To see how hard working Ward Councillors go about their jobs, see Ward 9 councillor, Heinrich Muller’s newsletter below.
You may contact Ward 9 using the contact form at the bottom of this report.
1. ACCOUNT PROBLEMS
Our office has been inundated with complaints from residents who have not received their municipal statements for May/June 2013. We received the following correspondence from Cllr de Andrade:
“Statements for the month of May 2013 were posted timeously and should have been received by the account holders.
This directorate can unfortunately offer no explanation for the late receipt thereof, other than that the problem could have rested with the postal services.
Statements are processed approximately on the 24th of a month and posted from Johannesburg approximately two to three days thereafter.
Should you not receive your monthly statement by approximately the 10th of a month, please contact the Customer Care Help Desk on telephone number (041) 506 5555.
Copies thereof can then be forwarded to you.
You can also apply to receive monthly statements via the electronic help desk…”
The abovementioned application form to receive your monthly statements via the electronic help desk is available from my office.
2. STRIKE ACTIONS
After numerous complaints w.r.t. service delivery in the Metro, we were informed that the following departments are currently on strike due to labour disputes:
- Traffic
- Electricity
We have received confirmation today from the Metro that:
“…Following discussions between Management and all parties concerned, the strike at the Supply Chain Management Offices was called off this morning, and all SCM staff have resumed their duties…”
We will keep you up to date when the other two sections will be operational again.
3. DAMAGED KABEGA ROAD BRIDGE & BARRIERS (VICINITY OF FRIKKIE KOTZE DRIVE)
I can report back that after numerous discussions with the relevant officials, work to the damaged Kabega Road bridge in the vicinity of Frikkie Kotze Drive has finally started. It was scheduled for last week, but has been delayed due to the weather.
4. FRIKKIE KOTZE DRIVE REPAIRS
I received complaints that a section of the Frikkie Kotze Drive in the vicinity of Kabega Road has sunk and formed a ditch leading to the drain next to the road. After my meeting with officials at the site and their investigation, they fixed the said section during the week.
5. LIBRARIES OPEN IN METRO
We received the following information on 19 June 2013 from DA Cllr Andrew Whitfield w.r.t. the libraries in the Metro:
“… all Libraries will be open from today.
I have received many calls regarding fines for late returns due to the closure of libraries over the last two weeks. Ms Chigumbu has informed me that no fines will be issued as the system will reflect the days the libraries were closed.
Should any residents have problems in this regard please forward their complaints/queries to me and I will deal with them…”
Cllr Whitfield’s contact details are: 072 613 9265 or whitfield.andrew@gmail.com
Please also take note of the opening times at the Linton Grange library during the school holidays:
- Monday: 10h00 – 17h30
- Tuesday – Thursday: 09h00 – 17h00
- Friday: 09h00 – 13h00
6. REMOVAL OF RESTRICTIVE CONDITIONS
Kindly take note that in accordance with Section 3(6) of the Removal of Restrictions Act, 1967 (Act 84 of 1967) the following applications for the removal of restrictive conditions on the following properties have been received by council. The applications may be examined at the office of the Properties and Planning Administration, 2nd Floor, Lillian Diedericks building (old Brister House), Govan Mbeki Avenue, during normal office hours.
- Erf 501, (20 Carnation Avenue, Sunridge Park) (CF32/00501)(LM) (Ref. 164) and
- Erf 2068, (22 Moregrove Road, Westering) (CF27/02068) (LS) (Ref. 165)
Should you have any comments/objections to the above application, please ensure that your comments/ objections reach the office of the Municipal Manager, P O Box 116, Port Elizabeth, 6000 on or before the closing date for objections, which is 5 August 2013. Please mention the abovementioned act as well as your erf number in your letter.
7. NEWS FROM THE DA …
Media statement: 2013/14 Budget
Cllr Angelo Dashwood, DA Spokesperson on Budget & Treasury in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, issued the following media statement w.r.t. the 2013/14 budget during June 2013:
“…On Friday 7 June 2013 the Nelson Mandela Bay Council unanimously approved the 2013/14 budget.
The DA supported the much improved budget after a great deal of debate in both Budget and Treasury / Mayoral Committee meetings and a series of council meetings. We are confident that our concerns have been taken into consideration and that the budget is acceptable.
The DA is pleased to announce a reduction in property rates from 13% to 9.14%. This is a significant improvement and is a relief for residents and business owners alike. Water, sanitation and refuse remain at 13% and electricity remains fixed at 7% as per the instruction of the National Energy Regulator (NERSA).
Electricity losses, due mainly to illegal connections, and our non-revenue water losses will be the subject of a report which must be presented to council by 30 June 2013. This report must lay out a plan to reduce these losses as a matter of great urgency. A further report from the Traffic Department will outline a strategy to recover the millions in outstanding traffic fines. Recovering outstanding fines and curbing water and electricity losses will substantially improve the financial condition of the municipality.
The DA fully supports a pro-poor budget. Unfortunately, even with a pro-poor budget in place the eradication of the bucket system will not take place during the financial year 2013/14 as only R9m is on the budget for this purpose. This equates to eliminating only 360 bucket toilets (estimate R25 000 per unit). We estimate that there are 38 000 buckets that have to be eradicated in this Metro. While the budget is pro-poor, eliminating backlogs of housing, the bucket system, gravel roads, electrification of townships and many more urgent issues cannot be dealt with in the short term.
The DA is also pleased to announce that after a long struggle to have Bed and Breakfasts and Student Accommodation re-graded for preferential rates, we have succeeded. The previous grading to business and commercial led to a number of establishments closing down and was met with vigorous opposition from the DA. We consider this to be a notable victory for small business and tourism in the city.
