Overload trips burden eThekwini Municipality's electrical infrastructure

THE MUNICIPALITY has had a challenging start to the year as numerous overload trips after load shedding have left several areas in eThekwini plunged in darkness. Overload trips are a result of in rush currents when power is switched back on. The unit's Medium Voltage / Low Voltage Operations Deputy Head Veer Ramnarain said the network was not designed to handle frequent switching on and off as load shedding demands. ''Under normal circumstances, our network would only get switched off and back on once every three years but lately this happens more than once a day depending on the schedule. This puts additional strain on the reliable operation of the network. The current heatwave has also not made it easy as it contributes to a higher occurrence of faults.'' Prolonged outages caused by overload trips do not just inconvenience customers, but further regress progress made on repairing electrical infrastructure previously damaged during the floods in April last year. Despite being inundated by such challenges, the Municipality's engineers and technicians continue to work hard to restore power and ease the pressure on the network. Customers are urged to switch off high load appliances such as geysers, stoves, and kettles during power outages and switch them on in a staggered or random manner when power returns. Cable theft is another challenge that is crippling the infrastructure. Multiple electricity breakdowns are mainly due to the theft of cable and connecting to the grid illegally. It has a negative impact on the municipality's communication network, electricity supply, and traffic services. The Head of Electricity Maxwell Mthembu said the theft of cables does not only deprive residents the supply of power, but it also interrupts the supply of water to the residents due to malfunctioning of water pumps. It is for this reason that some areas are constantly experiencing water outages, resulting in the malfunction of water pumps. Sewerage pump stations also use electricity to pump raw sewerage to our treatment works. In the event of cable theft in these stations, operations ground to a halt resulting in sewerage ending up to clean water resources. The public is urged to report any suspicions of cable theft to the nearest police station. Loadshedding schedule is available on the municipal website www.durban.gov.za 

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Umlazi rabies drive

THE Rabie Vaccination campaign headed by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development ended on a positive note in Umlazi last week. Pet owners were called to vaccinate their pets for free. The vaccination teams visited all sections in Umlazi to ensure that pets are prevented from the virus. In the past two years, the Municipality has seen a spike in positive animals. Human rabies tends to correlate with rabies amongst animals. Mop-up animal vaccination campaigns continue to be implemented to control the disease. Communities are advised to keep an eye on the city's social media pages to get dates and venues of the next Rabie campaign drive. 

Visit eThekwini Enviro Week 18 - 25 March 2023

 

By Fred Felton | Mar. 17, 2023

The eThekwini Enviro Week is a call for all residents of eThekwini to work together to look after the environment. This Enviro Week is hosted by eThekwini Municipality with partners that include Green Corridors and the City of Bremen (Germany).

Denis Hurley Centre Street Lit book vendor Alvin Dube displays some of the enviro friendly books for sale, while Mboniseni Ndimande (right) and Noxolo Sibiya from eThekwini's Transformative Riverine Management Programme (TRMP) and Jonathan Welch (centre) from Green Corridors KwaMashu Materials Beneficiation Centre check out waste and paver made from recycled plastic and glass. Photo: Val Adamson. 

There will be a packed programme of fun and activities at venues across Durban from 18 to 25 March. There will be many events and activations during the week designed to get the public access to organisations and individuals that work in the conservation and environment sector.

There are many important world environmental days to celebrate during eThekwini Enviro Week. Dates to look out for are Global Recycling Day (18 March), World Frog Day (20 March), Human Rights Day and International Day of Forests (21 March), World Water Day (22 March) and World Meteorological Day (22 March). Also look out for National Water Week, National Library Week, and Earth Hour (25 March).

There will be activities during the week around these themes and encourage public participation in helping to support the idea of cleaning up the environment, recycling and reusing waste. There will be clean-ups in communities, beaches, rivers and other sites, with a focus on getting materials to recycling facilities.

There will be plenty of places to explore during this week. There are many places to visit including the Botanical Gardens, Green Corridors community tourism sites, uShaka Marine World, Umgeni Bird Park, and the Umgeni Estuary just to name a few.

The City’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Culture will have displays at the Durban Natural Science Museum and various displays and activities at libraries in line with Library Week.

‘’A number of activities have been planned, for example an educational drive which include a clean-up in Clermont and other parts of the City will be happening. With this drive the City will be educating residents and creating awareness on proper waste management practises,’’ said eThekwini Municipality Spokesperson, Msawakhe Mayisela.

