2012/08-August 2012 - City of uMhlathuze
2012/08-August 2012 - City of uMhlathuze
2012/08-August 2012 - City of uMhlathuze
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<strong>uMhlathuze</strong> News<br />
Official newsletter <strong>of</strong> the <strong>uMhlathuze</strong> Municipality<br />
<strong>August</strong> <strong>2012</strong><br />
<strong>City</strong> sets a shining example<br />
Ugu delegation arrives on a learning visit<br />
Municipal Speakers from the Ugu District and the local<br />
municipalities that comprise Ugu District visited <strong>uMhlathuze</strong><br />
Municipality at the beginning <strong>of</strong> <strong>August</strong> to learn from <strong>uMhlathuze</strong>,<br />
being similar in size to most <strong>of</strong> the Ugu local municipalities.<br />
The itinerary included discussions about the Rules <strong>of</strong> Order<br />
and issues <strong>of</strong> protocol, the roles and responsibilities <strong>of</strong> the Speaker,<br />
the types <strong>of</strong> resources and facilities available in the Office <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Speaker and the <strong>City</strong>’s Public Participation programmes.<br />
In this issue<br />
<strong>City</strong> sets a shining example...................................1<br />
Hostel beneficiary list open for<br />
public comment ....................................................2<br />
Board appointment for Mayor...............................2<br />
Council briefs........................................................2<br />
UMkhandlu Wendawo Wengculazi Wenza<br />
Izinjongo Ezinohlonze ...........................................3<br />
IDolobha Ligubha Inyanga Yabesifazane...............3<br />
Councillors attend Risk Management training.......4<br />
eNseleni mall developers request extension..........4<br />
Massive affordable housing project for <strong>City</strong>..........5<br />
Veiligheidskameras kom in Munisipale Geboue ....5<br />
Municipality celebrates Mandela Day ....................6<br />
More title deeds are handed out............................8<br />
The delegation also attended Executive Committee and Council<br />
meetings and was able to likewise share their experiences with<br />
the <strong>of</strong>fice bearers <strong>of</strong> <strong>uMhlathuze</strong>.<br />
<strong>uMhlathuze</strong> Exco Councillor, Musa Mbokazi said the request<br />
by Ugu District to visit the <strong>City</strong> is an indication that <strong>uMhlathuze</strong><br />
is seen as a municipality that is ‘growing and progressing’ and<br />
is held in high regard by other municipalities due to its<br />
achievements.<br />
The Ugu District delegation included Speakers from the area as well as support staff. Back left: Cllr Musa Mbokazi (<strong>uMhlathuze</strong> Exco),<br />
Cllr Manie Lourens (<strong>uMhlathuze</strong> Chief Whip), Cllr Dumile Ngubo (Speaker <strong>of</strong> Muziwabantu Local Municipality), Cllr Sithembiso Cele<br />
(Speaker <strong>of</strong> Ugu District Municipality), Cllr Elphas Mbatha (<strong>uMhlathuze</strong> Mayor), Cllr Ronnie Nair (Speaker <strong>of</strong> Hibiscus Coast Local<br />
Municipality), Cllr Sykes Naidoo (Speaker <strong>of</strong> Mdoni Local Municipality), Cllr Amon Mpisi (Speaker <strong>of</strong> Ezinqoleni Local Municipality);<br />
Cllr Meera Sookroo (<strong>uMhlathuze</strong> Exco). Front left: Cllr Mvuseni Mqayi (<strong>uMhlathuze</strong> Speaker), Cllr Zethu Gumbi (<strong>uMhlathuze</strong> Deputy<br />
Mayor), Cllr Sizwe Ngcobo (Speaker <strong>of</strong> Umzumbe Local Municipality) and Cllr Delo Hlengwa (Speaker <strong>of</strong> Vulamehlo Local Municipality).<br />
Community Health Centre for eSikhaleni...............8<br />
Zikulise completes training courses......................9<br />
RBCAA Monthly Report: June <strong>2012</strong> ......................9<br />
Renewable Energy projects sought for <strong>City</strong>.........10<br />
<strong>City</strong> considers Beach Soccer Cup proposal.........11<br />
<strong>uMhlathuze</strong> comes out tops in<br />
National Treasury report......................................11<br />
Budding junior Picassos on display ....................12<br />
Important municipal telephone numbers ............12
Hostel beneficiary list<br />
open for public comment<br />
A tender has been awarded to refurbish the three blocks <strong>of</strong> Chief<br />
Albert Luthuli hostel (H395) in eSikhaleni and the proposed allocation<br />
list <strong>of</strong> residents at this hostel has been advertised in the local media<br />
to give residents an opportunity to object.<br />
Groundwork Management Consultancy was contracted to attend<br />
to allocation issues at the J223 (Sokesimone), J1<strong>08</strong>3 (Sinqobile),<br />
J1169 (Madlala), H862 (King Cetshwayo) as well as H395 (Chief<br />
Albert Luthuli).<br />
The consultants undertook the re-allocation process in<br />
consultation with the affected hostel residents and their<br />
representatives and applied the relevant criteria, i.e. registered on<br />
the 2003 survey etc. A number <strong>of</strong> special cases emerged. These<br />
cases are mainly persons who missed hte 2003 survey due to family<br />
or work reasons and neighbours or fellow residents were able to<br />
vouch that these persons were residents <strong>of</strong> the hostel even prior<br />
to the 2003 survey.<br />
Importantly only five allocations have been done in Block H,<br />
leaving 13 units unallocated and reserved for additional special<br />
cases that may surface or to accommodate overcrowding at other<br />
hostels.<br />
The eligibility <strong>of</strong> those H395 residents and special cases who<br />
are satisfied to pursue housing opportunities at Umhlathuze Village<br />
will be evaluated by the Department <strong>of</strong> Human Settlements as part<br />
<strong>of</strong> the beneficiary approval process. Infraserv, the implementing<br />
agent at Umhlathuze Village, has been given instruction to prioritise<br />
the construction <strong>of</strong> houses for hostel displacees.<br />
Meanwhile Council has extended the contract period given to<br />
Sthombe Contracts and Supplies, he contractor awarded the contract<br />
to refurbish H395 Chief Albert Luthuli hostel in eSikhaleni. The<br />
period has been extended to 11 January 2013 due to unforeseeable<br />
delays with the project, including Council’s forensic investigation<br />
into human settlement matters, which were not the fault <strong>of</strong> the<br />
contractor. Additional expenditure <strong>of</strong> R67 0000 has also been granted<br />
due to the delays.<br />
Board appointment<br />
for Mayor<br />
MEC for Economic<br />
Development and Tourism,<br />
Mike Mabuyakhulu has<br />
appointed <strong>uMhlathuze</strong> Mayor<br />
