Provincial top honours for City - City of uMhlathuze

uMhlathuze News 

Official newsletter of the uMhlathuze Municipality 

March 2009 

Provincial 

top honours 

for City 

The uMhlathuze Municipality has added another 

feather to its cap by taking top honours in the 

Provincial Cleanest Town Competition awards 

hosted at the Drakensberg Garden and Leisure 

Resort. 

The City was awarded overall winner of the 

contest for its best waste management practices. 

“We are very happy with receiving this award, 

it is not the first time that we have received it. We 

appreciate the efforts of our staff who work hard 

to keep our Municipality at the forefront of Local 

Government Service Delivery,” said City Manager 

Dr Tonie Heyneke. “The R500 000 received as 

part of the award will be spent wisely, possibly 

with a focus on addressing illegal dumping which is a major concern of the City.” 

Congratulating the City, KZN Agriculture and Environmental Affairs MEC, 

Mtholephi Mthimkhulu said that uMhlathuze’s waste management practices 

superseded those of 27 other municipalities which had entered the competition 

because it effectively and efficiently put into practice the ‘reduce, recycle and 

reuse’ principles and did not only focus on urban areas but also covered the 

rural areas of the city. 

“I therefore applaud this municipality for having made an extra effort to 

improve environmental management within its areas and also wish it all the 

best as it moves on to represent the KwaZulu-Natal province in the national 

level of the competition,” said Mthimkhulu. 

This year 28 municipalities entered the competition including the eThekwini 

Metro, an improvement on last year’s participation where only 22 entries were 

received. Mthimkhulu said that his department’s aim is to have all 61 municipalities 

participating in this event in the future. 

In this issue 

Provincial top honours......................................1 

Ukwethulwa kabusha kokulungiswa 

kwamahostela ...................................................2 

Good progress expected on John Ross ............3 

Grant funding received for electricity 

projects.............................................................3 

Land Claims Commission reports to Exco ........4 

Training for the future .......................................5 

Deputy Director Community Services and Health: Waste Management 

Service, Cleo Mtenjwa accepts the prestigious award for Cleanest Town in 

the province from KZN Agriculture and Environmental Affairs MEC, Mtholephi 

Mthimkhulu at the awards ceremony in the Drakensberg. (Photo courtesy 

of Zululand Observer) 

Izivande saseSikhaleni zithola inkasa ................6 

Plan proposed to speed up budget 

spending ...........................................................6 

Council gives its commitment to 

new library........................................................7 

Zikulise to extend Arts and Crafts Centre ..........7 

Focus on public health - Cholera fact file ..........8 

City reaches out to inform communities ...........9 

For the record 

Councillor Ahamed Shaik Dawood 

(Ward 2) is a representative of the 

African National Congress and not 

the Inkatha 

Freedom Party 

as stated in 

the “Meet your 

Councillors” 

feature in last 

month’s 

uMhlathuze 

News. 

Fish Eagle Swim takes to the water again .......10 

Izinga lezinkundla lezemidlalo zasezindaweni 

zasemakhaya liyathuthukiswa .........................11 

New Sharks Board Base Station......................11 

Dates to diarise ...............................................11 

Burgemeerster ondersteun Rotariërs se 

“Connection Ride” ..........................................12 

Important Municipal Telephone Numbers .......12

Ukwethulwa kabusha kokulungiswa 

kwamahostela 

USodolobha uBab’ uMnqayi ubenomcimbi ngoMgqibelo 

ziwu 21 Februwari 2009, ohlanganise abahlali 

basemafulethini ama hostela, amaKomidi ama Wadi 

aseS’Khaleni kanye nomphakathi ongomakhelwane 

lapho ebike ngemisebenzi eseyenziwa kanye naleyo 

ehlongozwayo. 

Umphakathi waziswe ngomsebenzi osuqhubeka 

lapho, kuqashwe inkampani uQiniseka Construction 

ukulungisa eJ223 (Sokesimbone), J1169 (Madala) nase 

J1083 (Sinqobile), lomsebenzi uzodla izigidi ezilishumi 

(R10 million) Ngaphandle kwalomsebenzi ojwayelekile 

kwethulwe nohlelo oluphuthumisa ukulungisa imisebenzi 

ethinta amapayipi nogesi isigaba sokuqala sizogxila e 

H396 (Bhambatha). 

Umeya wanxuswa umphakathi ukuba uyemukele 

lentuthuko futhi kushintshe nendlela obekuphilwa ngayo, 

abahlali bazizwe beyingxenye yomphakathi wonkana. 

Khona manjalo uMnz Musa Mfusi obemele uMnyango 

wesifundazwe wachaza kabanzi ngomthetho omusha 

osulawula uhlelo lokulungiswa nokuphathwa 

kwamahostela. Echaza uMnz Mfusi waveza ukuthi 

loluhlelo olusha olubizwa ngeCommunity Residential 

Units (CRU) lunamathuba ancono okuthola uxhaso oluthe 

xaxa kepha futhi luqagula ukuthi Lezizakhiwo ziyohlala 

ngokuqashisa kuphela zibhekela labo abeze 

ngokusebenza abafuna indawo yokuhlala. 

Sekuvulelwe ithuba Lemibuzo, lwacaca ukuthi 

kukhona ukungeneliseki kubahlali ngalombandela wokuthi 

izakhiwo zizoqashisa. Izikhulumi eziningi zazifakazelana 

ekuzwakaliseni ukungenami kwazo. 

