Electricity boss in hot seat IN BRIEF - Durban · US SINGER Josh Groban has confirmed he will be in...
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NEWS 2 November 2007 Page 3 Gcina Mhlophe to give talk GCINA Mhlophe will give a retrospective lecture at the Albert Luthuli Museum in Groutville on 15 November, starting at 11am. Mhlophe, an acclaimed actress, storyteller, poet, playwright and author, will give the lecture to mark the 40th anniversary of Chief Luthuli’s death. This event is part of the Umdwebo Lifestyle Festival in greater Ballito from 9 to 17 November. To book, contact Henk Swanepoel on 082 444 1825 or email [email protected] . Crazy Games at beachfront TEAMS from across the country will descend on Durban from 5 to 15 November to compete in Crazy Games, which will be screened on SABC2 next month. The show will be recorded live at the beachfront Amphitheatre, in front of the Elangeni Hotel, and the public are invited to join the studio audience. Teams will don their most colourful costumes and are expected to brave a series of challenges and races over extreme obstacles. City backs war on poverty THE City lent its support to the fight against poverty and inequality by joining the worldwide “Stand Up Speak Out” campaign last month. At a midday meeting on the City Hall steps, members of the public joined officials and Deputy Mayor Logie Naidoo to pledge their support for the campaign and wear symbolic white wrist bands. They also sang We are the World. Greyville gig for Groban US SINGER Josh Groban has confirmed he will be in Durban early next year as part of his second tour to South Africa. Groban will be performing at the Greyville Racecourse on Sunday, 16 March. Audiences are invited to bring picnic baskets, blankets and chairs and enjoy the show al fresco. Tickets are R250. Call 086 112 1333. Digital Dove flies high A CO-FOUNDER of the Wentworth Organisation of Women, Patricia Dove, has received a Jane Metcalfe Digital Opportunity Award in Washington. Dove was recognised for her work in technology in the Austerville- Wentworth community. She has also been instrumental in the leadership of a computer centre in the area. IN BRIEF KEN MCHUNU A GROUP of unemployed Umlazi E-section residents is helping to save young lives on the township’s roads by manning scholar patrols. Before the group, dubbed Ubuntu Bemvelo, started with their work in 2005, barely a week would pass without a child being hurt or killed in an accident. But since then there has been a marked improve- ment, as Ubuntu Bemvelo’s 47-member scholar patrol team has put the brakes on jaywalking and helped keep motorists in line. Despite a lack of proper road safety equipment and no wages, the good Samaritans rise at dawn each school day to see that children get to and from class safely. Mandlenkosi Hadebe, a founding member of Ubuntu Bemvelo, said they were now patrolling at more than 10 primary schools in eight sections of Umlazi. Hadebe said most primary schools in the townships did not have road safety facilities. “There are no speed humps, zebra crossings or robots near schools. Children are expected to cut busy roads to get to schools and this has claimed many lives,” he said. Campaigns Hadebe said the City’s Engineering Department had inspected roads near some schools in the area, with a view to installing speed humps to calm traffic. Meanwhile, Hadebe and his colleagues were taking road safety campaigns to schools on weekends, to improve children’s knowledge, which he said was generally poor. Hadebe said they had met ward councillors who had arranged for the City’s Transport Authority to hand out road safety flyers to school children. “Councillors have been instrumental in the work we are doing. “We also meet Metro Police to acquire training so we can impart the knowledge to children,” he said. Things seem to be running smoothly, however Hadebe said Ubuntu Bemvelo is in dire need of funding. Much of the equipment they use is made of cardboard and plastic. “The recent rains have left all our equipment damaged. We have had to buy new boards and make new signage,” said Hadebe. Hadebe has appealed for businesses to chip in to help this worthy course. He said this would help the team expand. “The aim is to cover all of Umlazi,” he said. Mandlenkosi Hadebe can be contacted on 078 310 2688. [email protected] THEMBA NYATHIKAZI THE municipality’s new Rates Policy comes into effect next July, when properties across greater Durban will be rated on their market values for the very first time. Individual units in a sectional title complex will also now be rated and will receive their very own rates account. “The policy makes provis- ion for rebates to pensioners, medically