Why Your Vote Is Important

 

By Fred Felton | Oct. 27, 2021

The South African municipal elections will be held on 1 November 2021. This is to elect councils for all districts, metropolitan and local municipalities in each of the country’s nine provinces.

Malusi Msomi, IEC Outreach and Communications: eThekwini Metro giving some key insights into the upcoming election. | Photo: Fred Felton 

Malusi Msomi, Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) Outreach and Communications: eThekwini Metro gives some key insights into how the election will work and some interesting facts about the voters.

The voters roll is available to the public for objections.

There are also some key dates to take note of. The 30 and 31 October is set aside for Special Votes. This is for voters that cannot travel to a voting station where they are registered because of physically infirmity, disability or pregnancy. For these people a home visit will be done to enable them to vote at home.

For those that cannot vote on voting day they will be able to go on the Special Voting Days to the Voting Station to cast their vote.

The 1 November 2021 is the main Election Day and by law the results have to be declared in 7 days from then.

‘’You might be surprised that some new registrations are people over 65,’’ said Malusi Msomi, IEC Outreach and Communications: eThekwini Metro.

Many of the new registrations are in the age group 18 to 19 years old. The most new registrations are in the age group of 20 to 29 years old.

It is also pleasing to see that many registrations are female especially in KwaZulu-Natal.

In the eThekwini Municipality region there will be 50 political parties contending in the elections.

There will be 111 ward councillors in the eThekwini Municipality region.

‘’EThekwini holds the bulk of the voting stations,’’ noted Malusi Msomi, IEC Outreach and Communications: eThekwini Metro.

Umhlanga Life did a snap survey around Durban and it seems that most people are eager and keen to make their vote on the Election Day.

‘’I always do vote and I care about my Country. So I will go forward for all the people who live in South Africa,’’ said Addington Beach resident Cindy Polydorou.

Another person who will be voting in the election is Umbilo resident Carol de Wet. ‘’I feel one has no right to complain if you don’t try change the status quo,’’ noted Carol de Wet.

The eThekwini Municipality Mayor, Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda encourages the people of eThekwini to come out in their numbers to cast their vote on 1 November to ensure that the municipality continues to deliver quality service.

‘’Over the past five years, the City has made great strides in delivering over 20 000 housing opportunities. Over 1 million households have access to refuse removal services. Over 1.1 million households receive clean water and 720 households have access to electricity. These services are also provided to our 582 informal settlements and over 370 000 rural households. We have committed ourselves to do even better on service delivery,’’ noted eThekwini Municipality Mayor, Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda.

Dates for your Diary:

30 and 31 October 2021 – Special Votes for the Election

1 November 2021 – Election Day

Please take your ID with on the day to the nearest Voting Station in your area where you are registered to vote and remember that all Covid-19 regulations will be in place so please wear your face mask and take along a sanitizer.

For any queries and to check if you are registered to vote call the IEC toll-free number on 0800 11 8000 from a landline.

To check if you are registered to vote you can also SMS your ID number to 32810 (SMS charged at R1 per SMS).

Review of the Samsung Galaxy A22

 

By Fred Felton | October 14, 2021

The Samsung Galaxy A22 is a great entry-level device for those looking to get their first smartphone device and packs an amazing amount of sophistication into a cell phone.

The Samsung Galaxy A22

This week I was invited to try out this Samsung device for myself and it certainly is impressive. The Super Amoled screen with 90Hz refresh rate will certainly dazzle your eyes. It has a 5 000mAh battery which will keep you in the game for quite some time before you need a charge. It also comes in a variety of colours including violet, mint, white and black.

The A22 has four rear cameras

“The Galaxy A22 is an impressive device at excellent value that builds on our growing Galaxy A Series portfolio”, said Justin Hume, Director: Integrated Mobility at Samsung South Africa.

Here are just some of the key features that might just impress you:

Camera

The device has four cameras on the back and a front camera for selfies.

The back cameras include an ultra-wide camera 8MP (F2.2) for those panorama shots.

The main camera boasts 48MP (F1.8), Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS).

The macro camera is 2MP (F2.4) for close-up photography and a depth camera 2MP (F2.4) which will help you if you are looking for that bokeh effect.

The front camera is 13MP (F2.2)

The A22 cameras take rich, vibrant images. | Image: Fred Felton

So for all of you photographers out there you can be guaranteed of hours of fun playing around with these cameras and deciding on which image to upload to your Instagram.

An example of the zoom feature on the camera. 

Professional photographers can also play around with the settings to get the best shot.

