2011/11-November 2011 - City of uMhlathuze

uMhlathuze News
Official newsletter of the uMhlathuze Municipality
November 2011
Dr Sibeko gets the top job
The administration of uMhlathuze
Municipality finally has a new Municipal
Manager following Council’s decision at
the beginning of November to appoint Dr
Nhlanhla Sibeko, who has been acting
in the position since March 2011.
Dr Sibeko has a five year contract
running concurrently with the term of
office of the Council. He becomes the
second Municipal Manager of the City of
uMhlathuze and has solid credentials for
the top job having knowledge of local
government and the uMhlathuze
Municipality, in particular.
He is no stranger to uMhlathuze
having moved to Empangeni in the 1980s
from Ladysmith where he was born and
bred. His tertiary qualifications of BPaed,
BEd and DEd were obtained from the
University of Zululand. He also holds a
MA from the University of Durham (UK),
certificates in Management (MANCOSA),
Marketing and Market Research (UNISA).
After teaching in a few schools, including
the erstwhile Esikhawini College of
Education, he went back to lecture at the
University of Zululand until 2003 when
he moved into management of the
University.
Since April 2008 he has been carrying
out freelance work for government
departments. Apart from serving on the
Municipality’s Performance Audit
Committee, he also worked jointly with
the Municipality on projects during his
time with the University.
In this issue
Dr Sibeko gets the top job.................................1
Ten new refuse removal trucks .........................2
Gypsum dam earmarked for development ........2
Provincial Treasury kick-starts
airport upgrade .................................................3
Province to “Pay on Time”................................3
Meet the Speaker ..............................................4
In April 2009 he became the City’s
first Senior Manager following Council’s
realignment exercise. As Senior Manager:
Community Services, Dr Sibeko was
responsible for the departments of Health
(Clinic Services), Traffic and Licencing,
Waste Management, Environmental
Health and Parks, Sport and Recreation.
Libraries and the Fire and Rescue
Services were also included in his
portfolio.
Commenting on his appointment, he
said: “While I am only a small player in
the big picture, I am excited about being
given an opportunity to make a meaningful
contribution to the City. I am fortunate to
have a well disciplined, focused and
committed team of officials. I have the
utmost confidence in my team and I
appreciate the support they have shown
me while I was acting in this position. I
believe we can only grow and get better.”
Administratively he said that there
needs to be a balance between achieving
clean audits and service delivery. Issues
of clean audits are important as a
reflection on the way in which we run this
business, but the issue for people out in
the community is whether they have clean
drinking water and suitable roads to take
them where they want to go.
“To achieve our service delivery goals
we need to stimulate economic growth.
The Mayor is lobbying for a container
terminal and to improve rail infrastructure
in the City because infrastructure precedes
Ondernemingssentrum word
deur BHP Billiton...............................................4
Advertising is better on the big screen..............5
US Consul General visits uMhlathuze................5
Midbay Motors breaks ground on
new dealership..................................................6
ZCBF lease cancelled.........................................6
Umbukiso Wangaphambi KweCop17
Esikhaleni..........................................................7
Municipality gives back to the community ........7
development, which in turn leads to job
creation. In developing the City I would
like to see us capitalize on our unique
landscape, wetlands and coastal location
to create a beautiful, modern City.”
He added that the City has recently
enrolled more projects on the Expanded
Public Works Programme and will make
use, where possible, of manual labour for
projects to create employment
opportunities.
According to Dr Sibeko the City will
be developing its Communications section
to better market and brand the City of
uMhlathuze to give visitors a reason to
visit the area. Work on updating the
Municipality’s website has already started
and Dr Sibeko is also keen to give the
reception area of the Civic Centre a
‘facelift’ to create a positive and
professional image of the organization,
ease congestion and provide a more
welcoming environment for visitors.
City fights against substance abuse..................8
IZikulise Ikhipha izitifiketi Zoqeqesho
Lwamakhono ....................................................9
RBCAA Monthly Report: September 2011.........9
Indentured labourers remembered..................10
Dates to Diarise...............................................10
Become drug aware and know the signs.........11
City learns from Ugu’s pothole project............11
City gears up for Beach Festival ......................12
Important Municipal telephone numbers ........12

Ten new refuse
removal trucks
The reliability and quality of the refuse removal service in the City of
uMhlathuze is expected to be improved considerably with the addition of
ten heavy duty refuse compactor trucks to the Municipality’s fleet.
Council has asked officials to develop a specification and receive
proposals for the supply and delivery of the trucks, which are to be rear
loader types, fitted with top reefing and high-lift container handling equipment.
The trucks will replace ten waste trucks in the current fleet that have
been identified for replacement because they regularly need maintenance
and the maintenance costs for these vehicles have been rising above the
norm.
The need for new trucks has arisen because when Richards Bay and
Empangeni amalgamated little was done to increase the resources to deal
with the huge area that had to be covered in terms of waste removal. This
has put a strain on the current fleet, which is now old and highly unreliable.
As a result the City has been experiencing problems with its refuse removal
service during the past few years, attributed mainly to the non-availability
of waste trucks to service the City’s large customer base.
While the City has been experiencing a cash flow crisis in the past few
years, the City is also spending huge costs on maintaining the refuse fleet.
Recently the City also procured the services of an external service provider
for at least seven months to assist with five trucks to deal with the waste
removal backlog and to improve service delivery. This arrangement is a
short term solution costing the City about R450 000 per month.
The cost and budget for the new trucks, which is estimated about R20
million, is to be included in the adjustment budget for approval by Council
in this financial year as well an in the forthcoming financial years in line
with the financing agreement period.
The City’s Chief Communications Officer, Vukile Mathabela said Council’s
recommendation comes at an opportune time as Waste Management has
recently been plagued once again by major breakdowns in municipal refuse
trucks. The problem was worsened due to the unavailability of additional
hired trucks, two of which had been burnt by criminals.
2
Gypsum dam
earmarked for
development
Council is to cancel a lease agreement with
Foskor for a gypsum tailings dam located to the
west of the Bayside Aluminium Smelter in order
to unlock development opportunities.