Enanela uMeya wanxusa ukuba kube nezinye 

izigcawu zokuxoxisana kuchazelwane ngezinto. Kwaba 

nombono futhi wokuthi komele kubukisiswe isimo sokuthi 

olwasesikhawini uhlelo bese luvele luqhubeka phezu 

kwezivumelwano ezithile ezenziwe ungakabikho 

lomthetho. 

E: His Worship The Mayor re-launched the hostel 

refurbishment programme on Saturday 21 February 

2009. He reported on the appointment of Qiniseka 

Construction to refurbish J223,J1196 and J1083. Parallel 

to this program is the stabilisation intervention with which 

plumbing and electrical works will be attended to in other 

hostels. Mr Musa Mfusi from Province addressed the 

community about the new Community Residential Unit 

Policy (CRU). It emerged that the policy provides better 

funding opportunities however the hostel units were to 

be utilised as a low rental housing scheme. There was 

some uneasiness about this policy development, hence 

it was resolved that further opportunities would be 

provided to further discuss the matter and create better 

understanding. 

2

Good progress expected on John Ross 

Layerworks including blacktop surface on two 

sections of the John Ross Highway are due to start 

in June this year once the tenders have been 

awarded. 

Reporting on progress of the project at the 

Public Liaison Committee meeting, Brian Henwood 

of Henwood & Nxumalo Consulting Engineers said 

that R170-million has been allocated for the 2009/10 

financial year. 

One of the contracts is for the section from the 

N2 to the Mondi intersection valued at around 

R50-million, and the second for the section from 

the Mondi intersection to the Alton intersection 

valued at R40-million. The first contract would be 

due for completion by the end of June next year 

while the second would be completed by February 

next year. 

A third tender is to be called for in October this 

year for layerworks and blacktop for the section 

from the Alton intersection to the CBD intersection 

with the only delay being due to a lack of funding. 

Henwood added that should extra funding be made 

available, then they would go ahead with the fourth 

and final section, which is from the CBD intersection 

to the Arboretum intersection. This fourth section 

would incorporate a new intersection that would 

link into the extension of the East Central Arterial. 

The uMhlathuze Municipality is due to award the 

tender for this project shortly. 

The three bridges in the vicinity of the eSikhaleni 

intersection are nearing completion with the deck 

of the link bridge at the intersection under 

construction as is the eNseleni floodplain bridge. 

These bridges are all due for completion by October 

this year. 

Responding to concerns over the lack of funding 

for the completion of the project before 2010, 

Henwood said that the KZN Department of Transport 

has made this a priority project and continues to 

lobby for funding to complete this major access 

route to one of the country’s biggest growth areas. 

Meanwhile Environmental Officer for the project, 

Barry Patrick from Acer Africa said that with the 

recent rains, measures have been put in place to 

halt soil erosion in various areas of the prepared 

surface. Embankments at the rail bridge between 

the Mondi and eSikhaleni intersections have been 

grassed while rock bolsters have been positioned 

for temporary erosion control. 

“Control of runoff from a large bare area opposite 

CTC was required to prevent the siltation of the 

wetland area located just outside of the road 

reserve.” 

He added that the planting of indigenous 

shrubs along the median is due to start soon. 

The embankments at the rail bridge between the Mondi and eSikhaleni 

intersections have been grassed and rock bolsters have been installed 

as temporary erosion control measures. 

The bridges are a hive of activity as construction continues on the deck 

of the link bridge at the eSikhaleni intersection and the eNseleni floodplain 

bridge. Photos: courtesy Henwood & Nxumalo Consulting Engineers 

Grant funding received for 

electricity projects 

The Department of Mineral and 

Energy (DME) has approved grant 

funding in the amount of R3,55 

million for electricity projects at 

uMhlathuze Village outside 

Ngwelezane. 

An amount of R2,35 million will 

be used for bulk electricity supply 

and the upgrade of the substation 

at uMhlathuze Village. The 

remaining R1,2 million will be used 

to provide electrical connections 

to 300 low cost houses in the 

development. 

In addition DME has provided 

funding to Eskom to undertake 

3 

rural projects within Eskom’s 

licensed area of supply within the 

City. These include: 

• 202 electrical connections in 

eNseleni to the value of 

R1,12 million 

• Building substations in Wards 

10 and 11 to the value of 

R30 million and providing 

2 000 connections 

• EGXIXGI to the value of 

R347 000 

• eHlanzeni eNseleni – 

R1,6 million 

• eZikhonkwaneni – R684 000 

• Mpembeni – R1,3 million.

Land Claims Commission reports to Exco 

Representatives from the Regional Land Claims Commission 

reported to the City’s Executive Committee in February on 

progress made with the land restitution programme in the City 

of uMhlathuze. 

Central to the presentation were settlement packages for 

three major land claims within the municipal area, namely the 

Mandlazini, Mbonambi and Mkhwanazi claims. The Chief Land 

Claims Commissioner and the Minister for Land Affairs have 

approved these claims. 

Mandlazini Claim 

Land values in the Mandlazini claim, according to the report, are 

astronomically high as the majority of the land under claim is 

highly developed industrial, commercial and residential areas. 

There are also pockets of properties that are being used as 

public facilities and may not be feasible to restore or use for the 

purposes of settling the land claim. 

The total land under claim is valued at R601 237 279, which 

is considered too high for the state to use as the basis for settling 

the land claim. Therefore, large sections of land under claim have 

been excluded and focus has been placed on developed and 

undeveloped residential land owned by the uMhlathuze 

Municipality. 

In terms of the settlement claimants have received full rights 

in the form of registered titles on individual housing sites as well 

as legal entity being registered to hold land in common to all, 

such as religious sites as well as access to other parts of Reserve 

6 for the controlled collection of medicinal plants and controlled 

harvesting of natural resources for craft work. 