While supporting the budget the DA remains acutely aware of the long road to recovery that lies ahead. We believe that the appointment of a competent and qualified City Manager is a step in the right direction towards ensuring good governance. We will continue to call for the appointment of permanent Executive Directors in each Directorate as a matter of urgency. The budget can only deliver on its mandate if supported by a qualified and committed contingent of senior managers who will ensure financial best practice is observed at all times.
The DA is cautiously optimistic and will remain vigilant throughout the 2013/14 financial year to ensure that good governance and delivery are priorities on our road to recovery…”
Media statement: DA welcomes Call from Civil Society
Cllr Leon de Villiers, DA Leader of the Official Opposition in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, issued the following media statement during June 2013:
“… On Friday, a delegation of civil society leaders led by Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber CEO, Mandla Madwara, addressed the City Council outlining their concerns in a direct and assertive manner.
DA welcomes call from civil society
Never before have such powerful words been directed at the City Council by civil society. The Democratic Alliance welcomes this unprecedented and long overdue statement and is encouraged to know that our efforts within council are supported by role players in civil society.
The issues raised by the delegation include but are not limited to the very issues we have been driving in council. Addressing these issues is critical to unlocking the immense potential that Nelson Mandela Bay has to offer. Some of the critical issues are:
- Theft of electricity at R 300m per year;
- Water losses to the value of R 127m;
- Delays in rezoning applications;
- Inadequate IDP and Budget Public Participation;
- Delays in applications for developments;
- Corrupt supply chain management;
- Absence of permanent executive directors and senior managers;
- Undue pressure on the City Manager; and
- Crumbling infrastructure.
Political infighting and the subsequent political interference in the administration of the city have reached a new height. The recent rumor of the City Manager’s resignation is an indictment on the political leadership of the ANC in the Metro who have been gunning for her since day one. We condemn the leaders of the ANC who have pressured the City Manager into submission.
In 2014 the residents of Nelson Mandela Bay will have an opportunity to send a direct message to the ANC at the polls. This will be the final warning shot that will usher in a new era of political stability and good governance by a DA led city council in 2016…”
8. NEWS FROM THE METRO …..
Prayers for Madiba: A prayer meeting was held for Madiba on 4 July 2013.
June-July 2013 School Holiday Program: Guided Hiking Trails
The following hike will be undertaken during the June – July 2013 School Holidays, as part of the Metro’s guided trails to the general public. You are all welcome to attend.
Van Stadens Hiking Trail:
Go into the Van Stadens Nature Reserve, and meet in front of the first office. Follow the road from the N2 Van Stadens turn-off. Turn left.
Meeting Place: Meet in front of the first office inside the reserve.
Date: Wednesday, 10 July 2013
Time: 09h00 (2 – 3 Hours)
What to bring along:
- Packed lunch
- Stout walking shoes or takkies
- Water bottle (juice or water)
- A Hat and sun block
- A Jacket (For the changing weather patterns gets windy on the trails)
- Some of the hikes might not be suitable for very young children
- Contact Person: Ms Pumla Koltana
- E-mail Address: pkoltana@mandelametro.gov.za
- Telephone: 041 506 1661
R46 Million investment launched in Bay
“…Today a R46 million investment – the Lighting Innovations factory – is being launched in Greenbushes. Lighting Innovations has created over 80 jobs in this factory plant, which measures an impressive 6 000 m² and houses state-of-the art machinery.
Mayor Ben Fihla stated in his official address at the launch: “I understand that Lighting Innovations had a range of tempting offers from other provinces, but thanks to intensive lobbying by the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, and the fact that the region offers a sustainable value proposition and provides for this type of investment, Lighting Innovations decided to invest in our region.
This investment is of strategic importance for the Nelson Mandela Bay region and the Eastern Cape Province at large, as it does not only contribute to the region’s objective of diversifying the manufacturing sector, but also strengthens the vital metal manufacturing sector. The metal sector is highly labour intensive and therefore carries great potential for skills transfer. This sector is in fact one of the targeted growth sectors for the region and the Eastern Cape Province as a whole…”
9. YOUTH DAY
The Democratic Alliance’s PE North Constituency visited the Sinethemba Home in Korsten as part of our youth day celebrations on 16 June 2013. Clothes were donated and there were youth entertainment (singing, dancing & poetry) for the children. Lunch packs were also handed out to the children.
10. IEC REGISTRATION NEWS
We have been informed that the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has announced that the first registration weekend ahead of Election 2014 is likely to take place on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 November 2013 from 08:00 to 17:00.
During the registration weekend, all voting stations will be open and voters who are unregistered or incorrectly registered can visit their local VD’s to register/re-register.
The DA office has started contacting residents in all wards to ensure that they are indeed registered and/or registered in the correct province and voting district. Should you have any queries or know of new neighbours, please do not hesitate to contact my office.
11. THANK YOU
I can not thank the residents in Ward 9 enough for being my eyes and ears in the Ward by reporting problems/queries to my office.
I also want to thank the residents who give feedback when their complaints/queries have indeed been settled so that I can close my file. The Metro do not always inform my office when a problem has been rectified.
Ward 9 Greetings
Ward Report Back
You may use this form to contact these hard working Councillors: Ward 1, Ward 2, Ward 5, Ward 6 and Ward 9.
Why only these? Because these councillors regularly report back to their constituents via MyPE.
Ward 9
Latest posts by Ward 9 (see all)
- Ward 9 Water Shutdown - 20 August 2018
- Ward 9 Water Outage - 30 November 2017
- Thursday Water Shutdown in Westering (Western Hills & Taybank) - 19 July 2017
- Ward 9 Newsletter – June 2017 - 21 June 2017
- Public Meeting for Wards 9, 39 and Portion of 12 - 16 September 2016