boarded persons and disability grantees, prov- ided they meet certain cri- teria,” said Krish Kumar, Dep- uty City Manager: Treasury. “Properties damaged by natural disaster, land reform beneficiaries, sporting bod- ies, public benefit organisa- tions and agricultural prop- erty will qualify for rebates.” For more information pick up a Rates Policy document from the City Hall, libraries, clinics and banking halls, or visit: www.durban.gov.za and give your comments by 7 December. [email protected] Rates: have your say Revenue system update CIVIC SPIRIT: Helping Umlazi children get to school safely are members of the Ubuntu Bemvelo scholar patrol team Matilda Tlou, Zodwa Hadebe, Mandlenkosi Hadebe, Busisiwe Chiliza, Zoleka Sibutha, Khehla Langazana and Petros Mtolo Picture: KEN MCHUNU THEMBA NYATHIKAZI THE new Revenue Manage- ment System (RMS) for eThekwini is another step closer to reality, with the appointment of a data cleansing team to root out inaccurate records from the database of rates, electricity and water customers. Deputy City Manager for Treasury Krish Kumar said the development was a sign of progress towards the final phasing out of the existing in- house COINS system. The new system will have the ability to consolidate a customer’s various accounts into one, easily accessed account. “Critical to the success of RMS is the state and accuracy of the data being migrated from the current systems to the new system,” Kumar said. The Data Cleansing team would help ensure this. [email protected] Electricity boss in hot seat Patrols put brakes on Umlazi road deaths Green Machine THE Springboks, back from their World Cup triumph in Paris, delighted their Durban fans with a tour of the city on Sunday. EThekwini and the provincial government helped ensure a heroes’ welcome by laying on flags and vuvuzelas for supporters. INSET: Captain John Smith with Deputy Mayor Logie Naidoo Picture: KEN MCHUNU GUGU BLOSE THE Head of the City’s Elec- tricity Department, Sandile Maphumulo, was made Pres- ident of the Association of Municipal Electricity Under- takings – Southern Africa at a recent function at the ICC. Maphumulo, who has come a long way professionally, having started with the department as an apprentice, is entitled to a measure of pride, but he would also do well to be steeling himself for the challenges ahead. His election, at the asso- ciation’s 60th convention, comes at a time when he and his peers are having to grapple with many thorny issues. These include “load shedding”, and the restruc- turing of electricity distribution in the country to a regional system. Deputy Mayor Logie Naidoo asked the delegates at the convention to apply their minds to these issues. “We hope you find ways to address these problems as you sit here as experts in your field. As Africans our creative juices flow in time of crisis. This is when we need to get solutions to the problems we face,” Naidoo said. In his appoint- ment speech, Map- humulo thanked his wife who he said had been a pillar of strength. “My wife has always supported me. And when I have not done well she has told me to try again until I have reached my goal,” he said. Also at the convention was Phindile Nzimande, Chief Executive of Electricity Dis- tribution Industry Holdings. The state-owned company has been given the job by the national government of getting municipalities to cede their right to distribute electricity to six, still-to-be- established Regional Elec- tricity Distributors (REDs). The restructuring poses a possible threat to the incomes of municipalities and has come in for criticism from a number of quarters, including City Manager Michael Sutcliffe. Sutcliffe has in the past urged Nzimande to make sure the reform does not put cities “into a precarious situation”. Nzimande gave the con- vention a presentation high- lighting the road travelled thus far towards restruc- turing. “It is common know- ledge that the first RED in Cape Town collapsed but that has taught us a lot of lessons,” said Nzimande. “Although the programme has experienced many challenges, including delays in execution, ambivalent support from stakeholders and because the process is a negotiation, the timeframes are not reasonable ones. “We have, however, made contingencies for all these factors and the process is well on its way. Have no fear the road is quiet clear,” she said. [email protected] SANDILE MAPHUMULO
Transcript of Electricity boss in hot seat IN BRIEF - Durban · US SINGER Josh Groban has confirmed he will be in...
NEWS2 November 2007 Page 3
Gcina Mhlopheto give talkGCINA Mhlophe will give aretrospective lecture at theAlbert Luthuli Museum inGroutville on 15 November,starting at 11am.
