To see how hard working Ward Councillors go about their jobs, see Ward 1 councillor, Stanford Slabbert’s newsletter below.
You may contact Ward 9 using the contact form at the bottom of this report.
Many thanks to the wonderful Atlas Security team who sponsored the flyers that were distributed over the past weekend. If you did not receive a flyer in your post box, please let us know.
Yolande Gerard has resigned as Ward 1 secretary and she leaves the Ward office on 28th March after three years of exemplary service to both the residents of Ward 1 and the Metro. We wish her well in her future endeavours.
We now need to find someone to fill this position, and that of office assistant. Please spread the word that CV’s must be submitted to the Ward 1 office by latest noon on Monday, 11th March. The Secretary must have their own transport and be able to run a busy office and work extended hours. Short-listed candidates will be interviewed soonest, as we hope to appoint people before 15th March.
If keen, please call Yolande on 041 – 583 1732 and she will send you the details.
At last Thursday’s Council meeting, DA Spokesman for Budget & Treasury, Cllr Angelo Dashwood, made the following plea during discussion on the adjustments budget.
“We are all aware that the budget this year was cut to the bone and then again cut to accommodate the unbudgeted item, AFCON, leaving us with insufficient budget for essential services:
Safety and Security: Disaster relief – R800 000 is needed. There is no budget to cover disaster relief. We are forced to ensure that money is found for the period 01.3.2013 to 30.06.2013.
The fire department budget runs out end of March at best. Beginning April to end June we have no budget, what is the plan? We will be forced to close some fire stations if budget is not found.
Health: On the bucket eradication programme, page 54 of the adjustments budget, R500 000 was allocated in the budget. No extra funding has been found for this critical item in the adjustments budget. We already have a massive backlog. We urgently need to find funds for this critical item.
Electricity and Energy: Lighting along the N2, we need approximately R2m minimum to cover us until the end of June. We cannot just ignore this issue, already this city has half of its lighting non-functional. By end of June, if we do not start work now, we will be “in the dark” or at best “dimly lit”.
Infrastructure and Engineering: Stormwater, minor flood control repairs and storm water canal cleaning. We have run out of budget, we need R1.5m to cover us this financial year – or else!
Parks: Bush clearing, rough mowing and weed spraying. R700 000 is needed, our budget is now on the verge of being depleted. Already our city is in a disgraceful state, we cannot allow the city to deteriorate any further. This amount must be found.
The DA must register our grave concern, how can we tell the public – sorry, but you will have to wait until July for service delivery. I plead with our Chief Financial Officer and Municipal Manager to ensure that we address the lack of budget in the areas we have mentioned. I would also ask that we check all directorates and ensure that all essential services are covered”.
We all must get involved and voice our concerns…..we cannot allow our once proud Metro to deteriorate any further. Make some noise … write letters … attend meetings … do something!!
Here is your chance….The Metro is to host a series of public participation meetings focussing on the IDP / Budget / 2012 annual report / by-laws, and we need your support and participation at our designated meeting for Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Wednesday, 13th March, 17h00 to 20h00 at the Walmer Town Hall, Main Road, Walmer. Please try and attend and raise concerns. Click here to see the latest Ward 1 IDP plan.
1. NMB Service Delivery “War Room”:
John Best and his team continue to do a superb job and they are having a massive impact on service delivery. The JOC call centre, also known as the Service Delivery War Room, is efficient and friendly operators issue a reference number for each complaint, and feedback is provided.
Water leaks, pot-holes, broken street lights, electricity problems and blocked sewers are just some of the everyday problems that can be reported, 24/7.
Please report any service delivery problems to 0800 20 50 50.
2. Crime in the area: All incidents of Crime must please be reported to 10111.
House burglaries: Summerstrand continues to be targeted by gangs and there have been many incidents of house burglaries and theft out of motor vehicles. Ensure that your house alarm is always switched on at night and whenever you leave the property. Always exercise caution. Be aware of your surroundings. Always park your vehicle inside your property and do not leave anything visible inside it. Be proactive and work together with your NHW team.
NHW patrols: Patrollers are working closely with SAPS and Security Companies but we do need more “eyes and ears” to help extend these patrols. More volunteers are needed!! Refer to the annexures and get involved. Join the NHW and take control of your suburb!!