This follows growing interest by various
entrepreneurs and companies to identify land
that is sufficiently large enough and close enough
to the Port of Richard Bay to accommodate the
proposed establishment of a bulk commodity
export facility.
The tailings dam is on Council-owned land,
namely the 124 hectare portion of the Reminder
of Erf 5333 Richards Bay, and was established
in April 1986 at the time when the fertiliser plant,
now known as Foskor, was established. Due to
the need to find a site to dispose of the byproduct,
gypsum, the company obtained the
necessary approvals to deposit the gypsum
sludge on the identified lease area.
The tailings dam was connected to the Foskor
plant via a pipeline and gypsum was pumped
onto the dam from 1986 to November 1991. At
that time Mhlathuze Water’s sea outfall pipeline
came into operation and the gypsum has since
been disposed of with the new pipeline.
The lease with Foskor is for an undetermined
period because although gypsum deposition
ceased, the company is still responsible for the
land until the gypsum becomes totally
environmentally acceptable. This includes
maintaining the dam and ensuring compliance
with environmental requirements, such as
monitoring acidy levels of the gypsum and its
possible effect on the surrounding groundwater.
The cancellation of the lease does not absolve
Foskor of its responsibilities to rehabilitate the
site in compliance with the requirements of the
Department of Water Affairs.
Meanwhile the area of the lease falls within
the footprint of the Port Development Framework
and Transnet envisages that the area will be
dredged to become part of the expanding port
area by 2035. While Council has been requested
by Council not to dispose of the land, it does
provide a window period of about 23 years for
other uses of the land.
Council is to now determine the market related
rental that is applicable to the tailings dam with
reference to potential commercial land uses.

Provincial Treasury kick-starts
airport upgrade
The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Treasury has committed
R11,5 million to repair and upgrade the runway at the
Richards Bay Airport following a visit to the area at the end
of October by MEC for Finance, Ina Cronjé and a high level
delegation from Treasury.
While the visit was ostensibly to introduce the
department’s “Pay on Time” campaign, which strives to pay
service providers within 30 days, it also gave MEC Cronjé
and her Treasury delegation an opportunity to interact with
local business as well as tour the harbour, airport and IDZ
with City councilors and officials to get a sense of the
investment prospects and development needs of these
facilities.
During the visit MEC Cronjé said: “We realise as the
Provincial Treasury that we have to have an in-depth
understanding of the infrastructure requirements. Richards
Bay is a major centre and the main economic hub of the
province and has been very valuable to the economy of
the country.”
At the airport MEC Cronjé heard that around R15 million
is required to upgrade the airport, and that business has,
since 2007, been lobbying for the re-instatement of limited
international status of the facility, which had been withdrawn
due to immigration control issues.
It was explained that some of the large companies
operating in Richards Bay have offices across the border
in Mozambique, and while previously they were able to gain
access to these offices through the Richards Bay airport,
they now have to fly to Johannesburg and then on to Maputo.
Not only does this take longer but it is also expensive.
Outlining the investment requirements, uMhlathuze
Deputy Manager: City Development Lindani Khoza said
repairs to the southern portion of the runway as well as the
widening of the turning circle, to accommodate SA Express’
new fleet of planes being introduced in March next year,
would cost in the order of R8 million. Upgrade of the
navigational equipment and replacement of beacons would
amount to around R2,5 million while replacing the corroded
fencing of the facility with new, protective steel fencing
would cost R4-million.
He added that a full master plan has been done for
future development of the airport.
Airport operator, Indiza and SA Express representatives
said they have started to process for the runway projects.
Erica Bates of SA Express said they have also seen a
demand for scheduled flights between this airport and
Bloemfontein, Nelspruit and Maputo and a small demand
for flights to Swaziland. “We currently have four to five flights
between Richards Bay and Johannesburg daily. Our new
fleet of larger aircraft would mean a shorter flight time and
lower prices due to the bigger capacity and improved
efficiency of the newer planes.”
The funding from Treasury has been received with
appreciation by the Municipality, which has until the end of
the provincial government’s financial year, 31 March to
allocate the funding.
While there is a demand from international investors to establish in the
Richards Bay IDZ, the challenge is the IDZ’s readiness to accommodate them,
CEO Ike Nxedlana explains to MEC for Finance Ina Cronje and uMhlathuze
Mayor Elphas Mbatha on a site visit to site 1A which is situated adjacent to
the Port of Richards Bay.
Province to “Pay on Time”
Provincial Treasury’s “Pay on Time” campaign, which was introduced
to the uMhlathuze business fraternity in October, serves to encourage
and commit government departments to pay suppliers within 30
days after service is rendered.
The campaign is touted as long overdue, ethical and considerate
by the business fraternity while government sees it as part of good
governance.
Encouraging entrepreneurs to interact with the department on
the campaign, MEC for Finance, Ina Cronjé, known for having pulled
provincial administration out of a two-year financial conundrum, after
helping government to get out of the overdraft, the focus is on
ensuring fair and transparent business relations with the province’s
business community, with specific reference to suppliers that do
business with government.
“This campaign gives us hope that even the provincial government
will assist by paying municipalities on time for services rendered,”
he said.
President of the Zululand Chamber, Sizwe Khumalo, said: “We
appreciate that Treasury has decided to bring this campaign to this
region. As business, we want to assist the government create more
jobs and grow the economy. We want to see new businesses being
started, new investments focusing on this region. We also get very
concerned when some businesses are not able to be sustainable
due to different reasons. But this campaign is one of the elements
that will help the business community in this region to, at least, not
look at government as the main cause of the crumbling of their
businesses,” he said.
Mayor of uThungulu District Municipality, Cllr Thembeka Mchunu,
said the district is fully behind the “Pay On Time” campaign because
many businesses are largely dependent on payments from provincial
government for the survival of their businesses. “This campaign has
a potential to help government fight fraud and corruption and ensure
good governance,” she said.
“We want both government and business to be pro-active and
ensure that any possible hiccups in the payment system are address
even before they occur. The campaign is now almost two months
old, and we hope the benefits for this campaign are going to be
shared by all involved,” concluded Cronjé.