Alternative land would be offered to some claimants now 

residing at Ntambanana and elsewhere in the country, but who 

would like to return to Richards Bay. Those opting to remain 

where they are would be offered development funds for the 

purpose of purchasing alternative land, housing development as 

well as for improvements to their existing houses. 

A fund of R104-million, to be held in trust, would assist 

claimants to participate in the established businesses through 

the purchase of shares as well as participating in new businesses 

on land within the claim through the submission of a business 

plan. 

Mbonambi Claim 

The Mbonambi claim was approved on 16 March 2007 but the 

implementation of the agreement with the claimants’ Trust has 

been delayed for various reasons. A business plan was due to 

be submitted by the end of February. 

Transfer is underway on restorable land but agreements still 

need to be finalised on lease rentals from the Siyaqhubeka 

forestry lease transaction. Shareholding by the community in 

Siyaqhubeka has not yet been finalised with Department of Public 

Enterprise. 

There has also been some interaction between the 

Commission and Richards Bay Minerals to deliberate on the 

matter of a land lease; shareholding and land rehabilitation post 

mining. 

4 

Compensation for non-restorable land would see about 

R54-million being placed in trust to which community members 

would have access provided they submit viable business plans. 

Mkhwanazi Claim 

The Mkhwanazi claim, which was approved in February 2008, 

incorporates portions of Port Dunford, Umlalazi, as well as Gage 

and Umhlathuzi farms in Mthunzini. Included in this claim is also 

land earmarked by the Municipality for the eSikhaleni Cemetery. 

The settlement framework would be similar to the Mbonambi 

settlement in terms of lease rentals from existing timber plantation 

leases, but shareholding in Siyaqhubeka has not been finalised 

with the Department of Public Enterprise. 

Claims on some farms are being contested but the transfer 

of land is taking place. 

uMhlathuze Mayor, Zakhele Mnqayi emphasised that the 

Commission must ensure that restored land does not become 

Traditional Land. He also asked for the assurance that all land 

within the City is non-restorable, including the site of the proposed 

Casino development and the cemetery site. 

Mr Dlamini said the casino site was not suitable for restoration 

due to the huge public interest in the development. Therefore 

the claimants would be given monetary compensation for the 

land. 

He added that the Municipality and the Land Claims 

Commission should work together to integrate the claimants into 

developments such as the casino and the pockets of land, which 

have been deemed “non-restorable” due to plans to develop such 

land. “We need to sit down together so that we can approach 

the claimants and explain why the land they are claiming is not 

restorable”. 

At the presentation of the settlement frameworks of the three 

land claims within the uMhlathuze Municipality were (from left) 

Marcus Nel (uMhlathuze Municipality Deputy Director Corporate 

Services: Estate Section) together with representatives from 

the Commission on Restitution of Land Rights , Walter Silaule 

(Acting Director : Operations), Nokuthokoza Ndlela 

(Communications Manager) and Mnyah Dlamini (Deputy 

Director: uThungulu and Zululand Districts)

Training for the future 

As part of the uMhlathuze Municipality’s commitment to 

fulfilling the need for skills development identified during 

the public participation programme of its Integrated 

Development Plan, basic computer training was provided 

to 155 unemployed matriculants from around the City. 

Speaking at the certificate handover, Mayor Zakhele 

Mnqayi said that basic computer knowledge is needed to 

complete daily tasks in most places of employment and 

that this skill would be advantageous to these young people 

in their application for employment. 

He added that more needs to be done in the development 

of the people of the City and the Council is putting education 

at the centre of its efforts to reduce poverty and improve 

the lives of the people while also growing the City’s economy. 

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” the Mayor told 

the graduates, “make good use of the skills you have 

acquired. You now need to play a role in our development 

by sharing what you have learnt with others and be a role 

model for other young people. You need to work towards 

improving yourself; and we, as a City, encourage you to 

strive to greater heights.” 

In 2007 the Municipality, in partnership with the University 

of Zululand sponsored computer training for 300 young 

people between the ages of 24 and 30. The latest graduates, 

who received their training last year, were between the 

ages of 20 to 30. The Mayor said that once a person reaches 

the age of 20, they would have made up their minds on 

what they plan for their future. 

Adding further encouragement to the graduates, UniZul 

Vice Chancellor, Rachel Gumbi said that with their new 

skills they must be encouraged to serve with commitment 

and strive to be the best that they can be and thanked the 

Mayor and the Municipality for the opportunity given to 

these young people. 

Professor Patrick Sibaya, Vice Rector: Academic Affairs 

and Research at UniZul added that this computer literacy 

and basic business English training will promote the 

employability of these young people. 

At the graduation ceremony were Dr Mncedisi Maphalala (UniZul), 

Professor Patrick Sibaya (UniZul Vice Rector), uMhlathuze Mayor 

Zakhele Mnqayi, graduate Andile Mzimela, uMhlathuze Deputy Mayor 

Celiwe Madlopha and uMhlathuze Speaker Councillor Elphas Mbatha. 

Agreeing that this has been another successful group of students 

completing the basic computer skills course sponsored by the 

uMhlathuze Municipality and hosted by the University of Zululand were 

Lindani Khoza (Director Sustainable Development and Planning: 

uMhlathuze Municipality); Professor Patrick Sibaya (UniZul Vice Rector 

– Academic Affairs and Research); Professor Rachel Gumbi (UniZul 

Vice Chancellor) and uMhlathuze Mayor Zakhele Mnqayi. 

