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• 
  2015 Metro Growth Development Summit

  The Summit kicked off with a Gala Dinner on Thursday 29 October with Deputy Minister Finance Mcebisi Jonas who encouraged the City to concentrate on the development of the Metro and making it work as part of the 2030 Vision.

  While Jonas was making his keynote address he spoke on various issues which include ways of eradicating unemployment, poverty and inequality. “We need to find ways to engage with small businesses and encourage them to find better ways in making their businesses bigger and better.”

  He added that this process will be viable if the Metro works together with its stakeholders including well established businesses.

  Jonas also added that the East London IDZ is the most successful industrial zone in the country. “Don’t underestimate the work that is happening in the East London IDZ, it is the most successful in the country and its contribution to the Metro’s economy is very visible.”

  The Summit is a two-day event which will feature speakers ranging from the Minister for Agriculture, Foerestry and Fisheries Senzeni Zokwana, the Acting executive Mayor of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality Kgosientso Ramokgopa, Deputy Minisiter for Finance Mcebisi Jonas and Deputy Minister for Economic Development Madala Masuku.

  Topics to be discussed range from the conceptualisation and theorasation on the township economy, finance and good governance, the 100 black industrialists, industrial parks and manufacturing set-asides for non-automotive sector.

  According to a Municipal Report, the Summit aims to create a shared vision and recommendations about the future direction of BCMM towards 2030. “The summit is set to forge an enduring compact with key stakeholders that can facilitate change and future action, while discovering the imperatives for change.”

  The workshop starts runs from 30 – 31 October.

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  Major developments for Mdantsane urban hub

  The funding has been allocated under the Neighbourhood Development Partnership Grant (NDPG) and a precinct plant, designed by the Urban Design Concept Company, was presented to National Treasury earlier this year by a delegation sent by the City.

  The City on Tuesday 16 August hosted the Mdantsane Urban Stakeholder (Highway) Workshop at Mdantsane Sun Hotel to engage as well as to let them know about the upgrade and development plans that are soon to happen in the CBD.

  Speaking at the delegates at the workshop, Project Manager from Urban Concept Designs Sopna Kumar- Nair said, “The urban upgrades will focus on expanding and consolidating the existing economic heart of the CBD through the creation of new anchors and facilities. It will also enhance existing streets and creating new tree-lined streets as well as space.”

  The upgrades will also include the creation of prominent and pedestrian-friendly gateways into the CBD as well as creating new higher density social housing and mixed uses on strategic sites and lastly open up access bottlenecks as well as creating a network of well-connected streets and spaces throughout the CBD.

  Kumar-Nair mentioned that additional funding will be available from National Treasury to initiate the implementation of the anticipated projects.

  “The historic, cultural and sporting significance of the hub is also acknowledged in the plan and various opportunities are identified for the further development of these,” adds Kumar-Nair.

  Acting HoD for Enterprise Project Management Office (EPMO) Neo Moerane said, “We want Mdantsane to be our pride and joy and that it will happen. After this session as entities we must go back and plan. Remember, this is also a concerted concept to deliver on the IDP budget.”

  She also emphasised that the Metro is all about township regeneration as well as boosting the economy.

  A resident from Mdantsane Anelisa Luwa said, “We are so happy that finally Mdantsane will receive the recognition it deserves as it is one the biggest township in South Africa. I am also pleased with the job creation the project will come with.”

  According to a Council Report a detailed study by Buffalo City Metro is on the cards to determine the exact capacity of existing infrastructure as well as the upgrade requirements in relation to water, sanitation, storm water, electricity and roads.

   

• 
  The train of hope comes to Buffalo City

  Phelophepa offers affordable and quality Primary Health Care Services to the community. It complements the services offered by the Department of Health.

  The train has four clinics rendering services that include dental care, eye care, screening programmes, health education and counselling services.

  The dental clinic will offer free screening and education. Extractions, fillings and cleaning will be done, for any two procedures the charge will be R10, for all three, R15. All procedures for children will be charged at R5. No procedures will be performed on false teeth.

  Eye testing will be free of charge, no operations will be done and bifocals will not be prescribed. Eye drops will be R5 each.

  Free health education, cancer and diabetic screenings, pap smears, prostate and breast screenings. Each prescription will cost R5.

  The Psychology Clinic services will include workshops to help cope with stress, abuse, conflict, death, parenting, discipline, empowerment and working through emotions. These services are free.

