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20 DAYS
MACK MAKHATHINI
A TOP National Parliamentcommittee, in Durban thisweek to check on the status ofservice delivery in theProvince, has promised totake up the thorny issue ofmillions of rands in unpaidutility bills owed to muni-cipalities by governmentdepartments.
Solomon Tsenoli, Chairmanof the ad hoc committee onservice delivery, said he wasunhappy about the “hugeamounts” owed, acknow-ledging it could negativelyaffect service delivery.
He promised to take the
matter up with Parliament toensure there were no obsta-cles to progress.
Mayor Obed Mlaba briefedthe committee on variousservice delivery projects in thepipeline, those that have beencompleted and some of thechallenges that are facing theMunicipality.
He said that during the2010/11 financial year eThek-wini would build 16 000housing units to address thehousing backlog.
“We will also be rehabilita-ting and upgrading the exist-ing housing stock,” Mlabasaid.
He said KwaZulu-Natal was
more affected by climatechange than most otherprovinces and more needed tobe done to tackle this.
“In Molweni, near Hillcrest,nine people died and morethan 150 houses wereflattened in less than sevenminutes of a storm,” Mlabasaid.
City Manager Michael Sut-cliffe said food security wasone of the Municipality’s toppriorities.
“We have planted a varietyof vegetables on the roofs ofmany Municipal buildingsand outside the City Hall tohelp address this issue.”
He also raised the issue of
money owed to the Munici-pality by government depart-ments, saying this wasanother major challengefaced by eThekwini.
Procurement and Infra-structure Committee Chair-man Visvin Reddy told thedelegation that the Muni-cipality was ensuring thatpoorer citizens had access tofree basic water.
He said eThekwini was win-ning the war on water loss,thanks largely to a R1.9-billioninvestment in new water pipeinfrastructure.
[email protected] Sutcliffe’s column,
Page 7
THEMBA KHUMALO
DURBAN football fansgot the chance of alifetime when theWorld Cup Trophy
was brought to Umlazi’s MegaCity shopping centre and theSuncoast Casino as part of thefinal leg of its global tour.
Many of the lucky ones weregiven the chance to have theirpictures taken with the JulesRimet Trophy.
Premier Zweli Mkhize said,“The arrival of the trophyproves that we’re well past thepoint of no return and we areready to host the World Cup.
“We thank the sponsors forgiving people an opportunityto experience something theyhave only dreamt of, becausepeople living today will neverget a chance to experiencethis again. This is a once in alifetime moment,” Mkhizesaid.
“Feel it, see it, it is here,” washow Mayor Obed Mlabavoiced his excitement at thearrival of the trophy inDurban.
“Its visit shows that weDurbanites are also impor-tant. People should rememberthat Durban is the home ofsoccer in South Africa. This iswhere it all started.
“The trophy’s visit gaveeveryone a chance to feel partof and share the excitementabout the World Cup.”
Mlaba said his best momentwas when, “I stood next to thetrophy and got a chance totouch the case that containedit”.
He congratulated AmaZulu
for reaching the Nedbank CupFinal. “We wish them the bestof luck and are confident theywill make us proud.”
AmaZulu beat MamelodiSundowns on Saturday toreach the Nedbank Cup Finalwhere they will face BidvestWits.
General Manager for 2010World Cup for Coca-ColaSouth Africa, Onwell Msomi,the sponsors of the trophytour said, “We have kept thebest for last.
“This is an opportunity tocelebrate the first World Cupon African soil and prepare
the mood of the people ofUmlazi just days before thekick-off on 11 June.
“This is an opportunity tojoin all South Africans andclaim your own specialmemory of the 2010 FifaWorld Cup,” Msomi said.
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Friday21 May 2010
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Treat for football fans as World Cup comes to town
FACT FINDING: Mayor Obed Mlaba accompanies aParliamentary committee on a visit to a housingproject in Lamontville Picture: MACK MAKHATHINI
MACK MAKHATHINI
ETHEKWINI’S recently-intro-duced Water Amnesty cam-paign is paying early divi-dends with more thanR125 000 already netted inconnection fees alone.
The campaign aims toreduce illegal water con-nections and was launched inmid March.
To take advantage of theamnesty offer, residents withillegal connections mustcontact eThekwini Water andSanitation (EWS) and ask tohave their water connectionregularised.
They will also need to pay atariff rectification fee of R250and it is this fee that hasgenerated R125 000 so far.
Councillor Visvin Reddy,Chairman of the Procurementand Infrastructure Com-mittee, said he was delightedwith the support the cam-paign had received fromCouncillors and communities.
“We would not have madeany headway if they had notsupported this initiativewhich is aimed at addressingthe plight of poverty-strickencustomers. Realising theimportance of the welfare ofthe people, the Councillorshave led the campaign ineach of their wards, activelydistributing information onthe amnesty,” Reddy said.
EWS Head Neil Macleodsaid there had been anencouraging response fromthe public, with some 500people already coming for-ward to have their illegal con-nections regularised.
This progress has comemainly through the use ofpublic meetings, pamphletsand notices sent out with thebills. Effective use of themedia, street theatre, and thedirect involvement of Coun-cillors had also proved cruc-ial, Macleod said.
“This revenue (R125 000)would not have been collec-ted were it not for theamnesty. We hope that all theother people who know thatthey are connected illegally toour network will take advan-tage of the opportunity thathas been presented to them.”
Macleod warned that dras-tic measures would be takenagainst anyone caught con-necting illegally after theamnesty expired, at a date yetto be announced.
“We have put systems inplace that will ensure thatanyone found guilty ofconnecting illegally after thewater amnesty has expired isdealt with heavily.
“A law enforcement unitthat has been assembled willdeal with those claiming toact on our behalf whileswindling customers.
“We are particularly en-couraged by the partnershipswe have with politicians andcommunities and hope to seethis trend continuing,” saidMacleod.
He encouraged the publicto report illegal connectionsto the toll-free number,080 1313 013, to [email protected] or send an SMS or MXitmessage to 083 707 3013.
Amnestycash flows
I’LL DRINK TO THAT: Mayor Obed Mlaba admires the Jules Rimet TrophyPicture: THEMBA KHUMALO