Graduates proudly hold up their certificates after the graduation ceremony at the Civic Centre in Empangeni. 

5

Izivande saseSikhaleni zithola inkasa 

Enye yezinqinamba abalimi ababhekana nayo emsebenzini 

wokubhekela izivande zabo ukweseleka kwamanzi okuchelela. 

Nokho akusenjalo ezivandeni zomphakathi ezintathu eSikhaleni 

emva kokuthola usizo lwenkasa. 

Uhlelo lwenkasa lwakhishwa uMasipala waseMhlathuze 

njengenxenye yoHlelo lokweSeka ezoLimo olubhekelwe yiNxenye 

yokuThuthukisa uMnotho weNdawo yoMnyango wokuHlela 

neNtuthuko. 

LoluHlelo lwazisa lubuye lukhombise indlela kulabo 

abazibandakanya ekuthuthukiseni kwezolimo eDolobheni ukuze 

kufezeke izinjongo zoHlelo lweNtuthuko oluDidiyelwe 

ngokukhuthaza ukuthuthukiswa komnotho ngokwenzangcono 

izimpilo zezakhamizi ngokufaka izinqalasizinda. 

IKangaroo Co-operative esesigcemeni 21 yemukela uHlelo 

lwenkasa olubalelwa kuma R41, 000 olubandakanya iphampu, 

ithange lokugcina amanzi nenhlanganisela yezichelelo ezinkulu 

nezincane kusosonke isivande. 

ISiyakhula Garden Project kanye seNew Life Garden Project 

zombili ezisesigcemeni 20 zathola uhlelo lwenkasa olubalelwa 

kuR20 000 no R23 000 ngayinye ngokulandelana kwazo. 

Lezizinhlelo zibandakanya amaphampu, izichelelo kanye 

nezivimbo kuzozonke izivande zazo. 

Lezizinhlelo zenkasa zahlelwa zafakwa abakwa-Aquadrip 

ababuye bakhombise abalimi namakhansela ukusetshenziswa 

kwazo ngaphambi kokuba bazinikele ngokomthetho ekupheleni 

kukaFebruary. 

E: Three community vegetable gardens in eSikhaleni have 

received irrigation systems as part of the uMhlathuze Municipality’s 

Agricultural Support Plan, which is managed by the Local 

Economic Development Section of the Department of Planning 

and Sustainable Development. 

Abameleli beNew Life Garden Project bakhonjiswa ukusetshenziswa 

kohlelo lwenkasa (ukusuka kwesokunxele) wuVincent Mthethwa 

(Aquadrip), Jabulani Nsele (Aquadrip), uSamukelisiwe Khumalo, 

iKhansela uBabhekile Mthembu, (Isigceme 20), uZandile Ndimande, 

uJabu Mthembu noJuliet Mngomezulu. 

6 

Abalimi beKangaroo Co-operative bathokoza kakhulu ukubona 

izichelelo zichelela inhlwanyelo yezivande zabo. (emuva 

kwesobunxele) wuBrenda Mbokazi, noVincent Mthethwa (bakwa- 

Aquadrip) uZakithi Zulu (Isiphathimandla sehovisi Iled) 

uNomathemba Dlamini uNomasonto Manana uJabulani Nxumalo; 

(phambili kwesobunxele) uSandile Mthethwa, uBonisiwe Ncwane, 

uJabulani Nsele (Aquadrip) kanye noKhansela uMusawenkosi 

Mbokazi (Isigceme 21) 

UVincent Mthethwa noJabulan Nsele bakwa-Aquadrip bakhombisa 

iKhansela uBabhekile Mthembu ukuthi isetshenziswa kanjani 

ngenkathi abalimi beSiyakhula Garden Project bebuka 

Plan proposed to speed 

up budget spending 

uMhlathuze Municipality has adopted the uMhlathuze Plan- 

Develop-Commission (PDC) as the model to guide capital project 

management. 

The PDC will provide the realistic planning of projects and 

facilitate communication between departments so that the 

Municipality is better able to spend its budget. This is in line with 

the Integrated Development Plan’s strategy to provide sound 

financial management and promote good governance. 

Project managers are to be trained and provided with project 

management tools. This Project Management Unit will control 

all project processes pertaining to township development and 

stand-alone infrastructure projects.

Council gives its commitment 

to new library 

The Carnegie Corporation of New York has shown interest in 

providing grant funding towards the proposed new Richards Bay 

Library following a resolution by Council confirming commitment 

to the project and ensuring that the project is viable and 

sustainable. 

Council gave its commitment to the project as the new library 

is in line with the Integrated Development Plan’s strategy and 

objectives to provide infrastructure and services as well as 

institutional development. In addition Council is confident that 

it is able to sustain the project beyond the period of the Carnegie 

grant considering the immense growth of the area. 

Council has already approved building plans and committed 

itself to a capital expenditure of R100 million to build the stateof-the-art 

library, which will adjoin the Richards Bay Civic Centre. 

The new facility is to be 7 200 square metres and will consist 

of a ground floor with a reception area, a vast children’s lending 

library adjacent to a secure open reading area-cum-garden, the 

main adult lending library with atrium, an audio-visual library as 

well as a coffee shop with restaurant deck. 

There will also be a first floor comprising a children’s study 

reference library, three separate group study areas, a main adult 

study reference library, a 142-seater auditorium, an internet 

facility and library staff offices with various strategically located 

balconies. 

It is envisaged that the latest Information Communications 

Technology (ICT) computer facilities will be provided and that 

the audio-visual area will have viewing and listening booths. 