Mhlophe, an acclaimedactress, storyteller, poet,playwright and author, willgive the lecture to mark the40th anniversary of ChiefLuthuli’s death.
This event is part of theUmdwebo Lifestyle Festivalin greater Ballito from 9 to17 November. To book,contact Henk Swanepoel on082 444 1825 or [email protected] .
Crazy Gamesat beachfrontTEAMS from across thecountry will descend onDurban from 5 to 15November to compete inCrazy Games, which will bescreened on SABC2 nextmonth. The show will berecorded live at thebeachfront Amphitheatre, infront of the Elangeni Hotel,and the public are invited tojoin the studio audience.
Teams will don their mostcolourful costumes and areexpected to brave a seriesof challenges and races overextreme obstacles.
City backs waron poverty THE City lent its support tothe fight against poverty andinequality by joining theworldwide “Stand Up SpeakOut” campaign last month.
At a midday meeting onthe City Hall steps,members of the publicjoined officials and DeputyMayor Logie Naidoo topledge their support for thecampaign and wear symbolicwhite wrist bands. They alsosang We are the World.
Greyville gigfor Groban US SINGER Josh Groban hasconfirmed he will be inDurban early next year aspart of his second tour toSouth Africa. Groban will beperforming at the GreyvilleRacecourse on Sunday, 16March. Audiences are invitedto bring picnic baskets,blankets and chairs andenjoy the show al fresco.
Tickets are R250. Call 086 112 1333.
Digital Doveflies highA CO-FOUNDER of theWentworth Organisation ofWomen, Patricia Dove, hasreceived a Jane MetcalfeDigital Opportunity Award inWashington. Dove wasrecognised for her work intechnology in the Austerville-Wentworth community. Shehas also been instrumentalin the leadership of acomputer centre in the area.
IN BRIEF
KEN MCHUNU
A GROUP of unemployedUmlazi E-section residentsis helping to save young liveson the township’s roads bymanning scholar patrols.
Before the group, dubbedUbuntu Bemvelo, startedwith their work in 2005,barely a week would passwithout a child being hurt orkilled in an accident.
But since then there hasbeen a marked improve-ment, as Ubuntu Bemvelo’s47-member scholar patrolteam has put the brakes onjaywalking and helped keepmotorists in line.
Despite a lack of properroad safety equipment andno wages, the goodSamaritans rise at dawneach school day to see thatchildren get to and fromclass safely.
Mandlenkosi Hadebe, afounding member ofUbuntu Bemvelo, said they
were now patrolling at morethan 10 primary schools ineight sections of Umlazi.
Hadebe said most primaryschools in the townships didnot have road safety
facilities.“There are nospeed humps, zebracrossings or robots nearschools. Children areexpected to cut busy roadsto get to schools and this hasclaimed many lives,” he said.
CampaignsHadebe said the City’s
Engineering Departmenthad inspected roads nearsome schools in the area,with a view to installingspeed humps to calm traffic.
Meanwhile, Hadebe andhis colleagues were takingroad safety campaigns toschools on weekends, toimprove children’sknowledge, which he saidwas generally poor.
Hadebe said they had metward councillors who hadarranged for the City’sTransport Authority to handout road safety flyers toschool children.
“Councillors have been
instrumental in the work weare doing.
“We also meet MetroPolice to acquire training sowe can impart theknowledge to children,” hesaid.
Things seem to be runningsmoothly, however Hadebesaid Ubuntu Bemvelo is indire need of funding.
Much of the equipmentthey use is made ofcardboard and plastic.
“The recent rains have leftall our equipment damaged.We have had to buy newboards and make newsignage,” said Hadebe.
Hadebe has appealed forbusinesses to chip in to helpthis worthy course.
He said this would help theteam expand.
“The aim is to cover all ofUmlazi,” he said.
Mandlenkosi Hadebe canbe contacted on078 310 2688.
THEMBA NYATHIKAZI
THE municipality’s new RatesPolicy comes into effect nextJuly, when properties acrossgreater Durban will be ratedon their market values for thevery first time.
Individual units in asectional title complex willalso now be rated and willreceive their very own ratesaccount.
