The Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA), a municipal entity of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM), established for the purpose of rejuvenating the Port Elizabeth Central Business District (CBD) and other emerging nodes in Nelson Mandela Bay, hereby invites all residents, property owners and interested parties in an and around the Port Elizabeth Central area to a SRA preliminary meeting. This meeting will seek to address the issue of leveraging additional revenue for certain services in Central such as security and cleansing. Such revenue collected will be managed by a body representing the property owners and such an approach is in keeping with international best practice and is successfully applied in many cities worldwide. As a starting point, it is suggested that the pilot area be the area abutted by Russell Road in the north, Strand Street in the east, Cuyler Street in the South and Rink Street in the west (see map attached).
MBDA Chief Executive Office, Dr Pierre Voges says; “There are many examples across the world where decayed parts of cities have been restored, not only through public investment, but also through the payment of an additional levy on property values, enabling property owners to manage such pool of funds to the benefit of their areas in respect of private sector services”. “The meeting will explore the following key issues, reasons for establishing a Special Rating Area, benefits to property owners, envisaged model of implementation and envisaged process involved going forward” concluded Voges.
An official SRA area can only be established with the cooperation of property owners and it is therefore important that as many property owners as possible attend this public meeting. Although the SRA is envisaged for the area as mentioned above, the invitation is extended to all residents in Nelson Mandela Bay, as a successful SRA in the earmarked area will enable the implementation of SRAs in other parts of the Nelson Mandela Bay.
The MBDA has gained valuable experience in this regard; having recently facilitated the establishment of the Richmond Hill SRA. That SRA has already received the thumbs up from the majority of the residents of Richmond Hill, a key requirement by law. It has also received approvals from the Economic Development and mayoral committees of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.
Public Participation Meeting
Venue: City Hall Auditorium, Vuyisile Mini Square (Market Square), Port Elizabeth
Date: Monday 31 March 2014
Time: 17:30
Alan Straton
Latest posts by Alan Straton (see all)
- South African Conquers Rats on the World Stage - 30 October 2026
- Old JPG on a Memory Stick? Vectorization Studio in Observatory Redraws Faded and Low-Resolution Logos by Hand - 30 October 2026
- ReAutomated Adds Robot Palletising and Case Packing Cells to Existing South African Packing Lines Without Stripping Out the Conveyors - 30 October 2026
- From a 5 KM Sprint to an Ultra: Punisher Sets Out Its Magaliesberg Obstacle Race Formats for First Timers, Teams and Fitness Clubs - 30 October 2026
- Rotary or Dual Action? Germiston’s Polisher Lists Its Machines, Buffs and Compounds for Car Paint and Metal Finishing - 30 October 2026
I live in Richmond Hill, but did not know that the SRA has already been established here! When? The majority residents have certainly not voted in favour – in fact, they were never even consulted. Perhaps Dr Voges is referring to a few property owners.
Response from the MBDA: http://mype.co.za/new/2014/04/volunteers-needed-for-7-may-elections/
there is a group on facebook that addresses these issues
https://www.facebook.com/groups/richmond.hill.crime.community.forum