Weekly Bulletin Issue 08
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ETHEKWINI www.durban.gov.za WEEKLY BULLETIN By 2030 eThekwini will be Africa’s most caring and liveable city 30 October 2015 [Issue 8] DURBAN DEVELOPS A WORLD- CLASS TRANSPORT SYSTEM eThekwini Transport authority offi cials used various modes of transportation, including this tram, to travel around France during the recent intelligent Transport Systems World congress. UrBAN’S public transport system leaders, academics, researchers, engineers In France we bought one ticket that we will soon be on par with other and students, representing all corners of used for the duration of our stay. We used developed countries that have an the transport industry gathered for this that ticket to travel by bus, tram and a Dadvanced transport system. year’s 22nd event. ferry,” he said. This was the confi dent message from It was the fi rst time City offi cials had Go!Durban will provide a similar seamless eThekwini Transport Authority (ETA) attended the seminar. “The objective transport system. One of the major topics Deputy Head Mlungisi Wosiyana after was to get international best practice on discussed at the congress was how returning from a week long international systems we can implement for our own cities and countries can implement a transport seminar in Bordeaux, France. projects, particularly with Go!Durban,” comprehensive bike share system. “This “Durban is catching up to other countries, Wosiyana said. was perfect for us because we recently especially European countries that have The Municipality’s multi-billion rand unveiled our plans to roll out a bike share an advanced public transport system. We Integrated Rapid Public Transport Network, system which will allow the public to are on the right path,” said Wosiyana, who GO! Durban project currently underway, utilise city owned bicycles,” he said. together with his ETA colleagues, including aims to provide a reliable, safe and cost Wosiyana added that the ETA Unit ETA Head Thami Manyathi attended effective transport experience for the will also explore ways of implementing the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) people of eThekwini and visitors alike. This technology to improve public transport. Congress and Exhibition earlier this month. is a legacy project which will benefi t future “We want our transport system to be The congress is the world’s largest event generations to come. modernized by moving away from paper in intelligent transport systems and Wosiyana said the ETA team came back base to electronic. We are looking at services. with a wealth of information. “We saw utilising technology to disperse information Over 10 000 international ITS experts, how other countries have successfully to citizens,” he said. professionals, public and private sector integrated various public transport modes. “KeePiNG YOU iN THe KNOW” www.durban.gov.za CELEBRITY CHEFS SHARE COOKING ETHEKWINI AT Your Service TIPS DURING COOK-OFF IN UMLAZI Each week we focus on a key area of service delivery where we highlight how residents’ lives have been improved. This week we reflect on how eThekwini is transforming lives through community outreach programmes. Developing our communities to the point that we exceed their expectations remains the Municipality’s key focus. There are various community outreach programmes whereby the Municipal leadership visit communities and outline the Municipality’s programmes and plans of alleviating poverty as celebrity chefs demonstrating their culinary skills during the Good Food and well as social issues. Wine Show Durban Township cookout at the popular shisanyama, eyadini Community outreach Lounge in umlazi this week.The event saw popular chefs compete against programmes are also each other in a nail biting cookout while also promoting township tourism. used to educate residents about Municipal THE Good Food and Wine imparting inspiring knowledge. African celebrity chef Peter programmes,create Show Activation was held The cook-off is one of many Ayub took on runner-up of awareness and share in Umlazi this week for a initiatives by eThekwini Masterchef South Africa, information. township cook-off which saw Municipality taking place in Siphokazi Mdlankomo with Our public engagements local and international celebrity townships to promote township TV personality Lorna Maseko- includes: chefs compete against each tourism. Lukhele assisting her. • Mayoral Izimbizo other. The first cook-off was Team Owens emerged the winner of • Budget hearings The event was held at the Australia consisting of the cook off. • Voter registration blitz pupular shisinyama, Eyadini Masterchef Australia winner Sibusiso Dlamini from Umlazi • Intergovernmental Lounge this week and saw a Brent Owens and Masterchef Township Tourism said events projects delighted audience