Gangs are still targeting shopping centre car-parks, using remote devices to block the remote locking of your vehicle. Please ensure that your vehicle is locked before walking away from it. Remember that insurance does not pay out if there is no forced entry to your vehicle!
Illegal car guards and vagrants look for opportunities: When at the beach, please do not leave your belongings unattended when you go for a swim. Do not leave items visible in your car. Lock them in the boot. Illegal car-guards and vagrants are responsible for most incidents!! Please be careful!!
Beachfront Safety Sector Forum – BSSF: Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of every month, at 12noon, and the next meeting is on Tuesday, 12th March, 2012, at Pine Lodge, Cape Recife.
Report of stoning incident – Humewood Train Bridge – Tuesday, 26th February, 8.45am: “My wife was driving to work this morning at about 8.45 when she saw an object (looked like a brick) falling from the Humewood train bridge – as she was coming out from under it . It just clipped the body work next to the left wheel. She immediately went to the Humewood SAPS to report the incident”……. Please be alert and report any suspicious activity in this area.
3. Problems in the area:
Household garbage being placed on roadside too early: Please note that it is an offense to place your garbage bags on the verge too early, ie. the day before collection. There is a Municipal by-law that will be enforced, see annexures, and your help will be appreciated. Let’s keep our suburb neat and tidy, and only place the bags on the verge on the scheduled morning of collection. Please report offenders to the Ward office, or JOC.
Sewerage system blockages cause for major concern: Efforts will continue to get senior officials to act and implement projects to resolve this issue. Have you had regular blocked sewers? Please email me with the details, so that all the problem areas can be monitored and included in our efforts.
Storm-water remains a major concern: Continued delays in implementing the planned upgrade of the Summerstrand storm-water system are cause for major concern. This project might only happen in three years time. More and more effluent is finding its way into the system and this ends up on our beaches.
Vagrants and street children: Large gatherings of vagrants continue to be reported near the Admiralty Beacon. The BSSF continues to work with all role-players in looking at the many complex issues involved. Please do not give money or food to these people, as it encourages them to stay in the area. If you really want to assist, please send any donations to Maranatha, in Southdene, behind the airport. Then you will be making a real difference!!
Mercado Centre: Efforts will continue to have pedestrian crossings installed across both Admiralty Way and Strandfontein Road. Complaints re noise, littering and drinking in the car-park continue.
Illegal dumping continues: Do your gardeners dispose of any garden waste properly, or do they take it down the road? To where? Please check on them, and do the right thing. Please report any offenders to the JOC or the Ward office. Fines of up to R2000 can be imposed!!
4. Student Accommodation / Digs and Noise issues:
Remember that for any noise issue, at any time of the day or night, please call 10111 and lodge a complaint. The SAPS must visit and warn the culprits. If the problem continues, they will return and issue a written warning. If a third visit is required, they must confiscate the sound equipment. Keep me advised, via email, and we will add the property to our investigations.
The following is our latest list of alleged problem properties relating to student noise, and the owners contact details are included, so that you can make direct contact with them:
- 69 Winchester Way – Owner: tba.
- 18 Nobbs Road – Owner: tba.
- 20 Nobbs Road – Owner: tba.
- 3 Kolbe Crescent – Owner: tba.
- 12 Seventh Avenue – many students. Owner: tba
- 154 Admiralty Way – 9 students. Offsite owner: Mr. Johan Groenewald = 084 518 8523.
- 12 Sharwood Road – 14 students – Owner: Mrs Androula Palemedis = 082 957 0560 .
- 4 Gomery Place – 8 students. Offsite owner: Mr Wen Chi Liao = 082 4561253.
- 9 Gomery Place – several students. Offsite owner: Mr K. Naicker = 079 877 8874.
- 10 Gomery Place – more than 5 students. Offsite owner: tba.
- 18 Gomery Place – several students. Owner: tba.
- 26 Gomery Place – 12 students. Offsite owner: Ms Liezille Schoonbee = 083 661 9169.
- 48 Gomery Place – several students. Owner: tba.