Elphas Mbatha as a Board<br />
member <strong>of</strong> the Richards Bay<br />
Industrial Development Zone<br />
for a five year term effective<br />
1 July <strong>2012</strong>.<br />
2<br />
Council briefs<br />
Services to Zulti South Mine<br />
Council has granted permission for the provision <strong>of</strong><br />
industrial water by Mhlathuze Water to Richards Bay<br />
Minerals’ Zulti South Mine and is to finalise its application<br />
for the extension <strong>of</strong> the electricity distribution licence to<br />
include the mining areas in the Municipality’s distribution<br />
area <strong>of</strong> supply.<br />
The provision <strong>of</strong> industrial water is on condition that<br />
the feasibility <strong>of</strong> doubling the emergency supply to<br />
Cubhu Water Treatment Works be investigated as the<br />
preferred option and that Council be given the first<br />
priority in the usage <strong>of</strong> infrastructure once mining<br />
activities are completed.<br />
Valuation date set<br />
1 September <strong>2012</strong> has been determined as the fixed<br />
date to start with the preparation for the General Valuation<br />
Roll: Second General Valuation Cycle.<br />
The Municipality is in the process <strong>of</strong> appointing a<br />
new Municipal Valuer who will commence with the<br />
preparation <strong>of</strong> the General Valuation Roll that will be<br />
applicable for the next four year cycle.<br />
Building statistics<br />
Quarterly building statistics for 1 January to 30 March<br />
<strong>2012</strong> show that 112 building plans were approved and<br />
79 buildings were completed. The estimated cost <strong>of</strong> the<br />
completed buildings is about R66 million.<br />
Council generated an income <strong>of</strong> R204 000 from the<br />
submission <strong>of</strong> building plans during this quarter.<br />
Amendments to Richards Bay Town Planning<br />
Scheme<br />
Council has approved amendments to the Richard Bay<br />
Town Planning Scheme in course <strong>of</strong> preparation, which<br />
updates definitions and scheme clauses relating to<br />
Industrial Land Uses.<br />
The changes will benefit the environment in that<br />
Council will be in a better position to enforce the air<br />
quality buffer areas which were adopted in 2006.<br />
Council will allow three years from the date <strong>of</strong><br />
adoption <strong>of</strong> these amendments to allow industries to<br />
apply for rezoning from “General Industrial” to “Restricted<br />
Industrial” if the relevant site is zoned “General Industrial”<br />
or a similar industrial zoning and the industry applying<br />
for the rezoning can prove that it was operating as a<br />
“restricted industry” at the date <strong>of</strong> the adoption <strong>of</strong> the<br />
scheme amendment.<br />
The cost <strong>of</strong> such rezoning procedures, which shall<br />
be lodged in terms <strong>of</strong> the KZN Planning and Development<br />
Act 20<strong>08</strong>, shall be borne by Council.
UMkhandlu Wendawo Wengculazi<br />
Wenza Izinjongo Ezinohlonze<br />
UMasipala waseMhlathuze uselwamukele<br />
icebo lokulwa nengculazi nesandulela<br />
sayo, izifo ezisabalaliswa ngocansi nesifo<br />
s<strong>of</strong>uba. Lelicebo libeka izinhloso zika<br />
2016 zokuba kwehliswe ngenxenye inani<br />
labantu abatheleleka ngegciwane<br />
lengculazi okokuqala nokwehlisa<br />
ngenxenye inani labantu abatheleleka<br />
ngesifo s<strong>of</strong>uba okokuqala nokufa.<br />
Injongo wukuba inxenye engama 80%<br />
yabantu abatheleleke ngegciwane<br />
bakwazi ukuthola imishwanguzo<br />
yokudambisa igciwane, kuthi kusenjalo<br />
kwehliswe ukuzenyeza mayelana<br />
nengculazi neTB kanye nokuvikela<br />
amalungelo alabo abaphila negciwane<br />
lengculazi nesandulela-gculazi.<br />
IPulani leDolobha eliwuMhlahlandlela<br />
lemiNyaka emiHlanu lethulwa mhla<br />
kubekwa uMkhandlu weNdawo<br />
weNgculazi ekupheleni kukaJuly kanti<br />
lihlose ukuhambisana namapulani<br />
kazwelonke nawezifundazwe ngokulwa<br />
nengculazi nesandulela-ngculazi ezingeni<br />
lendawo.<br />
Ukuze leliPulani lisebenze ngemfanelo,<br />
kudingeke ukuba kwenziwe iPulani<br />
lokuSebenza okuyilona elihlonza izinto<br />
okumele zenziwe ukuze kufezeke<br />
izinhloso nokubheka iqhaza okumele<br />
libanjwe yilabo abathintekayo<br />
kulomsebenzi.<br />
Okubaluleke kakhulu wukuthi iPulani<br />
libe nendlela yokukala lezozinto okumele<br />
zenziwe nanokwenezela izinto okumele<br />
zenziwe kanye nokwenza uhlelo lonyaka<br />
lwawo uMkhandlu Wendawo weNgculazi.<br />
IMeya yaseMhlathuze u-Elphas<br />
Mbatha wethula ngokusemthethweni<br />
uMkhandlu weNdawo weNgculazi wabe<br />
esebeka amazwi okukhumbula uNkosi<br />
Johnson noGugu Dlamini asebedlula<br />
emhlabeni, ebonga iqhaza ablibamba<br />
ekulweni nokuzenyeza okuhambisana<br />
nengculazi nesandulela-ngculazi.<br />
Ekhumbula usuku lokuzalwa<br />
kukaMongameli uNelson Mandela<br />
ngoJuly, iMeya uMbatha yabuye<br />
yambonga ngendima ayidlala ekulweni<br />
nalesisifo ngezikhathi zawo 1990 kanye<br />
nyeNelson Mandela Foundation.<br />
OkaShandu wathi, “Njengoba sethula<br />
loMkhandlu we-AIDS, sikhumbula ukuthi<br />
izinselelo ezintathu (ukweswela<br />
umsebenzi, ubuph<strong>of</strong>u nokungalingani)<br />
kulokhu kuqhubeka njalo<br />
nokubhebhethekisa ingculazi ezweni<br />
lethu.”<br />
3<br />
Waqhuba wathi, “Kumele sazi ukuthi i-<br />
AIDS ilokhu iyingqinamba enkulu ekufezeni<br />
izinhloso zenthuthuko zika 2015 e-Africa.<br />
Iqiniso lokuthi iNingizimu Afrika kukholelwa<br />
ukuthi yiyona enabantu abaningi<br />
kunawowonke amazwe emhlabeni<br />
abakhungethwe yingculazi kuyakhathaza.”<br />
Wabuye wenezelela wathi, “Kumele<br />
sikhathazeke ngokuthi iKwaZulu-Natal<br />
yisona sifundazwe esiphezulu<br />
kunazozonke esinabantu abaphila<br />
nalolubhubhane. Izibalo zikhomba ukuthi<br />
isifunda sethu sinabantu abaningi<br />
asebatheleleka. Ngikholwa wukuthi icebo<br />
esizolamukela namuhla lizokwazi<br />
ukubhekana ngqo nalenselelo.”<br />
E: <strong>uMhlathuze</strong> Municipality launched<br />
the <strong>City</strong>'s Local AIDS Council (LAC) in<br />
July and unveiled the Local Draft Five-<br />
Year Strategy Plan, which sets goals for<br />
2016 <strong>of</strong> halving the number <strong>of</strong> new<br />
HIV/AIDS infections and halving the<br />
number <strong>of</strong> new TB infections and deaths.<br />
The objective is to have 80% <strong>of</strong> infected<br />
people eligible for anti-retroviral treatment,<br />
while also reducing the stigma related to<br />
HIV and TB and protecting the rights <strong>of</strong><br />
those living with HIV and AIDS.<br />
IDolobha Ligubha Inyanga Yabesifazane<br />
Selokhu kwaqala intando yeningi, iNingizimu<br />
