2016 International AIDS Conference

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The 21st International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2016) is only a few weeks away and will be hosted in our Province from the 18th to the 22nd of July 2016, under the Theme: Access Equity Rights Now. A call to action to everyone to work together towards reaching the people that still lack access to comprehensive treatment, prevention, care and support services for HIV and AIDS.

Access to action also refer to:

∙ A call to action to strengthen the commitment to HIV research evidence-based interventions.
∙ A call to action to all HIV stakeholders to unite and overcome injustices caused by violence and the exclusion of people on the basis of gender, class, race, nationality, age, geographic location, sexual orientation and HIV status.
∙ A call to action to repeal laws that infringe on people’s human rights and deny communities the ability to participate in the world as equals.
∙ Reminding us that all our gains will be lost if we do not continue to push forward and build a strong global movement to change the course of the epidemic.

South Africa’s Deputy President Mr. C. Ramaphosa in his capacity as the Chairperson of the South African National Aid Council (SANAC), will be leading the SA government delegation which will include SANAC, Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) Ministers and the civil society to the conference.

AIDS 2016 aims to reinvigorate the response to HIV and AIDS by:
a) Bringing together the world’s experts to advance knowledge about HIV, present new research findings, and promote and enhance scientific and community collaborations around the world;
b) Promoting HIV responses that are supported by and tailored to the needs of at risk populations or people living with HIV, including women and girls, men who have sex with men, transgender people, sex workers, young people, and people who use drugs;
c) Promoting activism and community mobilization that holds leaders, industry, and governments accountable and increases their commitment to an evidence-based, human-rights-affirming HIV and AIDS response;
d) Advancing a clear agenda for HIV in a post-2015 framework, including the cross-cutting issues of criminalization, gender-based violence, sexual and reproductive health, rights, and stigma and discrimination that keep people living with HIV at the center of the HIV response; and
e) Building innovative partnerships with businesses, community, government, and science to strengthen HIV prevention and treatment efforts.

The Newcastle municipality will take part in the five-day count down to the Conference; commencing on the 13th of July 2016. Our involvement will be as follows:
a) The New Tower Block and Town Hall entrances will be branded.
b) The red (AIDS) ribbons will be distributed.
c) Voluntary HIV/AIDS testing service will be available with condom distributions (Tower Block – Murchison and Town Hall – Scott Street entrances).
d) All municipal employees are requested to wear black, red and white colours (the significance of the colours are as follows; BLACK – those who died from AIDS, RED – those who are infected and WHITE – those who are affected).
NOTE: The colours are not to discriminate in any nature. Wearing RED does not symbolize that you are infected and so forth. The colours signify that we are aware and are not apologetic about fighting against HIV/AIDS, WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE INFECTED!
e) Special Programmes together with Communications will be coordinating this programme. For more information please contact Special Programmes Manager; Mrs Samke Dube on 034 328 3435 / 082 818 9778

YOUR PARTICIPATION IS HIGHLY APPRECIATED.

2016 Municipal Elections

BRIEF:

South Africa will this year hold its fifth municipal elections on Wednesday, 3 August 2016. President Jacob Zuma has declared 3 August 2016 a public holiday.

Government encourages all South Africans who are eligible to vote to exercise their right on 3 August 2016.

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has 26 333 3535 million voters on the voters roll. This is approximately 77 percent of the eligible voting population.

The 2016 Municipal Elections are an opportunity for South Africans to have a direct say in who runs their community and ward. The councillors South Africans elect will serve on the town, city, metropolitan and district councils.

A vital part of any democracy is to guarantee that voting takes place in an atmosphere which is considered free and fair. Ensuring free and fair elections is the primary responsibility of the IEC. At the same time government has a major role to play in ensuring that citizens can safely and securely cast their vote. Government, through the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster, continues to ensure that all measures are in place to ensure a safe and secure election.

Government will also not tolerate actions aimed at disrupting the elections or disenfranchising voters. Intimidation and violence have no place in our electoral space.

Mayor Afzul Rehman receives award for the Most Consistent Best Performing Mayor

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Congratulations to Mayor Afzul Rehman who recently received an award for the “Most Consistent Best Performing Mayor” in the Province of Kwazulu Natal .

Mayor Rehman receives his Most Consistent award from MEC of Cogta Mrs. Nomusa Dube-Ncube.

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Informative Interview with Municipal Manager Mr. Mswane and Strategic Executive

Informative Interview with Municipal Manager Mr. Mswane and Strategic Executive director; Corporate Services Mrs. Molefe on Newcastle Community Radio on 103.7 FM keep posted on the Newcastle website and Facebook pages for more interview dates.