3

Meet the Speaker
Council Speaker, Councillor
Mvuseni Mnqayi is well positioned
to represent the community of
uMhlathuze having been born and
raised locally in Empembeni
Reserve outside eSikhaleni. He
has also spent his working life in
the area as well and is passionate
about helping the community.
He is an open and caring person which, coupled with his drive
to help people, saw him undertake a year of private teaching at
his old primary school in Empembeni in the mid-1980s once he
had matriculated from Dlamvuzo High Shcool.
The following year he began his formal training to become a
professional nurse. After graduating he added to his qualifications
by completing diploma courses in midwifery and psychiatric nursing
before joining the nursing staff at Ngwelezana Hospital in 1991.
He worked in the hospital’s male medical and psychiatric wards
until 1995 when he joined Correctional Services in search of a
change in environment. During his time with Correctional Services
he was responsible for the overall healthcare offered at Correctional
Services centres stretching from KwaDukuza and Ballito in the
south to Ingwavuma in the north, as well as inland to Eshowe and
including Empangeni’s Qalakabusha Prision.
“My role was to supervise the nursing staff, mobilize doctors
to bring services to the centres, link with the district hospitals and
clinics and report to the provincial leader,” he said.
Commenting on how his nursing career has assisted him in
local government, Cllr Mnqayi said: “Nursing taught me to
understand people, the total make up of a person and to accept
and appreciate all types of people.”
His political awareness started in the early 1990s when he
became a member of NEHAWU (National Health, Education and
Allied Workers Union) while working at Ngwelezana Hospital and
later POPCRU (Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union) while at
Correctional Services.
Cllr Mnqayi adds: “Political developments in the country around
1994 motivated me to join with ANC as a member to work towards
the liberation of oppressed people in South Africa, Africa and the
world as well as to take part in the first democratic elections. The
ANC was the first political party I joined and in 1996 I also joined
the South African Communists Party.
With regards to his political teachings, he looks up to Chris
Hani and Nelson Mandela and has learnt a great deal locally from
Bheki Ntuli, former ANC Chairperson for the region.
“I became involved in local government in 2006 due to the
needs of our people and my personal growth in political
consciousness. I was deployed as a part-time councillor in
uMhlathuze by the ANC and became Speaker in March 2011
when the former Speaker, Cllr Elphas Mbatha was elected as
Mayor after the resignation of Mayor Zakhele Mnqayi.”
After the May 2011 Local Government Election, Cllr Mnqayi
was re-elected Speaker. As such he has been appointed to lead
Council and take control of the different political parties as they
engage in robust debates. He also leads Council’s community
participation efforts, including ward meetings and community
4
engagement as part of the Integrated Development Plan and
Budget processes.
“It’s important that we have two-way communication with the
community and involve local businesses, traditional leadership
and religious groups. As a Council we listen and try to solve the
issues of the communities, but we also need to continuously give
feedback to the community on these issues. It is pleasing to see
how the community support our public outreach initiatives and are
becoming more knowledgeable about local government matters.”
Working with the community is nothing new to Cllr Mnqayi
having been involved with the community work during his career
as a nurse. More recently he has served several years as
Chairperson of the Empangeni Community Policing Forum as well
as Cluster Chairperson for the Empangeni, Richards Bay,
Ntambanana and Mtunzini areas.
As Speaker, Cllr Mnqayi is also responsible for providing
support to councillors, including training and ensuring that
councillors abide by the legal prescripts so that they adequately
serve the community that elected them into the position. “For
example, every ward councillor is required to hold regular ward
committee meetings because it is at these meetings where the
community discussed issues that they would like to see brought
before Council.”
Cllr Mnqayi believes the Council is delivering on its mandate.
“We have achieved well with our water service delivery, which
stands at over 98%. Our electricity provision is also high, although
the areas where we are not the service provider remain a challenge.
We have paid special attention and provided budget for rural roads
and machinery for this purpose and now our focus is on sanitation.
We have allocated funds in the budget to fast-track our service
delivery in this regard because sanitation is key to the improvement
of our community and their health.”
Ondernemingssentrum
word deur BHP Billiton
BHP Billiton beplan om ‘n Ondernemingssentrum te ontwikkel
op die gronde van Hillside Aluminium. Dit sal bestaan uit
klein kantoorblokke en werkswinkels, hoofsaaklik vir die subkontrakteurs
wat op die Hillside Aluminium perseel werk.
Volgens ‘n verslag wat vroeër hierdie maand voorgelê is
aan die Uitvoerende Komitee, sal die ontwikkelilng van die
sentrum in drie fases geskied. Die eerste fase sal die bou
van ‘n tweede toegangsroete tot die gronde wees, terwyl
die tweede fase die bou van die sentrum sal behels wanneer
planne deur die Raad goedgekeur is. Die derde fase sal die
onderverdeling van Gedeelte 42 van Erf 5333, Richardsbaai
wees..
E: BHP Billiton proposes to develop an Enterprise
Development Village on the Hillside Aluminium site consisting
of small scale offices and workshops, mainly for subcontractors
working on the Hillside Aluminium site.

Advertising is better on the big screen
Due to the success of the new LED (light emitting diode) screen
recently installed by Eendee Billboards on Main Road in Empangeni
as part of Council’s outdoor advertising strategy, the Municipality
will be looking to expand the use of LED screens in the City during
the course of next year.
Earlier this year Council awarded a five year contract to Konige
PPE Trading of Ladysmith, following a public tender process. The
company enjoys the backing of Eendee Billboard Advertising
Franchise in Bloemfontein which undertook to design, manufacture,
erect, maintain and operate the new LED screen sign as per the
tender requirements.
Eendee’s sales representative in the City, Nicolette Roelofse
said the response to the LED screen has been extremely positive.
“We were expecting the screen to do well because we have high
quality standards and the screen speaks for itself. The response
from the general public has been great and has met our
expectations. A resident living behind the screen said it is a
blessing because its lights up the area and improves security.
Likewise advertisers have been very supportive and have
expressed their gratitude that the Municipality has brought the
LED screen to the City as it has put the City on the map.”
