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Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

Mayor’s 27 Day Commemoration

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Dear Citizens

It has been a transformative 27 days since I assumed office, and I am both humbled and inspired by the dedication shown by this Leadership Collective in advancing our Municipality’s priorities.

Community Health and Safety: Regulating Township Economies Over the past three months, South African towns and cities have faced a tragic wave of illnesses and fatalities due to unsafe food items sold in spaza shops and tuck shops. As a response, the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Hon. V. Hlabisa, has promulgated the Draft Bylaws for Township Economies, gazetted in November 2024.

The Standard Draft Bylaw for Township Economies seeks to balance support for local businesses with safeguarding consumer protection.

Today, we discussed incorporating these provisions into our institutional framework to ensure the regulation of spaza shops within our municipality.

The Municipality has also developed a 21 day action plan to ensure that the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality complies with the directive as provided by the President of the Republic of South Africa.

The action plan comprises:

  • Registration of Spaza Shops: The Economic Development, Tourism and Agriculture (EDTA) directorate has commenced with the process of registering all Spaza shops within the municipal area.
  • Compliance Inspection and Law Enforcement: The Municipality will take action on properties that have contravened land development and management regulations.

Revitalising the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipal AIDS Council

In line with my commitment to engage civil society, we have revitalised the AIDS Council and we are now reviewing its Terms of Reference, which were last updated in 2017. On Monday, I convened an AIDS Council meeting to strategise on combating HIV/AIDS. Key resolutions included sending a 90-member delegation to the National AIDS Day Event on 1 December at Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Buffalo City Municipality.

The long-term solution to combat HIV/AIDS lies in advocacy and public education, addressing systemic challenges such as gender inequality, patriarchy, and genderbased violence (GBV). These root causes perpetuate the prevalence of HIV/AIDS, and as a municipality, we must tackle these issues head-on.

16 Days of Activism: Ending Violence Against Women and Children

The national 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign was launched yesterday by the Deputy President under the theme “30 Years of Advancing Collective Action to End Violence Against Women and Children.”

Disturbing statistics from Stats SA and the Human Sciences Research Council highlight the dire situation:

  • 1 in 3 women aged 16 and older has experienced physical violence.
  • Over 33% of women have faced physical violence, and 9.8% have faced sexual violence.

As a municipality, we launched our campaign yesterday with a focus on public education, victim support, and engaging men and boys as allies in the fight against GBV. Let us break the silence, support survivors, and hold perpetrators accountable.

Enhancing Municipal Events Coordination

Our Municipality’s events management requires urgent reform to ensure synergy, efficiency, and impact. I have noted challenges such as inadequate conceptual framing, poor turnaround times for logistical support, and a lack of coordination across directorates.

To address this, I have directed the SRAC Directorate to develop a Municipal Events Calendar for implementation by 1 December 2024. This will serve as a blueprint for coordinated planning and execution, aligned with our 100 Days Priorities Implementation Plan.

MMCs oversight is crucial to ensure compliance with procedural guidelines for event coordination. I urge you to collaborate with your Executive Directors to make this a reality. Together, we can deliver impactful, well-supported programs.

Honouring Our Departed Leaders

As we celebrate progress, we also mourn the loss of two stalwarts, Reverend Pasha and Mr. Doc Mkonto, whose contributions to our community will never be forgotten.

  • Rev. Pasha will be laid to rest on 29 November, with MMC Mafana representing the municipality.
  • Mr. Mkonto will be buried on 30 November, with MMC Mankahla representing us.

Two memorial services have been organized for Rev. Pasha, with the final one taking place tomorrow at 16:00.

Appreciation and Call to Action

As we approach the festive season, I wish to commend the Mayoral Committee Members and staff for their unwavering dedication to the 100 Days Priorities Implementation Plan under the theme “All Hands on Deck.” Your hard work ensures that we deliver on our commitments to the residents of Nelson Mandela Bay.

Let us continue this momentum, united in our vision to uplift our communities and foster a safe, inclusive, and thriving municipality. Together, we can achieve remarkable progress.

Regards

CLLR BABALWA LOBISHE
THE NELSON MANDELA BAY MUNICIPALITY EXECUTIVE MAYOR

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