“The policy makes provis-ion for rebates to pensioners,medically boarded personsand disability grantees, prov-
ided they meet certain cri-teria,” said Krish Kumar, Dep-uty City Manager: Treasury.
“Properties damaged bynatural disaster, land reformbeneficiaries, sporting bod-ies, public benefit organisa-tions and agricultural prop-erty will qualify for rebates.”
For more information pickup a Rates Policy documentfrom the City Hall, libraries,clinics and banking halls, orvisit: www.durban.gov.za andgive your comments by 7December.
Rates: have your say
Revenue system update
CIVIC SPIRIT: Helping Umlazi children get to schoolsafely are members of the Ubuntu Bemvelo scholarpatrol team Matilda Tlou, Zodwa Hadebe, MandlenkosiHadebe, Busisiwe Chiliza, Zoleka Sibutha, KhehlaLangazana and Petros Mtolo Picture: KEN MCHUNU
THEMBA NYATHIKAZI
THE new Revenue Manage-ment System (RMS) foreThekwini is another stepcloser to reality, with theappointment of a datacleansing team to root outinaccurate records from thedatabase of rates, electricityand water customers.
Deputy City Manager forTreasury Krish Kumar saidthe development was a signof progress towards the final
phasing out of the existing in-house COINS system.
The new system will havethe ability to consolidate acustomer’s various accountsinto one, easily accessedaccount.
“Critical to the success ofRMS is the state and accuracyof the data being migratedfrom the current systems tothe new system,” Kumar said.The Data Cleansing teamwould help ensure this.
Electricity boss in hot seat
Patrols put brakes on Umlazi road deaths
Green Machine
THE Springboks, back from their World Cup triumph in Paris, delighted their Durbanfans with a tour of the city on Sunday. EThekwini and the provincial governmenthelped ensure a heroes’ welcome by laying on flags and vuvuzelas for supporters.INSET: Captain John Smith with Deputy Mayor Logie Naidoo Picture: KEN MCHUNU
GUGU BLOSE
THE Head of the City’s Elec-tricity Department, SandileMaphumulo, was made Pres-ident of the Association ofMunicipal Electricity Under-takings – Southern Africa at arecent function at the ICC.
Maphumulo, who has comea long way professionally,having started with thedepartment as an apprentice,is entitled to a measure ofpride, but he would also dowell to be steeling himself forthe challenges ahead.
His election, at the asso-ciation’s 60th convention,comes at a time when he andhis peers are having to
grapple with manythorny issues.
These include“load shedding”,and the restruc-turing of electricitydistribution in thecountry to a regionalsystem.
Deputy MayorLogie Naidoo askedthe delegates at theconvention to applytheir minds to theseissues.
“We hope you find ways toaddress these problems asyou sit here as experts in yourfield. As Africans our creativejuices flow in time of crisis.This is when we need to get
solutions to theproblems we face,”Naidoo said.
In his appoint-ment speech, Map-humulo thanked hiswife who he said hadbeen a pillar ofstrength.
“My wife hasalways supportedme. And when I havenot done well shehas told me to tryagain until I have
reached my goal,” he said.Also at the convention was
Phindile Nzimande, ChiefExecutive of Electricity Dis-tribution Industry Holdings.
The state-owned company
has been given the job by thenational government ofgetting municipalities to cedetheir right to distributeelectricity to six, still-to-be-established Regional Elec-tricity Distributors (REDs).
The restructuring poses apossible threat to theincomes of municipalitiesand has come in for criticismfrom a number of quarters,including City ManagerMichael Sutcliffe.
Sutcliffe has in the pasturged Nzimande to makesure the reform does not putcities “into a precarioussituation”.
Nzimande gave the con-vention a presentation high-
lighting the road travelledthus far towards restruc-turing. “It is common know-ledge that the first RED inCape Town collapsed but thathas taught us a lot of lessons,”said Nzimande.
“Although the programmehas experienced manychallenges, including delaysin execution, ambivalentsupport from stakeholdersand because the process is anegotiation, the timeframesare not reasonable ones.
“We have, however, madecontingencies for all thesefactors and the process is wellon its way. Have no fear theroad is quiet clear,” she said.
SANDILEMAPHUMULO