Outdoor advertising reaches the widest audience in the shortest
period of time. According to Nicolette about 2,2 million people
pass the LED screen per month making it a highly effective
advertising and communication tool.
“The screen is operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week
and we have a maximum of 40 advertisements. This guarantees
advertisers 10 flashes of their advert per hour, 240 flashes per
day and 7 200 flashes per month.”
The US Consul General based in Durban,
Taylor Ruggles visited the City of
uMhlathuze at the beginning of November
to promote political, economic and social
development.
The delegation started their visit with
a meeting with the City’s political and
administrative leadership where they
were given a solid overview of the
Municipality and its area of jurisdiction.
They also discussed the twinning
agreement between uMhlathuze and the
City of Milwaukee in the United States
and Mr Ruggles said he supports such
initiatives and would strengthen the
relationship between the cities by liaising
with investors about economic
opportunities in uMhlathuze.
Apart from the various economic
activities, Mr Ruggles also saw the
5
She added that the advertising costs are competitive with a
six-month contract selling for R2 200 per month and a 12-month
contract for R1950 per month. “We charge a once-off R700
administration fee and for this we design the advert and also
allow advertisers to change their advert for free once per month.”
Deputy Municipal Manager: City Development, Lindani Khoza
said that due to the overwhelming response and requests by the
business community, the Municipality is busy drawing up
specifications for a similar advertising board in Richards Bay. The
tender for this board is expected to be advertising during the first
quarter of 2012.
Likewise the Municipality
will investigate the possibility
of converting the static
advertising signage at
intersections to LED screens,
similar to that in Empangeni
but on a smaller scale.
Anyone interested in
advertising on the LED
screen can contact Nicolette
on 0844404418 while
anyone with feedback or
complaints about the City’s
outdoor advertising is asked
to please contact the
Outdoor Advertising Officer,
Shernon Murray on
035-9075401.
US Consul General visits uMhlathuze
tourism potential of the coastal City.
The delegation undertook a site visit
to the Port of Richards Bay to identify
possible economic opportunities and met
with staff and children of the
Thandakuphila community-based
organisation. He said that the US
government supports 111 programmes
throughout the country of which 35 are
in KwaZulu-Natal. Most programmes
focus on fighting HIV/AIDS.
Pictured after the meeting between
City leadership and the US Consulate
in Durban were (left): Xolani Zuma
(Mayor’s Manager), Mayor Elphas
Mbatha, Sizwe Shezi (Political and
Economic Advisor: US Consulate),
Taylor Ruggles (US Consul General),
Mbali Ndlovu (Deputy Municipal
Manager: Corporate Services), Pierce
Davis (Political and Economic Officer:
US Consulate), Methews Oliphant
(Acting Deputy Municipal Manager:
Community Services) and Mxolisi
Kunene (Chief Financial Officer).

Midbay Motors
breaks ground on
new dealership
Earthworks are underway on the new Midbay Motors development in the
Richards Bay CBD, which will be the first dealership in the country to carry
Volkswagen South Africa’s new corporate identity and will pioneer the
City’s motor city corridor concept in that area.
The development is situated on Erf 16590 and Erf 16591, which were
bought on public tender from Council earlier this year at a combined value
of R8,3 million. According to Dealer Principal and Director of Midbay Motors,
Kenneth Hodgson the company will be investing about R40 million into the
development over the next few years.
“We have seen the growth of Richards Bay over the past few years and
have seen the need for such a project because of what Richards Bay is
going to provide in the future. The development of the new shopping centre
and the new road infrastructure has been an important factor in our timing
of this development.
“They say that location is everything in business and we believe that
we can’t go wrong with our strategic location next to the University of
Zululand and the close proximity to the shopping centre. We hope that our
development will encourage other vehicle manufacturers to follow suit so
that we can create a ‘shopping centre’ for cars where customers can walk
from one dealership to the next to compare products and prices,” he added.
The development will have three phases, the first of which is expected
to open in March 2012 and will include a VW Mastercar site for pre-owned
vehicles as well as an exhaust repair facility, possibly a car hire business
and a one-stop shop for car accessories and services including smash
and grab for windows and a valet service.
Phase 2 will be the new VW showroom and should be complete by the
end of 2012 followed by workshops and roof-top parking by mid-2013 as
part of Phase 3.
In the meantime Midbay Motors is also making a R9 million investment
to its existing property at 100 Dollar Drive, where it is creating the first rural
Audi centre. The facility will be named Audi Centre Richards Bay and is
due for completion in March 2012.
6
ZCBF lease
cancelled
The Zululand Chamber of Business Foundation
(ZCBF) has been notified of Council’s decision
taken last month to terminate its lease agreement
between the two parties and for Council to take
over the functions of the ZCBF and management
of the grounds.
As part of Council’s decision the ZCBF has
been allowed a period until June 2012 to wind
up and ensure a smooth takeover by the
Municipality from the new financial year starting
1 July 2012.
Similarly the existing operational
management of the Park is to be engaged with
a view to framing the termination of their current
employment agreements, or absorption into
Municipal structures and the phased takeover
of the Park administration by the Municipality.
Council entered into a lease agreement with
the ZCBF in 1985 for a 32,2 hectare portion of
land for small business support initiatives,
accommodation of community support
organisations as well as fair and showground
purposes in accordance with the provisions of
the Richards Bay Town Planning Scheme.
In 2003 the area was increased with the
lease of an additional 12,7 hectares of land
situated between the ZCBF showground and
Hillside Smelter, which had the same terms and
conditions. Likewise in October 2003 the initial
lease period of 9 years and 11 months was
amended to 20 years, resulting in the agreement
for the combined area terminating at the end of
September 2023.
The lease agreement for the original 32,2
hectares has been registered in the Deeds
Office by the ZCBF, but the lease for the 12,7
hectares has not yet been registered. The
property has been extensively improved with
the assistance of local industries and various
halls and conference facilities have been
constructed that are available to the benefit of
the community.
However, Council is currently the largest
benefactor and supporter of the ZCBF initiative
in the form of subsidised rental.
