October 2011 - uMhlathuze

uMhlathuze News
Official newsletter of the uMhlathuze Municipality
October 2011
Municipal finances on the right track
City’s debt control is the best in the country
The City of uMhlathuze is performing
above average in terms of budget
expenditure and debt control according
to a report published by National
Treasury, which summarises the
performances of municipalities,
particularly the six metropolitans and
the 21 secondary cities.
In terms of total budget expenditure,
the City had spent 93.2% or R1,7 billion
of its capital and operating budget by the
end of the financial year on 30 June 2011.
This is above the aggregate spending of
83,2% by the secondary cities.
Another positive aspect is that the
City’s outstanding debtors longer than
90 days are 31% of its total debtors,
which is the lowest among the country’s
21 secondary cities and six
metropolitans, with the average of the
21 secondary cities sitting at 79,6%.
The solid financial results have been
achieved through continuous and
dynamic management of the
Municipality’s Credit Control Policy,
which affords the necessary
consideration to the less privileged
sector of the community yet applies firm
Celebrating our heritage
See page 7 for news and pictures of the City’s Heritage Day celebrations held
at the eNseleni Sports Ground in September.
In this issue
Municipal finances on the right track ................1
John Ross upgrade ahead of budget.................2
Programme takes Council to the community ....2
Mayor reflects on 100 days in office .................3
Uhlelo Olusha Lusa UMkhandlu Emphakathini..3
UMkhandlu - Dolobha Ufuna Kuthathwe
Iisnyathelo Mayelana Nokusungulwa
Kwamalokishi....................................................4
Preferential procurement certificates
brought in-house ..............................................4
Assistance sought for airport improvements ....5
Public feedback sought on street names...........5
Results of the Mayoral Sports Day....................6
Heritage Day event celebrates our
rich cultures......................................................7
Equipment needed for Fire Training Centre .......7
Tourism awareness month................................8
The search is on for u/12 soccer stars..............8
Subsidised library costs welcomed...................8
pressure on those customers who are
capable of paying their accounts.
The 12 month rolling average
recovery on debtors as at the end of
August is 102% - the best recovery rate
since the inception of the uMhlathuze
Municipality in 2000.
Communication with consumers is
both fair and transparent, these
characteristics are key to the success
of the Credit Control Policy. One of many
processes is timeously texting
messages to consumers advising them
that their accounts are overdue and
their services are to be suspended. This
has assisted in creating a critical culture
of paying on time for municipal services.
So successful is the recovery
work done on debtors, that
notwithstanding the significant cash
flow shortfall two years back caused
by R167m worth of unfunded capital
expenditure, the well managed
operating budget has managed to keep
the Municipality afloat. Most
municipalities and private sector
business alike would have been forced
to go into the borrowing market to
finance such capital under such
circumstances. With regard the
unfunded capital from two years back,
R74m of the R167m above has been
recovered from land sales to date.
USuku LokuMaketha Lwenza Umahluko
Omkhulu ...........................................................9
RBCAA Monthly Report: August 2011 ..............9
Izifundo Zokuvakasha Zibhekela
Ukunakekelwa Kwamakhasimende..................10
City seeks funding for economic study ...........10
Dates to Diarise...............................................10
Lentefees Floreer! ...........................................11
Trees for Umhlathuze Village...........................11
Matriekkuns word uitgestal.............................12
Important Municipal Telephone Numbers .......12

John Ross upgrade ahead of budget
Planned maintenance at one of KwaZulu-Natal’s two refineries
and a fire at the second, has led to a provincial shortage of
bitumen, temporarily bringing paving progress on the John Ross
Parkway to a grinding halt.
Fortunately other work is steaming ahead and according to
Brian Henwood of Henwood & Khumalo Consulting Engineers,
58% of the allocated R169m budget has already been spent in
the first half of the 2011/2012 financial year.
Proving feedback on the construction progress, Mr Henwood
said the section of the eastbound carriageway from the East
Central Arterial intersection to the Arboretum intersection is due
to open at the end of November while the section from the Alton
intersection to the CBD interchange is due to open in early
December.
Milled material has been used to create detours at the Alton
intersection. Traffic will make use of the detours for about three
months and the new intersection is scheduled for completion in
mid-February 2012.
Mr Henwood said that they would like see the section of road
past BHP Billiton open before Christmas. “This would bring the
off-ramp into operation and would be a good enhancement to
traffic patterns if we could open this section before Christmas.”
Closer to Empangeni, the portion of road from the cemetery
to the N2 is targeted for completion in December while the R130
million contract for the 1,6km section between Grantham Highway
and the cemetery should be awarded next month and will run
until September 2013. “This is a controversial contract because
the pricing is very competitive and it is a complex contract to
adjudicate. Any objections could delay the project by six months.”
In preparation for the road construction, WK Construction has
been awarded a R13,5 million contract to lay new sewer and
water pipelines in the Rail area. Gijima is also re-laying electrical
and fibre optical cables for service owners including Gijima, DFA,
Telkom, Neotel and uMhlathuze Municipality. Both contracts are
due to be completed by February 2012.
The relocation of services entails a great deal of trenching
work, which has to be done by hand due to the number of
underground services in the area. Currently there are about 100
people employed for this purpose.
