Dear MyPE The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality is facing Labour Court action, and a possible fine of R1.5-million, after pushing through an employment equity plan that the Department of Labour has found to be non-compliant. This despite numerous warnings from the Democratic Alliance that the plan was substandard and needed to be reworked. The municipal directorate for corporate services tabled its Employment Equity plan in October last year. Earlier that month, before its submission, … [Read more...] about NMB Employment Equity plan falls short, could result in R1.5-million fine
annette lovemore
A trying and yet productive 5th day of the strike
Dear MyPE The fifth working day of the strike in Nelson Mandela (Wednesday 20 June) was tense, but productive. The day began with union members barring many employees who are choosing to work access to their workplaces. This, coupled with the fact that a march was expected, a mayoral committee was scheduled for the morning and a council meeting for the afternoon, led to an exceptionally high SAPS and Metro Police presence in the CBD. Order was generally maintained, although there are … [Read more...] about A trying and yet productive 5th day of the strike
Cllr Annette Lovemore on the Municipal Strike
The strike in Nelson Mandela Bay has now been underway for three working days. The strike commenced on Thursday last week with the municipality's largest union, SAMWU, downing tools. Their demands were delivered to the City Hall on Friday. The second municipal union IMATU, joined the strike action today, and was joined by SAMWU when it delivered its demands to City Hall today. The strike, by both unions, is protected. The official strike certificate is based on only one issue - … [Read more...] about Cllr Annette Lovemore on the Municipal Strike
Nooitgedacht Low Level Water Scheme’s Purification Capacity Problem
Water is available via the Gariep Dam but payment delays and budget cuts on the implementation of Phase 3 of the Nooitgedacht Low Level Water Scheme Purification plant could scupper the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro receiving an additional 70 Million litres of water per day. The current water consumption in the metro is around 280 Million litres per day. This was revealed at an oversight visit today to Nooitgedacht hosted by Shadow Minister of Water and Sanitation, Leon Basson MP with Councillor … [Read more...] about Nooitgedacht Low Level Water Scheme’s Purification Capacity Problem
NMB Bucket toilets to be gone by December 2017
MMC Annette Lovemore said today: In the build-up to last year's election on 3 August, the then DA Mayoral Candidate, Athol Trollip, and now the Nelson Mandela Bay Executive Mayor, was very vocal about his determination to rid this Metro of bucket toilets. He involved the Human Rights Commission to underscore his revulsion at the indignity of these toilets, the use of which was at that stage imposed on approximately 16000 Metro residents. It is now over a year since the election, and Nelson … [Read more...] about NMB Bucket toilets to be gone by December 2017
Annette Lovemore on the War Against Leaks
Nelson Mandela Bay is determined to win its war on leaks. Water is a precious resource. We cannot allow it to run to waste. We are losing about 25% of our treated water to leaks right now. At the Council Meeting on Thursday, 1 December, Councillors tasked Officials and the relevant political role-players with aggressively addressing our high water losses. A primary target - agreed at the Council Meeting - is the reduction of the turnaround time in attending to and repairing water leaks … [Read more...] about Annette Lovemore on the War Against Leaks
Cut water URGENTLY by 50% or Nelson Mandela Bay taps can run dry over the next three days!
The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality is requesting all residents to assist by cutting water consumption by up to 50% over at least the next three days to avoid taps running dry. Cllr Annette Lovemore, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Infrastructure, Engineering, Electricity and Energy, made this urgent call to residents following various factors that occurred simultaneously over a number of days. “With your help, we cannot avoid this probable catastrophic situation, while the water … [Read more...] about Cut water URGENTLY by 50% or Nelson Mandela Bay taps can run dry over the next three days!
Criminal charges laid against the acting Municipal Manager of Ikwezi
Dear MyPE The DA today laid criminal charges against the acting Municipal Manager of Ikwezi, based on his grossly negligent handling of the municipality's finances. The charge carries a possible 5-year jail sentence. The Ikwezi municipality had to rely on a loan from the Sarah Baartman District Municipality to be able to pay salaries this week. This is a repeat of exactly the same situation in June last year and the year before, as well as in October last year. The DA has long protested … [Read more...] about Criminal charges laid against the acting Municipal Manager of Ikwezi
10 facts about SA’s school maths figures
The Department of Basic Education revealed this week that one in four South African schools don't offer maths in Grades 10, 11 and 12. The figure was contained in a written reply to the DA's spokesperson for basic education, Annette Lovemore from Port Elizabeth. Here is a list of the most important factoids from the department's response: 1. 75.7% of schools in South Africa offer maths in Grades 10, 11 and 12. That's 4 484 of the 5 927 schools in the country. 2. In the Bohlabela … [Read more...] about 10 facts about SA’s school maths figures
Proposed demarcation is not the panacea to deal with Ikwezi chaos
Dear MyPE The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Pravin Gordhan, has seen fit to "solve" the problem of the bankrupt Ikwezi municipality (Jansenville and Klipplaat) by proposing to redraw the boundaries to create a single large municipality comprising the current Baviaans, Camdeboo and Ikwezi municipalities. The DA will petition the Municipal Demarcation Board not to accede to this proposal and to retain Ikwezi in its current geographical form. The … [Read more...] about Proposed demarcation is not the panacea to deal with Ikwezi chaos
Destruction and ungovernability cannot dictate Uitenhage housing agenda
The Democratic Alliance respects, absolutely, the constitutional right of access to housing. We respect, too, the right of Uitenhage shack dwellers to protest if they feel that their constitutional rights are being infringed. We do not respect, and will never condone or support, the right of protestors to destroy property, to threaten lives or to render a municipality ungovernable. We cannot, in any way, be part of action that is criminal and that negatively impacts the rights of other … [Read more...] about Destruction and ungovernability cannot dictate Uitenhage housing agenda
Not much chance for success from Rates Boycott
Hello Alan I am a Metro resident and ratepayer and, as such, have total empathy with the anger and frustration felt by the residents intent on withholding rates. Have a look at the two attached judgments; both the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court have found AGAINST rates boycotters. Plus, in all the cases I know of, not much has changed (if anything). The boycott will not hit where any official will hurt. Action is absolutely necessary, but I would strongly caution that a boycott … [Read more...] about Not much chance for success from Rates Boycott
Eastern Cape workbooks: blame game does not help learners
While the Eastern Cape Provincial Education Department and the National Department of Basic Education play the blame game, the education of thousands of learners in the Eastern Cape are at risk. The Eastern Cape Provincial Department of Education was placed under administration in March 2011. After the Democratic Alliance (DA) exposed thousands of workbooks being returned to government warehouses as a result of ordering mistakes both the provincial and national administrations have attempted … [Read more...] about Eastern Cape workbooks: blame game does not help learners
