Inaugural Meeting of the newly elected Council (DATE UPDATED)

NEWCASTLE MUNICIPALITY
NOTICE NO. CS 49/2016
COUNCIL MEETING

Notice is hereby given in terms of section 29 (2) of the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, 117 of 1998, that the first inaugural meeting of the newly elected Council of the Newcastle Municipality for the term 2016 to 2021 will be held in the Town Hall, Scott Street, Newcastle on Monday, 22 August, 2016 at 10:00 for the purpose of considering the matters as contained in the agenda.

B.E MSWANE
MUNICIPAL MANAGER

Women’s Month 60th Anniversary 2016

Womens-Month

On 9 August South Africa will commemorate the 60th anniversary of the iconic 1956 Women’s March under the theme “Women United in Moving South Africa Forward”.

The 1956 march and others before by thousands of fearless women are testament to the role of women in bringing about our democracy. During the 1956 march about 20 000 women of all races marched to the Union Buildings to protest against the discriminatory pass laws which had restricted the movement of black people in the country.

This seminal moment in our history has been celebrated since 1995 as Women’s Day, and is the focal point of Women’s Month celebrations. During Women’s Month our nation recognises the important role of political activism by women during the struggle for liberation against colonisation and apartheid.

It is also an opportunity to reflect on the gains we have made since 1994. Over the past 22 years South Africa has made significant inroads insofar as gender parity and women empowerment is concerned. We have made noteworthy progress in putting in place legislation and policy frameworks for advancing equality and empowerment for women.

Government has also been at the forefront of initiatives to ensure greater women empowerment. In September 2015 a Presidential Directive was issued and instructed that the Economic Cluster Ministers ensure women’s economic empowerment is placed centrally in the implementation of their departmental programmes and in the Nine-Point Plan to grow the economy.

Despite the significant progress over the last 22 years in changing the lives of women in our country, many women continue to face obstacles such as limited access to economic opportunities. The Quarterly Labour Force Survey Q1:2016 shows unemployment is higher among females at 29.3 per cent compared to 26.6 per cent for males. Moreover, the unemployment rate among women increased from 24.1 per cent in 2009 to 26.7 per cent in the first quarter of this year.

Education of young women remains a pressing challenge with most girls not being able to complete their secondary education. Among the reasons are early pregnancy, marriage and being forced to stay at home to help with children.

According to GCIS Tracker research, 34 per cent of young girls do not finish high school while only 32 per cent have a matric qualification. This jeopardises the future of young women who are then forced into a life of poverty and even abuse.

In commemoration of the 60th anniversary, this year’s National Women’s Day event will take place at the Union Buildings, Pretoria on 9 August 2016. It will relive the spirit of the women of 1956 through a celebration walk from the Lillian Ngoyi Square to the Union Buildings.
During the symbolic celebration, women will walk, run and cycle to the Union Buildings dressed in clothing that represents their trade, affiliation, academic background, profession or workplace.

Offical Opening Of Umndozo Clinic (Ward 7)

The department of Health on the 28th of July 2016 officially opened a health care facility, the clinic is aimed at servicing the community of Umndozo and the surrounding areas. The event was attended by MEC for Health Dr. S.Dhlomo, Amajuba District Mayor Cllr Jabu Khumalo, and Newcastle Local Municipality Mayor Cllr Afzul Rehman, member of provincial Parliament Mr. Makhosini Nkosi, Dr. Ntuthuko Mahlaba and Dr. Musa Ngubeni, and former Bafana- Bafana player Mr. Siyabonga Nkosi.

The clinic is the first in Umndozo, and will address the health challenges previously faced by the people of this area, which includes not having easy access to basic health care, the closest clinic being in Osizweni. People had to walk long hours to get basic help

Dr. Dhlomo foresees that the clinic will address a number of issues such as teenage pregnancies and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.

Former Bafana- Bafana soccer star Mr. Siyabonga Nkosi grew up in this community and is very passionate to see to community flourish.” This is the very same community I grew up in, my family still lives here with my aunt working in the local clinic .I remember when people used to walk from here to the nearest clinic which is in Osizweni, we welcome this clinic in the community”
Dr. Dhlomo introduced a program called dual protection which is expected to address these social ills. Dual Protection is the best way to prevent pregnancy, HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections

This particular clinic is seen as a “Golden Clinic” under the conditions in which it functions under which constitutes Batho Pele principles said the MEC.