- 36 Ivana Drive – no landlord on site
- 55 Ivana Drive – no landlord on site
- Omega Lodge – major noise complaints from the entire complex – NMMU credited.
If affected by noise disturbances from any of the above dwellings, please immediately contact the owner and request intervention. Keep a log of all incidents and call 10111 if the owner does not intervene. Try and obtain the details of any NMMU students implicated in any problem incidents.
If you know of other problem properties that need similar attention and action, please email the details to me and we will start the process of by-law enforcement, including zoning, rates and SARS queries. Help us to keep Summerstrand as a peaceful and sought after suburb!
Have you also noticed that students are generally making much more noise in the streets? Is this a 24/7 problem? How bad is it? Please email me soonest.
5. Traffic Matters:
Please report illegal activities / speeding hotspots to the Metro Call centre at 041 – 585 1555. When you call in a complaint, request a reference number, so that progress can be tracked.
Speed monitoring has been requested along Admiralty Way, Marine Drive, Strandfontein Road. Do you stop dead at stop streets? Remember that it is a R1000 fine if you ignore a stop sign!!! Please be very careful at the intersections of Brighton and Fifth and Tenth Avenues.
Pearson School drop-off zone: Traffic congestion around Pearson must be resolved and it is proposed to implement a one-way section, between Tee and Brewer Roads. Do you support this plan? To date, no objections have been noted, and we will be proceeding with these plans.
6. General:
GV 2013 – General Valuations 2013. If you are a property owner within the NMB municipality, please be aware of the following:
THE 2013 GENERAL VALUATION ROLL IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION
The 2013 General Valuation Roll is now available for inspection by residents of Nelson Mandela Bay on the municipal website (www.nelsonmandelabay.gov.za) and all customer care centres. Budget and Treasury Portfolio Committee Chairperson, Cllr Balu Naran, encourages residents to use this opportunity to inspect the valuation role on time.
“Please be mindful that as from yesterday, 18 February 2013, the valuation roll is available on our website for inspection until 19th April. The format is very user-friendly and residents should not have a problem accessing the information. However, if there are problems we do have dedicated staff available to deal with enquiries,” he added.
Property owners will receive a mailed notice containing an extract of the NMBM Valuation Roll pertaining to their property by the end of this month (February). Residents can call 041 506 5555 if they did not receive the extract to update their information.
Members of the public who wish to object against information on the Valuation Roll can hand deliver the completed objection form at any customer care centre, fax it to 041 – 506 5474 or post it to Valuations Office, P.O. Box 834, Port Elizabeth, 6000.
You can also visit any Metro customer care centre, call 041 506 5555, e-mail customercare@mandelametro.gov.za or visit www.nelsonmandelabay.gov.za for more info.
SpecSavers Ironman 2013 – Sunday, 14th April – Full road closures. Race day is Sunday, 14th April, with full road closures.
Shark fishing off Pollok Rock: If you see anyone chumming or shark fishing off Pollok Rock, please notify the Beach Office on 041 – 506 1423 (new number – it used to be 584 0584). Alternatively, call the JOC Service Delivery Centre, and lodge a complaint.
Dogs on beaches: Please note that the new regulations and zones are being enforced. Always have your dog on a
leash and use a pooper scooper. Please leave the beach and area as you would like to find it!!
Something good happening at Pollok Beach: Finally, after four frustrating years, the tender was awarded for the future operation of the former Something Good roadhouse site, and building work started in early January. The BWB Chronicle carried an article in the latest edition, with artists impressions, and I am sure that we will soon have a wonderful facility on our doorstep. Congratulations to the successful operator and we wish them good luck in their new venture. Please support them when they open!!
7. Sponsors of the Lucky Draws for tonight:
Grateful thanks are extended to the following 5 sponsors for the vouchers on offer tonight:
- Charlie’s, Summerstrand Village. “new menu”
- Summerbreezz Super SPAR, Admiralty Way.
- Summerstrand Hardware, Torquay Street.
- SPi Clothing, Summerstrand Village.
- Azur Real Estate. Lucky draw prize for those who complete the survey.
Please support our sponsors with your patronage. If you are able to donate any prizes for our future meetings, and want some exposure and publicity, please contact Yolande, or myself.
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.
Alan Straton
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