Africa isithathe amagxathu aqotho<br />
ukuthuthukisa ukulingana ngokobulili<br />
nokunika igunya kwabesifazane<br />
Eminyakeni engamashumi amabili edlule<br />
selikhuphukile inani labesifazane<br />
abasePhalamende nakuHulumeni.<br />
Isakhiwo semithetho nenqubomgomo<br />
kahulumeni mayelana nokulingana ngokubulili<br />
ezweni iyingqikithi enezinhlaka ezahlukene.<br />
Imithetho enentuthuko ibandakanya:<br />
• UMthetho oGqugquzela ukuLingana<br />
nokuVimbela uBandlululo olungeluhle<br />
• UMthetho woKwenzelela ngokuQashwa<br />
• UMthetho woDlame lwaseKhaya<br />
• UMthetho wamaCala oCansi<br />
• UMthetho woMshado weNdabuko<br />
• UHulumeni umatasa ngokuphothula<br />
uMthetho-sivivinyo wokuNika iGunya<br />
Abesifazane nokuLingana ngokoBulili<br />
UHulumeni ubeke eqhulwini ukuthuthukiswa<br />
kwabesifazane kwezomnotho nokuthuthukiswa<br />
kwezindawo zasemakhaya.<br />
Source: www.info.gov.za<br />
UMasipala waseMhlathuze ufisela bonke abesifazane beDolobha izilokotho ezinhle<br />
ekugubheni iNyanga YabeSifazane kaZwelonke ngo-<strong>August</strong> enesiqubulo esithi,<br />
“Iminyaka engama 56 yabesifazane behlangene ukulwa nobuph<strong>of</strong>u, ukungalingani<br />
kanye nokweswela umsebenzi.<br />
IDolobha laseMhlathuze liyakwamukela ukuthi ukukhuthaza ukulingana<br />
ngokobulili kanye nokunika igunya kwabesifazane kuyingqikithi yayoyonke imizamo<br />
ehlose ukunqanda ubuph<strong>of</strong>u kanye nokugqugquzela intuthuko esimeme. Kuningi<br />
osekwenziwe kulomkhakha njengokuqashwa kwabesifazane ezikhundleni<br />
zokuphatha, ukuthuthukiswa kwamabhizinisi asafufusa amaSMME kanye<br />
nokuthuthukiswa kwamakhono entsheni yendawo.<br />
IDolobha libuye lesekela imikhankaso elwa nobudlova obubhekiswe<br />
kwabesifazane njengokuhlukumezeka kwasekhaya, kwezokuhweba,<br />
ukushushumbiswa kwabantu njalonjalo.<br />
Ekuqaleni kwalenyanga kugujwe uSuku lwabeSifazane kuZwelonke kulolonke<br />
izwe ukukhumbula usuku okwathi ngo 1956 abesifazane bazozonke izinhlanga<br />
kuyoyonke imikhakha yempilo bamasha baqonda eZakhiweni zikaHulumeni<br />
bephikisana nemithetho yobandlululo eyayicindezela.<br />
Lenqophamlando yemashi yaba yindima ebalulekile ekulwleni inkululeko<br />
yabesifazane esizweni sonke. Kusukela ngalelolanga abesifazane bayoyonke<br />
imikhakha yempilo babambisana ngokulinganayo ekulweleni iNingizimu Africa<br />
engabandlululi ngobuhlanga nangobulili.<br />
E: <strong>uMhlathuze</strong> Municipality wishes all the best to all the women in the <strong>City</strong> in<br />
celebration <strong>of</strong> National Women’s Month in <strong>August</strong>, which has the theme <strong>of</strong> "56<br />
years <strong>of</strong> women united against poverty, inequality and unemployment".
Councillors attend Risk Management training<br />
The National Department <strong>of</strong> Treasury<br />
visited the <strong>City</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>uMhlathuze</strong> at the<br />
beginning <strong>of</strong> <strong>August</strong> to present Risk<br />
Management training to councillors. The<br />
interactive session was aimed at equipping<br />
them will the skills to better identify key<br />
risks and obstacles that threaten the<br />
objectives <strong>of</strong> the Municipality as well as<br />
to design and implement measures to<br />
manage the risks to acceptable levels.<br />
“Risk Management is about seeing a<br />
problem coming and being able to take<br />
steps to minimise that problem rather than<br />
waiting for it arrive and then trying to<br />
manage the problem. Using Risk<br />
Management properly will take the<br />
eNseleni mall developers request another extension<br />
LST Investments, the company developing the eNseleni<br />
shopping mall, has been invited to address the <strong>City</strong><br />
Development Portfolio Committee on the reasons for the<br />
continuous delays with the project.<br />
This follows a request to Council to grant a further extension<br />
<strong>of</strong> time <strong>of</strong> 18 months to finalise the acquisition <strong>of</strong> privately<br />
owned properties and Township Establishment procedures.<br />
The company concluded a Sale Agreement in <strong>August</strong> 2007<br />
and when the period granted to fulfil their Suspensive Conditions<br />
lapsed they were granted with further extensions on various<br />
occasions. The last extension lapsed in January <strong>2012</strong>.<br />
The subdivision and rezoning was approved by Exco in<br />
November 2011. The consolidation was approved by Exco in<br />
Municipality to a new level,” encouraged<br />
Phukuile Masudubele, one <strong>of</strong> the trainers.<br />
Risk Management is everyone’s<br />
responsibility with the Municipality. Council,<br />
as the executive authority, is responsible<br />
for establishing Risk Management and<br />
ensuring the effective functioning there<strong>of</strong>.<br />
The Municipal Manager, as the Accounting<br />
Officer, is accountable for the overall<br />
governing <strong>of</strong> Risk Management and<br />
setting an appropriate tone within the<br />
organisation. Management and <strong>of</strong>ficials<br />
at the various levels are responsible for<br />
Risk Management issues in their daily<br />
activities, such as ensuring that they lock<br />
their <strong>of</strong>fices when they leave.<br />
4<br />
The benefits <strong>of</strong> effective Risk Management<br />
for the <strong>City</strong> include better allocation <strong>of</strong><br />
scarce resources through prioritisation,<br />
improved service delivery and achieving<br />
municipal targets.<br />
Course presenters Bheki Gutshwa, Phukuile Masudubele and Rudzani Funzani from National Treasury with Shaylene Adonis, the<br />
Municipality’s Chief Human Resources Officer: SHE Risk Management and some <strong>of</strong> the councillors who attended the training session.<br />
February <strong>2012</strong>, however, an approved Surveyor-General<br />
diagram <strong>of</strong> the consolidated properties will only be issued<br />
once all the properties are under one ownership.<br />
The closure <strong>of</strong> the street application was forwarded to the<br />
Department <strong>of</strong> Cooperative Governance in <strong>August</strong> 2011 and<br />
is still awaiting approval.<br />
Therefore, the Township Establishment procedure has<br />
been finalised except for the consolidation <strong>of</strong> properties. This<br />
process is being delayed because the properties with different<br />
ownership cannot be consolidated.<br />
Five <strong>of</strong> the eight properties involved in the development<br />
are still privately owned. Currently there are delays winding<br />
up the assets for one property <strong>of</strong> the deceased estate.