Several organisations will be having events that aim to raise awareness of the right to a safe and clean environment to celebrate Human Rights Day.

The week will close off with a celebration at Green Hub at Blue Lagoon on Saturday 25 March. There will be a range of Environmental Education and Public Awareness (EE & PA) organisations at the event that will share updates on the plans to establish a formalised EE & PA Action Network.

‘’Experience the natural beauty of the city,’’ suggested Green Corridors Spokesperson, Nomfundo Phewa.

A full programme with events and activities can be found at: www.enviroweek.co.za

For queries about eThekwini Enviro Week contact: info@enviroweek.co.za

 

Safety and security a priority

ETHEKWINI Mayor Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda announced recently that additional measure are being implemented to ensure the safety of all. This comes after popular South African rapper Kiernan 'AKA' Forbes was killed on Florida Road on 10 February. Mayor Kaunda, together with the municipality's Executive Committee and senior management, joined members of the Cultural and Creative Industries Federation of South Africa in a prayer and wreath laying ceremony on 13 February. The ceremony was held outside the restaurant where Forbes was killed. During this visit Mayor Kaunda reassured residents, and visitors that the Municipality is tightening security around the precinct and in other areas in and around the City. He said before the incident, the Municipality already had plans to beef up security. This included the recruitment of 200 new metro police recruits who joined the municipality in November last year while the recruitment process for a further 200 officers is underway. He said further measures include ensuring the Metro Police satellite station on Florida Road is open 24/7 with additional patrol vehicles. ''The installation of CCTV cameras to be linked with police operations is underway. We are also strengthening relations with the South African Police Services, Urban Improvement Precinct and other institutions to ensure safety. There are also new satellite Metro Police stations at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre and in Inanda. We also have a Metro Police Bicycle Patrol Unit for increased police visibility,'' he added. ''We remain committed to intensifying the fight against crime'', said the Mayor. 

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25 Years of the Durban Business Fair

REGISTRATION for the jubilee celebration of eThekwini Municipality's signature business exhibition, the Durban Business Fair (DBF) is now open. The DBF will take place from 22 to 24 September at the Durban Exhibition Centre. The DBF is one of the innovative economic development programmes hosted by the Municipality to ensure that small and medium businesses remain active and are included in the radical economic participation of the City's economy. Download the registration form using this link: http://bit.ly/3YfbIsb Alternatively, visit www.durban.gov.za to download the application form or visit the 7th floor, Embassy Building, Anton Lembede Street to obtain registration forms. You can also email: admin@lomes.co.za to request for an application form. The City celebrates 25 years of the DBF which is a milestone. A concerted effort has been made by the Municipality to grow the Fair over the past two and a half decades. This year's DBF promises to be bigger and better featuring more businesses and encompassing many empowerment and development opportunities. A tiered payment system has also been introduced this year. If you pay the full exhibition price by 31 March, you qualify for the early bird discount. Normal fee payments close on 28 April. There is a penalty fee for any late registration. Don't wait, register now and benefit from the early bird discount. For enquiries, businesses can contact Mnqobi Mthethwa on 061 006 6162. 

EThekwini Municipality Debt Relief Programme

 

By Fred Felton | Feb. 24, 2023

There is still time for eThekwini Municipality customers to take advantage of the debt relief programme which is offered by the City.  

There is still time to take advantage of the City's debt relief programme. | Photo: Supplied

The Debt Relief Programme makes sure that customers can settle their outstanding debt and all interest accrued will be reversed. This programme is ideal for customers whose debt is 90 days and longer.

EThekwini Municipality and the customer will enter into an agreement with a plan of payment that doesn’t exceed 36 months and is based on the customer’s affordability.

So far over R119 million has been collected from instalments paid through the previous debt relief initiative.

‘’We have responded to the plight of customers who have requested an extension of the programme. We are aware of the financial difficulties that many customers face due to recent disasters experienced in the City and the current tough economic situation. As a caring City we do as much as we can to assist our customers,’’ said Ms Lindiwe Khuzwayo, Head of Communications, eThekwini Municipality.

Customers are required to put a down payment of five percent down for residential customers and 10 percent is required for business customers of the total debt. This amount will be payable up front.  Historical interest that has been accumulated will be written off. No future interest will be raised on the debt until the customer has paid the debt in full. This is provided that the customer complies with the agreement.