Memory and Storage

This is probably one of main selling points for any device besides the battery. The A22 comes with 4GB Ram and 64 GB Internal Storage. Some models can also have 4GB / 6GB Ram and 128 GB Internal Storage which will mean that you have plenty of space and if you run out of space the device has capacity for a memory card if you need one.

Processor

The device comes with an Octa-Core (Dual 2GHz and Hexa 1.8GHz) processor.

Display

This A22 comes equipped with 6.4 inch³ HD and Super AMOLED, 90Hz Infinity-U Display.

Network

This device comes with LTE and some devices are also equipped with 5G as well.

Security

The A22 has a range of security options for you from the side-mounted fingerprint detector to facial recognition, pattern codes and normal security codes so you can rest assured that nobody will be getting into your device but you.

Extras

To power up the device press and hold the side key for a few seconds. The A22 takes around 30 seconds from start-up to initialization.

The size of the device is adequate and it should fit into your pocket with no problem.

Some of the added features I noticed which did impress me was the introduction of many more ringtones which included a rich variety including classical music like Mozart to disco, tech, dance and even love songs. Notification sounds have also been given an update and there are many more nifty little sounds to choose from for those messages you need to hear.

The nifty side volume keys have become more visual with visual displays to show you the various volume settings to choose from.

The device also comes with Dolby Atmos for a richer sound experience.

Dark mode has also been included for all of your display options.

An eye comfort shield has also been introduced which limits blue light and uses warmer colours. This makes it easier to use at night as well.

Screen zoom also makes it a pleasure to read all of those messages and documents.

Although the A22 comes equipped with a 90Hz screen refresh rate you can also use the standard option with 60Hz screen refresh to save on battery.

As with all the other Samsung models this device comes with all the bells and whistles including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Flight Mode, Torch, Power Saving, QR Code scanner, Screen shot, NFC and Contactless Payment and much more.

Apps include Samsung Notes, Samsung Apps, Google Apps, Microsoft Apps, Samsung Members, Galaxy Store, Play Store, Facebook, Spotify Netflix, You Tube Music and the Samsung Game Launcher, Voice Recorder, AR Zone and even a Radio to listen to tunes.

The calendar has a much more visual appeal to it and you can even add emoticons, stickers and voice notes to a calendar entry which is a nice touch.

The calculator features a much more updated version which can calculate anything from area, length, temperature, volume, mass, data, speed, time and scientific calculations.  

Find My Mobile is a good setting to activate to ensure you never lose your device.

Final Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy A22 is great device if you are looking to get your first smartphone. It currently retails for a price of R3999. Some retailers are selling it cheaper so you might even get it at a bargain price.

If you want to score yourself an even bigger bargain you can take advantage of getting a cashback towards this device by trading in your older device with Samsung.

For more information visit: www.samsung.com/za/trade-in/

Rating

7/10

Durban Keeps Winning Awards

 

By Fred Felton | September 26, 2021

The City of Durban has won a wide variety of awards in the last decade. In this month of September which is Tourism and Heritage Month we take a closer look at these awards.

Environmental Awards

Bronze Beach, Umhlanga | Image: Fred Felton 

Durban has some of the most pristine beaches in KwaZulu-Natal and the City has won a variety of awards including 2012 Winner for ‘’SA’s Greenest City Award’’, 2013 and 2014 ‘’Arbor City Award’’ and 1^st African 100 Resilient Cities Partner (Rockerfeller Foundation).

Tourism Awards

Umhlanga Pier rated best globally by CNN | Image: Fiona Wainwright

Durban was rated in ‘’Top 10 Oceanfront Cities’’ globally in 2015 by National Geographic.

CNN voted Durban as one of the ‘’Top 10 most underrated cities’’ and they recently voted ‘’Umhlanga Pier’’ as the best globally and they voted the City ‘’Coolest City in SA’’.

Durban is predicted to be one of the fastest growing tourism cities in Africa and could be one of the fastest growing tourism city’s worldwide, as predicted by the Master Card Global Destination City Index.

The City was rated by the New York Times as number 7 of their Top 52 Places to Go in 2015.

Transport Awards

The People Mover. One of the cheapest forms of transport in the City. | Image: Fred Felton

Durban was rated as #1 in South Africa on the ‘’Top 10 Cheapest Countries for Transport’’ in the 2014 GoEuro.com Report. This was for train, bus and air transportation.

SKYTRAX ranked King Shaka International Airport as the Best Airport Staff in Africa for 2017 and 2^nd best airport in Africa by ACI, handling circa 5 million passengers.

