ETHEKWINI www.durban.gov.za WEEKLY BULLETIN By 2030 eThekwini will be Africa’s most caring and liveable City 24 February 2020 [Issue 199] CITY UNVEILS MULTI- MILLION RAND BUS FLEET It was a joyous occasion when eThekwini Mayor Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda unveiled 50 new buses that will help boost the public transport system in the City. He was accompanied by Transport, Community Liaison and Safety MEC Bheki Ntuli and other City offi cials. A NEW multi-million rand using public transport and help time,” said Mayor Kaunda. of all of us to jealously protect bus fl eet, that will beef up ease traffi c congestion. The new bus fl eet is set to them,” said Mayor Kaunda. the public transport system Accompanied by Transport, be a game changer in the To reduce carbon emissions, in the City, was unveiled by Community Liaison and Safety bus commuter market both the City’s investment of over eThekwini Mayor Councillor MEC Bheki Ntuli at the launch, in terms of appearance and R380 million for the total of Mxolisi Kaunda in uMlazi on 22 Mayor Kaunda said he is technological advancement 150 buses will also contribute February. optimistic that the new fl eet as the City aims to become a towards reducing carbon The 50 state-of-the-art buses, will change the public transport smart city. footprint, as these buses emit which were received with much system for the better and “Cities in the world invest low carbon monoxide. fanfare from residents, will restore dignity to commuters. substantially in public MEC Ntuli commended the boost the current fl eet and He said the City’s current bus transport. We are now following City for the procurement of will cover the south of Durban fl eet is ageing and it is prone suit and gradually we will be these hi-tech buses. He said while the City awaits delivery of to technical problems and at the summit of world class public transport needs to satisfy another 100 buses. constant breakdowns. public transport system. We are the needs of all users and these Mayor Kaunda said the “The handing over of the fi rst therefore urging our residents buses will achieve this goal buses are installed with 50 buses responds directly to to look after these buses. We because they are fi tted with modern technology and the complaints we have been are not expecting anyone to features which will allow people are set to revolutionise the receiving from commuters that torch them in the event our with disabilities, senior citizens public transport system in the our bus fl eet is ageing and as communities are unhappy about and pregnant women to board City. This, he said, will spur a result commuters are unable anything pertaining to service the buses with ease. residents to gravitate towards to get to work and school on delivery. It is the responsibility “KEEPING YOU IN THE KNOW” www.durban.gov.za MAYOR ISSUES STERN WARNING TO INCOMPETENT EMPLOYEES ETHEKWINI Mayor Councillor this problem.” Mxolisi Kaunda has issued a Mayor Kaunda further stern warning to lazy Municipal reminded residents that the officials, saying employees will fight against violence and face detrimental consequences social ills requires concerted if they fail to execute their efforts from both government duties. and the community. Addressing hundreds of “Government cannot win the residents at Amaoti Hall, ward war against crime alone. We 53, during the Operation cannot do this alone; we need Sukuma Sakhe (OSS) Mayoral you as residents and civil Programme, Mayor Kaunda society to support us in our said service delivery challenges efforts to fight crime and fast discovered during recent visits track service delivery.” in various wards were alarming. He added: “It is disheartening “Officials need to respect their to hear of cases where children jobs and honour their contracts are raped by members of the by giving their best while on family and are protected by the duty.” mothers' of the victim. Don’t The visit by Mayor Kaunda EThekwini Mayor Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda did not mince his words choose rapists, choose your to Municipal staff during an Operation Sukuma Sakhe Mayoral was part of the City’s report Programme in ward 53. He said incompetent employees will face dire children, choose their future back programme, whereby consequences for failing to execute their duties. and protect them by reporting the Municipality provides these incidents and cases to progress on concerns raised by Mayor Kaunda said OSS helps Water, Roads and Stormwater the police.” residents. ensure synchronised planning Department.” Mayor Kaunda started the day The programme is also used by all spheres of government. He said he was happy that a by chairing a local war room to inform residents about “During our visit to your ward plan was already in motion to meeting that was attended by upcoming projects in their today, we noticed that there resolve the issue. “Officials various stakeholders from the areas and provide progress on was an issue with storm water have assured me that work