If the customer defaults on the agreement interest will be reinstated. Further to the interest write-off, dependant on the number of months the customer will choose, a percentage of the capital write-off will be done.

How to apply for the programme:

Customers that stay in the northern region of eThekwini Municipality who would like to take up this programme can visit any of the Sizakala Centres: oThongathi, Verulam, Phoenix and KwaMashu.

Residents in the western region can visit Sizakala Centres in Pinetown, Mpumalanga, Hillcrest, KwaDabeka and Clermont.

Customers in the south can visit Sizakala Centres in Cragieburn, KwaMnyandu, uMlazi Megacity, and Kingsburgh to apply for the programme before it closes.

The deadline to apply for this programme is the end of February 2023. 

 

Mayor, Mxolisi Kaunda rounds up festive season highlights

DURBAN and surrounding areas were abuzz with visitors and residents alike during the festive season. The Mayor, Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda, in a media statement, acknowledged and thanked visitors who made Durban their home during this festive season. He went on to thank residents and tourism product owners for the warm reception they provided to holiday makers. As a result of heightened police visibility on the roads and in our communities, few incidents of crime and road crashes were reported during this festive season. The municipality's systematic preparation and planning for the festive season, yielded positive results for safety and security especially at the beach as only 47 children were reported separated from their minders and were quickly reunited with their families within 24 hours. The planning for the festive season included an integrated approach to law enforcement between the Province, SAPS and the municipality. It was able to achieve the following results from 15 December 2022 to 11 January 2023:

• 15617 traffic fines issued;
• 1503 vehicles stopped and searched;
• 70 Compliance inspections to businesses. 

''As eThekwini municipality, we are encouraged that despite the challenges we experienced with some of our beaches, thousands of visitors still descended on Durban. This holiday season provided us with an opportunity to showcase other hidden gems in Durban and surrounding areas. The success we have achieved during this festive season has laid a solid foundation for us to prepare for the Easter holidays'', said the Mayor. 

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Interruption of water supply 

THE Municipality is faced with a challenge of water supply in most areas partly due to infrastructure damaged during the floods and load shedding. The municipality acknowledges and apologises to communities in the affected areas and assures residents that it is working tirelessly to address the challenges. The water supply challenges are mostly in the areas that are supplied by the Phoenix, Verulam and Ntuzuma reservoirs. The interruption was due to inadequate supply of Water from Durban Heights Water Treatment Works to these areas. 

''We are confident that the commissioning of Reservoir 3 of this treatment plant will eradicate the challenge of water supply in Ntuzuma, Verulam and Phoenix'', said the Mayor. 

Other areas that have been experiencing water supply challenges include Umlazi and Folweni. These challenges were caused by several pipe bursts from the trunk main supplying water to these areas from Chatsworth. The municipality is working with Umgeni Water, to finalise plans to replace this bulk pipe at an estimated cost of R900 million. 

''We call upon residents to work with us to address other challenges which lead to the disruption of basic services such as theft and vandalism of our infrastructure'', said the Mayor. 

Call for Projects for DFM 2023

 

By Fred Felton | 27 Jan. 2023

The Durban FilmMart (DFMI) has opened the call for a variety of projects in development for the 14^th annual Durban FilmMart.

Durban FilmMart now accepting projects from filmmakers. | Photo: DFM

The Durban FilmMart is a pan-African finance and co-production market which aims to create partnerships and help with the development and production of African cinema. UNESCO’s 2021 Film Trends in Africa Report recently named DFM as ‘’the continent’s best film market’. The Durban FilmMart will return as an in person event in Durban, South Africa in July 2023.

The following DFM programmes are still open for application:

Pitch and Finance Forum – Deadline 10 February

This is for fiction, documentary and series film projects with Africans in the major creative roles (writers, directors, and producers) seeking co-producers, financiers, sales agents, and funders are invited to submit their projects that are in development.

A director and producer must be attached to the project. The DFMI independent adjudication committees will select 10 documentaries and 10 fiction film projects from the submissions. These projects will undergo a 6-8 week packaging and mentorship programme prior to the DFM, followed by a pitching session to a panel of global decision makers at the DFM event with one-on-one meetings afterwards.