Public Notice : Departments moved to new building.

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Notice to community members:
Please note that the following departments have moved from the previous Newcastle Civic Centre(Phase 1) into the Newcastle Tower Block(Phase 2) to service the community.

Departments that are currently occupying the Newcastle Tower Block are as follows :

7th : Municipal Manager Office, Legal Services, Executive Support and Special Programs
6th : Internal Audit, Information Communication & Technology and Performance Management
3rd: BTO & Chief Financial Officer
2nd: BTO & technical Services
1st: Cashier and Enquires (Meters, Rates and Valuations)
Phase 1 1st floor: Public Participation

Please also be informed that while the move is still in progress, departments that are still to move into the Newcastle Tower block are as follows departments with their floor numbers :

4th : Development Planning and Human Settlements
5th : Corporate Services

Ground Floor: Town Planning and Technical Services
SED: Community Services will be allocated in the office previously occupied by of the Municipal Manager (Phase 1 section)

While the public parking is under completion, we kindly request that community members make use of the available parking in open area between the Library and the Clinic and other alternative parking. We apologies for the inconvenience this may cause

Youth Day Celebration 2016

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June 16, youth celebration event in the Amajuba District saw KwaZulu-Natal Premier Willies Mchunu accompanied by the whole KZN cabinet including the newly elected members of the legislature with KZN ANC Chairperson Sihle Zikalala who has been appointed as the MEC for Economic Development and Tourism gracing Newcastle.

The dignitaries started by visiting a memorial site on Asiphephe Road that was erected in memory of the 31 learners and four adults who were killed in a road accident involving a truck and a bus in April 1998 for wreath laying.

During his speech ,KZN Premier called on the newly appointed MEC for Transport Mxolisi Kaunda and MEC for Education Mthandeni Dlungwana to work together to intensify road safety campaigns to prevent the loss of young people as a result of road accidents in the Amajuba District and the whole of KwaZulu –Natal .

The entourage then moved to a Youth Day Celebration held at Amajuba FET College Stadium where District Mayor Cllr Jabu Khumalo and Newcastle Local Mayor Cllr Afzul Rehman welcomed the cabinet to this vibrant city.

Explaining the objectives of the event District Mayor highlighted that this programme was mainly to educate the youth of their history and the role played by young people in the struggle during the 1976 events

Addressing the youth Premier Willies Mchunu said that he is very concern about the high rate of HIV infection especially amongst young girls between the age of 15 and 24 and that the provincial government is investing towards health education and other youth empowerment programmes. He warned young boys and sugar daddies not to be world’s destroyers but urged them to protect women.

“Today we celebrate the 40th Anniversary of June 16, against the background of the 52nd Anniversary of the Rivonia Trial Verdict. We celebrate these landmarks in our history not because they were happy events, we do so because they represented turning points in the struggle for freedom and democracy. Today our youngsters have the freedom to choose whichever career path they want to embark on, they can chose which ever language they want to speak because of the sacrifices made by our fallen heroes who fought toe and nail for freedom” eluded the premier

He continued to say that government is committed to ensuring that programmes on skills and youth development are accessed by young people throughout all corners of this province, starting from the early childhood development. There has been a strong focus on scarce skills such as engineering, science and technology, accounting, information technology, agriculture, health and social services.

“Over the past five years provincial government has spent more than R1, 5 billion on bursaries awarded to disadvantage students. The accumulative number of students that have benefited from the bursary programme over the past five years is more than 7000,There were more than 2000 students from poor families who benefitted from financial support provided by the provincial government at a cost of more than R54 million since 2013 alone.” said KZN Premier

The number of graduates provincially is more than 8000 and some are still studying. The overall number of progressing students provincially has increased from 2,990 in 2014 to more than 3000 in 2015. For the centralized departments, more than 800 students have progressing since 2014. The budget to fund these students from 2014/2015 to 2015/2016 is more than R20 million.

 

2016 Youth Month

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2016 marks the 40th anniversary of the June 16 Soweto and other related uprisings. The Soweto uprising ended tragically with hundreds of young people brutally killed. This tragedy became a rallying point that inspired a nation and a people to rise up against the brutal apartheid system.

Following the advent of democracy in 1994, the new democratic government declared 16 June as National Youth Day and June as Youth Month.

This year National Youth Day and Youth Month will be celebrated under the theme: “Youth moving South Africa forward”. The theme is a call for action by a broad range of social partners who, in tandem with government, are moving South Africa forward. It also recognises the role that the youth of South Africa have played and are still playing in moving the country forward.