Massive affordable housing project for <strong>City</strong><br />
Council has given its in principle support to a massive six<br />
thousand unit housing project proposed for Richards Bay, which<br />
would see a direct investment <strong>of</strong> R4 billion and the creation <strong>of</strong><br />
about 12 300 job opportunities over an eight to ten year period<br />
for the <strong>City</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>uMhlathuze</strong>.<br />
The project has been mooted by a high-level consortium<br />
consisting <strong>of</strong> Sappi Southern Africa as the land owners, Mutual<br />
Construction Company (MCC) as the property developers,<br />
Lereko Investments (Pty) Ltd as Sappi s BEE shareholder and<br />
AMB Capital Limited, an independent financial services company.<br />
A delegation led by Valli Moosa, the former National Minister<br />
<strong>of</strong> Environmental Affairs and Tourism and a founding partner <strong>of</strong><br />
Lereko, initially presented the concept plan to Council and way<br />
forward to the Council in October 2011.<br />
The consortium s research into the housing needs <strong>of</strong> the<br />
<strong>City</strong> revealed that the rental market is underdeveloped and there<br />
is a dire need for affordable housing. As such the emphasis <strong>of</strong><br />
the development will be to provide affordable housing, thereby<br />
creating exciting opportunities for new home owners, local<br />
contractors and labour in the area. There is also willingness to<br />
include a social housing component to the development should<br />
the demand exist.<br />
The proposed 361 hectare project is situated north <strong>of</strong><br />
Birdswood. The development will be mixed use and constructed<br />
in 16 phases over a period <strong>of</strong> eight to 10 years.<br />
Included in the development is:<br />
• A commercial stand <strong>of</strong> 23 612m 2<br />
• An <strong>of</strong>fice stand <strong>of</strong> 4 471m 2<br />
• Filling station erf <strong>of</strong> 5 276m 2<br />
• Community facilities totalling 10 265m 2<br />
• Hospital <strong>of</strong> 29 984m 2<br />
• Frail care facility <strong>of</strong> 12 933m 2<br />
• Worship and pre-school stands <strong>of</strong> 9 052m 2<br />
• A high school stand <strong>of</strong> 42 711m 2<br />
• Two primary schools totalling 57 599m 2<br />
• An electrical substation <strong>of</strong> 927m 2<br />
• 262 single residential stands zoned “Low density<br />
residential 1”<br />
• A retirement village <strong>of</strong> 265 units covering 88 471m 2<br />
• 94 medium density residential stands consisting <strong>of</strong> 2 422<br />
units (30 units per hectare) covering 821 272m 2<br />
• 51 high density residential stands consisting <strong>of</strong> 3 177 units<br />
(60 units per hectare) covering 533 600m 2<br />
• Open space <strong>of</strong> 105 990m 2 .<br />
Mr Moosa said: This is a large development project that will<br />
open up a number <strong>of</strong> suburbs for the <strong>City</strong>. We believe this<br />
development would change the face <strong>of</strong> the <strong>City</strong>. When the project<br />
starts it will be one <strong>of</strong> the biggest construction projects being<br />
undertaken in the country at that time.<br />
He added: The Environmental Impact Assessment is at an<br />
advanced stage and the application is to be submitted imminently.<br />
The application for rezoning <strong>of</strong> the land is also imminent. The<br />
estimated launch <strong>of</strong> the project is well timed for <strong>2012</strong> and<br />
marketing will be launched at the same time. This may seem<br />
fast but we have been working on this project for the past three<br />
years doing planning, business modelling and raising the initial<br />
development capital.<br />
5<br />
The SAPPI Development Project was well received by Councillors<br />
during a presentation. Seen after the presentation are (left):<br />
Valli Moosa (Lereko) and (right) Mayor Elphas Mbatha<br />
Meanwhile timing <strong>of</strong> the phases and the development <strong>of</strong><br />
social services, such as schools, will largely depend on how<br />
quickly stands are snapped up once they are available for sale.<br />
Likewise the delegation was unable to give an indication <strong>of</strong><br />
prices. This is not a low cost housing or RDP housing project.<br />
As it is a commercial development, it would not be wise to give<br />
numbers and prices at this stage, but it is our intention for the<br />
development to be affordable. Within the affordable bracket there<br />
will be an upper level <strong>of</strong> affordability and a lower level, said Mr<br />
Moosa.<br />
The formalisation <strong>of</strong> the township will be further considered<br />
during the Environmental Impact Assessment and the KZN<br />
Planning and Development Act processes.<br />
Veiligheidskameras kom<br />
in Munisipale Geboue<br />
‘n Tender vir die voorsiening, instellasie en bedryf van Geslote<br />
Kringtelevisie (GKTV) is aan Iqhila Security and Projects<br />
toegeken. Die tender is ter waarde van R310 000 en<br />
daarvolgens sal GKTV binne die munisipale geboue<br />
geïnstalleer word en die staf sal opgelei word om die<br />
suksesvolle werking van die stelsels te verseker.<br />
Die kontrak sluit in die instellasie van<br />
kringtelevisiekameras in die Departement van Finansies,<br />
die parkeergebied aan die buitekant en die Loodgietersafdeling,<br />
sowel as die kantore van die Burgemeester,<br />
Munisipale Bestuurder en die raadslede..<br />
E: Iqhila Security and Projects has been awarded a<br />
R310 000 contract to supply, install and commission CCTV<br />
camera systems within the municipal buildings as well as<br />
transfer the necessary skills to ensure the successful<br />
operation <strong>of</strong> the systems.