Much of the rehabilitation programme for the westbound
carriageway has been completed. The remaining sections from
the N2 to the cemetery and from the Richards Bay CBD
interchange to the Alton intersection are targeted for completion
by the end of February 2012 while the section from the Arboretum
intersection to the East Central Arterial intersection should be
complete by the end of January 2012.
Six of the twelve Grade 1 contracts, earmarked for emerging
contractors, have been awarded. Two kerb and channel
construction contracts have been awarded to Hobe Management
and Nonhlanhla & Xolani Trading while three contracts to install
guardrails have been awarded to Nonjenga Construction,
Imvulamvula Trading and Khaliwe Industrial Supply. A landscaping
and planting contract has been awarded to Shadobunhle Bomcebo.
Appeals have been lodged against the remaining six contracts,
which will be dealt with the Provincial Treasury.
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Meanwhile road safety along the John Ross Parkway is under
the spotlight following several serious and fatal accidents on the
road. While contractors have a dedicated safety team to ensure
that road signs and delineators are correctly placed, road users
have been urged to stick to the 60km/h speed limit and drive
responsibly for their own safety as well as that of construction
workers.
At a John Ross Highway Public Liaison Committee meeting
earlier this month, Brian Henwood of Henwood & Khumalo
Consulting Engineers said that street lights would soon be in
operation at the eSikhaleni intersection to improve road safety
on that section of road. However, he also expressed concern that
traffic lights and street lights are vulnerable to cable theft, which
has a serious impact on road safety.
The alignment of the John Ross Parkway through Empangeni
from the cemetery/Oilco intersection, in the bottom right of the
photograph, to Grantham Highway. The contract for the construction
of this section of road is due to be awarded next month.
New programme takes
Council to the community
To encourage healthy community relations Council has approved
a “Taking Council to the Community Programme”, which will
see at least two Council meetings being held in various venues
among the community during a financial year.
The programme represents Council’s commitment towards
service delivery and fostering a partnership with the community.
It will also give the community an opportunity to develop an
understanding of how Council conducts its business and also
to understand the challenges.
As part of the programme, a series of other pre-meeting
activities such as interactions with the host community on
service delivery issues and visiting welfare facilities would be
conducted. Issues to be received or observed during the visits
would then be reflected upon in a presentation responding or
providing a way forward.
Further details about the programme are being finalised
and the identified communities will be notified as and when the
date approaches.

Mayor reflects on 100 days in office
City to appoint a co-ordinator to push container terminal development
Now that the upgrade of the John Ross Parkway, once a major
bottleneck to the Port of Richards Bay, is coming to fruition the
City of uMhlathuze is honing its sights on the next large
infrastructure development project – that of a container terminal.
This was the message from uMhlathuze Mayor Elphas Mbatha
speaking at a media breakfast and briefing session at the
Municipality on Wednesday to strengthen relations with the media
and reflect on his 100 days in office.
“The need for a container terminal has been identified by the
Municipality, the Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone and
the business community and each has been lobbying for such a
development. However the Executive Committee has taken the
decision that local government needs to lead and speak on behalf
of the community. We have met with Portnet, the RBIDZ and a
private consortium interested in developing the terminal. The
Municipality will now appoint a consultant to drive and co-ordinate
this initiative and put a proposal forward to the Department of
Public Enterprise on behalf of the community regarding the viability
of a fully-fledged container terminal.”
In another important move, the Executive Committee has
given the consultants working on town planning issues in various
rural areas of the City sixty days to finalise their work and present
beneficiary lists to Council. Most notably this includes the Mandlazini
area near the Richards Bay airport where informal settlements
are jeopardising the future development of the airport.
The City will combine the housing development projects at
Mandlazini, Mzingwenya, eSikhaleni and Mzingazi and undertake
a land audit to identify land for development as well as determine
how many people are in need of housing. This information will be
handed to the Department of Human Settlements.
The development of Naval Island and the beach area is also
in the spotlight and the Municipality is working on a business plan
for the beach area, which will include swimming pools. The Mayor
would like to see this ready by the end of the year in order for the
developments to be considered in the Adjustment Budget early
in 2012.
Mayor Elphas Mbatha said the first 100 days have been spent
ensuring that the new Council has settled in properly and focussing
on planning and the implementation of control measures,
particularly regarding municipal finances.
Council is in the process of making sure that the
recommendations of the forensic investigation by
PriceWaterhouseCoopers Advisory Services into the City’s cash
flow crisis are implemented. This has meant changing the land
sale policy so that purchasers are required to pay a 20% deposit
as well as pay the full purchase price for a property should they
wish to develop before the property has been transferred.
“About 85% of ward committees have been established and
the Portfolio Committees have been formed and are feeding
reports to the Executive Committee. We have also reviewed our
organogram to ensure service delivery is sustainable. Currently
we have 1 800 employees and we are looking to increase this to
2 200 once the organogram is fully implemented, subject to
funding.”
Included in the organogram are office managers for each of
the four office bearers (Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Speaker and Chief
Whip) to better co-ordinate operations. Likewise the position of
an Income Manager in the Department of Financial Services has
been created and is viewed as critical for the sustainability of the
City’s finances.
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Questioned about the pending appointment of a new Municipal
Manager for the City, Mayor Mbatha said that candidates have
been shortlisted and interviews will be finalised by mid-October.