Heritage Awards

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) named Durban the UNESCO City of Literature and it is the first African City to receive this prestigious status.

‘’We recognise the important role that our rich and diverse cultural heritage has in helping build our nation. There is no doubt that our history and heritage present an opportunity for growing tourism thereby boosting the economy,’’ said Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda, eThekwini Municipality Mayor.

Investment Awards

Durban was included in the ‘’7 Emerging Luxury Housing Markets To Watch in 2015’’ by Christies International Real Estate Group.

The City recently bagged the ‘’CNN Money/International Investor’’ Award for ‘’Best FDI City in Africa’’ in 2020.

Durban is the ‘’Most Affordable of all SA Metro Cities to live in’’ according to the 2021 ‘’Numbeo and Expatism’’ Cost of Living indices.

The City has also been nominated for ‘’Best FDI Destination South Africa’’ in 2021 for the Bloomberg Decision Maker Business Awards 2021.

‘’Let us work together with all stakeholders to boost our campaigns to market Durban and ensure that we also target the continental tourists. Durban boasts world-class malls, hotels and excellent culinary tourism experience that can match any city in the world,’’ noted eThekwini Municipality Mayor, Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda.

The City of Durban recently launched the 2021 ‘’My City, My Heritage’’ campaign and it calls on all citizens of Durban to highlight and celebrate the rich cultural heritage that makes Durban a melting pot of diverse cultures.

Thanks to these many awards Durban is ready to host world-class events in a safe and secure environment.

My City, My Heritage campaign to boost tourism

 

To revive the City's tourism sector, eThekwini Municipality on 10 September launched the My City, My Heritage campaign at uShaka Marine World. The campaign looks at travel and tourism in a new way, reminding visitors how culturally diverse the City is by showcasing its hidden gems. The campaign was launched by eThekwini Mayor Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda during Tourism and Heritage Month. Industry stakeholders lauded the initiative calling it an innovative marketing tool to aid the recovering tourism sector which has been adversely affected by Covid-19 and th recent civil unrest. Mayor Kaunda said: ''Through this campaign we are going to unearth and showcase Durban's hidden gems to promote domestic tourism. This will be achieved through several roadshows, digital activations and competitions encouraging people to rediscover Durban through heritage tourism.'' He said the campaign will take South Africa on a digital historical journey of Durban, to rediscover the City through media campaigns. Mayor Kaunda said there has already been an increase in visitors to the City. They are projecting increased visitor numbers during the heritage public holiday long weekend from 23 to 26 September and the October school holidays from 1 to 10 October. ''For the September long weekend, we are anticipating 60 percent visitor occupancy which equates to 75 000 visitors, a direct spend of R103 million, injection of R256 million to the GDP and 550 jobs being created. For the October school holidays we are forecasting a 55 percent visitor occupancy which translates to 90 000 visitors including day visitors, R192 million direct spend and R476 million contribution to the GDP. Around 1 020 jobs will be created,'' he said. Chief Executive Officer of uShaka Marine World Ndabo Khoza said: ''We are prepared to work with the City as stakeholders to ensure Durban is a destination of choice. As a coastal city, it is imperative to showcase and educate people about marine life. We encourage residents to be visitors and explore their own City.'' 

Community tourism boosts economy, history and pride

The month of September is known as Tourism and Heritage month. What better way to celebrate both than with exploring the history, heritage and fun in rural and township settings. We encourage you to take pride in your history and heritage by visiting a tourism office near you. EThekwini Municipality's strategy to revive the tourism sector in townships through funding the Durban's nine Community Tourism Organisations has yielded positive results. The municipality has aided Community Tourism Organisations (CTOs) in the municipal area through many programmes and as a result, beneficiaries are showing signs of growth in their establishments. This is despite the adverse effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has affected many businesses, particularly small, medium and miro enterprises. The Municipality, through its Economic Recovery plan has assisted several tourism establishments to get back on their feet during the lockdown and to be ready for business. Some of the relief measures included additional rates rebates - specific to the accommodation sector, assistance with marketing initiatives, support for online/virtual events and prioritising bed and breakfast establishments for Municipal business. Furthermore, the Municipality recently increased funding by 100 percent to CTO's from R250 000 to R500 000 to market local areas and create new tourism packages. At a recent Durban Tourism Imbizo eThekwini Mayor Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda said: ''Government is going to invest more resources in this sector by increasing support to industry players and establishing new tourism corridors in rural and township communities.'' ''The fact that 68 percent of our geographic space is constituted by rural areas, eThekwini has an important task of ensuring that the economic opportunities available in the tourism sector reach these communities.'' Commenting on the role of the CTO in the growth of her business, Lungi Ngcobo - founder of Clermont Lodge - said the support they have received from the Clermont CTO has been amazing. She said her establishment recently received R50 000 in Covid-19 relief funding from the national Tourism Depatment which was facilitated by the local CTO. UMlazi CTO's Public Relations Officer Portia Mkhize said uMlazi has a lot to offer regarding tourism attractions, with shisanyamas being just a small part of the product. ''We are currently developing different tour routes packages for uMlazi, Ngonyameni, Lamontville and surrounding areas showcasing the history of these townships, including bicycle and quad biking guided tours,'' she said. Mkhize said the current focus was ensuring that these are developed for domestic travel first before getting ready for international tourists. 