This year Youth Month also coincides with the 20th anniversary of the adoption of our Constitution.

The commemoration of Youth Month and Youth Day are opportunities to take stock of the strides we have made and a reminder of the challenges that still remain.

The commemoration of Youth Day is collaboration between the Department of Arts & Culture and the National Youth Development Agency, with strong support from various other government departments.

President Zuma has appointed an Inter-Ministerial Committee led by the Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe to lead the preparations for this momentous occasion.

16 Years of a democratic local government in South Africa

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The year 2016, marks 16 years of a democratic local government in South Africa where all municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal will reflect on the road travelled towards creating a better life for all citizens through provision of service delivery over the years.

Amajuba District Municipality and its local municipalities marked a momentous milestone as they mirrored on the 16 year journey of local government and its successes through the 16 years of local government celebrations.

Present to receive the flame from the UMzinyathi District Mayor Cllr Ngubane and his entourage of local Mayors was, Mayor of Amajuba DM Cllr Jabulile Khumalo and her local Mayors. The flame crisscrossed the district from the 5th-7th June 2016 with the aim of highlighting the key achievements of local government.

The first day of the 16 Years of Democratic Government Celebrations saw the flame visiting the Newcastle Municipality in the Amajuba District with focus on key projects implemented by the Municipality. It was taken to the newly tarred roads, play parks, best war rooms, newly built bridges, newly constructed legal mortuary and the housing for the disabled project.

Also present to witness this prestigious event with the NLM Mayor Cllr A.F Rehman was Deputy Minister Barbara Thompson, M.E.C for health and Sukuma Sakhe Amajuba District Champion, Dr Sbongiseni Dlomo, the Mayor of Amajuba DM Cllr JCN Jabulile Khumalo, NLM Councillors and senior government officials.

The flame was well accepted by the majority of people who have seen the good work done by this government whilst giving hope to those who are still waiting for more government services.

As we continued with highlighting the achievements of our democratic local government, day two took us to the people of Dannhauser who have seen the best of this government. This is the municipality which holds the record of being the first municipality to have 100% electricity infrastructure, the municipality with one of the fastest developing town. The flame was taken through projects such as one of the biggest sports complex – state of the art (Durnacol Sports Complex), Ramaphosa Housing Project, Sanitation Project in the Buffalo Flats areas, one of the highly rated clinics in South Africa, Nellies Farm Clinic.

The last day saw the flame travelling through the lovely valleys and mountains of Emadlangeni, Utrecht to authenticate that this government has touched even the lives of the people residing in the most deep rural areas. The celebrations took on a much different approach when the flame visited the most destitute communities to show government’s commitment in ensuring that people from there are also part of the service delivery plans.

“As much as there are people who are still living in poverty stricken areas , government has ensured that they have basic services such as electricity, water, roads, schools, healthcare etc.” Deputy Minister Barbara Thompson eluded when addressing the community of Emadlangeni

The flame went through the recently electrified Emgundeni area, the Balele Game Park owned by the municipality and the most exciting solar powered water reticulation systems and it was then handed-over in style to the Zulu-Land District Municipality who had MPL Jomo Sibiya representing them on behalf of the MEC Champion of the district.

Public Notice : Cashiers and Enquires will be moving to the new building.

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Public Notice: Cashiers and Enquires will be moving to the new building on the 14 and 15 of June 2016. Please note that during the relocation into the Newcastle Tower block. one cashier and an enquires clerk will remain at the old building to assist the community, thereafter from the 20th the public must come to the new building to make payment and for new connections and new services.

Revenue Management (Meter, rates and Valuations)will be moving to the New Building on the 22& 23 June 2016 . Unfortunately we will not be able to facilitate any meter related queries during this period, thereafter from the 24th of June 2016 the public will be assisted in the New building

Tender Notice : NOTICE FOR EXTENSION OF CLOSING DATE : Bid No.: A092-2015/16

Bid No.: A092-2015/16 – Supply, Delivery of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Municipal Employees

Please note that the closing date for the above mentioned bids has been extended to:
Friday 17 June 2016 at 12h00. Also note the venue where the samples are to be submitted;
Corner of Hardwick & Van Der Bijl Streets Newcastle

Original closing date: 08 June 2016
New closing date: 17 June 2016

The physical address for submission of bid offers: Municipal Civic Centre (Rates hall), 37 Murchison Street, Newcastle

Mr. B.E Mswane
Municipal Manager

Municipal Civic Centre
Private Bag X6621
Newcastle
2940