Meanwhile the Deputy Municipal Manager:
City Development and the Chief Financial Officer
are to continue to co-ordinate the applicable
assessment of the ZCBF’s operational activities
in order to assess short and medium term
financial and administration implications for
Council and submit a report to Council during
February 2012.

Umbukiso Wangaphambi KweCop17 Esikhaleni
Ukulungiselela uMhlangano weNhlangano
yeZizwezonke wokuGuquka kweSimo
seZulu (COP17) ozobanjelwa eThekwini
kusukela ngomhlaka 28November kuya
kumhlaka 9 December nonyaka kuthe
phakathi no October kwenziwa umbukiso
womphakathi eKholiji lasEsikhaleni.
Lombukiso wawuhlelwe yiHovisi
lokuHlelela iCOP 17 elingaphansi
kweHovisi likaNdunankulu wesiFundazwe
limbambisene noMnyango wezoLimo,
Izindaba zeNdawo nokuThuthukiswa
kwezindawo zaseMakhaya kanye
noMasipala weSifunda sasOthungulu.
Injongo yalombukiso womphakathi
kwakuwukuqwashisa abantu ngoguquko
lwesimo sezulu kanye nomthelela walo,
ukuveza izinselelo zoguquko lwesimo
sezulu ezibhekene neKwaZulu – Natal
kanye nokufundisa, ukwazisa
nokubandakanya imiphakathi ngezindlela
engasiza ngazo ukunciphisa ukuguquka
kwesimo sezulu.
Ababebambe iqhaza kulomcimbi
kwakuwuNgqongqoshe woMnyango
wezeMfundo, uSenzo Mchunu obuye
abeyinqalabutho yesiFunda
sasOthungulu, uNgqongqoshe
woMnyango wezoLimo, Izindaba
zeNdawo nokuThuthukiswa kwezindawo
zaseMakhaya, uLydia Johnson, iMeya
yaseMhlathuze u-Elphas Mbatha, iMeya
yesiFunda sasOthungulu, uThembeka
Mchunu, iPhini leMeya yaseMhlathuze,
uZethu Gumbi, amakhosi, izinduna kanye
nezinkulungwane zamalungu omphakathi.
Council has approved sponsorship of R10 000 towards the
2011 Zululand Spelling Bee Competition, hosted by the
Zululand Fever, in line with the City’s Integrated Development
Planning Strategy of ensuring the social upliftment of the
community.
The competition aims to encourage a love of the English
language among schoolchildren from the rural areas, and to
foster excellence in language. Council’s sponsorship will be
used to sponsor a full page of words in the “Bee supplement”
in the Zululand Fever and to purchase books for the top three
spellers of the event.
In addition Council will provide the Richards Bay Auditorium
free of charge as the venue for the event.
A further R5 000 has been granted to Bring Back
Confidence International, to host a spelling and reading
competition for 35 schools, which will have 140 candidates
from Grade 7 and 8. The funds will be used to purchase school
Baqala usuku ngomkhankaso
wokukhuculula imigwaqo yasEsikhaleni
kwalandela ukuvakashela iKhandlela Junior
Primary School lapho laboNgqongqoshe
ababili batshala izihlahla njengenxenye
yomsebenzi wokwenza uhlaza.
Njengombukiso owawenziwe
ngaphambi koMdlalo webhola weNdebe
yoMhlaba ngo 2010 kwabanokuviliyela
lapho kwakuphethwe khona amafulegi
awowonke amazwe azobamba iqhaza
emigwaqeni yalelidolobha. ONgqongqoshe
neziMeya babephethe izingqwembe
ezinolwazi mayelana noguquko lwesimo
sezulu.
7
UNgqongqoshe uMchunu wakhuluma
ngokubaluleka kokutshalwa kwezihlahla
nokulondoloza ugesi namanzi. Wabuye
wakhuthaza umphakathi ukuba uzame
ukuphinda usebenzise izinto
obuzisebenzisa nokunciphisa
ukunukubezwa kwemvelo.
E: In preparation for the Congress of the
Parties (COP 17) to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC) taking place in Durban from
28 November to 9 December, a Pre-COP
17 road show was hosted at eSikhaleni
College in mid-October.
UNgqongqoshe wezeMfundo, uSenzo Mchunu, uNgqongqoshe wezoLimo, Izindaba
zeNdawo nokuThuthukiswa kwezindawo zaseMakhaya, uLydia Johnson, iMeya
yaseMhlathuze u- Elphas Mbatha kanye neMeya yasOthungulu uThembeka Mchunu.
bephethe izingqwembe ezinolwazi ngenkathi kuviliyelwa Esikhaleni.
Municipality gives back to the community
clothing, English dictionaries, trophies for the contestants and
other expenses.
Bring Back Confidence International is a group of five
community members from eSikhaleni who work to improve the
standard of English in schools, particularly those in rural areas.
Council has also approved the sponsorship of R10 000 to
the Zululand Diwali Festival Committee to use towards
celebrating the Hindi Festival of Lights in October. While not
a planned municipal event, Council’s sponsorship enabled
the Municipality to contribute towards cultural upliftment and
entertainment in the area.
Meanwhile In September the Municipality donated R10 000
towards the annual Hippo Rally in September as the rally is
a tourist attraction that offers the City and the Zululand region
an opportunity of marketing itself as a centre for tourism and
culture. The event attracts broadcast media thereby giving
the City extensive marketing exposure.

City spearheads fight
against substance abuse
The fight against substance abuse in the City of uMhlathuze
will have a more coordinated approach following the launch in
early November of the uMhlathuze Local Drug Action Committee
(ULDAC), which is intended to help realize the vision of a drug
free society.
The ULDAC was launched by the Department of Social
Development’s (DSD) Ongoye Service Office and the uMhlathuze
Municipality in line with the National Drug Master Plan (NDMP),
which contains government’s policies and strategies to fight
substance abuse in the country.
The NDMP is in place for five years after which it is reviewed
and updated. A review of the current NDMP, which expires at
the end of 2011, is underway. The NDMP prescribes the formation
of Provincial Drug Forums as well as Local Drug Action
Committees, which are required to formulate and implement
mini Drug Master Plans for their areas.
