EThekwini Municipality officials, in conjunction with the South African Police Service and other stakeholders conducted a raid in the Phoenix Industrial area where scrap metal and business premises were inspected.

1. ETHEKWINI
WEEKLY BULLETIN
www.durban.gov.za
By 2030 eThekwini will be Africa’s most caring and liveable city
“KEEPING YOU IN THE KNOW”
LAW ENFORCEMENT BLITZ
ON SCRAP METAL DEALERS
T
O ENSURE that all
businesses comply with
the relevant trading,
health and safety
regulations, a multi-disciplinary
task team conducted an
enforcement blitz in the
Phoenix Industrial area on, 29
September.
The team consisted of
representatives from various
Municipal Units, the South
African Police Service (SAPS),
Telkom and Transnet.
During the raid, the team
focused on scrap metal dealers
in the area, checking their stock
and inspecting their premises
for compliance purposes. One
owner was issued with two fines
for failing to comply with health
and safety standards and for
failing to properly keep records
in respect of the scrap metal
that is purchased from sellers.
Sholona Mahabeer, from
the eThekwini Health Unit
explained the importance of the
inspection. “We must monitor,
inspect and enforce the law as
unhealthy conditions pose a
great health risk. If we find that
owners are not complaint we
will issue a warning, verbally
and in writing, advise them
of the hazards and thereafter
conduct a follow-up visit. If
the owner has not intervened
accordingly, we can prosecute
by issuing a fine,” she said.
Colonel Thandazani
Maphumulo from the SAPS
said: “We must educate
business owners about
compliance as well as the
consequences of purchasing
stolen materials. We are working
together with the eThekwini
Municipality to ensure that
these illegal activities are
eradicated.”
The City has appointed cable
theft investigators that have
been trained on what to look out
for when inspecting scrap metal
dealerships.
Barbara Cloete, from the
Electricity Unit inspected the
many bags of scrap metal
found during the blitz. “We are
looking for suspicious materials
that belong to eThekwini
Municipality. There is a high
rate of cable theft and we
encourage business owners to
approach the Municipality if
they have any information that
can lead to the arrest of the
culprits,” she said.
The negative impacts of
cable theft include the
hefty costs of replacement
of infrastructure and hiring
security, the shutdown of
business operations, loss of
30 September 2016 [Issue 52]
EThekwini Municipality officials, in conjunction with the South African Police Service and other stakeholders conducted a raid in the
Phoenix Industrial area where scrap metal and business premises were inspected.
Any suspicion of cable theft
must be reported to the
following numbers:
• Electricity’s call centre
080 13 13 111,sms
083 700 0819 or email:
custocare@elec.durban.
gov.za
• Cable Theft Hotline 031
311 9611
•SAPS 10111
• Metro Police Emergency
Line 031 361 0000
BLOW THE WHISTLE
income and loss of exports.
Cable theft also results to
power, communication lines
and transport network outages
and leads to negative investor
perceptions.

2. www.durban.gov.za
2 ETHEKWINI WEEKLY BULLETIN ISSUE 52
WARWICK PRECINCT PLAN SET TO
REJUVENATE THE INNER CITY
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
INVENTORY FOR 2014 RELEASED
ETHEKWINI Municipality’s
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Inventory (GHGEI) which was
compiled to help plan climate
change mitigation strategies
within the Municipality has
been released for the 2014
calendar year.
Compiling the GHGEI is an
important step in documenting
eThekwini’s government and
community emissions that are
contributing to climate change.
Linda Somazembe from the
City’s Energy Office said that
the 2014 total emissions
increase of 1.2 percent is due
to more data availability and
more accurate data.
“The use of renewable
energies is the answer to
reducing carbon emissions
and the City is embarking
on various projects that will
provide alternative energy
sources for lighting, cooking
and water heating to name a
few,” said Somazembe.
EThekwini Municipality has
initiated various programmes to
assist citizens and businesses
to reduce carbon emissions.
One such example is the
Durban Solar Map which is
facilitated by the City and
provides assistance and vital
information to residents when
installing solar photovoltaic
(PV) panels.
