MyPE has been running a survey - Manganese Ore – Just say “NO!” - since July 2016, asking residents affected by the Ore Dust menace to quantify their losses due to this unsightly dump on the Port Elizabeth beachfront. We ask for personally identifiable information in the survey as we want to be able to present Transnet with a clear audit trail should the comments or estimates ever be challenged. The Herald Online newspaper's Guy Rogers also recently entered the fray with an article - Ore dump … [Read more...] about The Manganese Ore Spanking Travels up the Pecking Order
municipality
Alleged Municipal Waste Employees asking for Bonuses
The Public Health Directorate has received complaints about alleged Municipal Waste Management employees approaching residents and knocking on doors requesting residents for payment of a bonus. Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) would like to notify all NMBM residents that such requests must not be entertained as municipal staff receive a Salary as well as an annual bonus. Residents are to notify the Public Health Directorate at 041-506 7405 or the Customer Care Services contact … [Read more...] about Alleged Municipal Waste Employees asking for Bonuses
The Maternal Unit has waited over 4 years to go on another IPTS Adventure
It was on 21 February 2013 that my Maternal Unit, Annette, and her friend, Isabella, embarked on a test drive of the IPTS bus service. See the results of that adventure here: Annette and Isabella’s big IPTS Adventure Exactly FOUR years and and NINE months to the day the IPTS is mooted to begin operating again on 21 November 2017. In a statement the municipality said today: As most of our residents are aware, the Municipality is approaching the introduction and implementation of Phase … [Read more...] about The Maternal Unit has waited over 4 years to go on another IPTS Adventure
Nelson Mandela Metro to terminate KPMG contract
The Municipality will phase out our current contract with KPMG in line with a motion and subsequent resolution of yesterday's full sitting of Council. It was agreed that the recent ethical scandal surrounding KPMG is ground for concluding the Metro's existing contract with the auditing firm. KPMG currently manages the Metro's ethics hotline, and our audit and risk plan. This coalition government wants to ensure that those companies with whom we have existing contracts are beyond … [Read more...] about Nelson Mandela Metro to terminate KPMG contract
Forcing transparency and accountability in municipalities
On 1 July 2017, after approximately three years in development, all of South Africa’s 257 municipalities went live with a new standardised financial classification framework: the Municipal Standard Chart of Accounts (mSCOA). Sebata, a MICROmega Group company and the leading provider of integrated technology solutions and enterprise management solutions, developed the system capable of supporting it. Before mSCOA, a chart of accounts in most municipalities was limited to item revenue (how … [Read more...] about Forcing transparency and accountability in municipalities
So, what is a Municipality?
Let's explain a Municipality in a nutshell: Many years ago people began to congregate together Each person provided for their own food, water, transport, sanitation etc. More people came along to live in the area The area became a village People realised that the village would benefit from shared services A group of villagers volunteered to build the shared services The village got bigger and people were permanently employed to administer and maintain the shared services … [Read more...] about So, what is a Municipality?