Limited Launch Gifts With Samsung Galaxy Z Series 5G

 

Samsung recently launched their new Galaxy Z series with the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G and Galaxy Z Flip3 5G and now you can get them with some extra-special launch gifts.

                                                                                          
                                    

                                               

Pre-order now to receive limited launch gifts

When you pre-order or purchase during the September to 20 October 2021 promotional period¹, you will receive an exclusive offer, that includes the new Galaxy Buds2, the must-have Galaxy Smart Tag and the peace of mind of Samsung Care+, all valued at R5 200². The free one-year Samsung Care+ plan will provide one accidental screen and/ or back cover repair, and will include a battery replacement. You can upgrade to the Samsung Care+ Premium plan at an affordable cost, for additional cover, which includes liquid, motherboard and external casing damage.

 

Select your new favourite foldable

Galaxy Z Fold3

Built for those who need the ultimate device to power their productivity and maximise every moment. Galaxy Z Fold3 5G combines power, efficiency and immersive viewing so you can check off your to-do list faster and have more time for next-gen gaming, content viewing and video calling. With a screen size that allows you to run up to three apps at once, it’s the ultimate productivity tool for modern multi-taskers. For the first time ever on a foldable, Samsung has added S Pen support⁴, so that you can jot down reminders directly on its immersive, large screen or join an online video call on your top half of screen and take notes with your S Pen on the bottom half, by just clicking the screen twice. 

When you’re enjoying some me-time, you can easily immerse yourself in your favourite show or sports game, undisrupted, thanks to the 7.6-inch Main Screen and Under display camera. From productivity to performance to portable entertainment on the go, the Galaxy Z Fold3 is the ultimate powerhouse device.

 

Galaxy Z Flip3 5G

For those who need a device that’s as stylish as they are, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 empowers you to express yourself with bold colour options, a sleek, compact rectangular design that  fits effortlessly in your pocket, and trendy new accessories. Unfold and snap a stunning selfie with the  Galaxy Z Flip3’s camera features including Flex mode and its unique ability to stand upright, with a  symmetrical and balanced design, that opens up to an angle that best fits your vision. Then add to your social feed, which scrolls smoother than ever with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. Enjoy easier ways to pay, play, and check your notifications fast on its larger cover screen, without ever flipping open your phone. 

Choosing the Galaxy Z Flip3 means getting more of what you crave, your way, whatever you’re doing, whether the device is open or closed. Galaxy Z Flip3 is more than a folding phone, it’s a statement. 

Whether you flip or fold, both new Galaxy Z devices offer our most durable, connected, and expansive foldable experiences ever. Building on a legacy of impeccable craftsmanship, they are equipped with water-resistance⁵, Corning® Gorilla® Glass Victus™, Armor Aluminium, an optimised panel layer, and an improved protective film.

Click here for more information about the Galaxy Z Fold3 and the Galaxy Z Flip3.

 

¹Terms and conditions apply. The promotion period depends on retailer.

For Vodacom customers the Promotion Period will end 6th October 2021.

For MTN customers Promotion Period will end 30th September 2021.

For Cell C customers Promotion period will end 17th October 2021.

For Telkom customers Promotion period will end 20th October 2021.

For Takealot customers Promotion period will end 30th September 2021.

²Users that pre-order the Galaxy Z Fold3 or Z Flip3 will get a year of Samsung Care+ protection.