A decision will be made by the end of October so that the
successful candidate can serve a notice period if required.
Meanwhile the City’s new Chief Communications Officer,
Vukile Mathabela was officially introduced to the media. Mayor
Mbatha said that the City of uMhlathuze is committed to fostering
a strong working partnership with the media and has moved the
Communications Section to the Office of the Municipal Manager
to ensure that this aspect of the organisation receives the attention
it deserves.
At the media breakfast and briefing were (left): Acting Municipal
Manager Dr Nhlanhla Sibeko; the City’s newly appointed Chief
Communications Officer, Vukile Mathabela; Deputy Municipal
Manager: Corporate Services, Mbali Ndlovu; Mayor Elphas Mbatha
and Deputy Mayor Zethu Gumbi.
Uhlelo Olusha Lusa
UMkhandlu Emphakathini
Ukukhuthaza ubudlelwano obuhle nobunempilo nomphakathi,
uMkhandlu wamukele “Uhlelo lokuyisa uMkhandlu
eMphakathini” okuzothi ngalo uMkhandlu ubenemihlangano
okungenani emibili ngonyaka ezindaweni ezahlukene
zomphakathi.
Loluhlelo lukhombisa ukuzinikela koMkhandlu
ekuhlinzekeni imiphakathi ngezidingo nokubambisana nayo.
Luzobuye lunike umphakathi ithua lokuqonda ukuthi
uMkhandlu usebenza kanjani nanokuqonda izinselelo
obhekene nazo.
Njengengxenye yaloluhlelo kuzoba nezinto ezizokwenziwa
njengokuvakashela umphakathi oyohanjelwa nguMkhandlu
nezikhungo zenhlanlakahle kubhekwe izidingo. Lezozinto
eziyokwamukelwa neziyoqapheleka ngalokhukuvakasha
kokuqala yizona eziyokwethulwa wuMkhandlu
njengezimpendulo eziwumhlahlandlela wezinkulumo.
Eminye imininingwane yaloluhlelo izophothulwa bese
kuthi imiphakathi ehlonzwe ukuba ivakashelwe ayaziswe
uma sekusondele usuku.
E: See Page 2 for English article.

Preferential
UMkhandlu - Dolobha Ufuna
procurement
Kuthathwe Iisnyathelo Mayelana
certificates
brought in-house
Nokusungulwa Kwamalokishi The evaluation of aspirant suppliers and
Ngo 2009 iDolobha laqala ngohlelo
lokusungulwa kwelokishi endaweni
yaseMandlazini. Ngokunjalo uhlelo olufana
nalolu luphezulu ohlwini mayelana nendawo
yaseMzingathi. Ngengxenye yohlelo
lokusungulwa kwelokishi laseMandlazini,
kwenziwe uphenyo ukuze kutholakale ukuthi
inani lemizi endaweni. Nokunjalo kudingeka
ulwazi olufanayo mayelana nendawo
yaseMzingazi kanti abahlinzeki misebenzi
kumele benze loluphenyo.
UMkhandlu uphinde wenza ikomidi
lesikhashana elizobhekela zonke izinto
eziphathelene nokuhlala eMzingazi kanye
naseMandlazini kanye nendawo eyimijondolo
eMzingazi exhumene naseSikhaleni.
Lelikomidi linamalunga afaka iMeya u-Elphas
Mbatha, iPhini leMeya uZethu Gumbi,
uSomlomo uMvuseni Mnqayi, uSotswebhu
uManie Lourens, uKhansela uFrik Bosman,
uKhansela uLindi Danisa, uKhansela
uMduduzi Khumalo, uKhansela uPatience
Khwela, uKhansela uNicholas Madondo,
uKhansela uBabhekile Mthembu, uKhansela
uGugulethu Nkosi, uKhansela uDumisani
Nxumalo kanye noKhansela Meera Sookroo.
EMandlazini
Sekuneminyaka eminingana kunendawo
eyizakhiwo zemijondolo phakathi
kwesikhumulo sezindiza saseRichards Bay
kanye nendawo yaseMandlazini eyaziwa
njengesiqephu sendawo iMandlazini-Airport.
Lendawo ingamahekthari angaba ngama
65 kanti okwamanje inemizi ebalelwa
kwengama 500. IKomiti lentuthuko lalendawo
laqalwa njengelingekho emthethweni elimele
izakhamizi zalendawo. Lelikomidi
lisebenzisana nabameleli abaqokwe
nguMkhandlu ukunika imininingwane
ngemindeni ekulendawo nanokuvimba
ukubekwa kwabanye abantu kulendawo.
Kuzoba nophenyo lwangaphakathi
oluzokwenziwa uMasipala mayelana
namathuba entuthuko angafakwa kulendawo.
Ngokunjalo kuzokwenzwa olunye upheyo
oluzobheka ukungena kwabantu ezindaweni
ezingahle zithinteke uma kunezikhukhula
nanokubhekela iqophelo lamanzi eChibi
laseMzingazi.
Abakwa-Siyazama Consulting banikwa
inkontileka kaR2,5 wezigidi ngoJune 2009
ukuqedela ukuhlelwa, kwendawo
yaseMandlazini ngenjongo yokwedlulisa iziza
ezingama 570 kumnikazi ongayedwa.
