extend a warm and hearty welcome to all visitors joining us during this special time. We encourage you to enjoy the beauty, culture, and hospitality that our town has to offer. At the same time, I urge both residents and visitors to respect and follow the safety protocols and guidelines we have implemented to ensure the wellbeing of everyone. Please stay safe on our roads, in recreational areas, and during all festive activities with your loved ones.
To our residents and stakeholders, your continued dedication and active involvement of our in the affairs of the town has been truly inspiring, and remains a key motivator for Council to work harder in delivering quality services. We extend our sincere appreciation to our loyal ratepayers, including the national Government, for their ongoing commitment to paying property rates, which sustains the projects and programs that support community development and growth. As we look ahead, let us remember that the strength of Pigg’s Peak lies in unity, collaboration, and a shared vision for progress. We wish all residents a safe and joyful festive season, and a hopeful transition into the new year. May 2026 be filled with renewed opportunities as we continue working together to build a town we can all be proud of. Residents are encouraged to make use of our communication platforms to report service delivery issues, where they will receive the attention and care they deserve. At this juncture, it is important to reflect on the progress and achievements we have made since the beginning of 2025.
This year marked important progress in advancing our Environmental Management program. We strengthened refuse collection services, clearing of alien invasive species and intensified enforcement to curb environmental violations. These efforts have significantly improved the cleanliness and dignity of our town. We are particularly proud of the strategic partnerships formed during the year. Through our collaboration with Pigg’s Peak Hotel, we advanced the promotion of responsible tourism, encouraging environmentally conscious practices that protect our natural surroundings while supporting local economic growth. In preparation for the Earth Hour 2025 commemoration, the Town also partnered with the Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC) in large-scale clean-up campaigns, uniting the community around environmental awareness, energy conservation, and climate action. Our environmental awareness programmers saw increased participation from schools, community groups, and businesses.
During the year, we significant progress in land administration and township development. We completed the long-overdue survey and pegging of the Weather Station plots, enabling final allocations, and resolved historic boundary challenges by surveying and allocating plot numbers to seven homesteads in Malandalahle. The Macambeni Upgrading Project also advanced well, with township layout approval, surveying, allocation criteria, and a transparent public objection process completed. In addition, work began on surveying and pegging government land at Nazarene for the development of both an industrial park and a residential township, laying the foundation for future economic growth and improved settlement planning.
One of the key achievements for the year was the ongoing rehabilitation of the Killarney Sports Ground, which aims to improve the quality, safety, and usability of the facility for the community. Significant progress was made on upgrading the playing surface, installing perimeter fencing, and initiating the construction of grandstand seating and shelters.The project has advanced steadily with strong support from councilors and management. The department remains committed to completing the upgrades and delivering a safe, modern sports facility for all users.
Council has increased community safety by training 30 community police from all wards. The aim is to foster positive relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve. The following were covered: Concept of community police, Role of a community police, Power of arrest, crime scene management, Rights of a suspect/ bail, Domestic Violence children protection sexual offences and gangsterism. Crime prevention operation is done every weekly to decrease crime prevention. This initiative reduces fear of crime, support local policing efforts and faster reporting of incidents.
Out of school youth - the project focused on capacity building on entrepreneurship. A total of 38 program participants were capacitated on entrepreneurship, idea generations and business plan development. Mentorship sessions had commerce which will equip them with the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to pursue entrepreneurial endeavours. The mentorship session will be conducted for 6 months and will incorporate virtual and physical sessions.
Tourism strengthens Pigg’s Peak Town Council’s tourism sector by increasing the number of visitors who explore local attractions, attend cultural events, and use hospitality services. Temasiko Cultural festival was the first cultural event in the town, which is will be hosted yearly. The aim of the event was to promote tourism and economic growth in the Northen Hhohho region of Eswatini. This growth encourages investment in restaurants, and cultural activities, which improves the overall tourism experience. As tourism expands, the Council can further develop and promote the town’s attractions, creating a positive cycle that boosts both tourism and the local economy.
The Council has collected E4.1 million in private rates against a billing of E5.2 million. However, arrears remain high, with E4.8 million still outstanding despite numerous reminders. The growing arrears have prompted the Council to consider legal proceedings for the recovery of rates. As a final call, Councilors have been dispatched to their respective wards to engage directly with ratepayers in arrears. All affected individuals are urged to come forward and make payment arrangements by instalments. Failure to do so may result in their properties being sold through public auction. The Government is also being continuously engaged to clear its arrears. Ratepayers, residents, and stakeholders are reminded that rates (property taxes) are the lifeblood of local authorities, accounting for 80% of Pigg’s Peak Council’s budget. Without these funds, the Council risks collapse or takeover under administration by central government.
The Council maintained its commitment to transparency and inclusive governance by actively engaging stakeholders throughout the year. We successfully hosted the 2025 Annual General Meeting, where the 2024/2025 Annual Performance Report was presented and discussed with stakeholders. In addition, the 2024/2025 stakeholder budget submissions were conducted across various wards, attracting participation from over 100 stakeholders. Council extends its appreciation to residents and stakeholders for their inputs in finalizing the 2026-20231 IDP which is the roadmap for the development of the town. To further enhance accountability and keep the community informed on service delivery, the Council issued bi-monthly editions of the Pigg’s Peak News in local newspapers and shared regular service delivery updates through our social media platforms.
I therefore once again wish a prosperous festive season to all residents, visitors and stakeholders of the town.
CHAIRPERSON FOR COUNCIL