Municipality celebrates Mandela Day<br />
magnificently<br />
Councillors and <strong>of</strong>ficials <strong>of</strong> the <strong>City</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>uMhlathuze</strong> once again<br />
got into the true spirit <strong>of</strong> Mandela Day by undertaking community<br />
service across the <strong>City</strong> to celebrate the ninety-fourth birthday<br />
<strong>of</strong> our first democratically elected President, Nelson Mandela.<br />
The main event <strong>of</strong> the day took place in rural eNseleni where<br />
a substantial municipal contingent got to work at a community<br />
crëche where they undertook structural improvements, including<br />
leveling the land, building entrance steps, fitting doors and putting<br />
glass into window frames, fixing ro<strong>of</strong> leaks, painting interior and<br />
exterior walls as well as improving the playground area with<br />
trees and tyres.<br />
The children enjoyed face-painting and were also given<br />
stationery packs and small tables and chairs for their classrooms.<br />
Mayor Elphas Mbatha recognised Mr Mandela as a global icon<br />
and said that the Municipality was proud to celebrate his birthday<br />
by improving the lives <strong>of</strong> residents, particularly those <strong>of</strong> young<br />
children. He added that this would not be a once-<strong>of</strong>f project, but<br />
would be adopted by the <strong>City</strong> which would undertake further<br />
improvements in the future.<br />
Municipal Manager, Dr Nhlanhla Sibeko said: “We have<br />
always understood and felt the need to become more involved<br />
in our community at a grassroots level and we aim to live the<br />
spirit <strong>of</strong> Mandela Day every day. Our Deputy Municipal Managers<br />
each have their own team comprising <strong>of</strong> randomly selected<br />
members <strong>of</strong> the management team, who are responsible for a<br />
different portion <strong>of</strong> the <strong>City</strong>. This responsibility involves visiting<br />
these areas and taking note <strong>of</strong> issues that need addressing<br />
such as missing manhole covers, overgrown public spaces<br />
among others, as well as leading social responsibility projects<br />
in these areas.”<br />
To this end each Deputy Municipal Managers and their team<br />
undertook various projects in their respective areas. Chief<br />
Financial Officer, Mr Mxolisi Kunene and his team tidied the<br />
grounds <strong>of</strong> the Ngwelezane Place <strong>of</strong> Safety where they used<br />
brush-cutters to clear overgrown areas and revamped the<br />
children’s play area by fixing the swings and jungle gym, painting<br />
the equipment in colourful primary colours and erecting<br />
basketball/netball hoops.<br />
Deputy Municipal Manager <strong>of</strong> Infrastructure and Technical<br />
Services, Mr Sifiso Mdakane and his team headed to Richards<br />
Bay Taxi <strong>City</strong> where they cleaned up litter and cleared the verges.<br />
Deputy Municipal Manager <strong>of</strong> Corporate Services, Mbali<br />
Ndlovu and her team headed to Mzingazi Village to help a<br />
mother and her young twins. The twins had been born in January<br />
but their mother was ill and had to stay in hospital. Manager:<br />
Community Services and Health, Ziphi Dladla heard about the<br />
twins from the <strong>City</strong> Clinic and requested support from her friends<br />
in the way <strong>of</strong> baby clothes.<br />
(Mrs Ndlovu and her team took this support a step further on<br />
Mandela Day by working at their home to establish a vegetable<br />
garden and a compost pit for household waste.<br />
6<br />
Top and below: The Ngwelezane Place <strong>of</strong> Safety is a neater and<br />
more colourful place thanks to the efforts <strong>of</strong> Chief Financial<br />
Officer, Mxolisi Kunene and his team <strong>of</strong> hard workers.<br />
Above and right: Deputy<br />
Municipal Manager <strong>of</strong> Corporate<br />
Services and her team are joined<br />
by the Manager <strong>of</strong> Community<br />
Services and Health, Ziphi Dladla<br />
at Mzingazi where they put their<br />
67 minutes to help a young<br />
mother and her twin daughters.
Above and below left: Deputy Municipal Manager <strong>of</strong> Infrastructure and Technical Services and his team were joined by Chief Whip, Cllr Manie<br />
Lourens at Richards Bay Taxi <strong>City</strong> where they collected litter and cleaned verges to improve the aesthetics and cleanliness <strong>of</strong> the area.<br />
Right: The Empangeni<br />
Clinic team appreciates<br />
the efforts <strong>of</strong> the<br />
municipal employee<br />
who spent her own<br />
time and money to buy<br />
ingredients and bake<br />
cupcakes for them as<br />
a sign <strong>of</strong> appreciation<br />
for the service they<br />
render to the<br />
community.<br />
Below and right: Digging, painting, cleaning, fixing…it was all part <strong>of</strong> the day’s work for the<br />
Municipal team who camped out at a community crèche in eNseleni until the job was done.<br />
7
More title deeds are handed out<br />
The KwaZulu-Natal Department <strong>of</strong> Human<br />
Settlements intends to complete the<br />
transfer <strong>of</strong> houses to beneficiaries in<br />
Aquadene and Brackenham by May 2013<br />
and close out the project by the end <strong>of</strong><br />
next year.<br />
This is according to the MEC for<br />
Human Settlements and Public Works,<br />
Mr Ravi Pillay who presented title deeds<br />
to a further 47 beneficiaries at a ceremony<br />
at the Brackenham Community Hall at the<br />
end <strong>of</strong> July.<br />
Mr Pillay said that the process <strong>of</strong><br />
transferring houses to bona fide<br />
beneficiaries started in 20<strong>08</strong>. In total 1 140<br />
properties are to be transferred and <strong>of</strong><br />
this number 818 properties have already<br />
been transferred. The balance is in<br />
different phases <strong>of</strong> the conveyancing<br />
process.<br />
Updating the community on progress<br />
he said that 30 transfers have been lodged<br />
with the Deeds Office and a further 60<br />
transfers have been lodged with the Office<br />
<strong>of</strong> the State Attorney. He also appealed<br />
for patience from the community due to<br />
“a human resource challenge at the State<br />
Attorney’s Office” adding that extra<br />
personnel are being made available to<br />
expedite the process.<br />
He spoke about the significance <strong>of</strong> the<br />
handovers: “Tonight, we are re-affirming<br />
Deputy Mayor Vera Gumbi and Mayor Elphas Mbatha congratulate title deed recipients<br />
from Brackenham, Ram and Sally Ramsami, who were one <strong>of</strong> 47 families to receive their<br />
<strong>of</strong>ficial documents from MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works, Ravi Pillay (right).<br />