Njengengxenye yaloluhlelo ukuhlela
kwesikhashana kweziza ezingama 570
sekwenziwe kwalungiselelwa iMandlazini.
Inselelo ekhona wukuthi bangana 342 kuphela
abanikazi bohla lokuqala asebahlonzwa
ngophenyo, kwathi abangama 67
kwaqinisekwa ukuthi sebashona, abangama
80 akwazekanga ukuqiniseka
ngemininingwane yabo kanti kusazoqinisekwa
ngemininigwane yabangama 81. Okunye
wukuthi abanye abahlali balendawo
sebezihlukanisile leziziza badayisa
izingxenyezazo okwenza ukuba lande inani
laleziziza eMandlazini.
Umhlinzeki msebenzi unikezwe izinyanga
ezimbili ukuba aphothule lonke uhlelo abuye
ethulele UMkhandlu – Dolobha umbiko
ngololudaba.
EMzingazi
Kwathi ngo 1990 UMkhandlu wenza uhlelo
lokuba indawo yaseMzingazi
okungeyeDolonha laseMhlathuze ibe yindawo
esemthethweni, wabe usudlulusa iziza
kubanikazi abasebehlonziwe. Ngolesosikhathi
kwakunemizi engama 201 ohlwini lwabanikazi
bendawo kodwa lelinani selikhuphuke laze
laba yimindeni engama 565 ekupheleni kuka
1990. IMidwebo yoMphenyi-mhlaba
yanikezelwa emindenini engama 565
njengenhloso yoMkhandlu ukudlulisela
leziziza kubanikazi. Ngeshwa uhlelo
lokusungula lendawo njengelokishi
ayiphothulwanga.
Izindleko zokusungula uMzingazi
njengendawo esalokishi zingama R3,2 ezigidi.
Amapulani ebhizinisi asathunyelwa
kuMnyango wezokuBusa ngokuBambisana
kanye neziNdaba zeNdabuko ukuze
kutholakale uxhaso.
Ukusungulwa kohlelo lobulokishi bubuye
bubanjezelwe ukufakwa kwesicelo somhlaba
isimo saso esingakaqinisekiswa
yiKhomishana yezoMhlaba.
UMkhandlu uncome ukuba kuqokwe
umhlinzeki msebensi ukwenza upheyo
lwabantu nokubabala kuleyandawo
yaseMzingazi. Lelikomidi elaqokwa lizobuye
libhekele izindaba eziphathelene nokuhlaliswa
kwabantu eMzingazi.
E: Council wants action regarding Township
Establishment and has established an ad hoc
committee to attend to settlement related
matters at the Mzingazi and Mandlazini Agri
Villages as well as the Mzingwenya informal
settlement abutting eSikhaleni.
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the awarding of preferential procurement
certificates will in future be handled
internally by the uMhlathuze Municipality’s
Supply Chain Management Unit.
In November 2001, when Council
adopted the Preferential Procurement
Policy, a decision was taken to appoint the
Zululand Chamber of Commerce and
Industries (ZCCI) to administer the
certification of points. At that time Council
was of the view that the task of adjudicating
and validating claims for preference was
foreign to officials whereas the ZCCI had
been performing this task for a number of
larger industries in the area.
ZCCI was willing to provide the service
of validation to Council at an annual fee
of R40 000. In this fee there were further
services, where Council had to forward all
quotations to the ZCCI Contractor’s
Advisory Centre so that the ZCCI could
pass this information on to appropriate
firms registered on their database to
ensure that smaller firms were given an
opportunity to participate in the
procurement process.
ZCCI also expanded its Small Business
Advice Centre activities to include
mentoring and providing advice and
assistance to small businesses, particularly
emerging contracting firms. This made
ZCCI an ideal partner in Small Medium
and Micro Enterprises (SMME)
development.
While Council acknowledges that ZCCI
has provided the service successfully over
the past years, it has taken the decision
to bring the function in-house to take
accountability and responsibility of the
function in terms of the law. This will
consolidate the work of the Supply Chain
Management Unit and ensure that SMMEs
are assisted internally as a one-stop
service.
To facilitate the new function a position
of Administrative Officer: Contract Liaison
has been created at a cost of R175 600.
The ZCCI will be given notice of
Council’s intention to terminate the service.
The public is asked to watch the media
for news of the changeover as vendors on
the database will be required to renew or
update their preferential points certification
annually in line with the Supply Chain
Management Policy Review.

Assistance sought for airport improvements
The Municipality is to formally request the KwaZulu-Natal
Provincial Treasury to provide technical and financial support
to attend to strategic interventions that are necessary at the
Richards Bay Airport.
The Department of City Development has already engaged
with the KZN Treasury in this regard and the KZN Treasury has
shown willingness to support the Municipality due to the economic
importance of the Richards Bay Airport to the Industrial
Development Zone (IDZ) and other key economic sectors.
The priority interventions at the airport are estimated to cost
in excess of R56 million and include the following:
The Municipality has advertised its intent to name various
streets in the City as well as the proposed name change of
Umhlathuze Village to Dumisani Makhaye Village and has
invited the public to provide comments or suggestions
regarding the proposed names on or before Friday, 4
November.
