Turning Bcmm Into a Construction Site
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BUFFALO CITY METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY #NOV17 www.buffalocitymetro.gov.za A CITY HARD AT WORK TURNING BCMM INTO A CONSTRUCTION SITE Recently, the BCMM Executive Mayor Xola Pakati Other factors of concern include the lack of made some pronouncements on current and pedestrian facilities, lack of signage, poor lighting, BCMM has been hard at work to invest planned projects during the Imbizo Road shows held continued flooding of cross-culverts due to heavy in several multimillion rand infrastructure in all regions of the Metro. rains, potholes due to the failing condition of projects, to turn Metro into a construction “The City has committed an amount of R7.7 million pavement structures and lack of intersection control site. Several bulk infrastructure projects were for the development of a Multi-Purpose Community during peak hours. launched including housing handovers and electrification of settlements. Centre for the Reeston Community and the The project is estimated to create 50 employment construction will begin soon.” Other key infrastructure projects include: opportunities to local community and local SMME’s “As part of the metro’s strategy of the inner will be used on the construction components. • R117 million Roads project in Qumza city regeneration and overall development of the Highway, Mdantsane Sleeper Site and Civic Centre, the City has also The overall project will see an extensive scope of • R70,3 million Upgrade Fleet & Oxford committed R52.5 million over the next three years in work done that will take 18 months to complete. Street and Quenera-Beacon Bay Link Road preparation of the project.” This work will include the following: • R4,8 million Rehabilitate bridges in Beacon Other projects Pakati mentioned include the • Accommodation of traffic by deviating on local Bay and kwaTshatshu construction of a bridge that will link Potsdam and parallel roads, • R360 million Major treatment works like Mzonyana Needs camp bridge at a value of R80 million, the Mt • Removing of existing surfacing and layer works, • R223 million Zwelitsha Water Treatment Ruth Interchange which is a new access from the N2 • Relocation of existing minor services such as to Mdantsane via Billie Road and the construction • R86 million King Williams Town Market overhead electrical services, sewer and bulk water Square Taxi Rank of water reservoir under the West Bank Water supply services. Restitution amongst others. • R200 million Pipe and water meter • Removal of pipe culverts. replacement program The improvement of Qumza Highway in Mdantsane • Widening of the road prism. • R21 million Infrastructure project in Ncerha involves rehabilitation and widening of the road • Construction of minor earth retaining structures. Village that include the construction of bulk on both sides to a dual carriageway. The road is • Installation of traffic signalization and street water pipelines, Ventilated Improved Pits currently 6.8 meters wide and will be upgraded lighting (VIP’s) and the electrification of households to 16 meters wide with a barrier median. Due to • Installation of road furniture including guardrails in villages 4 and 5 the narrow road, Qumza Highway has seen a high and road traffic signage. • R450 million Upgrade electrical volume of head-on collisions and vehicle-pedestrian infrastructure to ensure that electrical Motorists are advised to make use of alternative conflict. The section of road is being upgraded to network is stabilised and reliable. alleviate traffic congestion and improve safety for routes where possible and to exercise caution when road users. travelling the work areas. CITY TAKES INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT TO RURAL AREAS Siphokazi Mrubata Executive Mayor Xola Pakati with Infrastructure Portfolio Head Ncedo Kumbaca swithing on the lights in electried homes of Ncehra Village residents. CONSTRUCTION OF BULK PIPELINES ALONG THE R347 THE ELECTRIFICATION PROJECT HAS PROVIDED ELECTRICITY TO 232 HOUSEHLDS OUR CHILDREN DON’T HAVE TO RELY ON CANDLE LIGHT TO STUDY Ncerha villages to benefit on infrastructure development. This follows after BCMM Executive Mayor Cllr Xola Pakati launched a 21-million-rand Infrastructure project in Ncerha Village on Friday August 18. The project is part of the Integrated Rural Infrastructure Intervention Initiative Package which falls under the service delivery focusing on rural electrification, rural roads, water infrastructure and sanitation. Speaking at the event, Pakati said, “We have a rural Metro and therefore roads and water are important as they are essential to the livelihood of our people.” “It is important that we bring hope and restores Executive Mayor Xola Pakati cuts the for the handover of VIP toilets in Ncehra Village. dignity to the people through service delivery more especially in our rural areas,” said Pakati. The project will see five local learner contractors to carry out work on all the projects pipelines, Ventilated Improved Pits (VIP’s) and