“To the people of Umndozo we have brought you a clinic we want to bring your health, without paying for taxi fees or fees at the clinic, we have brought it close to you. It is now your responsibility to use this clinic to have regular checkups, these clinics must make a difference.

Mayor Afzul Rehman officiated the Vote of thanks to all those present, “MEC Dhlomo has never forgotten the rural areas and has always implemented projects to bring health care to all the people of Kwa-Zulu Natal. Said Mayor Rehman.
Mayor Rehman recently handed over wee electricity in this areas. The Municipality is also passionate about young development and encourages the youth of Umndozo to register for the Mayoral programs such as the Bursary program.

Government Is Steaming Ahead In Eradication Of Slums

newcastle-municipality-001

THIS IS NOT JUST A TALK SHOW
Government Is Steaming Ahead In Eradication Of Slums

Another step closer to reaching our key objective of eradicating slums in KwaZulu – Natal” were the words of MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works, Ravi Pillay, when he officially launched the Siyahlalala slums clearance housing project in Ward 25, Newcastle Municipality.

The Implementing Agent, Umpheme Development has been tasked with ensuring that a total of 1205 beneficiaries live in comfort and security through provision of decent shelter. The total value of internal services (infrastructure) is about R58 million and just under R158 million for the top structure.

The construction of infrastructure (roads and sanitation pipes) started in August 2015 and the project is anticipated to be completed by October 2015. A total of 20 jobs have been created for the community of Siyahlalala.

MEC Ravi Pillay and his entourage started by pouring concrete in one of the slabs this morning which symbolised that work has begun and that the long wait of the community of Siyahlalala is producing positive results.

This project is right at the heart (CBD) of Newcastle Municipality and is called Siyahlalala because the Community did not want to be moved from this place but rather for government to develop the area that they are living in.

In his address, MEC Ravi Pillay said this is a wonderful day and month because this is the month when our first democratic leader, the icon, tata Nelson Mandela, was born and challenged people of Siyahlalala to stand for the values that Mandela believed in.

MEC Pillay also emphasized the importance of good working relations between the community, the municipality and Implementing Agent. He said he will not tolerate shoddy workmanship in this project and that he would only accept 1205 quality houses.

The MEC thanked Siyahlalala community members for being patient for such a long time and said that they must always know that government will eventually deliver, slowly but surely.

KZN Human Settlements Mec Launches Siyahlala-La – Newcastle

HOUSING PROJECT

Kzn Human Settlements Mec Launches Siyahlala-La
SLUMS CLEARANCE HOUSING PROJECT IN NEWCASTLE

In what has been described as a first step at restoring the dignity of the people who have been living in a sprawling informal settlement right on the doorstep of the central business district of Newcastle Municipality, Kwa-Zulu Natal MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works Ravigasen Pillay together with the Mayor of Newcastle Municipality, Councillor Afzul Rehman will tomorrow Friday 22nd July 2016 officiate at the launch of the Siyahlala-la Housing Project near Fairleigh in Ward 25.

Home to more than 1000 inhabitants since 1989, the sprawling informal settlement near the suburb of Fairleigh will be transformed into being a first post-1994 Integrated Residential Development Programme project (IRDP) where beneficiaries will be residing closer to their workplaces in decent affordable accommodation enjoying fully serviced amenities.

The Siyahlala-la IRD project is an in-situ Informal Settlement Upgrade with an expected yield of 1 200 units when completed. The total cost of the project is more R140 million inclusive of installing of internal and external services consisting of water-borne sanitation infrastructure as well as access roads and public transport roads.

MEC Pillay and Mayor Rehman will tomorrow launch the first batch of the 500-units that will eventually make up the 1 205 units. The first 500 units cost R58 million.

The Ministerial entourage will also pour the first concrete on the cut platform slab of the first 25 houses that are to be built to relocate 25 families presently on the servitude route of a water and sewage pipeline.

“This is going to be another suburb, not a settlement,” remarked Mayor Rehman.

MEC Pillay said the launch of Siyahlala-la Housing Project will go a long way in restoring the dignity of the people of Siyahlala-la.

“The squalid informal settlement conditions that these people have been habiting since 1989 have been an affront to their dignity and we are very elated that their patience has paid off with the project finally getting off the ground,” said MEC Pillay.