I would have used different words …
A 30 July press release from the Metro trumpeted the following: "The new coalition government in the Bay has recorded capital expenditure of 93% in the 2016/17 financial year - the highest spend since before the 2010 Soccer World Cup." As the man in the street I would not quite understand what is being said here - after all, my boss at work is constantly telling me to cut costs and save money so how can SPENDING money be a good thing? The release goes on to say; "Paired with a collection … [Read more...] about I would have used different words …
MBDA and Municipality thwart attempted fraudsters
Employees from the Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA) and the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Budget and Treasury Directorate thwarted the efforts from attempted swindlers to siphon money from the city’s coffers. MBDA officials received an e-mail and a phone call from a fraudster claiming to be Bevan Zwane, a treasury official from the municipality, stating that the municipal banking account has changed. Money owed to the municipality by MBDA must therefore be sent to this new … [Read more...] about MBDA and Municipality thwart attempted fraudsters
J-Bay in the news: Kouga municipality declared fire disaster area
Kouga municipality declared fire disaster area: Kouga which encompasses towns such as Jeffrey's Bay, Humansdorp, St Francis, Hankey and others, was also affected by the raging fire which engulfed the Garden Route. Kouga mayor Elza van Lingen says, “This is in addition to the drought declaration that ... Source: "Jeffreys Bay" - BingNews. South Africa: Woman, 72, Killed in Eastern Cape Fires - Police: Devastating fires continued through the Humansdorp, Jeffreys Bay, Port Elizabeth area on … [Read more...] about J-Bay in the news: Kouga municipality declared fire disaster area
Water Savings hint for @AtholT and Nelson Mandela Bay
With reference to the 'go to solution' for all municipalities (monopolies) of introducing punitive tariffs (just another set of words for the BIG STICK!) how about rather pulling out the CARROT and rewarding households for sustained water savings? The suggestion is simple: Give a major prize, to be credited to the consumer's lights and water account, for the household that brings their water consumption down by the largest percentage over a period of three months in comparison to the previous … [Read more...] about Water Savings hint for @AtholT and Nelson Mandela Bay
SANRAL announces R 1,6 billion investment in road network in Sarah Baartman District Municipality and Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality for 2017/18 FY
SANRAL announces R 1,6 billion investment in road network in Sarah Baartman District Municipality and Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality for 2017/18 FY: Port Elizabeth, 19 April 2017 – The South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Ltd (SANRAL) has today announced road infrastructure development programmes with a total investment value of R1,6 billion for the national road network in Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality and the Sarah Baartman District Municipality. SANRAL will break ground for six … [Read more...] about SANRAL announces R 1,6 billion investment in road network in Sarah Baartman District Municipality and Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality for 2017/18 FY
Minister Ramatlhodi to Visit the New Municipality in Limpopo
Minister Ramatlhodi to Visit the New Municipality in Limpopo: Minister for the Public Service and Administration, Adv. Ngoako Ramatlhodi will on Wednesday 14, December 2016, meet the community of Davhana, a village in the new Limp345 Local Municipality in Limpopo, on an Imbizo to interact with local residents on issues of service delivery. The community outreach is part of Minister Ramatlhodi’s ‘Batho Pele- putting people first’ programme aimed at responding to service … [Read more...] about Minister Ramatlhodi to Visit the New Municipality in Limpopo
Uitenhage in the news: Municipality hosting briefings on database
Municipality hosting briefings on database: A session will take place at the Uitenhage Town Hall on Wednesday between 9am and 4pm.Another session will be held at the Port Elizabeth City Hall on Thursday between 9am and 4pm. Source: "Uitenhage" - BingNews. Swim twins set sights on World Championships: The 20-year-olds, from Uitenhage in Nelson Mandela Bay, returned from the continental meeting with a bunch of medals and will be looking to put that experience to good use in December. Alaric, a … [Read more...] about Uitenhage in the news: Municipality hosting briefings on database
NMB Council Violence – Video Collection – #GlassJugsMustFall
The SAPS have received cellphone footage showing ANC Councillor Andile Lungisa smashing a glass water jug on a DA Councillor Rano Kayser's head during a heated brawl which degenerated into unprecedented violence in the Nelson Mandela Bay council this week. Apparently the footage shows Lungisa and ANC Councillor Makhi Feni near the speaker's bench in an argument with DA Councillor Rano Kayser. My take on this sorry incident is simple: "Politicians must remember that people look up to them for … [Read more...] about NMB Council Violence – Video Collection – #GlassJugsMustFall
Organised business welcomes hefty charges for damaged municipal cables
The Business community has welcomed a decision by the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality to implement hefty charges against contractors who damage municipal cables in the city. During a Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Council meeting last month, Council approved miscellaneous charges - with effect from 1 September 2016 - for contractors who damage electricity cables in the Metro. These damaged cables have a detrimental effect - not only on the municipality - but also on businesses operating in … [Read more...] about Organised business welcomes hefty charges for damaged municipal cables