will community and government existing ones. connections which required our commence very soon to sort out officials. Public urged to comment on Annual Report ETHEKWINI Municipality has as poor growth of revenue indigent households. its impressive track record in begun the consultation process and rapid urbanisation, The City has delivered 3142 terms of service delivery with on the 2018/19 Annual eThekwini Municipality has new houses, completed 32 new a capital spend of R4.951 Report and invites the public performed well and received family units and refurbished billion, which is 75 percent of to provide their comments. A an unqualified opinion from 223 units. The Human the approved capital budget. public meeting will be held the Auditor General. City Settlements Unit also exceeded Some of the challenges on 4 March at the Luthuli leadership has committed to their target and acquired 614 highlighted include delays Hall, at City Hall at 10am. All accelerate service delivery and hectares of land for housing. in contracts due to poor interested parties are invited to ensure an improved quality of These houses are built within performance by contractors, attend. life for residents. centres of economic activity to procurement and legal The City’s service delivery The City supplies electricity to ensure employment close to challenges, appeals processes performance report for the past more than 740 000 customers homes. on some projects and work financial year gives a detailed covering 2 000 kms and has The Water Department has stoppages due to strikes and account of service delivery successfully provided free basic ensured that 85 percent business forums challenges. achievements, challenges and electricity to 109 749 indigent households have access to These resulted in slower spend, consolidated annual financial households. basic level of water services however the City has put statements. Comments The Cleansing and Solid and 98 percent have access to measures in place to mitigate received from this process Waste Unit provides a full free basic services. these challenges. also inform the Integrated range of services to 3.4 The Municipality continues The Annual Report is available Development Plan and the million residential, industrial to be in a strong and stable on the Municipality’s website budgets for the upcoming and commercial customers financial position, underpinned at www.durban.gov.za. and at financial years. and provides weekly refuse mainly by a good cash Sizakala Centres and libraries. The report shows that, removal service to 1 063 624 collection of 91.9 percent. Residents are invited to provide despite challenges, such households and 106 percent of The Municipality continued feedback. 2 ETHEKWINI WEEKLY BULLETIN ISSUE 199 BUFFALO CITY IMPRESSED WITH CITY TOURISM SUCCESSES A DELEGATION from the The delegation was hosted Buffalo City Metropolitan by the City’s International Municipality visited eThekwini Governance and Relations Unit. Municipality for a three-day Head of the Unit Eric Apelgren study tour to get a better said eThekwini has worked understanding on how hard to establish and promote eThekwini has established township tourism, heritage itself as the best local and routes and ‘must-do’ lists when international destination in the in Durban. “The City continues country. to work on forging international Buffalo City is a metropolitan relationships both for business municipality situated investment and leisure. on the east coast of the Currently the City is working Eastern Cape Province. It on attracting more tourists includes the towns of East within the cruise line industry. London, Bhisho and King A delegation from Buffalo City visited eThekwini Municipality for a We have set up a welcome William’s Town, as well three-day study tour to learn more about Durban’s economically vibrant reception and destination as the large townships tourism, film and fresh produce sector. awareness for passengers who of Mdantsane and Zwelitsha. disembark at the Durban port,” Member of the Portfolio potential to become more visit to the Stables Theatre said Apelgren. Committee for Economic established as a leading in Greyville, the Vuyani Nkosi The delegation was highly Development in Buffalo City, tourism destination, offering Memorial Youth Centre in impressed that eThekwini Councillor Vuyelwa Mpanza majestic landscapes for leisure Chesterville and the Clairwood invests and creates spaces said her city wants to boost and film. Fresh Produce Market. The for arts and creativity. Both their tourism, film industry and “We want to learn, implement delegation also spent a day cities agreed that they would fresh produce markets. strategies, policies and good with the Durban Film Office like to create a memorandum Councillor Mpanza said practices from eThekwini to learn about the process of understanding to concretise although the coastal city is which is a globally marketed of applying for filming and elevate relations from the the second smallest metro in destination,” she said.