the and will be credited with level 5 contractors at electrification of households in villages four and five. the time of completion with full endorsement Construction of bulk pipelines along the R347 from the municipality. between Sunny South and Kidd’s Beach forms This is in line with a Memorandum of part of an overall water supply scheme aimed at Agreement (MoU) between BCMM and the providing portable, safe and adequate water to all Department of Public Works (DPW) and areas that do not have any water supply within the Construction, Education, Training Authority project boundary. (CETA) signed in December 2011 for the The project will address backlog, eliminate carting Buffalo City Metro implementation of Expanded Public Works of water by BCMM, eliminate existing boreholes and (EPWP) Vuk’uphile Contractor Learnership create 72 employment opportunities for the local Municipality has Programme. people in Sunny South. According to a municipal report, on-site Contractors appointed for the projects are AK training undertaken is supervised by fulltime Trading and Projects, Maddee Construction and committed itself in mentors qualified in the built environment Building, Amabhayi Construction, Mikuwo Civils and industry together with assistance from the Maliswana Trading Enterprise ensuring that its citizens appointed professional service provider, as well The Electrification project has provided electricity as continual inspection by the municipal officials to 232, as part of the 2016/17 electrification plan appointed to the project. between Eskom and BCMM, initiated in terms of the live in a dignified manner This supervision is to ensure that the Learner IDP requirements of the City. Contracting Companies (LCC’s) succeed in Speaking to one of the beneficiaries Patience the program and that they provide work of Mhlaba said, “I am very grateful that we have been with their families. acceptable quality at last heard as we have been requesting electricity Infrastructure Portfolio Head Ncedo kumbaca for many years now. Our Children don’t have to rely said, “It is important to invest in our own people on candle light to study.” in the Metro, that is why we have chosen to Kumbaca said that they are looking to roll out the develop local learner contractors and in doing so Integrated Rural Infrastructure Intervention Initiative creating job opportunities for our people.” Package in all rural areas of the Metro as it is a more The projects underway in the Ncerha effective and efficient way of delivering services to Villages include the construction of bulk water the people. 2 A CITY HARD AT WORK MAYORAL IMBIZO By Zanda Booi Implemented and planned projects in the area include the CONNECTS R33.8 million upgrades of the Eastern Beach Gravity Sewer- Blind to City Pump station, the CITY WITH construction of the R15 million water reservoir in West Bank and R6 million for upgrading RESIDENTS rural roads in Ward 31 and 32. Buffalo City held four successful Mayoral Imbizo Road Shows throughout the Metro led by the Executive Mayor Xola Pakati. Pakati addressed challenges face by communities and also outlined future plans and projects the City is undertaking. This year’s Mayoral Imbizo was combined with site and project visits to assess and monitor the progress of service delivery projects taking place around the City. On Thursday 12 October, the Executive Mayor Xola Pakati met with the people of Mdantsane at the N6 Sports Field. Before that, the Executive Mayor together with BCMM officials conduct site visits and launch the following projects: • Eluxolweni VIP ablution facilities launch at 10h00 • Switch-On ceremony of the Mount Ruth Electrification Project at 11h00 • Official introduction of the contractor for electrification of Ward 11 informal settlements 12h00 In his address, Pakati said the City will be implementing the following programme in Mdantsane. The Metro has set aside an amount of R1million to kick start a project that will make municipal facilities access to people living with disabilities. “The Metro is looking at rolling out a programme to construct access pathways and wheelchair ramps in Mdantsane in Zones 2, 4, 5,6 7, 11, 14 and 16 rent offices this financial year,” said Pakati. This comes as an effort by Buffalo City to make all communities in the Metro have equal access to Municipal facilities as well as services to people with disabilities. The matter is however in the procurement stage and the project will start as soon as procurement is finalised starting with NU 2 and NU5. The whole project is expected to be complete by next year June 2018. On Sunday 15 October 2017 residents in Ward 31, 32 and 33 had their own chance to speak with the mayor in Ncerha Village. Implemented and planned projects in the area include the R33.8 million upgrades of the Eastern Beach Gravity Sewer- Blind to City Pump station, the construction of the R15 million water reservoir in West Bank and R6 million for upgrading rural roads in Ward 31 and 32. During the site visit in Ncerha Eskom lead with a sod turning for the electrification project in Toise Village.