For more information and to submit a project visit:

https://durbanfilmmart.co.za/pitch-and-finance-forum-application/

Talents Durban - Deadline 17 March

The DFMI in cooperation with Berlinale Talents, an initiative of the Berlin International Film Festival, invites participants to apply for the 16^th edition of Talents Durban. Talents Durban is open to African screenwriters and directors with fiction, animation, documentary and hybrid projects in development – this includes all media formats such as film, television series, web series and content for mobile platforms. Those selected by a panel of industry experts will participate in mentorship labs, workshops, discussions, and specialised programmes for specific disciplines including scriptwriting and directing.

The Talents Press section invites emerging film critics and journalists from digital and traditional media to apply for mentorship and hands-on training. Prospective Talents must have a portfolio of their previous work and a current project which is in progress.

For more information and to apply visit:

https://durbanfilmmart.co.za/talents-durban-application/

Jumpstart – Deadline 31 March

Jumpstart is an incubator programme for scriptwriting presented by the Durban FilmMart Institute in partnership with Produire au Sud, Nantes, CNC and Institute Francais, South Africa. The programme will focus on project packaging for the international market; filmmakers are introduced to key techniques and tools for scriptwriting and storytelling processes.

For more information and to apply visit:

https://durbanfilmmart.co.za/jumpstart-appliction/

‘’We are committed to providing filmmakers with a platform which gives access and creates opportunity for growth,’’ said Magdalene Reddy, General Manager for the Durban FilmMart Institute.

The Durban FilmMart 2023 is presented by the Durban FilmMart Institute with principal funding from eThekwini Municipality and the Durban Film Office.

 

EThekwini all geared up for festive season

ALL plans are in place for a safe and festive celebration and around eThekwini these holidays. 

The Municipality assures residents that beaches that are open have been tested over a period of time and are safe for swimming. 

Residents are requested to swim only in the beaches that are open. There are information boards at all the beaches which indicate to bathers whether it is open or not. So before you jump into the water, check the board out. 

Recently, the Mayor, Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda, joined the public and took a swim at South Beach. The intention was to showcase to visitors that Durban is open for business and that indeed it remains Africa's playground. This was after he revealed the state of readiness of the Municipality and its relevant stakeholders to ensure a safe and fun-filled festive season.

YOUR SAFETY IS OUR

PRIORITY

''Our law enforcement officers will maintain high visibility in all areas to ensure safety during the festive season,'' said the Mayor. He further disclosed that the Municipality has partnered with Etron Electric Motor Bikes who donated motorbikes to Metro Police to be used for patrolling during the festive season. 

To ensure that the beaches and surrounding areas are safe and clean, the municipality has implemented the following:

• Employment of additional seasonal staff to complement the Municipality's workforce includes 60 lifeguards, 135 litter pickers, 20 small plant operators, 67 beach buddies, 48 childminders to care for children who have been separated from their parents/guardians and 60 pool attendants as well as 120 fieldworkers for the beach cleaning programme in the coastal area. 
• Parents/guardians are advised to put armbands with their contact details on, for children under the age of 12. 

TRAFFIC CONTROL AND 

PARKING ARRANGEMENTS

The Municipality has a park and ride system at the Old Drive-In Site on the M4 (corner of Sandile Thusi and Sylvester Ntuli Road). Free shuttles will ferry passengers from this site to central beaches every 30 minutes throughout the festive season. Roads leading to the beachfront will be boom-gate controlled. When necessary, these boom gates will be closed for the safety of all patrons. 

OPEN BEACHES AND

SWIMMING POOLS

''Most of the City's beaches are open and safe for swimming following improved water quality results. To guarantee this, the Municipality has partnered with one of the most reputable and independent laboratories, Talbot, to ensure that the quality of our water is constantly tested. We have agreed to compare and share our results publicly,'' said Mayor Kaunda. 

The beaches that are opened and safe include Point, uShaka, Wedge, North, Bay of Plenty, Battery, Pipeline, Toti Main, Warner, Umgababa, Anstey's and Country Club. The municipality will continue to monitor the water quality. 

The following swimming pools are open: Rainham, Durban North, Pipeline addlind, Tiger Rocks, Anstey's, Westville, Kings Park indoor and outdoor, Stanmore, UMlazi D, L.T. King, Bayview, Arena Park, Alex Bulley, Lamontville, Lahee Park, Ntuzuma, Sutton Park, South Beach Paddling, Tesoriere, Marrianridge, Tills Crescent, Croftdene, Bellair and Umgababa.