  Phelophepa Representative Zingisa Sofayiya, encourages community members to make their way to Mount Ruth from the first day and not wait until the second week when there are large numbers of people. Treatment is scheduled on a first come, first served basis.

  The public should also remember to bring clinic cards and immunisation cards for children.

  For any enquiries, the public can contact Zingisa Sofayiya on 078 077 1850 or Thozeka Tshangela on 078 271 7299.

• 
  Delegates discuss South Africa’s economy

  The conference was held on March 10 –11 with various stakeholders from national and provincial economic development government departments, government entities, universities and research institutions.

  Welcoming guests at the event Deputy Executive Mayor Xola Pakati said, “We welcome the fact that part of your deliberations will be reflecting on an important aspect that features prominently in our Metro Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS) which is growing capacities of sustainable entrepreneurship in the townships.”

  “This is of course a critical area of focus as a Metro and we will be paying particular attention to your outcomes and to see how we can find synergies in our efforts.”

  Giving a background of the Eastern Cape economic development overview MEC for Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism Sakhumzi Somyo said, “Eastern Cape provides a microcosm of the challenges faced at the national level. Some segments of the local economy are at the cutting edge of global technology and production.”

  He concluded by saying that the province boasts with world class infrastructure concentrated in our city hubs whilst the rural hinterland may lack fundamentals of reliable water, energy and logistics infrastructure.

  “The province has hug energy potential. Over the past year, the province has seen its allocation of wind and solar farms increase to 17, with a total investment value of R33.7 billion and over 18 000 jobs being created over the life of the projects.”

  Making his keynote address deputy minister for Trade and Industry Mzwandile Masina saying that the department calls government and academia to actively engage in the process of searching and identifying sustainable related development models for re-industrialisation and economic growth.  

  He added that the current period of expedition to re-industrialise and make substantial value-addition to South Africa’s raw material requires a dynamic, innovative and creative African researcher who understands that the quest for economic transformation is premised on socio-economic justice.

  “This new generation of African researchers must understand that inclusive growth and development is critical in our march towards achieving the objectives of the National Democratic Revolution. Increased participation of researchers and academia is important in the crafting and development of various iterations of the industrial development policy in the country. Without these, our people will forever toil in poverty and underdevelopment,” Masina said.

  Other discussions at the conference include a framework for export development and identification of realistic market opportunities in South Africa, the model growing capacities of sustainable entrepreneurship in the townships, trade as a driver of manufacturing structural change for sustainable development in South Africa and rethinking the future role of cities in economic development with questions of the present.

   

• 
  Council Open Day

  The public hearings took place from 14 April until 13 May to communicate the plans of the City and future development to residents and stakeholders for the 2016/17 financial year.

  The objective of the day was to give feedback on key issues raised from the wards and also reflect on matter raised by the business fraternity and the traditional leaders.

  Speaking at the Council Open Day, Executive Mayor Alfred Mtsi said, “The priorities for the next finical year are to provide adequate housing for residents, providing clean and safe drinking water and creating various ideas to ensure the City is kept clean.”

  “The strategic outcomes we have set out as a Metro are to be an innovative and productive, green, connected, well – governed and spatially transformed City.”

  “Indeed we have made strides in attempting to realise our vision of being a developmental local government,” said Mtsi.

  Presenting at the council open day Mtsi said, “A total of over 200 000 households in the Metro have access to water and over 90 percent receive the basic minimum requirements.”

  He also added that the electricity department spent over 90 percent of its R85 million budget on refurbishing, upgrading and enhancing the electrical network throughout the City he also said that over 16 000 indigent people receive free basic electricity since the financial year of 2014/2015.

  In regards to housing Mtsi said, “Second Creek residents received decent housing with full ownership due to the quality of the housing unit delivered by the Human Settlements Directorate the Metro has also won an award for the best rural housing project.”

  He also added that as part of the rural development programme many housing opportunities will be provided to many rural communities in the Metro. 

  “It is our mandate to provide basic waste management services to citizens of the City this includes street sweeping, waste and litter collection, refuse removal and sundry solid waste management services,” said Mtsi.

  Mtsi also mentioned some of the challenges facing the Metro such as illegal dumping, land for central transfer station, community mindset, behaviors and enforcing waste management by-laws. 

  Looking at roads, Mtsi said that currently the Roads Department is operating a ward based project which consist of 500 volunteers, 10 volunteers per ward. 

