In 2009 Mercury Island, off the Namibian coast, had a thriving African penguin population. Today, there is not a single penguin on the island.If the African penguin population continues falling at current rates, the bird will be extinct in the wild in about 10 years. There were about 25,000 breeding pairs across their range eight years ago, there are now about 10,000. While overfishing is the main cause of their demise, seal predation has decimated the remaining colonies on Namibian islands, as … [Read more...] about Seal attacks contribute to African penguin’s looming extinction
Government
Lapland Residents Relocation Approved
The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has welcomed the approval by the Eastern Cape Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT) to develop ERF 17639 in Kariega, to allow the relocation of more than 100 families from Lapland informal settlement to the Van Rooyen Avenue site, after floods ravaged Kariega over a month ago. This comes after the Metro assessed the land and applied to the Department following the tragic flood disaster that hit Kariega in June, which … [Read more...] about Lapland Residents Relocation Approved
Nelson Mandela Bay in the dark due to dodgy street light tenders
An internal audit document from 2023 on the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro municipality’s street light supply and maintenance tenders revealed a flawed supply chain management process. Households in Nelson Mandela Bay Metro have been left in the dark due to dodgy street light tenders, according to a municipal councillor. An internal report shows that the municipality bungled two tenders related to street lights. One of which exceeded its budgeted amount by R24-million. This follows the Special … [Read more...] about Nelson Mandela Bay in the dark due to dodgy street light tenders
Blasting Operations between Makhanda and Fish River Pass
Gqeberha, 18 July 2024 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) wishes to notify road users that the N2 will be intermittently closed between Makhanda (Grahamstown) and the Fish River Pass due to blasting operations taking place between 18 and 27 July 2024. Blasting operations are planned for the following dates: Thursday, 18 July 2024, Monday, 22 July 2024, Thursday 25 July 2024, and Monday, 29 July 2024. The road will be closed on these days from … [Read more...] about Blasting Operations between Makhanda and Fish River Pass
Relocation of Walmer flood victims imminent
Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Executive Mayor, Cllr Gary van Niekerk has expressed satisfaction at the progress made to electrify temporary houses in Walmer where flood affected families will be relocated to soon. This comes as the Metro is accelerating its efforts to ensure that outstanding work is completed in order to bring normality to the lives of the affected residents. A total of 20 families will be accommodated in the newly built temporary shelters in Walmer. “We are happy to … [Read more...] about Relocation of Walmer flood victims imminent
DA Claims Embarrassingly Misleading And Untrue
[Listen to the EM, Gary van Niekerk talk about the Walmer Electrification Project] Dear Editor The claims made by the DA that they can provide stability to the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality is not just embarrassingly misleading, it also whitewashed them of complicity in dubious decisions that the Government of Local Unity had to clean up. Retief Odendaal, never submitted a report to Council as required by the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s anti-fraud and anti-corruption … [Read more...] about DA Claims Embarrassingly Misleading And Untrue
Makhanda learners demand maths teacher
Learners at Mary Waters Secondary School in Makhanda have been protesting since Monday, demanding that the department of education appoint a permanent maths teacher.The Eastern Cape Department of Education on Wednesday appointed a temporary teacher to teach mathematics at Mary Waters Secondary School in Makhanda, after days of protests by learners. The school has about 1,200 learners, with an average of 45 learners in some classes. Learners have been gathering at the school gates since Monday, … [Read more...] about Makhanda learners demand maths teacher
Mandla George to act as the City Manager for Six Months
Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Executive Mayor, Gary van Niekerk has welcomed the secondment of Mandla George to act as the City Manager for a period of six months. The MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Zolile Williams officially announced George as the official seconded to act as the Metro City Manager for a period of six months. The announcement was made at a special Mayoral Committee meeting held at the City Hall in Gqeberha on Monday afternoon, 15 July … [Read more...] about Mandla George to act as the City Manager for Six Months
Remedial action steaming ahead following June flash flood
[Listen to Gary van Niekerk interview] [Listen to the Executive Director for Human Settlements, Tabiso Mfeya interview] Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Executive Mayor Gary van Niekerk spelled out the actions taken by the local government institution to provide solutions for residents affected by the June flood, this morning. His press conference follows uncertainty from some quarters regarding work done to address the displacement of families and damage to infrastructure that mostly … [Read more...] about Remedial action steaming ahead following June flash flood
MEC Williams Advises Citizens To Obtain Burning Permits For Controlled Veld Fires Or Face Prosecution
COGTA MEC Zolile Williams has warned Eastern Cape communities that veld fires are prohibited from June 2024 until 30 April 2025. The department has published veld fire prohibition notice dates in line with the prevailing drought situation. As a result, to mitigate the risks associated with unplanned veld fires, the Eastern Cape Provincial Disaster Management Centre (EC-PDMC) has put in place strict guidelines for all to follow. MEC Williams said the impact of unplanned veld fires, from a … [Read more...] about MEC Williams Advises Citizens To Obtain Burning Permits For Controlled Veld Fires Or Face Prosecution
Fake news about water quality
The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality would like confirm that the voice note that has been doing claiming that the drinking water is contaminated, is fake news. The Metro can confidently confirm that the quality of drinking water is safe. We would like to condemn this irresponsible act and call for residents and businesses not to disseminate this voice note as it creates an unnecessary alarm. For reliable and factual information residents and businesses are advised to check the official … [Read more...] about Fake news about water quality
Water restored after Sundays River Canal rehabilitation
The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) says a number of areas have started receiving water from Wednesday morning following the completion of repairs to the Sundays River Canal, with water being subsequently pumped back into the system. The municipality embarked on a 10-day rehabilitation project for the Sundays River Canal, which commenced on 24 June 2024. Led by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), the project aimed to enhance the reliability and sustainability of the water … [Read more...] about Water restored after Sundays River Canal rehabilitation
Winners of 2024 Bridge Building Competition
The South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) hosted a Bridge Building Competition for learners in Grade 11 and Grade 12 at Labco in Struandale, Gqeberha. Twenty-seven learners put their heads together in separate teams, drawn from 12 schools in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality and one from Paterson in the Sundays River Valley Municipality. The competition is run through Incubating Great Engineering Minds (iGEMS) and has 35 learners selected from maths and … [Read more...] about Winners of 2024 Bridge Building Competition
Court asked to stop Shell’s seismic tests once and for all
Local community members and supporters of Sustaining the Wild Coast and Greenpeace celebrated a court victory outside the Eastern Cape High Court in Makhanda in September 2022. The Constitutional Court has been asked to put an end to the exploration right granted to Shell to do seismic testing off the Wild Coast. Wild Coast communities and environmental justice organisations have asked the Court to rule against a decision by the Supreme Court of Appeal earlier this year. The Supreme Court gave … [Read more...] about Court asked to stop Shell’s seismic tests once and for all
Sundays River Water Canal tie-in construction progress update
The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality would like to inform residents and businesses that the following the completion of the Sundays River Water Canal tie-in construction work, refilling of the water system is under way. Nooitgedacht Water Treatment Works, which supplies most of the Metro’s affected areas has started operating. Once all the adjustments and water treatment has been done, reservoirs will start filling overnight and up for the better part of tomorrow morning, 3 July … [Read more...] about Sundays River Water Canal tie-in construction progress update