The proposed street names are:
• The road off Via Mammalia giving access to the new
erven in Wildenweide, be named Badger Bend;
• The road off Via Verbena giving access to new erven
adjacent to the Central Sports Complex in Veldenvlei, be
named Aloe Loop;
• The strip of road (which is a continuation of Davidson
Lane in Meerensee) giving access to Erven 11501 and
11499, be named Davidson Lane;
• The portion of the old Alumina Allee coming off Kraft Link
giving access to Erven 1876 and 1877 in Alton, be named
Kraft Allee;
5
• Improvements to the runway, offices, aprons and electricity
generator. Some changes are needed at the terminal
building that impact on the fuel depot, freight hangar and
the fire brigade. Additional interventions are detailed for
the car park, a covered walkway and navigation aids.
• Improvement relating to air safety compliance with regard
to the runway’s widening and also the need to acquire
and fence land for longer term airport expansion.
• Improvements to enable larger craft to use the airport
by providing a bypass or turning circle at the end of the
runway.
Public feedback sought on street names
• The road leading down from Bayview Boulevard to the
Alkantstrand Beach in Meerensee, be named Ocean
Edge;
• The peripheral road that intersects with both
Bullion Boulevard and Guldengracht and the internal
road which in turn intersects with it, both in the southern
section of the Richards Bay CBD, each be given one
of the following names: Cent Circle and Cedi Crescent;
and
• The four unnamed streets in Old Mill Estate be named
Crystal Street, Sugar House, Refinery Street and
Molasses Street.
Comments and suggestions are to be lodged in writing
to the Municipal Manager at Private Bag X1004, Richards
Bay, 3900. Enquiries may be directed by email to
creg@richemp.org.za or telephonically to Mr M van Rooijen
in the Department of City Development on 035-9075414
during office hours.

Results of the Mayoral Sports Day
6
The annual Mayoral Sports Day was held at the beginning of
October with the various clusters competing against each other
according to a random draw by Mayor Elphas Mbatha at the
launch of the games. Clusters 1, 2 and 5 were selected for
Stream A and Clusters 3, 4 and 6 were in Stream B. The winning
teams will now represent the City at the uThungulu Games,
which will decide the district’s representation at the KWANALOGA
Games.
At the launch Mayor Mbatha said the event was a fun day for
all citizens of the City and also helped to identify potential sports
champions. He said that several sports people have already
achieved provincially as a result of the Mayoral Sports Day, which
is a good reflection on the City.
Sports code Winning Cluster Runners-up Third Place
Soccer – male 1 6 3
Soccer – female 2 5 4
Netball – male 6 5 -
Netball – female 6 2 5
Rugby – male 1 3 5
Rugby – female 4 5 -
Volleyball – males 2 4 1
Volleyball – females 2 1 4
Basketball – males 5 3 6
Basketball – females 6 4 -
Cricket 5 1 -
Golf 1 - -
Swimming 1 5 2
Dance 3 6 -
Karate 5 6 3
Boxing 2 1 -
Table tennis 4 2 3
Athletics 2 5 3
Ingqathu 2 5 1
Ukhokho 2 6 -
Umlabalaba 2 6 4

Heritage Day event
celebrates our rich cultures
The City of uMhlathuze hosted a Heritage Day celebration at the eNseleni sports ground in September where all wards
were invited to showcase their different cultures in a variety of performances. Performances included indlamu, isizingili,
maskandi, isithamiya, kwaito, hip-hop, poetry and Indian dance.
7
More equipment
needed for Fire
Training Centre
A portion of income generated by the Fire
and Rescue Services Training Centre is to
be ring-fenced for the purpose of upgrading
the centre to meet the outstanding
requirements of the South African
Emergency Institute for full accreditation.
uMhlathuze’s Fire Training Centre is
accredited by the Local Government Sector
Education Training Authority (LGSETA),
however, accredition by SAESI was
conditional as additional equipment was
needed for the centre to be granted full
accreditation.
Outstanding equipment includes:
• Cascade system for breathing
apparatus
• High lift jack to release entrapped
patients
• Quick cut to extricate victims during
rescue operations
• Reciprocating saw for rescue operations
• Oxy Acetylene equipment for rescue
operations
• Reduce fitting to reduce the volume of
water to the hose to prevent them from
bursting
• Hose edge roller to protect a host from
the edge of a building
• Head blocks to stabilise a patient’s
spinal board after an accident
• Spider harness to stabilise a patient on
a spinal board
• Carborandum cutter for ventilation
during structural fires.
Council agreed to ring-fence funding
as the training centre generates income
for Council through the training of external
candidates. This also contributes to local
economic development as a number of
qualified fire fighters from the centre have
been able to source employment at various
companies within and outside the City of
uMhlathuze. Importantly the centre enables
the Municipality to train quality fire fighters
for the City.

Tourism awareness month
Tourism learners from ten high schools across the City of
uMhlathuze joined officials during September to celebrate Tourism
Month and become more aware of the training and employment
opportunities which exist in the tourism industry.
The event was hosted by the Business Support, Markets and
Tourism section of the Department of City Development at the
Empangeni Town Hall. Invited schools included Mevamhlope High
School. Khombindlela High School, Qantayi High School,
Aquadene Secondary School, Muntunokudla High School, Lizwi
High School, Ongoye High School, Hluma High School, Tholokuhle
High School and Dover High School.