In its motivation for the Carnegie funding, the Municipality 

said that the current library was built in 1987 when the population 

was not more than 30 000. The population has increased more 

7 

than ten-fold since that time 

and the library is now 

inadequate to cater for the 

needs of the community. 

The project goal is to 

create a state-of-the-art 

library to provide the 

community will the best 

possible services, 

equipment and facilities. It 

will serve people of all 

ages, but specifically 

children, young adults, 

students from tertiary institutions and illiterate/semi-illiterate 

adults who want to improve their skills. 

The library will boast more study areas and longer opening 

hours. In addition the library will enjoy synergy with the adjoining 

property where the City Campus of the University of Zululand 

is being established. 

The grant funding, should it be approved, will be in the amount 

of R30 million and is to be used in the first three years of the 

new library being in operation. This will include a huge injection 

into the library’s computer/internet facilities and book collections. 

In the meantime the tender for the first phase of the project, 

the piling contract, is due to be awarded later this month. The 

tender for the second phase, the construction contract, will be 

awarded in the second half of 2009. 

The building works should be completed in the first quarter 

of 2011 and it is anticipated that the library will be furnished, 

stocked and fully operational during the second quarter of 2011. 

Zikulise to extend Arts and Crafts Centre 

Council has granted approval to the 

Zikulise Community Upliftment Project to 

upgrade and expand the Zikulise 

Entrepreneur Skills Training Centre (old 

Empangeni Arts and Crafts Centre) in 

order to accommodate offices and pottery 

skills training units. 

Executive Director of Zikulise, Julie 

Jonson said the organisation is very 

excited about the expansion plans, which 

have recently been submitted to the 

Municipality by Theunissen Jankovich 

Architects. Apart from designing the 

additional buildings, the architects will also 

be project managers during construction. 

“Pottery has always been a focus of 

Zikulise due to my background and 

experience in pottery. We are also seeing 

a demand for pottery in the marketplace 

as making pots is very much part of the 

Zulu culture,” she said. 

Apart from offering training courses 

and offering their services to traditional 

potters interested in learning the firing 

techniques to improve the durability of 

their products, Zikulise also plans to offer 

Saturday morning pottery classes for a 

fee to promote the sustainability of the 

centre. 

“Being self sustainable is very 

important to the success of Zikulise so 

we are always on the lookout for new and 

exciting things to introduce to the 

community. In March we will be introducing 

an organic range of products at the Centre 

to promote health and wellness and we 

are in the process of reviving the Saturday 

morning fresh produce market. 

“In addition we have ongoing 

workshops with various themes, such as 

a tourism workshop that was held in 

February that was focussed on past 

trainees. A 2010 workshop, which will be 

open to the public, is also on the cards,” 

said Mrs Jonson. 

During the April school holidays 

Zikulise will be partnering with the 

Empangeni Methodist Church to offer a 

school holiday programme for children 

with a focus on handmade products 

entrepreneurship. Those interested in 

finding out more information or attending 

can call Zikulise on 035-7925477.

The outbreak of cholera in Zimbabwe has 

spread to the southern Limpopo and 

central Mpumalanga regions, and 

KwaZulu-Natal has been identified as a 

high-risk area. uMhlathuze Municipality’s 

Clinic Services would like to inform 

residents about cholera so that they can 

take the necessary precautions to prevent 

the spread of the disease. 

Sources of cholera 

Most people contract cholera through 

drinking water or eating food that has been 

faecally contaminated by the bacteria, 

vibrio cholerae. 

Uncooked shellfish, milk, cooked rice, 

lentils, potatoes, beans, eggs, chicken and 

coconut milk all can become sources of 

the disease, but potable water remains 

the most important source. 

The cholera bacteria is dependent on 

people for survival. Epidemics seem to 

follow a cyclical pattern. Periods of rain 

are essential to a resurgence of the 

disease. When there is no outbreak, the 

bacteria are carried to the sea where the 

concentration of salt in the river mouths 

renders them dormant. 

After heavy rains, however, when you 

have large quantities of fresh water at the 

mouth of the river, this upsets the levels 

of salinity and the organism begins to 

multiply and move upstream. If 

communities then drink the water, they 

can begin the process of re-infection once 

more. If they live in an impoverished 

community, they're unlikely to have proper 

sanitation and may use the local river for 

bathing and washing. 

The community's water supply is then 

infected by the bacteria and so more and 

more people become infected, until there's 

nobody else for the bacteria to infect or 

the community has built up immunity. 

The previous South African epidemic 

occurred in 1984 and predominantly 

affected people living in KwaZulu-Natal. 

Symptoms 

Most people who are exposed don’t 

become ill and never know they are 

infected. However, because they shed the 

cholera bacteria in their stool for seven to 

Focus on public health 

Cholera fact file 

14 days, they can still infect others. 

Most people who become sick with 

cholera experience only mild or moderate 

diarrhoea that’s hard to distinguish from 

diarrhoea caused by other problems. 

The onset of cholera is usually sudden, 

with incubation periods ranging from six 

hours to five days. Cholera symptoms can 

range from mild to severe and include: 

• Severe, watery diarrhoea. 

Diarrhoea (look out for the 

characteristic ‘rice water’ stools or 

diarrhoea that has a fishy odour). What 

makes it so deadly is the loss of huge 

amounts of fluids in a short period. 

• Nausea and vomiting. It occurs in the 

early and later stages, it may persist 

for hours. 

• Muscle cramps. 

This is a result from the loss of salts: 

chloride, sodium and potassium. 

• Dehydration. 

This can develop within hours. 