For 2014 the total carbon
emissions recorded for the City
was 29,092,003 tCO2e. This
is an increase of 1.2 percent
from 2013 which is equivalent
to an additional 350, 445.3
tCO2e emitted. The municipal
and community sectors present
an increase of 135,745.8
tCO2e and 214,699.5 tCO2e
respectively.
The GHGEI is divided into two
sub-inventories, one for the
broader eThekwini community
and one for the municipality
or local government emissions.
The local government “sub-
inventory” includes GHG
emissions from activities under
the control of the eThekwini
Municipality entity, while the
community inventory includes
GHG emissions from various
sectors within the boundary of
the eThekwini Municipal Area.
To view the 2014 inventory
visit- http://www.durban.gov.
za/City_Services/energyoffice/
Pages/GHG-Inventory.aspx
THE PROPOSED Warwick
Precinct Plan will transform
the key City gateway into an
efficiently functioning precinct
geared towards accessibility
and connectivity.
It will allow for a seamless flow
of traffic, giving pedestrians
ample pathway space while
ensuring that traders also have
ample space for their stalls.
The vision for the precinct
is to create a mixed-use trade
and transport hub that will
be an attractive and thriving
centre of diverse commercial,
social and cultural exchange.
This was revealed at a
consultation meeting held on,
28 September where the
draft Warwick Precinct Plan
was presented to interested
stakeholders. The City is calling
on the public to comment on
the plan.
The plan is one of eight that
form the Local Area Plan for
the inner City which will guide
development and improvement
in the central business district,
creating a more integrated and
accessible environment while
boosting business confidence.
Almost 50 percent of the
precinct land area is reserved
for transport or infrastructure.
The Warwick precinct is seen
as a strategic priority not
only for the City, but for the
National Treasury as well. It is
the gateway to the inner City,
and a major transport hub
through which approximately
300 000 to 400 000
commuters pass daily.
There are currently at least
2 500 street traders with an
estimated R750 million to R 1
billion annual turnover.
The proposed Warwick
Precinct Plan is a high level
plan that provides a framework
to make the City centre
more pedestrian orientated,
integrated, accessible and
efficient. The Integrated public
transport plan will play a huge
role in the integration of the
City. The plan aims to ensure
that the Warwick precinct
becomes a safe, efficient
and vibrant space that will
unlock its full potential to
serve the needs of the various
communities that work, live,
play and commute through
the area. The proposed plan
involves new and improved
transport connections,
rationalised public transport,
pedestrian priority, public
realm upgrades, mixed use
development, and an improved
trading environment. The City
is committed to garnering as
much comment about the
plan and will consult with
stakeholders at every planning
and implementation phase.
To register as a stakeholder
or submit your input email
innercity@durban.gov.za.
Information is also available
on the official eThekwini
Municipality website:
http://www.durban.gov.za/
Resource_Centre/Current%20
Projects%20and%20
Programmes/Inner%20City%20
LAP/Pages/default.aspx.
An areal view of the bustling Warwick Precinct. The City this
week hosted a public consultation meeting to present the pro-
posed Warwick Precinct Plan.
An artist impression of the
King Dinuzulu Road station
redevelopment.

3. www.durban.gov.za
ISSUE 51 ETHEKWINI WEEKLY BULLETIN 3
SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH TO BE DISCUSSED
DURING THE IMFO CONFERENCE IN DURBAN
THE STATE of economic
growth and doing business in
South Africa are some of the
critical issues the Institute of
Municipal Finance Officers
(IMFO) will delve into at their
National Conference to be held
at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli
International Convention
Centre from 3 to 5 October.
The theme of the conference
is “Sustaining Municipal
viability amidst the economic
distress.”
IMFO is a professional body
comprising of Municipal
finance officials from all over
South Africa to guide each
other in providing effective
financial accounting advice,
setting and maintaining
high financial standards and
controls in public finance
and governance. Some of the
topics to be discussed include
the revenue value chain, role
of Councillors with respect
to oversight, performance
management, budgeting,
internal audit, supply chain
management and the newly
implemented Municipal
Standard Chart of Accounts.
Keynote speakers include
Mayor Zandile Gumede, IMFO
President Jane Masite, Deputy
Minister in the Presidency in
Performance, Monitoring and
Evaluation Obed Bapela as well
as internationally renowned
financial experts and captains
of industry. City Manager
Sibusiso Sithole will speak on
the state of economic growth
and the impact of job creation
and a representative from the
World Bank will touch on doing
business in South Africa.