Manager: Business Support, Markets and Tourism, Boni
Nzimande spoke about the need to create an awareness of
tourism. “Tourism has been identified as a priority area in KwaZulu-
Natal because of the important impact it has on our economy.
Today we have invited learners who haven’t yet chosen their
career path because we want you to see what tourism brings to
our country and give you an understanding of the opportunities
in this industry.”
She spoke about the different types of tourism including
adventure tourism, sports tourism, eco tourism and heritage
tourism. “We need to think wider than just bed and breakfast
establishments and tour guiding because there are so many more
opportunities available. You can be employed in the tourism
industry or there are many opportunities to be an entrepreneur
and create employment.”
Chief Tourism Officer, Lerato Goeieman gave an informative
presentation highlighting the various careers that can be chosen
in the tourism industry, whether it is within the three spheres of
government, vocational or hospitality. She also looked at
conservation and marine tourism career possibilities.
She added that the City intends to host the event annual and
is investigating including a competition as part of tourism awareness
as well as involving other schools that offer tourism as a subject.
Guest speakers included representatives from the University
of Zululand, University of South Africa (UNISA) and PC Training
College, who spoke the tertiary education available at the various
institutions that pertains to tourism.
Meanwhile Councillor Louis Fourie delivered a speech on
behalf of Mayor Elphas Mbatha. He spoke about the impact of
tourism on the country and the region in particular. “South Africa
is ranked 55 out of 139 destinations in the world as a country
wealthy in cultural resources. Statistics also reveal that KwaZulu-
Natal is South Africa's domestic tourism leader and it is true and
correct that our region, in particular Richards Bay, is in the top
five Most Visited Areas in KwaZulu-Natal. In the past few years,
we have seen the economy of this region growing rapidly and
credit must be given to all role players, this includes business,
government and the working class.”
He added that the tourism sector has played a meaningful
role in uniting our country and that all citizen have a role to play
now that everyone has access to the mainstream economy and
tourism in particular. “We all have a role to help our communities
to build more entrepreneurs and also encourage our children to
study towards tourism,” he said.
8
In closing he noted that the region continues to lose good
business people and professionals in the field of tourism who get
swallowed by other cities, such as Durban, Cape Town and
Johannesburg and called on local role players to find mechanisms
to retain the local content.
The search is on for
u/12 soccer stars
Midbay Motors in Richards Bay is one of sixteen Volkswagen
dealerships that will be participating in the Volkswagen
Junior Masters 2012 Football Tournament that takes place
at Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto from 8 to 10 January
2012.
The tournament is a competition for boys under 12 years
of age and is a great opportunity for the local youth. Coaching
clinics will be offered by Moroka Swallows while Volkswagen
South Africa will cover all costs of the tournament, including
travelling, clothing, soccer boots, caps, playing kit and a
bag.
The winning team will represent Volkswagen South Africa
at the Volkswagen World Masters in Poland.
To ensure that the local dealership is represented by
the best possible team, the uMhlathuze Municipality’s Sports
and Recreation Section has been requested to co-ordinate
the selection of the players. The Section will make use of
the skills, knowledge and expertise of the uMhlathuze Local
Football Association during the selection process.
To ensure that all young players are afforded an
opportunity to participate, the Section will
make use of the existing sports clusters
that are in operation. The best players
from each cluster will then meet at the
Central Sports Complex in Richards
Bay at the end of October for final
selections to be made.

USuku LokuMaketha Lwenza Umahluko Omkhulu
Izakhamizi zeza ngabuningi bazo ukuzosekela uSuku lokuMaketha
lwaMinyaka yonke weDolobha laseMhlathuze nokuba zizithengele
okusamifino okusha okutshalwe ngabalimi bezivande bendawo
ngentengo egculisayo.
Abalimi ababalelwa kwabangama 25 ababemelele imisebenzi
yezivande bephuma kulolonke iDolobha babesematafuleni abo
ngoSuku lokuMaketha elaliseduze nakwaMasipala eRichards Bay
ngomhlaka 29 September kuya kumhlaka 1 October. Imikhiqizo
yayifaka iklabishi, isipinashi, imfino, upelepele, izaqathi,u-anyanisi,
ubhithiluthi nokunye.
E: About 25 gardeners representing garden projects from across
the City manned tables at the annual Agricultural Market Day and
residents turned out in their numbers to support the event and stock
up on fresh vegetables.
(Kusuka kwesobunxele) uJP Pretorius, uChaney, uCharmain Ueckerman
kanye no Claudia Pretorius abathenga imifino yabo emisha ku-Eunice
Zikhali weBongumusa Project eduze kwase Dlangezwa.
UDeon Arumugam ukhokhela uSizakele Mathaba ngomkhiqizo
awuthengile
UMthembeni Shandu, uZakithi Ndawonde waseDolobheni
uMhlathuze, uMaria Zodwa, uZandile Mthethwa, uLondiwe Nyawo,
noNozipho Mkhize.
9
UFisani Mkhize, uNtombenhle Vilakazi, uFlorence Khumalo, uJabu
Dladla noDorika Shongwe nemifino yabo.
Richards Bay Clean Air
Association Monthly Report:
August 2011
WHAT’S NEW!