Depending on how much body fluid 

has been lost, dehydration can range 

from mild to severe. 

• Signs of cholera dehydration: 

Irritability, lethargy, sunken eyes, dry 

mouth, extreme thirst, dry, shrivelled 

skin, little or no urine output, low blood 

pressure, irregular heartbeat, rapid 

pulse, dry mucous membranes, 

lethargy, unusual sleepiness, infrequent 

urination or sunken fontanelles in 

infants. 

• Shock. 

Hypovolemic shock is one of the most 

serious complications and occurs when 

low blood volume causes a drop in 

blood pressure. This results in reduction 

of the amount of oxygen reaching the 

tissues. If this is not treated it could 

lead to death. 

Children generally have the same 

symptoms as adults, but could also 

experience: 

• Extreme drowsiness or even coma 

• Fever 

• Convulsions 

8 

Testing and treatment 

Cholera does not get into the blood and 

therefore a stool culture is taken to test 

for cholera. 

Rehydration is the most important 

treatment and consists of the immediate 

replacement of the water and salts lost 

through severe diarrhoea and vomiting. 

Early rehydration can save the lives of 

most cholera patients. Most can be 

rehydrated quickly by drinking large 

quantities of a solution of oral rehydration 

salts. Patients who become severely 

dehydrated may need to receive fluids 

intravenously. 

Although antibiotics may shorten the 

duration of the symptoms, they're not as 

important as rehydration. 

If you have diarrhoea – especially 

severe diarrhoea – and are in an area 

where there is cholera, seek medical 

treatment immediately. Start drinking water 

and other non-sweetened fluids, such as 

soup on the way to getting help. 

Risk factors of cholera 

Everyone is susceptible to cholera, except 

nursing babies who have immunity through 

their mother’s milk. However, certain factors 

can make you more vulnerable to the 

disease: 

• Malnutrition. 

People who are malnourished are more 

likely to become infected with cholera, 

and cholera is more likely to flourish 

in areas where malnutrition is common. 

• Reduced or nonexistent stomach 

acid. 

Cholera bacteria can’t survive in an 

acidic environment. Stomach acid serves 

as a first-line defense against infection. 

However, people with low levels of 

stomach acid lack this protection, they 

are more likely to develop cholera and 

to have severe symptoms. Children and 

the elderly tend to have lower than 

normal stomach acid levels. 

• Household exposure. 

If you live with someone with the disease 

you are more likely to develop it. 

Continued on Page 9

Continued from Page 8 

• Compromised immunity. 

It your immune system is compromised 

for any reason you are more 

susceptible. 

• Type O blood. 

People with type O blood are twice 

likely to develop cholera than people 

with other blood types. 

• Raw or undercooked shellfish. Eating 

raw shellfish from waters where the 

bacteria harbours or shellfish 

transported by travellers from cholera 

endemic countries increases the risk. 

Preventative measures 

• Purify water or ensure a safe water 

supply by boiling or chlorinating 

domestic water using household bleach: 

Add 1 teaspoonful (5ml, or one capful 

if bottle has a screw cap) of household 

bleach to 20-25 litres of water. 

Thoroughly mix the solution with the 

water and allow to stand for at least 

two hours (preferably overnight) before 

use; 

• Dispose of human waste sanitarily 

without contaminating water sources 

and control of flies; 

• Avoid any potentially contaminated food 

especially raw or partially cooked fish 

and shellfish. Food of vegetable origin 

should be peeled or shelled. Boil or 

pasteurise all milk; 

• Exclude infected persons from handling 

food; 

• Wash vegetables and fruit in treated 

water before use; 

• Prepare and store food under proper 

hygienic conditions; 

• Cook food thoroughly in treated water 

and eat it while still hot, or reheat it 

thoroughly before eating; 

• Prevent contamination of food by 

contact with other contaminated raw 

food, contaminated surfaces or flies; 

• Wash hands thoroughly with soap after 

defaecation and before preparing or 

eating food; 

• Encourage individuals to use clean 

cutlery when eating; 

• Discourage the habit of several people 

eating simultaneously from a communal 

food container; 

• Left over food should be reheated 

before eating; 

• Encourage breast-feeding of infants. 

Sources: www.health24.com and 

www.doh.gov.za 

City reaches out to 

inform communities 

The City of uMhlathuze has partnered with the Department of Government 

and Information Systems to bring government closer to the people and to 

provide information on government programmes. 

At the beginning of February the Mzingazi community was invited to 

watch a live broadcast of President Kgalema Montlante’s State of the Nation 

Address on a big screen at the Mzingazi Community Hall. Afterwards Mayor 

Zakhele Mnqayi gave a translation summary together with remarks and the 

community were given the opportunity to ask questions. 

Later in the month the eSikhaleni community gathered in the hall at the 

Umfolozi College campus in eSikhaleni to listen to the KwaZulu-Natal Budget 

Speech. 

Above: The eSikhaleni community packed their local Umfolozi College campus 

to watch the KwaZulu-Natal Budget speech on the big screen and take part in 

a public participation exercise. 

Mayor Zakhele Mnqayi and city councillors join the Mzingazi community 

to listen to and discuss the State of the Nation Address at the beginning 

of February. 

9

Fish Eagle Swim takes to 

the water again 

The uMhlathuze Fish Eagle Coast Mile Swim, which was last hosted by the Municipality 

in November 2006, has been revived and took place in mid-February. 

The event, the fifth Fish Eagle Coast Mile Swim, was organised in conjunction with 

the Zululand Multi Sports Club and attracted one hundred and twenty-two swimmers. 