The KwaZulu-Natal Department <strong>of</strong> Health has presented to<br />
Council a concept plan and way forward for the development<br />
<strong>of</strong> a Community Health Centre in Ward 13 eSikhaleni.<br />
The eSikhawini Community Health Centre (ECHC) Project<br />
was initiated by the KZNDOH in July 2011 with the appointment<br />
<strong>of</strong> the Independent Development Trust (IDT) as Implementing<br />
Agent.<br />
A preferred site was identified in the Dube Traditional<br />
Authority Area in Ward 13 and is about 5 hectares in size.<br />
It is proposed the ECHC include a clinic, additional<br />
administration block, guard house, electrical services and<br />
waste building, tuck shop, mortuary, domestic services building,<br />
mothers’ lodges, staff accommodation and three-bedroom staff<br />
houses.<br />
The site is currently owned by the Department <strong>of</strong> Public<br />
Works but the title deeds are still held by <strong>uMhlathuze</strong><br />
Municipality. Therefore the Department <strong>of</strong> Public Works needs<br />
to request the land to be transferred.<br />
and restoring the dignity <strong>of</strong> Aquadene and<br />
Brackenham communities. A title deed<br />
might look like just a piece <strong>of</strong> paper but<br />
its significance surpasses various<br />
generations in a household. In addition,<br />
a title-deed is a surety <strong>of</strong> undisputed home<br />
ownership and for the 47 beneficiaries<br />
who will be getting theirs this evening it<br />
is a realisation <strong>of</strong> a life dream.”<br />
He added that beneficiaries have<br />
benefitted from the Department’s<br />
Enhanced Extended Discount Benefit<br />
Scheme (EEDBS). “Through this scheme,<br />
Government aims at helping tenants buy<br />
their rental units (if and when they are<br />
declared saleable). It also helps sales<br />
debtors settle the amount they owe on<br />
their properties (provided these have been<br />
acquired before 1994).<br />
“The EEDBS is just one <strong>of</strong> the many<br />
varied products in our human settlements<br />
service delivery basket. Others human<br />
settlements products include Gap housing,<br />
Community Residential Units, Social<br />
Housing, Individual Housing Subsidy,<br />
Incremental Housing, People’s Housing<br />
Process, Emergency Housing<br />
Programme, Upgrading <strong>of</strong> Informal<br />
Settlements Programme, Institutional<br />
Housing Subsidy Programme and the<br />
Finance-linked Individual Subsidy<br />
Programme (FLISP),” he said.<br />
Community Health Centre for eSikhaleni<br />
8<br />
Once the Department has ownership <strong>of</strong> the site, it will be<br />
necessary for them to give the Department <strong>of</strong> Health ‘permission<br />
to occupy’ the site.<br />
A development application will be submitted to Council for<br />
consideration in due course.
Zikulise completes<br />
training courses<br />
Zikulise Community Upliftment Project, which leases the Empangeni<br />
Arts and Crafts Centre from Council for skills development and<br />
training, handed out certificates at the end <strong>of</strong> July to local community<br />
members who have successfully completed courses in baking,<br />
pottery, sewing, industrial sewing, traditional beading and computers.<br />
The training was achieved through funding from the National<br />
Lottery Development Trust Fund, Accenture (SA) Trust and the<br />
ABSA Foundation.<br />
A strong focus at Zikulise is on developing entrepreneurial<br />
talents and some <strong>of</strong> the trainers are past trainees at the Centre,<br />
who are able to provide motivation and guidance from personal<br />
experience. The programme director, Blessing Nene is a past trainee<br />
who is now employed by Mary Calder, the baking trainer, who runs<br />
her own business. Traditional beading trainer, Linda Masinga attended<br />
training in 2005 and has been a trainer since 2006. He now also<br />
has his own business.<br />
One <strong>of</strong> the trainees, Thalente Mhlongo spoke to her fellow<br />
trainees about how fortunate they are to have received training at<br />
the centre and encouraged them to use these skills to improve their<br />
lives and possibly start their own businesses.<br />
Taking this one step further, Executive Director <strong>of</strong> Zikulise Julie<br />
Jonson spoke about “passing it forward” explaining that everyone<br />
who received certificates had received a free gift enabling them to<br />
either be more employable or start their own small business. She<br />
encouraged them to pass the training forward to others in their<br />
community by sharing what they had learnt and thereby becoming<br />
a solution to the unemployment crisis.<br />
Mrs Jonson said that to-date Zikulise has trained over 3 300<br />
people. “If each one <strong>of</strong> these trainees passed their training forward<br />
and trained only just one other it would mean that 6 600 individuals<br />
had received money-making skills. Obviously if the original 3 300<br />
each trained more people it would have an even greater impact.”<br />
Zikulise Board member, Abby Mchunu gave the vote <strong>of</strong> thanks<br />
and said she was impressed by the quality <strong>of</strong> the clothing a beaded<br />
jewellery made and worn by the trainees. She encouraged them to<br />
be “fashion busters” and send their clothing and beaded jewellery<br />
all over the world.<br />
9<br />
Richards Bay Clean Air<br />
Association Monthly Report:<br />
June <strong>2012</strong><br />
SO2 Guideline (Sulphur Dioxide) Exceedances<br />
There were total <strong>of</strong> six (6) SO 2 exceedances for the month <strong>of</strong> June<br />
<strong>2012</strong>, all measured at the RBCAA’s Scorpio Station. Three (3)<br />
measured exceedance <strong>of</strong> the NEMAQA SO 2 10-minute Standard,<br />
on 6th June <strong>2012</strong>. Two (2) measured exceedances <strong>of</strong> the NEMAQA<br />
SO 2 Hourly Standard, on 6th June <strong>2012</strong>. One (1) measured<br />
exceedance <strong>of</strong> the NEMAQA SO 2 Daily Standard, on 12th June<br />
<strong>2012</strong>. All six (6) exceedances were attributed to emissions from the<br />
BHP’s Hillside Aluminium Plant. The RBCAA uses the Hawk Model<br />
to produce concentration (dose) maps which predict SO 2 (Sulphur<br />
Dioxide) concentrations in areas where no monitoring equipment<br />
exists.<br />
TRS Odour Threshold Exceedances<br />
TRS is emitted by Mondi and is monitored by the RBCAA at the<br />
Central Sports Complex. There are no South African Standards for<br />
TRS. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends<br />
that in order to avoid substantial complaints about odour annoyance<br />
among the exposed population, hydrogen sulphide concentrations<br />
should not be allowed to exceed 7g/m3 (5ppb), with a 30-minute<br />
averaging period.<br />
PM-10 Exceedances<br />
The RBCAA measures PM10 at 4 sites, Brackenham, Central Sports<br />
Complex, Mtunzini and St Lucia. There no measured exceedances<br />