RBCAA launches
new logo (right)
and website! Go to
www.rbcaa.co.za
SO2 Guideline (Sulphur Dioxide) Exceedances
There were no measured exceedances of the NEMAQA SO2
Standards.
TRS Odour Threshold Exceedances
TRS is emitted by Mondi and is monitored by the RBCAA at
the Central Sports Complex. There are no guidelines or
standards for TRS; however the odour threshold for H2S is
4.5 ppb. TRS 10-minute averages exceeded this threshold 14
times
PM-10 Exceedances
The RBCAA measures PM10 at 4 sites, Brackenham, Central
Sports Complex, Mtunzini and St Lucia. There were no measured
exceedances of the SANS PM-10 Daily Standard.
Air Quality Complaints
There were 29 air quality complaints received for the month of
August. Of these, 15 related to abnormal emissions from
Hillside’s Fume Treatment Center (FTC). At the time of this
report Hillside has, despite numerous efforts, not been able to
resolve the problem.
For more information contact:
Sandy Camminga (Public Officer) Cell: 083 515 2384
Tel: 035 -786 0076 E-mail: info@rbcaa.co.za
Complaints can be logged at: complaints@rbcaa.co.za
Website:www.rbcaa.co.za

Izifundo Zokuvakasha
Zibhekela Ukunakekelwa
Kwamakhasimende
NgoSeptember iDolobha laseMhlathuze laqeqesha abantu abayishumi
nesithupha abasembonini yezokuvakasha abamelele izikhungo zendawo
zokubhekela ngezindawo zokulala nalabo abasebenza ngezokuvakasha,
lisebenzisa inhlangano yaseThekwini ebizwa ngokuthi yiTourism Enterprise
Partnership (TEP).
Lezifundo ziyingxenye yohlelo lweNtuthuko yoMnotho weNdawo
kaMasipala yokukhuthaza nokugqugquzela imboni yezokuvakasha.
Ingqikithi yezifundo bekuyisiqiniseko seqophelo eliphezulu
nokunakekelwa kwamakhasimende okufaka indlela efanelekile
yokuphendula izingcingo nokubaluleka kokuxhumana emisebenzini
ephathelene namakhasimende. Laba ababethamele lezifundo banikezwa
nezincwajana nohla lwezinto abangazibheka ukuze baqiniseke ngeqophelo
eliphezulu lokubhekelela amakhasimende kumabhizinisi abo.
E: Sixteen individuals in the tourism industry, who represented local
accommodation establishments and tour operators, received training as part of
the Municipality’s Local Economic Development initiative to stimulate and promote
the City’s tourism industry.
Iqembu labathamela izifundo zokuqikelela iqophelo eliphezulu
nokunakekelwa kwamakhasimende ezazisemtapweni-lwazi waseRichards
Bay benomqeqeshi wabo uJeanine Topping kanye noNokwanda Mbambo
weTEP.
City seeks funding for
economic study
The Department of City Development is to apply for funding
from the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) to undertake
a sectoral study of the uMhlathuze economy with a view to
unearthing possible downstream and upstream industry types
that could be targeted and encouraged to invest in the City.
An application for funding to review the Beach Development
Plan and designs will also be made. While the IDC is likely to
fund only one study per municipality, the Department will request
that both projects be considered for funding by IDC albeit during
different financial years.
10
Dates to Diarise
November
• 2 November Mzingazi WI at 17:00 in the Richards Bay Library
Hall. Contact Rose on 082 598 6204
• 2 November Cancer Support Group monthly meeting at
18:30 in the Bay Hospital Boardroom. Contact Theresa on
035-7806123 or Shirley on 035-7892472
• 3 November Richards Bay Floral Art Club meeting at 14:00
in the Richards Bay Library Hall. Contact Bev on 0824525744
• 4 November Golden Oldies at 09:30 at the Empangeni Civic
Centre. Contact Elaine on 035-7721407 or 0824318110
• 5 November Empangeni SPCA Car Boot Sale opposite the
Zululand Observer from 09:00 to 13:00. Contact Di Cadman
on 035-7726515
• 5 November Fish Eagle Bonsai Kai meeting at 14:00. Contact
Betsy de Jong on 0722074079
• 8 November uMhlathuze Municipality Executive Committee
meeting at 14:00 in Council Chambers, Richards Bay Civic
Centre
• 8 November ZCCI Richards Bay Division monthly meeting
at 12:45 at the Pelican Hall, ZCBF. Contact Charmaine
035-7971858
• 8 November uMhlathuze Municipality Council meeting at
17:00 in Council Chambers, Richards Bay Civic Centre
• 9 November Empangeni WI monthly meeting at 14:30 at
Leisure Gardens. Contact Shelly King on 035-7924939 or
083 989 6278
• 9 November Interdenominational Prayer Meeting at the
SAPS Empangeni inner garden from 07:45 to 08:15. Contact
Janine Stone on 035-7725083
• 10 November Empangeni Community Policing Forum meeting
at 17:30 at the Empangeni Civic Centre. Contact Kevin
Sukraben on 0726862205 or Capt Dludla on 035-9015800
• 11 November Golden Oldies at 09:30 at the Empangeni
Civic Centre. Contact Elaine on 035-7721407 or 0824318110
• 12 November Zululand Bonsai meeting. Contact Barry
Stofberg on 0833249392
• 16 November Richards Bay Garden Club meeting. Contact
Eileen Russell on 035-7534250
• 17 November ZCCI Empangeni Division monthly meeting
at 12:45 at Umfolozi Hotel Casino and Convention Centre.