  “The ward based volunteers will assist with pothole patching and storm water clearing,” said Mtsi.

  The meeting was attended by various key stakeholders of the IDP such as Councillors, Municipal Officials, Community Development Workers (CDW), Traditional leaders and private sector as well as members of the public were invited to engage and discuss the implementation of the IDP and to discuss the successful projects that have been completed in the Metro thus far.

  The open day was part of the public hearings before the adoption of the 2016/2017 IDP and budget by Council on 31 May.

• 
  IDP and Budget concludes

  The Metro set aside Tuesday 9 May to discuss the 2017/18 financial budget at Mngqesha Great Place with the traditional leaders.

  The IDP and Budget is reviewed annually to allow the municipality to improve its plans and strategies and also allow citizens to give their inputs to the IDP for the year, the previous year and next financial year.

  This year’s theme for the IDP and Budget Roadshows is Unity in Action: A City hard at work.

  Speaking at the meeting, Chief Whip of Council Councillor Mzwandile Vaaiboom said, “The main purpose of the meeting is to present the draft 2017/18 IDP Review, Medium Term Revenue and Expenditure framework budget to the Queen of Rharhabe and all the Rharhabe Chiefs for inputs before Council adoption.”

  This follows after the City consulted with all its wards during the roadshows which started on 18 April until 8 May.

  Discussed during the event include including Tyutyu Phase 3 project, Umzonyana Dam Upgrade, water and the procurement of graders for rural roads.

  Other issues that came up range from the community hall that was requested in Masingatha, Mlakalaka and Godidi, the agricultural support, requests for ablution facilities in Kwelerana, Mdange Village requested fencing of grazing fields and the request for electricity in Tshatshu.

  Adding Executive Mayor Xola Pakati said, “Other upgrades that are planned by the Metro include the revamping of the Rharhabe royal family graves, build a tombstone for Chief Tshatshu, Construction of new King William’s Town Traffic Centre, storm water drainages, sanitation, dams and weirs, water treatment works, bulk mains, pump station, distribution mains, reservoirs, agricultural and rural development programmes.

  Following the Traditional Leaders Session, City officials met with the business sector to discuss projects pertaining to their needs for 2017/18.

  The Business Breakfast was held at the Regent Hotel in Quigney on Wednesday 10 May.

  Acting City Manager Bob Naidoo opened the session by giving an overview of the roadshows and its success.

  “We had a smooth flow of public meetings with hiccups here and there.”

  The Business Breakfast is held as part of the annual IDP/Budget consultation process, this is mandated by law to involve organised business as a stakeholder in the planning and budgeting process of the municipality.

  “This meeting is set to provide an opportunity for organised businesses to comment on the draft 2017/18 IDP and Budget before it is tabled in council for adoption and discuss concerns that arise during this engagement,” said Naidoo.

  Some of the issues raised at previous engagements with the business fraternity included procurement processes with the City’s Supply Chain Management Office, where it was raised that there were interferences at low level when awarding contracts and rural areas being neglected in terms of economic development.

  In response to this, Pakati assured businesses that the intention of the City is to bring more investment into the City not minimise it.

  “We are working with other stakeholders to look at what measures can be brought to local businesses to retain and grow the current investment, this work is being done with the Department of Trade and Industry because they have an existing Supply Side Policy which we do not want to duplicate,” said Pakati.

  Another concern was the inefficiency of the Monitoring and Evaluation of the Metro Growth and Development Strategy.

  Pakati said that tools are being developed for the strategy and the City is currently reviewing the Supply Chain Policy Framework to include some of the issues raised such as the 30 percent participation of local businesses.

  “It has been agreed in council that upon conclusion of the framework compilation, all relevant stakeholders will be engaged with for their input,” said Pakati.

  Attending stakeholders also emphasised that there must be separation between business and politics.

  Pakati acknowledged the concern but affirmed that the awarding of tenders follows a process which is defined by the Municipal Finance Management and there are no politicians operating in that space.

  He continued to say that tenders go through a bidding evaluation process and an adjudication process where political interference is barred.

  Closing off the meeting Speaker of Council Alfred Mtsi said that the principle of meaningful participation was exercised during this engagement.

  He assured stakeholders that their participation will be expressed in the development of processes undertaken for governance and administration.

  In closing Pakati announced that there will be a Council Open Day on Tuesday May 16, the adoption of the financial IDP/Budget on May 26 and the State of the Metro Address will be on Thursday 22 June.