The Municipality’s Senior Human Resources Manager,
Vikash Singh is Chairman of the ULDAC and said the launch
was a “historic moment for the City” and that the committee
aims to promote the positive aims of the NDMP, namely of:
• Encouraging strong, positive family bonds
• Parental monitoring of children’s activities and their peers
• Clear rules of conduct that are consistently enforced within
the family
• Involvement of parents in the lives of their children
• Success in school performance and strong bonds with
institutions such as schools and religious organizations
• Adoption of conventional norms regarding drug use.
“Local drug action committees are closest to the people as
they are part of local government. The ULDAC, unlike many
other local drug action committees, initially will not look to set
out elaborate action plans but rather will work on utilizing what
activities the current stakeholders are engaging in with regards
to fighting the scourge of alcohol and drug abuse and work on
these collaboratively,” said Mr Singh.
He added that the ULDAC would like to become involved in
the initiatives of SANCA and other NGOs to promote the
awareness of the dangers of substance abuse and promote a
drug free society.
SANCA Zululand representative, Silungile Ndlovu said that
alcohol and drug abuse is extremely high in the area, especially
among school children and spoke of the dangers of drugs such
as ‘wunga’, which contains rat poison, and ‘cuba’, which can
cause cancer of the mouth.
Manager of Business Against Crime (BAC) Zululand, Dave
Whittaker applauded the City and its stakeholders for establishing
the ULDAC. He said that substance abuse is everyone’s problem.
“Don’t think that it can’t touch you,” he warned, sharing a story
of a former colleague who became involved with drugs and
now runs a drug rehabilitation centre.
8
He said that “BAC is here to support the police and help to
achieve what they need to achieve”. In this regard the organization
has been instrumental in lobbying for a specialized unit in the
area to give impetus to the fight against drugs since the South
African Narcotics Bureau (SANAB) is no longer active.
BAC has also introduced an email information line,
info@baczul.org.za, where the public can send confidential
information about drugs and firearms in the area so that this
can be handed to the relevant police unit.
See Page 11 for more information on Drugs
The University of
Zululand’s
Department of
Creative arts
provided
entertainment in
the form of musical
items as well as a
hard-hitting mime
performance to
portray the effects
of substance
abuse.
Local Drug Action Committee members

IZikulise Ikhipha izitifiketi Zoqeqesho Lwamakhono
Abalelwa ekhulwini amalungu omphakathi asandakuphothula
izifundo kumakhono ebhizinisi, ukubhaka, ukuthunga, imisebenzi
yobumba kanye nekhono lwamakhomputha esikhungweni
sokufundisa ngamakhono ebhizinisi iZikulise esisEmpangeni abe
esemukela izitifiketi emcimbini wokwemukeliswa lezitifiketi.
Uxhaso lwezifundo lwakhishwa ngabakwa Industrial
Development Corparation (IDC) kanye nabeNational Lottery kwathi
umcimbi wokwemukeliswa kwezitifikei wona waxhaswa
abasEmpangeni Life Garden Clinic.
Ekhuluma kulomcimbi, uThula Mkhwanazi oyiMeneja yeGatsha
leBusiness Partners eRichards Bay wanika iseluleko esiphusile
mayelana nokumele kwenziwe ukuze umuntu abe usomabhizinisi
onempumelelo. Wathi “Ukuze ube ngusomabhizinisi onempumelelo
kumele ube nothando, uchithe isikhathi kulokho okwenzayo kanti
osomabhizinisi abasebenzi amahora ajwayelekile asuka ehoreni
lesishagalombili kuya kwelesihlanu”.
Wanezelela ngokuthi ngaphandle kokuba nomqondo omuhle
webhizinisi, osomabhizinisi kumele bazi, baqonde inqubo
yokusungulwa kwebhizinisi kanye nemitheshwana kamasipala
mayelana nebhizinisi. Wathi, “Kunolwazi oluningi kabi olungatholwa
ngosomabhizinisi kwiZululand Chamber of Commence and Industry,
kwiBusiness Partners, Kwa- IDC kanye nakwi Small Enterprise
Development Agency (SEDA).
Kusenjalo iMeya yaseMhlathuze, u-Ephas Mbatha wabalula
ngokubaluleka kwendima edlalwa yiZikulise. Wathi izinhlangano
ezifana neZikulise ziletha ithemba kulabo abangakwazi ukuqeda
izifundo zabo. Wathi, “Akuyena wonke umuntu onomqondo
wokufunda ezikoleni ngakho uqeqesho namakhono atholakala
ezinhlanganweni ezifana neZikulise ziwukhiye wekusasa elihle
labaningi”.
Indaba eyimpumelelo eyisibonelo yileyo kaDominic Mchunu
oseqede izifundo zokubhaka, amakhono ebhizinisi kanye
namakhono ekhomputha ngayo iZikulise. OkuaMacingwane wathi,
“Uqeqesho engaluthola lungisize ukuba ngizethembe, lwangenza
ngabona ukuthi ngingakwazi ukuzenzela okuthile ngokwami
ngaphandle kokubheka ukuqashwa”.
UMchunu waqala ukubhaka amakhekhe ekhaya wangena imizi
ngemizi ethengisa lomkhiqizo wakhe. Wathi, “Abantu yibona
asebeza kimi bezofaka ama-oda. Ngethemba ukuthi ekugcineni
ngiyokwazi ukuvula ibhizinisi lami lokubhaka”
E: Around one hundred community members have recently
completed courses in business skills, baking, sewing, pottery and
computer skills at the Zikulise Entrepreneurial Skills Training Centre
in Empangeni and received certificates at a handover ceremony.
IMeneja yeGatsha leBusiness Partners eRichards Bay uThula
Mkhwanazi kanye nelungu leBhodi yeZikulise uWillis Nxumalo
benika amalungu omphakathi ayengabafundi izitifiketi zawo.
9
Usomabhizinisi osafufusa,
uDominic Mchunu
usenamaphupho nothando
lokukhulisa ibhizinisi lakhe.