It also drew a good crowd of supporters despite the overcast conditions and slight 

drizzle at the start of the day. 

In years gone by the Fish Eagle Coast Mile Swim was one of the City’s major 

events on the swimming calender. The Department of Parks, Sport and Recreation 

is keen to revive the event as it is a good means of developing open water swimming. 

The Department would like to thank the volunteers from eNseleni and eSikhaleni 

who managed the pre- and post entries as well as the results. 

Results of the day are as follows: 

Junior 800m 

Males 8 to 10 years 

Wernau Roberts 

Tristan Botha 

Females 8 to 10 years 

Sule van der Merwe 

Minenhle Nkosi 

Shannon Botha 


Zokubngwa Zinhele 

Sashen Ponnusamy 

Evan Weyermuller 


Alicia Fourie 

Sandra Mansvelder 

Deja Kinsey 


Jaco Timmerman 

Rais Hiramen 

Nkosikhona Nkomo 


Marli Fourie 

Marjolein Mansvelder 


Rialdo Meyer 

Lukas Roos 

Jose Rodregues 

Senior 800m 


Prince Mthiyane 

Arlyn Harris 

Stephan Thompson 


Caroline Berridge 


Neville Botha 

Females 50+ years 

Barbara Berridge 

Sonia Visagie 

Junior 1.6km 

Males 8 -10 years 

Dylan Kilian 

Andre van der Linden 


Jade Schutte 


Marco Smit 

Tegan du Toit 

Mac van der Linde 


Erika Blendulf 

Dawn Schutte 

Liesel Blendulf 


Darryn Kilian 

Jarryd du Toit 

Ewalt Smit 


Megan Muller 


Raymond Schain 

Dewald Erasmus 

Lukas Venter 


Riza-Mari van Niekerk 

Tania Parke 

Senior 1.6km 


Mel Lawrence 

Menzi Zungu 

Trevor Hutton 


Horst Weyermuller 

Lindani Dube 

Bongani Manqanqa 


Trish Hodgeson 


Cornel du Toit 

Shakes Hiraman 

Johan Blendulf 


Colleen Struwig 

Dagny du Toit 

Males 50+ years 

James Speirs 

Females 50+ years 

Poppet Nel 

10

Izinga lezinkundla lezemidlalo 

zasezindaweni zasemakhaya 

liyathuthukiswa 

UMnyango wezamaPaki, ezemiDlalo nezokuZithokozisa usuqale 

uhlelo lokuthuthukisa izinkundla zemidlalo zezindawo zasemakhaya 

ukuze zifane nalezo zasemadolobheni. Lokhu kuhambisana 

nezinjongo zoHlelo lweNtuthuko eDidiyelwe lokufakela imiphakathi 

izinqala zizinda. 

Izindawo zasemakhaya ngokujwayelekile zifakelwa izindawo 

zokudlala ezingaqinile ngenxa yokubakude kwazo. Lezizindawo 

zenzelwe ukuzidlalela nje ukuze abadlali bathole ulwazi olwejayelekile 

kulowomdlalo ikhakhulukazi ibhola lezinyawo nelomnqakiswano. 

Nokho ukusetshenziswa kakhulu kwalezizinkundla 

nokunganakekelwa kwazo noma ukulungiswa ngankathi kwenza 

ukuba zisheshe ziguge. 

Ngenxa yokuthi akukhuthazi ukudlala ezinkundleni zemidlalo 

ezinganakekelwe, uMkhandlu-Dolobha wancoma ukuba kwenziwe 

ngcono izinga lezinkundla zemidlalo ezindaweni zasemakhaya. 

Izinga lezinkundla zemidlalo emadolobheni yilona elamukelekayo 

kanti kuzoba izinga eliphansi ekuthuthukisweni kwazo ngesikhathi 

esizayo. 

Izinkundla zemidlalo emadolobheni zihlala zilungiswa zibesezingeni 

elamukelekayo kanti zisethsenziselwa ukuzilolonga knaye nemidlalo 

emikhulu nemicimbi yokuzithokozisa ehlelekile. 

Izinkundla zemidlalo esiGcemeni 6 sezalungiswa zathuthukiswa 

ngesamba sama R380 000 yizona eziyinkomba yezinga 

eliyokwemukeleka lokuthuthukiswa kwezinye ngezikhathi ezilandelayo 

kulezindawo zasemakhaya. 

Ukwengezelela kulokhu uMkhandlu-Dolobha uncome ukuba 

kwandiswe isabelomali semisebenzi ngo R35 000 ngenkundla 

yezemidlalo ngayinye ngonyaka ukubhekana nezindleko zokulungisa 

nokuthuthukisa izinkundla zemidlalo ezisezindaweni zasemakhaya. 

E: The Department of Parks, Sports and Recreation has started 

the process of upgrading rural sports fields to bring them in line with 

the standard of sports facilities within the suburbs. 

New Sharks Board Base 

Station 

A new Sharks Board Base Station is under construction next to 

the premises of the Zululand Multi Sports Club. 

The location is ideal for the Sharks Board as it 

provides direct launching facilities that will improve 

the management of the nets. Operational 

personnel will be accommodated on site and 

provision has also been made in the master 

plan for an educational facility that will be 

aimed at drawing learners and tourists. 

The future use of the facilities 

that are to be vacated adjacent to 

Greenhills are being investigated. 

11 

Dates to diarise 

MARCH 

• 25 March Richards Bay WI monthly meeting at 09:00 

at the Richards Bay Library Hall. Contact Diane on 

035-7891682. 