<strong>of</strong> the current or future NEMAQA Daily PM-10 Standards.<br />
Air Quality Complaints<br />
There were eleven (11) air quality complaints received for the month<br />
<strong>of</strong> June <strong>2012</strong>.<br />
For more information contact:<br />
Sandy Camminga (Public Officer) Cell: <strong>08</strong>3 515 2384<br />
Tel: 035 786 0076 E-mail: info@rbcaa.co.za<br />
Complaints can be logged at: complaints@rbcaa.co.za<br />
Website:www.rbcaa.co.za
Renewable Energy<br />
projects sought for <strong>City</strong><br />
Council is to call for expressions <strong>of</strong> interest from Independent<br />
Power Producers (IPP) following a presentation to the<br />
Executive Committee at the end <strong>of</strong> July by the KwaZulu-Natal<br />
Planning Commission on a Solid Biomass to Renewable<br />
Energy (BTRE) Demonstration Project in <strong>uMhlathuze</strong><br />
Municipality.<br />
The Provincial Planning Commission representatives<br />
explained that Origin Group has been appointed as a<br />
transaction advisor to the Office <strong>of</strong> the Premier to develop a<br />
business model for the promotion <strong>of</strong> alternative energy<br />
demonstration projects in KZN. This is to support the Province<br />
in realizing the renewable energy targets set in the Provincial<br />
Growth and Development Strategy.<br />
Renewable energy will address the negative carbon<br />
footprint in the Province while ensuring energy security and<br />
promoting sustainable use <strong>of</strong> resources and energy production<br />
and use. Other objectives include community development<br />
through the generation <strong>of</strong> renewable energy and empowerment<br />
and local economic development through generation and use<br />
<strong>of</strong> renewable energy.<br />
The Office <strong>of</strong> the Premier, through the Provincial Planning<br />
Commission, has identified <strong>uMhlathuze</strong> as a municipality<br />
where a BTRE demonstration project can be pursued and<br />
two potential sites have already been identified.<br />
Producers <strong>of</strong> biomass include commercial forest owners<br />
and companies; community forests/wood-lot owners and<br />
Traditional Authority entities; commercial cane-grower<br />
consortiums, small-scale cane growers, municipalities (green<br />
garden waste), contract future energy-crop out-growers and<br />
other agricultural waste (i.e. prunings, distilleries and pulp/paper<br />
mill outflows).<br />
When submitting expressions <strong>of</strong> interest IPPs will be<br />
required to:<br />
• Secure local and willing sustainable biomass supplies<br />
• Engage NERSAS and/or private customers for power <strong>of</strong>f<br />
take<br />
• Provide proven technology with accessible reference sites<br />
• Secure convenient, ready sites with water, roads etc.<br />
• Engage Eskom for grid connection acceptance<br />
• Ensure EIA compliance as per NERSA requirements; and<br />
• Arrange community equity partners including BEE.<br />
After expressions <strong>of</strong> interest have been received, a report<br />
is to be submitted to Council based upon which Council is to<br />
consider entering into a Power Purchasing Agreement with<br />
the IPP.<br />
Biomass is a biological material derived from living, or<br />
recently living organisms. Potential sources <strong>of</strong> biomass include<br />
forestry, sugar cane, general agricultural biomass residues<br />
and short-rotation energy crops.<br />
10<br />
Dates to Diarise<br />
September<br />
• 1 September Empangeni SPCA Car Boot Sale opposite the<br />
Zululand Observer from 09:00 to 13:00. Contact Di Cadman on<br />
035-7726515<br />
• 1 September Fish Eagle Bonsai Kai meeting at 14:00. Contact<br />
Betsy de Jong on 0722074079<br />
• 4 September <strong>uMhlathuze</strong> Municipality Executive Committee<br />
meeting at 14:00 in Council Chambers, Richards Bay Civic<br />
Centre<br />
• 4 September <strong>uMhlathuze</strong> Municipality Council meeting at 17:00<br />
in Council Chambers, Richards Bay Civic Centre<br />
• 5 September Cancer Support Group monthly meeting at 18:30<br />
in the Bay Hospital Boardroom. Contact Theresa on 035-7806123<br />
or Shirley on 035-7892472<br />
• 5 September Mzingazi WI at 17:00 in the Richards Bay Library<br />
Hall. Contact Rose on <strong>08</strong>2 598 6204<br />
• 6 September Richards Bay Floral Art Club meeting at 14:00 in<br />
the Richards Bay Library Hall. Contact Bev on <strong>08</strong>24525744<br />
• 7 September Golden Oldies at 09:30 at the Empangeni Civic<br />
Centre. Contact Elaine on 035-7721407 or <strong>08</strong>24318110<br />
• 8 September Zululand Bonsai meeting. Contact Barry St<strong>of</strong>berg<br />
on <strong>08</strong>33249392<br />
• 10 September Empangeni WI monthly meeting at 14:30 at<br />
Leisure Gardens. Contact Shelly King on 035-7924939 or <strong>08</strong>3 989<br />
6278<br />
• 10 September Golden Oldies at 09:30 at the Empangeni Civic<br />
Centre. Contact Elaine on 035-7721407 or <strong>08</strong>24318110<br />
• 11 September ZCCI Richards Bay Division monthly meeting at<br />
12:45 at the Pelican Hall, ZCBF. Contact Charmaine 035-7971858<br />
• 12 September Interdenominational Prayer Meeting at the SAPS<br />
Empangeni inner garden from 07:45 to <strong>08</strong>:15. Contact Janine<br />
Stone on 035-7725<strong>08</strong>3<br />
• 18 September <strong>uMhlathuze</strong> Municipality Executive Committee<br />
meeting at 14:00 in Council Chambers, Richards Bay Civic<br />
Centre<br />
• 19 September Richards Bay Garden Club meeting. Contact<br />
Eileen Russell on 035-7534250<br />
• 20 September ZCCI Empangeni Division monthly meeting at<br />
12:45 at Umfolozi Hotel Casino and Convention Centre. Contact<br />
Charmaine 035-7971858<br />
• 21 September Golden Oldies at 09:30 at the Empangeni Civic<br />
Centre. Contact Elaine on 035-7721407 or <strong>08</strong>24318110<br />
• 26 September Richards Bay WI monthly meeting at 09:00 in the<br />
Richards Bay Library Hall. Contact Diane 035-7891682<br />
• 28 September Golden Oldies at 09:30 at the Empangeni Civic<br />
Centre. Contact Elaine on 035-7721407 or <strong>08</strong>24318110<br />
• 28 September Free rabies clinic at the Veldenvlei Hall in Richards<br />
Bay from <strong>08</strong>:00 to 14:00<br />
• 29 September Richards Bay SPCA Open Day<br />
• 29 September Empangeni Morning Market at the Zikulise Arts<br />
and Crafts Centre from <strong>08</strong>:00 to 13:00. Contact Julie Jonson on<br />
035-7925477<br />
• 29 September Richards Bay Sea Scout Flea Market at the Steel<br />
Bridge, Richards Bay.<br />
Rehabilitated Drug Users Support Group meets in Brackenham at<br />
Bay Primary School in Fishtail Road from 19:00 to 20:00 every Friday<br />
and in Arboretum at the AGS Church near Arboretum swimming pool<br />
from 19:00 to 20:00 every Saturday. Contact Ps Christo on <strong>08</strong>3 645<br />
8772 or Mathew on 074 438 4980.
