To see how hard working Ward Councillors go about their jobs, see Ward 9 councillor, Heinrich Muller’s newsletter below.
You may contact Ward 9 using the contact form at the bottom of this report.
1. WATER RESTRICTION IN EFFECT
The Nelson Mandela Bay Council today approved the implementation of water restrictions, with immediate effect.
The municipality has been using approximately 60 million liters more than its allocation daily and has not taken action to address this. The Minister of Water and Sanitation gazetted a notice containing a requirement for our usage to be decreased by 15% in April this year. This notice was gazetted only after she and her department had negotiated and pleaded with the Metro, asking that the usage be decreased without her having to resort to publishing a legal notice requiring the cuts.
We operate in a water-scarce environment. We are pleased to say that finally, in our newly constituted council, we are acting responsibly and taking practical steps to address our water shortages.
Residents will not be able to use hoses to water their gardens or to wash their cars. The full list of prohibited activities will be made widely known. It is important to remember that failure to act in accordance with the restrictions is a criminal offence, and could result in legal action.
Most importantly, residents are being requested to reduce their water usage by 15% by the end of October this year. Businesses (and particularly our large water users) are being urged to play their role as prominent Nelson Mandela Bay citizens, and lead by example.
If water consumption does not decrease by 15% within 2 months, Council will be forced to consider punitive measures. These could include increased water tariffs for usage above certain limits, and the requirement that water tanks be installed for all new houses.
Our water restriction measures require nothing more than residents’ awareness of the importance of saving water, and their full cooperation. We are confident that most residents will respond positively.
We know that the municipality must play its part too. I must make particular mention of recent media reports on water leaks. We welcome these reports. They emanate from a civic-minded, interested and caring community. They represent a vigilant civil society, which is critical to the success of any government. We have no doubt that the local media will hold our new administration to account, and we look forward to that.
The Municipality has a serious problem with respect to water losses. The solutions are not short-term and are multi-pronged. We expect to release full details of our strategy within the next fortnight. Already, advertisements for the employment of ten additional plumbers have been published.
I am determined that, once we announce our strategy, we will be entirely transparent with respect to its implementation and its success (or otherwise). I am not prepared to ask residents to save water, without committing to doing the same within the municipality.
Thank you!
Cllr Annette Lovemore,
Member of the Mayoral Committee: Infrastructure, Engineering, Electricity and Energy
Restriction on the use of water
In terms of Section 4 of the Water Services Act 108 (No 108 of 1997) and Clause 31 of the Water & Sanitation Services By Law the following will be prohibited from immediate effects:
1. The use of water obtained from the Municipality’s water supply system for:-
a. Watering gardens, lawns, grassed areas, flower beds, racecourses, sports fields, bowling greens, golf greens and fairways, croquet lawns, turf wickets, ploughing fields and the like;
b. Topping up or filling fountains, ornamental ponds and the like;
c. Filling swimming and paddling pools;
d. Washing paved areas, walls, roofs, buildings and similar structures.
2. The use or operation of:-
a. Hosepipes;
b. Sprinklers, sprinkler and drip system;
c. Automatic swimming pool fillers;
d. Automatic urinal flushing systems;
e. The connection of a hosepipe or any form of irrigation system to a tap supplying water from the Municipality’s water supply system unless for the purpose permitted in terms of this notice.
Exemptions
1. The use of reclaimed water or water obtained from sources other than the Municipality’s water supply system.
2. Watering gardens, lawns, grassed areas and flower beds by means of a hand held container.
3. The use of operation of a hose pipe or sprinkler system for fire fighting.
4. The filling of a new pool on completion of initial construction
5. Commercial vehicle washing business where at least 70% of the water is recycled(vehicle washing by means of a hand held container is permitted)
6. Watering of plants, trees and shrubs in commercial, state and municipal nurseries.
7. The filling of municipal swimming pools and swimming pools at hotels, fitness centers, medical care centers, schools, educational institutions and institutions of higher education.
8. The prohibition contained in this notice shall not apply in any case specifically exempted, in writing, by the Executive Director: Infrastructure and Engineering.
Note
Notice boards must be prominently displayed where water from sources other that the Municipality’s water supply system is used for irrigation.
Land owners must notify the Infrastructure and Engineering Directorate in writing of the existence of boreholes on their property.
Land owners must apply to the Department of Water & Sanitation for the intention to sink boreholes and also notify the NMBM.
All consumption must be reduced by at least 15% and failure to achieve this, the NMBM will be forced to impose stricter measure.
THE CONTRAVENTION OF THIS PROHIBITION CONSTITUTES A CRIMINAL OFFENCE
Please request the application for a waiver of requirements of water resections notice form from our office.
Please be aware that all water related enquiries and comments must henceforth be sent to a new email address, namely waterrestrictions@mandelametro.gov.za.
Contact numbers: 041 506 2347 or 041 506 2139
2. KRAGGA KAMMA TRANSFER STATION
We have received questions/queries from residents as to what is allowed and what is not allowed at the above mentioned transfer site.
Herewith a short summary of what is accepted and what is not accepted:
No businesses will be allowed to dispose of any waste material at the drop-off site, except for garden services enterprises (disposal limit: one ton of waste per day only). Entrepreneurs removing waste from business premises will not allowed to dispose of such waste at the drop-off site.
Accepted Waste:
A maximum of one bakkie load per day (max 1 ton) of:
Residential garden refuse
Bulky household waste note removed during curbside collection(e.g. Furniture)
Pre-sorted recyclable waste(e.g. paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, metal and cans)
Waste not accepted
Any waste generated by businesses or contractors
Large tree stumps
Branches longer than 2m
Construction waste(e.g. rubble, rock and soil)
Kitchen waste(e.g. normal black bag waste), excluding recyclables
Carcasses
Anything that could cause a bad smell
Hazardous waste, incl:
Oils and paints
Batteries and Fluorescent light bulbs
Electronic waste
Medical waste, etc
Waste note accepted is to be taken to the Arlington Waste Disposal Site.
FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE ABOVE MAY RESULT IN A FINE OF R2000 PER INCIDENT
Site will be open seven days a week (except on 25 December) and operating times will be from 07h30 to 17h00”
3. MUNICIPAL DEBT ACCOUNT INFORMATION
Apply for any of the assistance below if you are unable to pay your municipal debt:
Assistance to the Poor Subsidy
Affordable repayment arrangement installments
Underground Water Leak rebate
Pensioners’ Rate Rebate
Disabled Persons’ Rates Rebate
Rates Exemption
How to obtain the balance of your Municipal account/statement
Visit any of the 12 Customer Care Centers;
Call (041) 506-5555- automated menu (Dial 1);
Call (041) 506-5555 – Operator (Dial*);
Obtain your account via your cell phone;
E-mail: customercare@mandelametro.gov.za
Fax (041) 506 – 1304
DEBT COLLECTION
In order to guarantee the prosperity of our beautiful city and due to the failure of the past soft approach to debt collection, it has become imperative to employ a service provider to assist with collection of the escalating debt owing to the municipality. For this reason EOH staff members, on behalf of NMBM, will contact customers telephonically regarding arrear municipal service accounts, in order to motivate payment.
For more information call the Customer Care Help-Line on telephone number 041-506 5555,
e-mail customercare@mandelametro.gov.za or visit our website on www.mandelametro.gov.za”
4. IMPORTANT INFORMATION & DATES FOR OWNERS, TENANTS AND ACCOUNT HOLDERS
Please note we have received the following from the Metro:
“DATA-CLEANSING PROJECT TO COMMENCE
The municipality strives to improve basic services, however, the updating and maintenance of basic customer account information remains a challenge. In order to assist the municipality, we request that account holders work with the municipality to keep their account information up-to-date.
As part of this endeavor, the municipality appointed a service provider, EOH Mthombo (Pty) Ltd, to verify both water and electricity meter information on every property in the Nelson Mandela Bay area. This is to ensure that account holders are billed correctly for services utilized.
Data collectors from EOH will visit your area over the next 12 months, as from April 2016, on weekdays from 07h30 to 18h00, or on Saturdays from 08h00 to 13h00, should no access be available during the week.
We ask you, as loyal customers, to allow these fieldworkers onto your premises, so that they will be able to conduct their water and electricity meter verifications.
Your, and the fieldworkers’ safety, is of concern to us, therefore you will be able to identify the data collectors by their apparel (grey shirt labelled NMBM and EOH), as well as by a formal ID card. They will also carry a laminated letter of designation from the municipality.
You can however phone telephone 041-506 5555 to confirm the fieldworker’s details and schedule.
5. ANTI-FRAUD AND ANTI-CORRUPTION HOTLINE INTRODUCED
Please note the introduction of an Anti-fraud and Anti-corruption Hotline in the Nelson Mandela Bay.
Anti-fraud Hotline – Toll Free Number: 0800 007 086
(More details will follow)
6. TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF SWARTKOPS STEEL BRIDGE
Please note the following we have received from the Metro:
“The motorist and commuters of Nelson Mandela Bay are requested to note that, due to maintenance the Swartkops steel bridge, which runs across Swartkops River, will be closed from Monday, 22 August 2016 to Saturday, 10 December 2016(not 22 September 2016, as advertised in The Herald on 19 August 2016).
Sorry for the inconvenience which may be caused due to this closure is regretted”
7. SPEED CHECKS IN WARD 9
We have received the following from the Traffic Department with regards to the above:
Speed checks – Warbler Street, Westering
Please be advised that speed checking was done in Warbler Street yesterday morning(10/11/2016) from 06h50 to 11h00. The speed of 300 vehicles was tested and 7 prosecutions was instituted, the highest speed being 76km/h.
Speed checks – Kragga Kamma Road, Framesby/Sunridge Park
Please be advised that the speed team attended the complaints on Saturday 22 October 2016 from 09h00 to 11h00. The speed of 200 vehicles was tested and 4 prosecutions instituted with the highest speed being 76km/h.
Speed checks – Kragga Kamma Road, Framesby/Sunridge Park(again)
Please be advised that the speed team attended the complaints on Saturday 21 October 2016 from 06h44 to 11h50. The speed of 650 vehicles was tested and 10 prosecutions instituted with the highest speed being 78km/h.
Please note that the Traffic Department did do speed checks in some of the other streets in the Ward as well, we will share same with you in due course.
8. PAINTING OF ROAD MARKING/SIGNS IN THE WARD
Please note that the Metro is currently attending to Sunridge Park and Framesby and will then move to the rest of the ward.
9. DEMARCATION
Please note that Fernglen does not fall under Ward 9 anymore, Fernglen falls within the boundaries of Ward 6:
Herewith details for Ward 6
Cllr Morne Steyn
083 298 8182
041 367 1670
Ward6@mandelametro.gov.za
10. SOCIAL MEDIA
Please note that our offices have opened a facebook page Ward 9 – Nelson Mandela Bay.
This facebook page is where we will share information about the latest information about our Ward.
Thank you
HEINRICH MüLLER
Ward 9 Councillor
78 Kragga Kamma Road, Sunridge Park
Port Elizabeth, 6045
Phone: 041 360-0447
Cell: 083 648 1916
Fax: 086 504 6380
E-mail: ward9@mandelametro.gov.za
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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