Cleansing and Solid Waste
Unit's significant milestones
KEEPING the City clean is essential for maintaining a healthy and a safe environment for residents and visitors. One of the core mandates of for the City's Cleansing and Solid Waste (CSW) Unit is to protect the environment and enhance the health of communities in eThekwini.
The unit has made remarkable strides in maintaining a clean and healthy environment for communities, as evident in its achievements highlighted in the 2023/24 Draft Annual Report. The state of cleanliness in the City has seen significant improvements with the unit working tirelessly to ensure the street sweeping is undertaken regularly, and waste is collected and disposed in a responsible and sustainable manner.
Approximately 752 104 tons of waste was collected and safely disposed during this period.
CSW has increasingly stabilised its operations as set out in the tactical turnaround plan resulting the marked improvement in the state of cleanliness particularly in the formal areas and all central business districts. This has been further supported by the attainment of its cleanliness key performance indicator.
This is the percentage of households with access to a basic level of solid waste and the percentage of estimated indigent households with access to a refuse removal once a week.
Some other notable improvements include enhanced stakeholder relations and community participation.
A clean City also requires the active participation and collaboration of residents and stakeholders.
The collaboration between residents and the City in keeping it clean has been evident through the numerous clean-ups held which assisted in maintaining a clean environment.
langelighle.dlamini@durban.gov.za
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Sizakala Customers Service
Unit enhances service delivery
ZIMBILE MAZIBUKO
THE Sizakala Customer Services Unit has made significant strides in improving customer service delivery. This was achieved through implementing various technological advancements and expanding service offerings to better serve residents.
This information is contained in the 2023/24 Annual Report.
A major milestone for the unit was the implementation of the Oracle Customer Experience (CX) system, designed to enhance the access to Municipal services. The system rollout is structured into four phases, addressing fault logging, inquiries, follow-ups, complaints, and service requests. Phase 1, which focuses on fault logging, was launched on 15 March last year. Head of the Sizakala Customer Service Unit Mavuso Tshabalala said training initiatives played an important role in the rollout, with 11 trainers receiving ''super user'' status in January last year to assist end users. ''We had about 287 Municipal staff who underwent training to ensure a seamless transition to the new system.
Phase 2 of the project is currently in progress.
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City's Food Security
Section exceeds target
SANE SHANDU
THE City's Food Security Unit exceeded its target for the 2023/24 financial year by improving food security and nutrition for vulnerable communities.
This section of the City's Health Unit focuses on raising awareness and creating sustainable vegetable gardens in Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres, clinics, and homes through the 'One Home, One Garden ' initiative.
Some of the key achievements include 26 vegetable gardens established at ECD centres, exceeding the target of 10, six clinic vegetable gardens created, exceeding the goal of four, and 84 homestead vegetable gardens developed, almost tripling the initial target of 30. Twenty-four food security and nutrition outreach programmes were conducted, more than double the target of 10.
Head of Healthy Rosemary Van Heerden said the unit's performance is testament to their dedication to assist communities.
''This particular section of the Health Unit was able to successfully complete a food systems training programme, a basic vertical planting manual developed to support urban gardening efforts and they were able to forge strong collaborations with organisations such as the AIDS Health Foundation (AHF). The Business Support Unit have been instrumental in achieving these milestones,'' said Van Heerden.
Through the involvement of AHF, a target of 116 vegetable gardens were developed, exceeding the target of 44.
Through the Unit's partnership with AHF garden tools and vegetable seeds were provided to beneficiaries as well as promotional materials for awareness campaigns.
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City approves 2024/25
mid-year adjustment budget
SIPHELELE BUTHELEZI
ETHEKWINI Municipality approved its mid-year adjustment budget for the 2024/25 financial year to respond to current service delivery needs, particularly water and sanitation and electricity. The mid-year adjustment budget was approved during a Full Council meeting on 28 February.
The maintenance of water infrastructure remains a key priority with the allocation of over R400 million for the operating budget.
This aims to ensure a timeous response to water faults and ensuring stock availability at stores such as water metres.
EThekwini Deputy Mayor Councillor Zandile Myeni said the leadership will continue to monitor this budget closely to ensure that there is value for money in all projects that will be implemented.
''We are happy that a substantial amount of this adjustment budget has been allocated to resolve water and electricity issues. We are pleased that the Water Turnaround Strategy Business Plan has been developed and over R400 million in operating budget has been allocated to water and sanitation. This will be utilised to implement this business plan,'' she said.
Electricity was allocated R426 million to address power faults and contract management. The capital budget includes R378 million allocated for sanitation infrastructure, followed by roads and stormwater infrastructure with an allocation of R197 million while R121 million has been allocated for health and social services.
This adjustment budget also comprises of R146 million allocated for new projects across various service delivery units.
Council also approved the public participation process for stakeholders to submit inputs on the reviewed Spatial Development Framework (SDF) and for the advertisement of Land Use Scheme and Sub-Schemes for the Central, South, Inner West and Outer West regions for public participation process.
A proposed tariff increase for the Fresh Produce Market also received endorsement from Council for a public consultation process to be undertaken.
siphelele.buthelezi@durban.gov.za
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