<strong>City</strong> considers Beach Soccer Cup proposal<br />
After the presentation to the Executive Committee are (left): Methews Oliphant<br />
(Deputy Municipal Manager: Community Services), Dudu Ngidi (Manager: Sport<br />
and Recreation Development), Benjamin Henecka, Mayor Elphas Mbatha and<br />
Deputy Mayor Zethu Gumbi.<br />
The <strong>City</strong> has received a proposal on behalf<br />
<strong>of</strong> FIFA for the <strong>City</strong> to host the 2013 FIFA<br />
Beach Soccer Cup Tournament, a<br />
competition which forms part <strong>of</strong> the football<br />
federation’s commitment to promote and<br />
structure Beach Soccer globally by means<br />
<strong>of</strong> competitions, courses and other<br />
proactive measures.<br />
Mr Benjamin Henecka <strong>of</strong> FIFA gave a<br />
detailed presentation to the Executive<br />
Committee in <strong>August</strong>. He said the 2013<br />
Tournament is proposed to take place<br />
over three days between January and<br />
May in 2013 and plans to combine live<br />
music, dance, parties, a fashion show and<br />
celebrity entertainment to create a unique<br />
experience.<br />
As part <strong>of</strong> the proposal, the <strong>City</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>uMhlathuze</strong> will be given an opportunity<br />
to select four national teams <strong>of</strong> their choice<br />
from a group <strong>of</strong> international teams such<br />
as Brazil, Spain, Germany, England,<br />
Denmark, Sweden, etc. There will be two<br />
matches per day in a round robin format,<br />
with live or delayed electronic media<br />
coverage on international channels to an<br />
estimated 250 million households globally.<br />
Council supports the proposal in<br />
principle, subject to the availability <strong>of</strong><br />
sponsors to fund an estimated<br />
R12 million that needs to be invested<br />
towards logistical support in order for the<br />
<strong>City</strong> to qualify as the <strong>of</strong>ficial host <strong>of</strong> the<br />
tournament.<br />
11<br />
The <strong>City</strong> is expected to provide a<br />
suitable facility stadium at the beach area<br />
with a minimum capacity <strong>of</strong> 2 000 to<br />
3 000 seats, including facilities for<br />
concessions and support functions.<br />
Municipal <strong>of</strong>ficials are vigorously<br />
pursuing possible sources <strong>of</strong> funding,<br />
including opportunities to obtain<br />
sponsorship from various government<br />
departments, National Lottery and the<br />
local business sector.<br />
The <strong>City</strong> has experience in hosting<br />
prominent sporting events including<br />
power-boating and the World Cup<br />
Triathlon.<br />
Hosting an international event <strong>of</strong> this<br />
size would benefit Council with<br />
commercial benefits such as global reach<br />
and international visibility through<br />
international media coverage. It would<br />
provide a tourism boost for local tourist<br />
attractions, which may lead to follow-on<br />
tourism opportunities.<br />
Investment through the<br />
opportunity to select<br />
countries that are aligned<br />
with Council’s international<br />
i n v e s t m e n t<br />
strategy would also<br />
benefit the local<br />
community by<br />
providing world class<br />
entertainment<br />
and coaching<br />
clinics.<br />
<strong>uMhlathuze</strong> comes out tops<br />
in National Treasury report<br />
<strong>uMhlathuze</strong> Municipality’s outstanding debtors longer than<br />
ninety days, expressed as a percentage <strong>of</strong> total debt, is the<br />
lowest in the country compared with the other twenty secondary<br />
municipalities.<br />
This is according to the report released by the Department<br />
<strong>of</strong> National Treasury on the outcome for the first quarter ended<br />
31 March <strong>2012</strong> <strong>of</strong> the country’s secondary municipalities.<br />
<strong>uMhlathuze</strong>’s total consumer debtors are R216,4 milion<br />
<strong>of</strong> which R150,6 million arew current debtors that are currently<br />
billed. The debtors schedule shows that <strong>uMhlathuze</strong> debtors<br />
over 90 days are 22,40% <strong>of</strong> its total debtors while the average<br />
<strong>of</strong> the other 20 secondary municipalities is 80,6%. The closest<br />
other municipality is Steve Tshwete Municipality with 45,6%<br />
<strong>of</strong> its debtors being older than 90 days.<br />
Meanwhile the <strong>City</strong>’s total budget expenditure as at<br />
31 March <strong>2012</strong> is 71,4%, which is above the aggregate<br />
spending <strong>of</strong> 60,8% by the secondary cities.<br />
At the end <strong>of</strong> March municipalities had on average spent<br />
63,8% or R163,8 billion <strong>of</strong> the R256,7 billion total approved<br />
budget (Capital and Operating).<br />
Of the expenditure budget, <strong>uMhlathuze</strong> spent 71,4% or<br />
R1,5 billion <strong>of</strong> R2,1 billion <strong>of</strong> the approved budget.<br />
The aggregate capital budget for all municipalities for<br />
2011/12 is R46 billion, <strong>of</strong> which R18,8 billion or 40,86% had<br />
been spent by the end <strong>of</strong> the third quarter.<br />
<strong>uMhlathuze</strong> has a capital budget <strong>of</strong> R166,7 million,<br />
<strong>of</strong> which R50 million (29,9%) had been spent as at<br />
31 March <strong>2012</strong>.
Budding junior Picassos<br />
on display at Museum<br />
The cream <strong>of</strong> the <strong>City</strong>’s Junior School art works are on display at the<br />
Empangeni Museum as part <strong>of</strong> the Mondi Eisteddfod. Participating schools<br />
include Arboretum Primary, Veldenvlei Primary, Vlytige Vingers, Hluhluwe<br />
Private School, Zululand Remedial School, Felixton College, Grantleigh<br />
College, Empangeni Preparatory School and Heuwelland. The exhibition<br />
opened in mid-<strong>August</strong> and will be on display until the end <strong>of</strong> September.<br />
<strong>uMhlathuze</strong> News - Also on: www.richemp.org.za<br />
Correspondence: Vukile Mathabela, Private Bag X1004, Richards Bay 3900. Tel (035) 907 5405.<br />
E-mail: mathabelagvc@richemp.org.za<br />
Articles, co-ordination: Gillian Readman, Mevamhlope Communications. Tel <strong>08</strong>36420020.<br />
E-mail: greadman@iafrica.com Design and Layout: Alliance Graphics Printing: Colour Planet<br />
12<br />
Important <strong>uMhlathuze</strong><br />
Municipality telephone<br />
numbers<br />
In case <strong>of</strong> uncertainty, the main switchboard in<br />
Richards Bay can be reached by dialling<br />
035-9075000