IMeneja ePhezulu yeZikulise, uJulie
Johnson kanye neMeya
yaseMhlathuze u-Elphas Mbatha
emcimbini wokunikwa kwezitifiketi.
Richards Bay Clean Air
Association Monthly Report:
September 2011
SO2 Guideline (Sulphur Dioxide) Exceedances
There were no measured exceedances of the NEMAQA SO2
Standards. However, it is important to note that the Hawk
Model is used to produce concentration maps which predict
SO2 (Sulphur Dioxide) concentrations in areas where no
monitoring equipment exists.
The model predicted exceedences of the maximum daily
average SO2 concentrations over Felixton, Hillside Aluminium
and Mondi Richards Bay.
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 67
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 2 air quality complaints received for the month of
September. Of these, 9 related to odours from Mondi, 5 were
related to abnormal emissions from Hillside’s Fume Treatment
Center (FTC), and 3 were as a result of odours/emissions from
Foskor.
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

Indentured labourers
remembered in Brackenham
Champion of the uThungulu District, KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Education
Senzo Mchunu unveiled a plaque at the Brackenham Community Hall in
uMhlathuze at the beginning of October to commemorate the contribution
made by indentured Indian labourers to the area.
“This is a gesture of appreciation on behalf of all the people in the
uThungulu District to thank the Indian community for their assistance and
contribution to the liberation struggle and many other areas in building
the province and the country to where we are today. The Indian community
has provided leadership in commerce, industry, education and politics
and unleashed the cultural diversity of the province,” he said.
With around 152 000 Indians brought to South Africa as indentured
labourers to work in the sugar cane fields of KwaZulu-Natal in 1860,
Mchunu says they have come a long way. “We regard this as a celebration
that evil can and will be overcome. They came here and worked as slaves
under colonialism and later under the oppressive apartheid regime. We
salute those not named in the history books who assisted those who
fought against this oppressive regime. Despite the oppression, this sector
of our community has made a massive contribution to the economy of
the province and remained consistently focused on education thereby
making meaningful contributions in the fields of Law, Health, business
and the Sciences.”
Mchunu added that South Africa has strengthened its ties with India
through student and business exchanges. “India is among the fastest
growing economies in the Asian context, following second to China. Our
government’s work with Brazil and India will lead to us addressing
unemployment in our country.
“All Indians in the uThungulu District can walk tall and know that they
belong. If we forge a relationship, together we can turn this district into
an economic hub and with the business skills of the Indian community
can create more jobs for all the people in the region.”
Local businessman, Ishwar Ramlachman who facilitated the event
said this plaque is a tribute to the Indian community’s forefathers who
“struggled and toiled the soil” and to honour the legacy of Indians in
northern KZN.
He added that the Indian community contributed to education by
building more than 300 schools in the province but is now a sad fact that
children in schools today are facing bad vices such as drugs.
Responding to
the issue of drugs in
schools, Mchunu
said that everyone
needs to work
together to “stamp
out drugs so that we
can ensure that our
children can live in a
drug free society.”
MEC for Education,
Senzo Mchunu and
local businessman
Ishwar Ramlachman
agree that by
working together
they can uplift the
lives of the people
of the district.
10
Dates to Diarise
December
• 1 December Richards Bay Floral Art Club meeting at
14:00 in the Richards Bay Library Hall. Contact Bev on
0824525744
• 2 December Golden Oldies at 09:30 at the Empangeni
Civic Centre. Contact Elaine on 035-7721407 or
0824318110
• 3 December Empangeni SPCA Car Boot Sale opposite
the Zululand Observer from 09:00 to 13:00. Contact Di
Cadman on 035-7726515
• 3 December Fish Eagle Bonsai Kai meeting at 14:00.
Contact Betsy de Jong on 0722074079
• 7 December Mzingazi WI at 17:00 in the Richards Bay
Library Hall. Contact Rose on 082 598 6204
• 7 December Cancer Support Group monthly meeting at
18:30 in the Bay Hospital Boardroom. Contact Theresa
on 035-7806123 or Shirley on 035-7892472
• 8 December Empangeni Community Policing Forum
meeting at 17:30 at the Empangeni Civic Centre. Contact
Kevin Sukraben on 0726862205 or Capt Dludla on 035-
9015800
• 9 December Golden Oldies at 09:30 at the Empangeni
Civic Centre. Contact Elaine on 035-7721407 or
0824318110
• 10 December Zululand Bonsai meeting. Contact Barry
Stofberg on 0833249392
• 12 December Empangeni WI monthly meeting at 14:30
at Leisure Gardens. Contact Shelly King on 035-7924939
or 083 989 6278
• 13 December ZCCI Richards Bay Division monthly
meeting at 12:45 at the Pelican Hall, ZCBF. Contact
Charmaine 035-7971858
• 14 December Interdenominational Prayer Meeting at the
SAPS Empangeni inner garden from 07:45 to 08:15.
Contact Janine Stone on 035-7725083
• 15 December ZCCI Empangeni Division monthly meeting
at 12:45 at Umfolozi Hotel Casino and Convention Centre.
Contact Charmaine 035-7971858
• 16 December Golden Oldies at 09:30 at the Empangeni
Civic Centre. Contact Elaine on 035-7721407 or
0824318110
• 16 and 17 December uMhlathuze Beach Festival at
Alkantstrand. Contact Lerato on 035-907 5630
• 21 December Richards Bay Garden Club meeting. Contact
Eileen Russell on 035-7534250
• 23 December Golden Oldies at 09:30 at the Empangeni
Civic Centre. Contact Elaine on 035-7721407 or
0824318110
• 28 December Richards Bay WI monthly meeting at 09:00
in the Richards Bay Library Hall. Contact Diane 035-
7891682
• 30 December Golden Oldies at 09:30 at the Empangeni
Civic Centre. Contact Elaine on 035-7721407 or
0824318110
• 30 December Free rabies clinic at the Veldenvlei Hall in
Richards Bay from 08:00 to 14:00
• 31 December Richards Bay SPCA Open Day
• 31 December 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.