of locals, Australia finalist Renae Smith such as these continued to • Mayoral winter culinary students and emerging competing against Team South elevate township tourism. warmth projects chefs, learn cooking tips Africa which paired up Jenny “Townships have a rich history • Operation Sukuma from some of the best in the Morris also known as ‘The that needs to be shared. Sakhe projects business. Giggling Gourmet’ and UK Township tourism also creates Celebrated Chefs & Food chef and TV personality Reza job opportunities for locals and Personalities sharing local Mahammed. promotes development in the flavours, authentic cuisine and In the second cook-off South area,” he said. CITY HELPS COMMUNITIES BECOME SELF-RELIANT SERVICE delivery through former KwaZulu-Natal Premier discussed cases affecting attempt to find solutions to collaboration with the Dr Zweli Mkhize encouraging their community. These cases the social ills affecting the community and relevant all sectors of society to change included negligence and community. War Rooms are stakeholder is essential for their own lives, rather than only child abuse which have been part of OSS, and serves as eThekwini Municipality. This relying on government. referred to the Department of a platform for engagement is achieved through a number OSS was designed to combat Social Development for the at a ward level where issues of Government programmes to issues affecting communities required intervention to ensure facing the community are ensure social ills are kept at such as unemployment, the safety of the affected discussed with the aim of bay. Operation Sukuma Sakhe crime, substance abuse, HIV children. Various Municipal, finding solutions.Community (OSS) which means “Let us & AIDS and TB. Ward 11 this Provincial Department and participation and stakeholder stand up and build”, is such week hosted their weekly War Non-Government Organisations involvement is vital in the a programme launched by Room meeting where they attended the meeting in an success of this programme. 2 ETHEKWINI WEEKLY BULLETIN ISSUE 7 www.durban.gov.za METRO POLICE TAKES ACTION TO KEEP DRUGS OFF CITY STREETS THE dedication of eThekwini operation. “Officers risk their successful as we managed to the local South African Police Municipality Metro Police lives every night in the pursuit arrest two males for being in Service station. officers in the fight against of a drug free eThekwini,” possession of heroin,” he said. Middleton said there has also drugs is intensifying, with the Middleton said. The arrested men had been been a noted trend where drug City confiscating narcotics and Middleton said the anti-drugs selling the drugs from a tuck lords use businesses as fronts stolen goods weekly. blitz were highly strategic shop in the City. One of the for drug smuggling. “The blitz Metro Police Deputy Head of operations that involved men was found with four has also uncovered a 24 hour Operations Steve Middleton surveillance over a long period. large stones of heroin in his laundry mat where date rape said the City’s anti-narcotics “The recent blitz over the possession while the other drug worth a street value of operations recovered weekend was as a result of was found with 165 pieces of about R4000 was found,” said approximately R160 000 information obtained over heroin in his possession. Middleton. worth of drugs in their recent a period of time. We were The suspects were detained at STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS TO IMPROVE THE ICT SECTOR ETHEKWINI Municipality society” with all sectors of to the information economy professors, entrepreneurs and hosted the Government society and academia to drive and the need for an integrated government ICT leaders. Technology Conference integrated Information and ICT research and innovation Professor Mkhize said she from 25-28 October 2015 Communications Technology council. An engagement model believed data, research and at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli (ICT) development. to ensure women, Small, scientific evidence were International Convention Centre Topics that were discussed Medium and Micro-sized essential in policy formulation, under the theme “Partnering included potential future Enterprises and people with hence the proposal to for Service Delivery: Connecting partnerships between disabilities was identified as investigate the creation of an Communities for Development government and the public one of the areas that should be ICT Research Council. and Growth”. to ensure policy formation. investigated further. “Government is interested to Deputy Minister of Creating expert advisory The session also included ensure inclusive participation Telecommunications and groups to inform the agenda State Information Technology in policy formation and other Postal Services, Professor on research