Contact Charmaine 035-7971858
• 18 November Golden Oldies at 09:30 at the Empangeni
Civic Centre. Contact Elaine on 035-7721407 or 0824318110
• 22 November uMhlathuze Municipality Executive Committee
meeting at 14:00 in Council Chambers, Richards Bay Civic
Centre
• 23 November Richards Bay WI monthly meeting at 09:00 in
the Richards Bay Library Hall. Contact Diane 035-7891682
• 25 November Golden Oldies at 09:30 at the Empangeni
Civic Centre. Contact Elaine on 035-7721407 or 0824318110
• 25 November Free rabies clinic at the Veldenvlei Hall in
Richards Bay from 08:00 to 14:00
• 26 November Richards Bay SPCA Open Day
• 26 November Empangeni Morning Market at the Zikulise
Arts and Crafts Centre from 08:00 to 13:00. Contact Julie
Jonson on 035-7925477
Rehabilitated Drug Users Support Group meets in Brackenham
at Bay Primary School in Fishtail Road from 19:00 to 20:00
every Friday and in Arboretum at the AGS Church near Arboretum
swimming pool from 19:00 to 20:00 every Saturday. Contact Ps
Christo on 083 645 8772 or Mathew on 074 438 4980.

Lentefees Floreer!
Die Lentefees is op die Richardsbaaise Skougronde gehou
vanaf 30 September tot 2 Oktober. Hierdie Fees het die
tradisionele Zoeloeland Ekspo vervang met ‘n opwindende
formaat en vermaak uit die boonste rakke. Die grootste
vermaaklikheids aantrekkingskrag was die wêreldklas Suid-
Afrikaanse sangpaar Locnville. Hulle het die Vrydagaand opgetree
voor ‘n stampvol gehoor.
Die groter pretpark was ook geweldig gewild en het bewys
dat groter ook beter kan wees terwyl heelwat inwoners die
terugkeer van die stampmotor-wedrenne geniet het.
E: The Spring Festival was held at the Richards Bay Show
grounds from 30 September to 2 October. The Festival replaced
the traditional Zululand Expo, providing locals with an exciting
new format and a top notch entertainment programme.
Lungile Mathenjwa (11),
Thobela Mchunu (11) en Fezile
Mathenjwa (9) het heerlik
rondgedwaal tussen die
uitstallings.
Danielle Beetge (3) het
blitsvinnig die lekkergoed
stalletjie opgespoor saam met
haar pappa, Werner.
Eight hundred trees were planted in Umhlathuze Village
at the end of September as an appropriate conclusion
to Arbor Month and as part of the build-up activities
for the district’s COP17 Climate Change event this
month.
The mass planting was a partnership between the
City of uMhlathuze and the Department of Agriculture,
Environmental Affairs and Rural Development
(DAEARD), which aims to green low cost housing
projects for beautification of the environment as well
as promote the planting of trees as mitigation for
climate change.
In total 500 fruit trees, namely mango and orange
trees, were planted along with 300 indigenous trees,
which were Natal Mahogany and Fever trees. Trees
were donated by the City, Foskor and the Wildlands
Trust, while DAEARD provided compost and 96 people
from the Invasive Alien Species Programme to
undertake the planting.
As part of the COP17 activities, trees were also
planted by DAEARD at Umfolozi Municipality and will
be planted at Mthonjaneni Municipality.
Trees for
Umhlathuze Village
11
Viggie Govender verduidelik die voordele van AMC kookgerei aan
Nomsa Sibiya, Sma Sibiya en Sipho Mbuyazi.
Regs: Die
groter
Pretpark
het pret
verskaf vir
oud en
jonk.
Links: Die
vermaaklikheids
tent het
voortdurende
Vermaak verskaf,
insluitend dansen
model
vertonings.

Matriekkuns word uitgestal
Die kunswerke van Empangeni Hoërskool se matrikulante sal tot einde Oktober
uitgestal word in the Empangeni Museum. Hierdie is ‘n kleurvolle versameling van
ons jeugtalent!
Dit word opgevolg deur die jaarlikse uitstalling van plaaslike kunstenaars, wat
te sien kan word gedurende Desember en Januarie. Plaaslike kunstenaars wie
graag hul kunswerke wil uitstal kan Hannes by 035-9075887 kontak.
E: The art work of the Empangeni High School matric class will be on display
at the Empangeni Museum until the end of October and is a colourful collection
of youthful talent.
uMhlathuze News - Also on: www.richemp.org.za
Correspondence: Vukile Mathebela, Private Bag X1004, Richards Bay 3900. Tel (035) 907 5405.
E-mail: mathabelagvc@richemp.org.za
Articles, co-ordination: Gillian Readman, Mevamhlope Communications. Tel 0836420020.
E-mail: greadman@iafrica.com Design and Layout: Alliance Graphics Printing: Colour Planet
12
Important uMhlathuze
Municipality telephone
numbers
In case of uncertainty, the main switchboard in
Richards Bay can be reached by dialling
035-9075000