2012/08-August 2012 - City of uMhlathuze

City considers Beach Soccer Cup proposal
After the presentation to the Executive Committee are (left): Methews Oliphant
(Deputy Municipal Manager: Community Services), Dudu Ngidi (Manager: Sport
and Recreation Development), Benjamin Henecka, Mayor Elphas Mbatha and
Deputy Mayor Zethu Gumbi.
The City has received a proposal on behalf
of FIFA for the City to host the 2013 FIFA
Beach Soccer Cup Tournament, a
competition which forms part of the football
federation’s commitment to promote and
structure Beach Soccer globally by means
of competitions, courses and other
proactive measures.
Mr Benjamin Henecka of FIFA gave a
detailed presentation to the Executive
Committee in August. He said the 2013
Tournament is proposed to take place
over three days between January and
May in 2013 and plans to combine live
music, dance, parties, a fashion show and
celebrity entertainment to create a unique
experience.
As part of the proposal, the City of
uMhlathuze will be given an opportunity
to select four national teams of their choice
from a group of international teams such
as Brazil, Spain, Germany, England,
Denmark, Sweden, etc. There will be two
matches per day in a round robin format,
with live or delayed electronic media
coverage on international channels to an
estimated 250 million households globally.
Council supports the proposal in
principle, subject to the availability of
sponsors to fund an estimated
R12 million that needs to be invested
towards logistical support in order for the
City to qualify as the official host of the
tournament.
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The City is expected to provide a
suitable facility stadium at the beach area
with a minimum capacity of 2 000 to
3 000 seats, including facilities for
concessions and support functions.
Municipal officials are vigorously
pursuing possible sources of funding,
including opportunities to obtain
sponsorship from various government
departments, National Lottery and the
local business sector.
The City has experience in hosting
prominent sporting events including
power-boating and the World Cup
Triathlon.
Hosting an international event of this
size would benefit Council with
commercial benefits such as global reach
and international visibility through
international media coverage. It would
provide a tourism boost for local tourist
attractions, which may lead to follow-on
tourism opportunities.
Investment through the
opportunity to select
countries that are aligned
with Council’s international
i n v e s t m e n t
strategy would also
benefit the local
community by
providing world class
entertainment
and coaching
clinics.
uMhlathuze comes out tops
in National Treasury report
uMhlathuze Municipality’s outstanding debtors longer than
ninety days, expressed as a percentage of total debt, is the
lowest in the country compared with the other twenty secondary
municipalities.
This is according to the report released by the Department
of National Treasury on the outcome for the first quarter ended
31 March 2012 of the country’s secondary municipalities.
uMhlathuze’s total consumer debtors are R216,4 milion
of which R150,6 million arew current debtors that are currently
billed. The debtors schedule shows that uMhlathuze debtors
over 90 days are 22,40% of its total debtors while the average
of the other 20 secondary municipalities is 80,6%. The closest
other municipality is Steve Tshwete Municipality with 45,6%
of its debtors being older than 90 days.
Meanwhile the City’s total budget expenditure as at
31 March 2012 is 71,4%, which is above the aggregate
spending of 60,8% by the secondary cities.
At the end of March municipalities had on average spent
63,8% or R163,8 billion of the R256,7 billion total approved
budget (Capital and Operating).
Of the expenditure budget, uMhlathuze spent 71,4% or
R1,5 billion of R2,1 billion of the approved budget.
The aggregate capital budget for all municipalities for
2011/12 is R46 billion, of which R18,8 billion or 40,86% had
been spent by the end of the third quarter.
uMhlathuze has a capital budget of R166,7 million,
of which R50 million (29,9%) had been spent as at
31 March 2012.