Service Delivery Roadshow 2016 Guide

Roadshow2-2016

Newcastle Municipality proudly and officially launches a various number of service delivery projects that council has achieved during the 5 year period of 2011-2016, under the political leadership of Mayor Afzul Rehman, his team of Portfolio Councilors and Councilors.

Service Delivery Achievements

Newcastle Municipality proudly and officially launches a various number of service delivery projects that council has achieved during the 5 year period of 2011-2016, under the political leadership of Mayor Afzul Rehman, his team of Portfolio Councilors and Councilors

The launching of projects is scheduled to last for the next two weeks and officially commenced on 18 JULY 2016 which is internationally recognized as Nelson Mandela Day (67 minutes), world renowned day of celebrating the great leader’s values of working and serving the community.

The first service delivery projects to be launched include the H39 housing project, bulk sewage and poverty alleviation projects.

The housing project is expected to produce 933 housing units which will accommodate families that previously stayed in informal settlements under unhealthy and unsafe conditions “The project will start in two months and everything is ready, a contractor has been appointed and the project is ready to start, we as Newcastle Municipality are promoting that young people of this ward be part and parcel of community development projects said Mayor Rehman during the community meeting.

Furthermore the Sewage pump station was launched, the primary objective of the H39 Pump station and bulk sewer line is to service the 933 proposed low cost housing to be constructed in H39 informal settlement. The sewer will accommodate the current and future developments within the vicinity of Madadeni H39.

The service delivery roadshows are expected to finish on the 30th of July 2016 after launching the projects below which include:
• Asiphephe bridge
• Stafford hill water Bourne sewer ,
• Upgrading of gravel to the blacktop ME18, ME28,OB97, OB39
• Sesiyabonga Bridge
• Play Park
• Siyahlala Housing project
• Link Road Street lights
• Fairleigh Flats
• Handover of title deeds in terms of EEDBS
• Osizweni sidewalks
• Widening of Allen street and bridge
• Construction of taxi holding area in Sutherland Street.
• Servicing of Residential stands of Portion 1 of F782 Schuinshoogte
• Madadeni sidewalks
• Play Parks section 1
• Poverty alleviation
• Dicks Electrification
• Emawozeni electrification
• VIP Toilets in Emawozweni
• Charlestown Hall
• Charlestown Play Parks
• Mzamo LED Lights
• JBC Hall
• Blaawbosch youth Centre
• Blaauwbosch side walk

Follow Newcastle Municipality on Facebook live as we highlight the great achievements of Newcastle Municipality.

Implementation of The Nersa Approved Electricity Tariff

The Municipality will implement a change in tariffs for various service charges as well as implementing new payment methods such as Easy Pay and ways to access your statement on a monthly basis.

INCREASE IN TARIFFS:
The budgeted and approved increases for refuse, water, sewer and property rates is 7%. The final Nersa (National Energy Regulator of South Africa) approved tariffs for electricity is as follows:

The Municipality will be implementing the high season tariff for domestic conventional customers for the months of July, August and September and a low season tariff for the months from October to June. This in line with the regulatory body’s final approval letter.

The Municipality had budgeted a general increase of 9.4% for electricity however the Nersa approved tariffs range from 5.4% – 9.4%.

The increase relating to metered consumption i.e. water, electricity and sewer will be effected from 1 July 2016 and will be reflected on your August statement. We levy in arrears and therefore the consumption reflected on the August statement relates to the readings taken in the month of July hence the increase in tariffs for metered consumption being in August.

The increases relating to the fixed charges (basic electricity), property rates and refuse will be effected on 01 July 2016 and will be reflected on the July statement of account.

The Municipality will also be implementing a surcharge of 20 – 30% on water consumption above 20Kl as per the Government Gazette (number 39860 published on 24 March 2016). This surcharge will continue for the period until Kwa-zulu Natal is declared drought free meaning the Surcharge continue until we are no longer experiencing a drought.

Consumers are therefore encouraged to use water wisely and report leakages and faulty water meters immediately Water Department on 0860 144 144.

The effect of the above mentioned increases is shown in the example below:
Refer to excel spreadsheet.

