EThekwini ready to rock everyone this festive season

THE Municipality, led by eThekwini Mayor Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda, recently met with various tourism stakeholders in collaborative efforts to ensure that the upcoming festive season is a success. 

The discussions and resolutions centred around issues including: 

• Keeping the promenade and beaches clean and safe for swimming
• Strengthening partnerships with all stakeholders, including the private sector, to keep eThekwini clean
• Consolidating marketing campaigns to reposition Durban as a destination of choice for visitors and locals 
• Working towards obtaining a Blue Flag status for Durban beaches
• Collaboration among all social partners (business, government, and community) to revive the tourism sector in eThekwini 
• Maintaining a high police visibility in all tourism sites to prevent crime and to keep visitors and locals safe. 

The Municipality's ability to host big sporting and other events was once again proven recently when in just one weekend, eThekwini hosted a number of high-profile events which attracted over 113 000 visitors to eThekwini. These included the double header Carling Black Label Cup  Quarterfinals, KZN Sports Awards, Boyz II Men Concert, Gcwalisa Spring Picnic and the Springboks Trophy Tour. 

''The sucecessful hosting of these events confirms that Durban remains Africa's playground and a preferred venue for major events. On 16 December, the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium will host the Carling Black Label Knockout Final. Durban has cemented its position as a capital for cup finals and this can be attributed to the excellent service the stadium offers to its clients,'' said Mayor Kaunda.

FESTIVE SEASON 

PREPARATIONS

As we get closer to the festive season, the Municipality has assembled a team comprising all Municipal units to ensure that all service delivery and safety issues are addressed before the festive season and beyond. 

Recently, the Laguna Paddling Swimming Pool was closed in December last year due to sand that was entering the pool and blocking the filtration pipes. The opening of the pool brings the number of operational swimming pools in eThekwini to 34. 

''We are pleased to report that the contractor is on site at the Children's Amusement Centre as well and we anticipate completing this R37 million project by 15 December, in time for the festive season,'' the Mayor announced. 

Currently, the Municipality is finalising the recruitment of seasonal workers who will be deployed in all Municipal beaches. These include child minders, lifeguards and waste pickers. 

To ensure the safety of all visitors who will be descending on eThekwini's shores, the Municipality is already increasing the deployment of police in various tourism sites and places of leisure along the beach. There is also a significant increase in Metro Police deployed to the CBD to heighten visibility.

Working with community crime fighting structures, the Municipality has identified crime hotspots in suburbs, townships and rural communities. Law enforcement officers are already conducting intelligence-driven operations in these areas. 

Last month, the Municipality started working on repairs on its CCTV cameras, which are expected to be completed by the end of November. This will go a long way in enhancing safety and security and the ability to detect crime before it occurs. 

''We are ready for a bumper festive season and beyond in eThekwini. We encourage everyone to come and create memories in our vast variety of fine tourism attractions,'' said Kaunda. 

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National Treasury approves grants rollover for eThekwini 

FOLLOWING an application made by eThekwini Municipality for the rollover of unspent conditional grants, National Treasury recently granted the Municipality an approval of R1.6 billion. National Treasury indicated that they will approve the rollover of the Municipal Disaster Recovery Grant, the Project Preparation Support Grant and the Neighbourhood Development Partnership Grant for the Public Employment Programme. 

The approval is also in respect of the following: 

• Municipal Disaster Recovery Grant: R1.5 billion to fund Human Settlements projects, water and sanitation, coastal and stormwater, roads provision and stormwater maintenance, 
• Project Preparation Support Grant: R8.9 million 
• Neighbourhood Development Partnership Grant: R32.9 million

The latest development, particularly in relation to the storm disaster grant, will help to speed up the repairs of roads and storm water infrastructure which was severely damaged during the floods. 

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EThekwini introduces hemp and cannabis seeds pilot programme for farmers 

THE Municipality is opening an opportunity to pilot hemp and cannabis seeds for trials and distribution to local farmers or cultivators for the commercialisation of  cannabis. 

The programme is in accordance with the Municipality's 10-year Agri-Business Masterplan, which includes cannabis as the fifth commodity for development of the sector. Other commodities are vegetables, sheep, piggery, and poultry.

The five commodities are part of a 10-year plan aimed at guiding the Municipality to unlock opportunities and jobs for AgriSMMEs trading in these commodities, thus boosting local economies.

EThekwini Mayor Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda said this process will enable the Municipality, under the Agri-Business Department, which is spearheading the process, to pilot and develop the Hemp and Cannabis Sector towards full commercialisation. He said this would be done in alignment to the ever-evolving South African Cannabis Legislation. 

''The eThekwini Agri-Business Masterplan has identified cannabis as one of the key commodities that must be supported and developed to promote the local economy and job creation. The Agri-Business Masterplan aims to attract investment of R1 billion over a ten-year period to unlock economic value worth R10 billion and create 10 000 new jobs,'' he said. 

He said the purpose of the pilot project is to assist farmers to familiarise themselves with growing methods and to become accustomed to this new crop. 

''The intention is to run trials for four to six cycles to document learning and acclimatise the seeds into the local environment. The focus will be on indigenous land raised strains and exotic strains which can be indigenised into the local environment and grown under a controlled environment,'' he said. 

He said during the trial period, strains that have done well in specific areas will be identified, improved and crossed, creating hybrids specific to regions. 

Once these hybrids are stabilised and feminised, they will be registered as local land raised strains and start the commercialisation process. 

Trials will also be conducted for medicinal cannabis which is used by traditional healers so they can be assisted in developing the seed, register it and get it licensed.

For more information, contact 

Vuyo Jayiya on Vuyo.Jayiya@durban.gov.za or 031 311 4237 

or Nelisiwe Gumede on Nelisiwe.Gumede@durban.gov.za or 031 322 9299.