Become drug aware and know the signs
The City is a staunch supporter of SANCA and the work the organization
does in the uMhlathuze and greater Zululand community.
In recognition of SANCA Drug Awareness Week at the end of June,
which coincided with World Drug Day on 26 June, here is some information
about drugs, signs of possible drug dependency and tips for parents.
Signs of possible drug dependency
Physical indicators:
• Red/blood-shot eyes, visual distortion
• Markedly dilated or constricted pupils
• Unexplained, repeated vomiting or abdominal
pains
• Indistinct speech
• Excessive perspiration
• Delayed reflex action and lack of co-ordination
• Disorientation, dizziness, trembling of hands
• Regular nosebleeds
• General deterioration of health
• Inexplicable weight loss
• Injection marks/bruising/scabs/sores on arms, legs or private parts
• Yellow stains on hands/fingers as a result of smoking dagga
• Endless cold symptoms (sore throat, coughing, sniffing)
Behavioural indicators:
• Long interrupted sleeping periods or insomnia
• Change in appetite
• Aggressive/hostile behavior
• Unaccountable mood swings/personality disturbances
• Lack of communication with family
• Lying and dishonesty
• Guilty behavior, avoiding eye contact
• Disappearance for considerable periods, especially at nights; and
constant secrecy about whereabouts
• Sudden change of friends or becoming loners
• Hallucinations
• Theft (money, household articles) or abnormal spending
• Neglect of personal hygiene
• Untidiness, if previously tidy
• Impaired work performance, reduced concentration span
• Lack of motivation (school, hobbies, friends)
• Visits to clubs known as places where drugs are used/abused/sold.
Tips for parents:
• Make time to listen to your child’s problems and work through them
with him/her
• Give clear messages that the use of drugs and alcohol is forbidden
• Help your child to deal with peer pressure
• Get to know your child’s friends and their parents; don’t assure the
parents of your children’s friends have the same rules as you do.
Some have different rules and some have none
• Monitor your child’s whereabouts; if they say they’re sleeping at a
friend, have the friend’s phone number handy and don’t be afraid to
use it to check up on them
• Supervise teen activities and set an example in the healthy use of
leisure time
• Maintain an open and honest dialogue with your child
• Keep pocket money to a reasonable minimum. Drinking and drugging
are expensive habits
• Make sure your child’s cell phone is on and has airtime so that you
can contact him/her and visa versa.
11
If you know someone who is taking drugs it is best to take positive
action by remaining calm and stressing love and concern for the person.
Facilitate and communicate supportiveness and seek professional help
from your doctor, counsellor, spiritual leader, rehabilitation centres and
help lines. It would be beneficial to join a support group for parents in
the same situation and talk to someone about how you are feeling (a
counsellor/doctor). Lastly, read as much as you can about drugs and
drug addiction.
More about World Drug Day
World Drug Day is celebrated annually on 26 June. This year’s theme
was “Global action for healthy communities without drugs”, and
was meant to reinforce the role that communities play in addressing
the drugs challenge in society. It aimed to highlight the fact that
successful approaches in drug use prevention and treatment involve
families, schools and communities to build on protective factors,
and it further called upon communities to take action against drugs.
Source: SANCA Zululand
City learns from Ugu’s
pothole project
uMhlathuze Municipality is to put into practice a concept taken
from the Ugu District Municipality on the South Coast, which
implements community based construction and maintenance
contracts to solve the problem of potholes.
A delegation comprising Councillor Nonto Mzimela and
Deputy Municipal Manager: Infrastructure and Technical
Services, Sifiso Mdakane and three officials visited Ugu District
Municipality recently at the suggestion of the National
Parliamentary Transport Portfolio Committee (NPTPC).
The Ugu District Municipality model has a three-step
approach, which starts by mobilising and training the community,
followed by the establishment of a local manufacturing plant
and lastly the roll out of the project.
During Ugu’s pilot project over 5 250 potholes/patches were
repaired in three months and nearly 5 000 square metres of
severely damaged roads were fixed. A total of 650 tonnes of
material was used on the 200 roads that were addressed and
65 local people were employed for the duration of the pilot.
Although uMhlathuze Municipality has its own dedicated
pothole repair teams, it believes the concept of using community
based construction and maintenance contracts for various
other engineering maintenance programmes could be
successfully replicated in the City. Apart from a technical
intervention, it would also be a social intervention to develop
skills, create job opportunities and solve engineering issues.
Meanwhile during its visit the NPTPC indicated that R1,2
billion was allocated to KwaZulu-Natal for road upgrades and
the intention was for funding to filter down to District Municipalities
and then to Local Municipalities. At the request of the NPTPC
Council is to finalise and submit a business plan for the City’s
rural roads to Mr Stuart Farrow, an NPTPC member and
Member of Parliament. The business plan will then be used to
motivate the allocation of funding directly to Local Municipalities
in future.

City gears up for
Beach Festival
The Annual uMhlathuze Beach Festival takes place on 16 and 17 December and
the Department of City Development, together with the assistance of the
Municipality’s Sports and Recreation and Communication sections, are working
hard to ensure that the festival delivers fun family entertainment.
The event is a highlight on the City’s calendar as it helps to market the town
as a family tourist destination and also gives the Municipality an opportunity to
engage with the community on an informal level as opposed to the more formal
public participation efforts and ward committee meetings.
Due to the popularity of the giant water slide in previous years, this year the
Municipality will have two at the Festival along with an array of other inflatable
rides and games. Other activities include beach soccer, beach volleyball and
beach touch rugby as well as a skateboarding contest. Formal teams will play on
16 December and the general public is invited to take part the following day. Those
who are interested in playing are asked to contact the City’s Chief Tourism Officer,
Lerato Goeieman on 035-9075630 so that they can be included in a team.
Completing the programme are performances by top local artists, a flea market
and children’s activities such as face painting.
The Festival is a free event that is open to the uMhlathuze community and
visitors to the City, so come along and enjoy the fun! Watch the local media for
more information about the Festival.
uMhlathuze News - Also on: www.richemp.org.za
Correspondence: Vukile Mathabela, 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