ACCESSIBILITY OF MONTHLY STATEMENTS
Monthly statements are available from the 25th of every month. We acknowledge that customers maybe receiving their statements late from the post and in some cases after the due date. The South African Post Office is experiencing some problems and we as a Municipality will be in engaging with them to address the issues.

Customers can access their statements at the following platform:
• Access the Newcastle Municipality website
• Log onto our portal (e-Newcastle)
• Complete the registration details which will give you an option to have the statements emailed to you, click on this option and enter the relevant email address. You will then automatically receive your monthly statement via email.
• Should you not have an email address you may still register on the portal and you will be able to view your statement.

We are continuously developing new and innovative methods of improving our service delivery to the community and this is one of those methods. All consumers currently receive their monthly account via the sms system. Please assist us to ensure that we have your correct cellular number on our database.

You can contact the credit control unit or enquiries services on the following numbers to update your details:
• 034 328 7799/7679/7861/7860/7748
• 034 940 0440 (NICS)

METHODS OF PAYMENT
The community of Newcastle are able to make payment in the following manner:
• Cashiers at the Municipality
• First National Bank
• Online banking
• EasyPay

We are proud to have the EasyPay payment option available to the community. You will receive the EasyPay number( 20 digits number) on your monthly account or on the monthly sms notifying you of the amount owing on your account. Please note that the EasyPay number is different to the account number. The EasyPay number will not change monthly therefore customers are encouraged to store this number on their cell phones for easy reference when effecting payment at a participating stores.

The following are EasyPay participating outlets:
• Pick n Pay
• Checkers
• Shoprite
• Woolworths

PREPAID ELECTRICITY
Prepaid electricity will also attract the low and high season tariff and is increased at 7.64% across all blocks.

Prepaid electricity can be purchased at the following outlets:
• Cashiers at the Municipality
• Caltex garage ( Lennoxton)
• Caltex garage ( Barry Hertzog Park)
• Caltex garage (Kwamatukuza)
• Spar (Taxi City)
• EasyPay outlets as per above

International AIDS Conference Countdown

HIVAIDS Testing

Five Days before the 21st International Aids Conference that will be held in KwaZulu – Natal ( Durban )as part of the build-up and promotion of the conference the Newcastle Municipality embarked on a count down through various activities to create awareness about the impact of HIV and AIDS.

Municipal Staff and the public were encouraged to wear black, white and red clothing, the official conference colours, to remember those affected by or living with HIV/Aids.

In support of the conference the Newcastle Municipality displayed posters, candles, balloons (red, white and black) in reception areas and strategic places. Voluntary HIV/AIDS Testing services were made available for the staff and public, condoms were also distributed on testing sites and on the streets. Red, white and black balloons were released at 12h15 for five minutes.

The Deputy Director General of Government Communication and Information System, Nebo Legoabe dubbed this conference the world cup of Aids and said that it’s the biggest event happening in South Africa. He also urged South Africans to treat it with paramount enthusiasm that it deserves.

“We’ve noted that most people are not aware of this thing happening. This count down will assist in sensitizing every South African making sure they are aware of the Conference “added Deputy Director

The conference is expected to attract close to 20 000 delegates from 183 countries. The United States has pledged R 6 billion to assist with South Africa’s anti-retroviral programme.

Join the AIDS 2016 Conference Countdown

2016-aids-conference

Government calls on members of the public, civil society, faith-based organisations, business and all sectors to join the five days countdown to the 21st International AIDS Conference to be held in Durban, says the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS).

The department said the countdown commemoration will be on Wednesday.

“The 21st International AIDS Conference, commonly known as AIDS2016, will be held from 18 to 22 July 2016 at the Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban under the theme ‘Access Equity Rights – Now’,” said the department.

It said more than 18 000 delegates comprising the world’s top scientists, civil society members and policymakers from 180 countries are expected to converge to discuss the fight against HIV and AIDS.

“All citizens are invited to wear black, white and red clothing, the official colours of the #AIDS2016 conference, and gather as groups from 12:00 – 12:30.

The department said the colour red symbolises awareness and support for those living with HIV and AIDS, and white symbolises a beacon of hope in the fight against HIV and AIDS, while black symbolises a symbol of honour and remembrance for all those who passed on due to the pandemic.
“Government also calls on motorists who will be on the roads at 12h15 to support the campaign by hooting for 5 minutes as a sign of support,” said the department.

For the full article kindly visit: http://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/join-aids2016-countdown