2012/08-August 2012 - City of uMhlathuze

Hostel beneficiary list
open for public comment
A tender has been awarded to refurbish the three blocks of Chief
Albert Luthuli hostel (H395) in eSikhaleni and the proposed allocation
list of residents at this hostel has been advertised in the local media
to give residents an opportunity to object.
Groundwork Management Consultancy was contracted to attend
to allocation issues at the J223 (Sokesimone), J1083 (Sinqobile),
J1169 (Madlala), H862 (King Cetshwayo) as well as H395 (Chief
Albert Luthuli).
The consultants undertook the re-allocation process in
consultation with the affected hostel residents and their
representatives and applied the relevant criteria, i.e. registered on
the 2003 survey etc. A number of special cases emerged. These
cases are mainly persons who missed hte 2003 survey due to family
or work reasons and neighbours or fellow residents were able to
vouch that these persons were residents of the hostel even prior
to the 2003 survey.
Importantly only five allocations have been done in Block H,
leaving 13 units unallocated and reserved for additional special
cases that may surface or to accommodate overcrowding at other
hostels.
The eligibility of those H395 residents and special cases who
are satisfied to pursue housing opportunities at Umhlathuze Village
will be evaluated by the Department of Human Settlements as part
of the beneficiary approval process. Infraserv, the implementing
agent at Umhlathuze Village, has been given instruction to prioritise
the construction of houses for hostel displacees.
Meanwhile Council has extended the contract period given to
Sthombe Contracts and Supplies, he contractor awarded the contract
to refurbish H395 Chief Albert Luthuli hostel in eSikhaleni. The
period has been extended to 11 January 2013 due to unforeseeable
delays with the project, including Council’s forensic investigation
into human settlement matters, which were not the fault of the
contractor. Additional expenditure of R67 0000 has also been granted
due to the delays.
Board appointment
for Mayor
MEC for Economic
Development and Tourism,
Mike Mabuyakhulu has
appointed uMhlathuze Mayor
Elphas Mbatha as a Board
member of the Richards Bay
Industrial Development Zone
for a five year term effective
1 July 2012.
2
Council briefs
Services to Zulti South Mine
Council has granted permission for the provision of
industrial water by Mhlathuze Water to Richards Bay
Minerals’ Zulti South Mine and is to finalise its application
for the extension of the electricity distribution licence to
include the mining areas in the Municipality’s distribution
area of supply.
The provision of industrial water is on condition that
the feasibility of doubling the emergency supply to
Cubhu Water Treatment Works be investigated as the
preferred option and that Council be given the first
priority in the usage of infrastructure once mining
activities are completed.
Valuation date set
1 September 2012 has been determined as the fixed
date to start with the preparation for the General Valuation
Roll: Second General Valuation Cycle.
The Municipality is in the process of appointing a
new Municipal Valuer who will commence with the
preparation of the General Valuation Roll that will be
applicable for the next four year cycle.
Building statistics
Quarterly building statistics for 1 January to 30 March
2012 show that 112 building plans were approved and
79 buildings were completed. The estimated cost of the
completed buildings is about R66 million.
Council generated an income of R204 000 from the
submission of building plans during this quarter.
Amendments to Richards Bay Town Planning
Scheme
Council has approved amendments to the Richard Bay
Town Planning Scheme in course of preparation, which
updates definitions and scheme clauses relating to
Industrial Land Uses.
The changes will benefit the environment in that
Council will be in a better position to enforce the air
quality buffer areas which were adopted in 2006.
Council will allow three years from the date of
adoption of these amendments to allow industries to
apply for rezoning from “General Industrial” to “Restricted
Industrial” if the relevant site is zoned “General Industrial”
or a similar industrial zoning and the industry applying
for the rezoning can prove that it was operating as a
“restricted industry” at the date of the adoption of the
scheme amendment.
The cost of such rezoning procedures, which shall
be lodged in terms of the KZN Planning and Development
Act 2008, shall be borne by Council.