• 27 March Free rabies clinic at the Veldenvlei Hall in 

Richards Bay from 08:00 to 14:00. 

APRIL 

• 1 April Cancer Support Group meets at 18:30 at the 

Bay Hospital Boardroom. Contact Theresa on 

035-7806123 or Zonke on 035-78924723 

• 1 April Mzingazi WI meets at 17:00 at the Richards 

Bay Library Hall. Contact Pat on 0833013515. 

• 2 April Richard Bay Floral Art Club meets at 14:00 in 

the Richards Bay Library Hall. Contact Bev on 

0824525744. 

• 3 – 5 April March Annual Bonsai Exhibition by the 

Zululand Bonsai Society at the Richards Bay Civic Centre 

• 7 April uMhlathuze Municipality Executive Committee 

meeting at 14:00 in Council Chambers, Richards Bay 

Civic Centre 

• 7 April uMhlathuze Council meeting at 17:00 in Council 

Chambers, Richards Bay Civic Centre. 

• 7 April Business Women’s Association Buzz Hour at 

Richards Bay. Contact Sherry Bevan on 035-7725518. 

• 8 April Interdenominational Prayer Meeting at the SAPS 

Empangeni inner garden from 07:45 to 08:15. Contact 

Janine Stone on 035-7725083. 

• 13 April Empangeni WI monthly meeting at Leisure 

Gardens at 14:30. Contact Shelly King on 035-7924939 

or 0839896278 

• 14 April Monthly meeting of the Richards Bay division 

of the Zululand Chamber of Commerce and Industry at 

12:45 at the Pelican Hall, ZCBF. Contact 035-7971858. 



• 16 April Monthly meeting of Zululand Chamber of 

Commerce and Industry Empangeni Division at 12:45 

at the Empangeni Country Club. Contact 035-7971858. 

• 21 April uMhlathuze Executive Committee meeting at 

14:00 in Council Chambers, Richards Bay Civic Centre. 



• 22 April Richards Bay WI monthly meeting at 09:00 at 

the Richards Bay Library Hall. Contact Diane on 

035-7891682. 

• 24 April Free rabies clinic at the Veldenvlei Hall in 

Richards Bay from 08:00 to 14:00. 



Talking about Drugs, a support group for rehabilitated 

drug users, meets in Brackenham at Bay Primary School 

on Fridays from 19:00 to 20:00 and at Arboretum at the 

AGS Church on Saturdays from 19:00 to 20:00. Contact 

Ps Christo on 0836458772 or Matthew on 0744384980. 

To advertise your event in uMhlathuze News and on 

the Municipality’s website www.richemp.org, contact 

Mandy Nel on 035 907 5403.

Burgemeerster ondersteun 

Rotariërs se “Connection Ride” 

Rotariërs het in Februarie vanaf die Empangeni Burgersentrum weggespring vir die 

2009 Verbindingstog. Dit is die vierde keer dat die Rotariërs hierdie fietstog aanpak 

en Hospies en Thuthukani Spesiale Skool is die hoof begunstigdes van die rit. 

Die fietsryers sal meer as 200km per dag ry en hulle sal nege bergpasse aanpak 

gedurende hierdie ekstreme uithourit. Hulle hoop om R1-miljoen vir liefdadigheid 

in te samel. Tydens die vorige drie geleenthede het hulle R2-miljoen ingesamel en 

hulle is alreeds besig om die 2010-rit te beplan, waartydens hulle selfs die pad vanaf 

Kaapstad tot Kaïro kan aanpak! 

Raadslid Manie Lourens het Burgemeester Zakhele Mnqai verteenwoordig by 

die wegspringpunt en hy het die burgemeester se boodskap oorgedra. Hierin het 

hy dank oorgedra aan die klublede van die Rotariërs vir hul ondersteuning van die 

gemeenskap, en veral diegene wie minderbevoorreg is. 

In sy boodskap het die burgemeester ook gesê die nasie se gesondheid en 

status word gemeet deur die mate van toewyding aan sportaktiwiteite en sosiale 

suksesse. “Vandag is ons hier bymekaar om ons ondersteuning aan die 2009 

Verbindingstog te betoon. Ons glo dat die rit noodsaaklik is indien die sukses van 

ons ontwikkelende gemeenskap hierop gebou kan word. Die sportiewe en sosiale 

waardie waaraan hierdie missie gekoppel is, is onmeetbaar. 

“Wanneer hierdie fietsryers vandag vertrek is daar heelwat aspekte in hul lewens 

wat beïnvloed word, soos byvoorbeeld hule gesinslewe. Hulle is hiervan bewus maar 

hulle word aangedryf deur die passie om uit te reik na mense. Hulle gaan voort in 

hule strewe na ‘n beter lewe vir almal. Ek wil graag die deelnemers aan die 

Verbindingstog ‘n reis vol geluk, vreugde, 

pret en God se Genade toewens,” he 

thy gesê. 

E: Rotarians set off from the 

Empangeni Civic Centre in February on 

the Connection Ride2009. This is 

Rotary’s fourth such ride to Cape Town 

and has Hospice and Thuthukani Special 

School as the major beneficiaries. 

uMhlathuze News - Also on: www.richemp.org.za 

Correspondence: Mr Cedric Koekemoer, Private Bag X1004, Richards Bay 3900. Tel (035) 907 5406. 

E-mail: ckoekemoer@richemp.org.za 

Articles, co-ordination: Gillian Readman, Mevamhlope Communications. Tel 0836420020. 

E-mail: greadman@iafrica.com Design and Layout: Alliance! Graphic Design 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

Provincial top honours for City - City of uMhlathuze

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