Samsung Care+ for Z Fold3 and Z Flip3 requires a free registration within 30 days from the phone’s purchase date through Samsung Members or the Samsung care plus page . A R 999 repair fee will be charged per incident for the Samsung Care+ protection on the Z Fold3 | Z Flip3. Protection coverage and availability may vary by market. Full information on Samsung Care+ is available at https://www.samsung.com/za/offer/samsung-care-plus/

³Price may vary by retailer

⁴S Pen sold separately. Only Z Fold3 Main Screen has S Pen capability. Compatible only with the S Pen Fold Edition and S Pen Pro. All other S Pens or stylus pens not designed for Z Fold3 (including those by other manufacturers) may damage the screen.

⁵Rated as IPX8. Based on test conditions for submersion in up to 1.5 meter of freshwater for up to 30 minutes..

EThekwini Women Doing Wonderful Things

 

The month of August is Women’s Month. This is the month when we pay tribute to the more than 20 000 women who marched to the Union Buildings on 9 August 1956 in protest against the extension of the Pass Laws to women and demanding equal rights for all citizens.

‘’We would like to pay tribute to these remarkable women of our country who fought during the liberation struggle and those who continue to contribute to the development of our country today,’’ said eThekwini Municipality Mayor Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda.

This month we celebrate some of the amazing women around Durban and all they do for the City of Durban.

Tarryn Bristow. | Image: eThekwini Municipality

Tarryn Bristow is a Bird Curator from Mitchell Park Zoo, and Umgeni River Bird Park. She is lending a hand in her way to help the community out.  

‘’Our Bird Park and our Zoo play a major role in attracting tourists to Durban,’’ said Tarryn Bristow, Bird Curator, Mitchell Park Zoo and Umgeni River Bird Park.

She is helping to rebuild Durban’s tourism industry through her efforts.

Find out more about what she is doing to help the industry in this video on our YouTube Channel Umhlanga Life TV:

The Umgeni River Bird Park was designed and built by Dr Alan Abrey. It’s situated in an old quarry site which used to contain water. Dr Alan Abrey used to visit the site when he was a young boy. In later years when he was looking for a site for a bird park he remembered the location and found it to be the ideal location.

The Umgeni River Bird Park was opened in April 1984 by the then Mayor of Durban, Councillor Sybil Hotz.

The Bird Park is located on 3.5 hectares of tropical landscaping and has a vast collection of more than 800 birds from 200 species. Some species are the only representatives of their kind in Africa and others are sometimes kept as pets.

They have some great membership packages available at the ticket office.

Address: 490 Riverside Road, Durban North on the banks of the Umgeni River.

Contact number:  031 322 5750

For more info email: grant.aggett-cox@durban.gov.za

Website: www.umgeniriverbirdpark.co.za

Covid-19 regulations are in effect when visiting the Umgeni River Bird Park.

 

Mitchell Park Zoo was named after Sir Charles Bullen Hugh Mitchell. This park was established in the early part of the last century. It was originally established as an ostrich farm. It was then changed into a zoo.

At that time they had a variety of animals, the most famous being Nellie, an Indian elephant. The park also consists of some beautifully landscaped gardens.

Today the park has many small animals including crocodiles, bucks, raccoons, cranes, monkeys, and tortoises. There is also a walk-through aviary that allows you to see the many bird species up close.

One of the many feathered beauties you might spot at Mitchell Park Zoo. | Image: Fred Felton

There is a sand-filled playground where children can play on swings, jungle gyms, slides, and other rides. The park even has paraplegic facilities, which also means that everyone can enjoy the facilities.

‘’They have a lovely outdoor park for children and the zoo is also nice,’’ said local Durban resident Cindy Polydorou.

Mitchell Park’s workers also assist in teaching children all about the animals and plant species.

Concessions for school groups and pensioners are also available.

Address: 10 Ferndale Road, Morningside, Durban

Contact details: 031 303 2275

Covid-19 regulations are in place when visiting the park.

Support Durban Tourism by visiting attractions like this and telling your friends and family about attractions such as these.

It is for this reason that eThekwini Municipality is hosting Community Tourism Organisation (CTO) Roadshows to reignite the tourism industry.

‘’It is vital for the economy to attract more tourists to the City,’’ said Durban Tourism Senior Manager, Sibusiso Mngoma at a recent Durban Tourism Stakeholders Workshop.

 The eThekwini Municipality Mayor Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda is also encouraging women to get vaccinated.

‘’We urge women to vaccinate and be at the forefront of leading the campaign in their families and the community. Women have always championed the cause of building strong family structures and we commend you for fulfilling the role in our society. We once again appeal to you to rise to the occasion as we strive to save lives and build a healthy nation,’’ said eThekwini Municipality Mayor Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda.

 

Celebrating the inroads made by eThekwini women

 

Celebrating the inroads made by eThekwini women

 THE month of August is celebrated nationwide as Women's Month. It is born out of the historical and monumental events of 1956 when over 20 000 women marched against unjust pass laws. This year's commemoration of the fateful day come at a time when eThekwini is reeling from the aftermath of the recent civil unrest. 

As efforts to rebuild communities, families, businesses, and the City get underway, it is evident that the women of 1956 have multiplied. EThekwini women from all walks of life have shown similar resolve to those of yesteryear, to get eThekwini back on track. They have initiated or joined initiatives to clean-up, feed the hungry and continue to play a pivotal role in rebuilding the City.

GRANT-IN-AID

Women in eThekwini have been in the forefront of building communities for a long time. When the Municipality launched Grant-In-Aid (GIA) in 2002-an initiative that provides support to organisations that improve the standard of living and quality of life in local communities-women dominated the number of community building initiatives that applied for funding.

In the past financial year (2019/2020), the Municipality, through its GIA programme funded non-profit organisations (NPOs) to the tune of R5.6 million. Interestingly, out of the 111 wards up for consideration, 60 of the beneficiaries were organisations run by women. 

The sectors that are supported are: early childhood development, social welfare, economic development, skills development, sports, arts and culture as well as faith-based organisations.  

Measures put in place for organisations to qualify ensure accountability, fairness and that communities really benefit.

Applications are advertised in newspapers, radio stations and social media platforms in March. The partnership between eThekwini and NPOs is crucial as these organisations are considered the ears and eyes of the Municipality.

AGRI-BUSINESS 

The difficulties presented to communities by the  Covid-19 pandemic and the unrest have given some women an opportunity to start businesses to fill in gaps presented by the lockdown and closure of most shops. We have witnessed emerging farmers, some supported by the Municipality through its Agri-business Unit, step up in the quest for food security.

The Municipality’s Agri-business initiative seeks to grow the economy by improving the productivity of Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in the agriculture business value chain. It has over seven percent of female farmers registered with it. The sector plays a huge part in food security, especially in the aftermath of the July unrest and the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2020, Council approved and adopted the eThekwini Agribusiness Master Plan which proposed five key commodities which the Municipality will focus on for the next 10 years. These are vegetables, sheep, broilers, cannabis and piggery.

The agri-business sector provides key services to emerging farmers such as business advice, advice on mentorship and extension, technical advice on business planning and financial management, support for access to markets and incubation. These services ensure the development and sustainability of farmers operating in the agricultural value chain, especially with the five commodities mentioned above. 

Soup kitchens are another intervention by the Municipality to fight poverty and create jobs. Once again, women of eThekwini have raised their hands to offer their services. Out of the 81 operating soup kitchens, about 75 of them are supervised and run by women. Besides the co-ordinators, there is also employment for 715 women who cook, serve meals and drive to deliver the food to feed people who are poverty-stricken. This is another level of women nurturing and building their communities. Soup kitchens are operated daily. There are many other Municipal interventions to uplift and empower women to have a stake in the in the economy. 

EMPOWERING WOMEN

As per the amended Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act (PPPFA) of 2017, women have been classified as one component of the targeted groups in terms of the Contract Participation Goals (CPG) implementation on projects. This means that any tender worth more than R30 million, 30 percent of it will be subcontracted to targeted groups which includes women. Municipal line depatments are also encouraged to set aside a budget for contracts which will be advertised specifically to target group-owned entities, through the Municipality's Supply Chain Management. Targeted groups are entities which are 51% or more black owned and its ownership is composed of women, youth, military veterans and people living with disabilities. In the last financial year, the Municipality awarded work to the tune of over R1.1m to these groups. 

Internally eThekwini Municipality has also risen to the challenge of ensuring that women are in the forefront of empowerment and leadership through its many endeavours and programmes. These interventions include, amongst others, the Employment Equity Policy.

The Municipality started to prioritise gender equity soon after the promulgation of the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998. The Municipality has many success stories to tell about women empowerment. There has been an increase of female representation in clusters that were previously dominated by men. 

It is projected that by 30 June 2022, there will be a 45.43% female representation at the top three management levels and a total female representation of all occupational levels of 43.12%.

It is through such endeavours that the Municipality earned the Standard Bank Top Women Award in 2020 and more recently the Top Empowerment Award at the prestigious Oliver Top Empowerment Awards. This award recognised the Municipality for its unfailing vision and innovative leadership which positively impacted women in the country especially during the pandemic.