Deputy City Manager for
Finance Krish Kumar said:
“The 2016 IMFO Conference
is a platform to learn and
deliberate on the current
economic climate and put
forward implementable
solutions.”
CITY DRIVES ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT
AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
ETHEKWINI Municipality
continues to make great strides
in empowering communities
and driving the National
Expanded Public Works
Programme (EPWP) through
the Vuk’uphile Learnership
programme.
Through the Vuk’uPhile
Learnership Programme,
the City trains and equips
prospective contractors
with the required skills and
technical expertise through
small business contractor
development. The programme
includes learning, practical
training and mentorship,
where small contractors are
empowered and exit the
programme as self-sustaining
medium size contracting
entities with the ability to
compete in the open market.
Since the intervention was
initiated in 2003, to-date 150
contractor and supervisors
have benefitted from the
learnership.
Senior Manager in Rural
Economic Development Unit
Sbusiso Chamane said the
City has been implementing
the Expanded Public Works
Programme through social,
environmental, culture and
infrastructure sectors that
benefits unemployed people in
our communities.
“The programme targets are
set by the National Department
of Public Works. Our current
intake in the programme
consists of a total of 50
contractors and supervisors
who have received R14,6
million worth of projects to-
date,” he said.
Chamane said labour
is sourced from various
communities, and the
employees are registered as
EPWP participants.
“We have allocated Vuku’Phile
contractors to some Roads
Maintenance projects in the
Dassenhoek area, and they
are in the process of acquiring
bridging finance,” he said.
Chamane said the learner
contractors are responding
well to the additional works
allocations, and are very excited
to be part of this developmental
programme.
Deputy President Cyril
Ramaphosa interact-
ing with one of the
Expanded Public Works
Programme employees
during his visit to
Inanda, Durban in July
to evaluate the progress
and impact of the
programme.

4. www.durban.gov.za
Email: gugu.mbonambi@durban.gov.za
If you would like to submit feedback or
contribute to eThekwini Weekly Bulletin
EDITORIAL TEAM
EDITOR: Tozi Mthethwa, Head of Communications • CONTENT EDITOR: Gugu Sisilana
SUB-EDITOR: Nondumiso Mathomane • WRITERS: Princess Nkabane, Romita Hanuman,
Jessie Singh, Rodney Moore and Sohana Singh.
DESIGN AND LAYOUT: Sandile Sokhela
ETHEKWINI Municipality is
set to participate in the United
Cities and Local Government
(UCLG) Summit in Bogota,
Columbia from 12 to15
October and Habitat III from
17 to 20 October in Ecuador.
The City is affiliated to UCLG
which is the association of
cities and towns in the world
for local government to have a
voice at a global level.
One of the key agenda items
at the UCLG Summit is the
appointment of new office
bearers and the vote of Mayor
Zandile Gumede will be of
great importance in this regard.
Gumede said: “The City
always welcomes initiatives
that contribute to social
and economic growth which
strengthens our bargaining
power in the international
CITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE UCLG
WORLD SUMMIT AND HABITAT III
matters.
Gumede in her capacity as the
Chairperson and Secretariat
of AFUS and Co-Chair of
Global Network on Safer Cites
will presenting some of its
flagship programmes aimed at
addressing issues threatening
urban safety.
EThekwini Municipality was
elected to lead AFUS, as the
structure for local government
by local government based
on its illustrative example
on the implementation and
mainstreaming of its Safer
Cities programme.
The City will also to lead focus
discussions on safety and
crime prevention and prepare
recommendations that will be
incorporated into the Habitat
III resolutions.
Forum AFricAin pour lA sécurité urbAine
ETHEKWINI PRIORITISES TIMEOUS PROCESSING
OF RATES CLEARANCE APPLICATIONS
ETHEKWINI Municipality
moved to the new billing
system known as the Revenue
Management System (RMS)
from 1 July 2016.
The Municipality established
the RMS in order to provide
debt management and
effective customer relations
through an integrated system.
The system also improves the
ability to manage information,
business processes, financial
controls and management
reporting, said Deputy City
Manager for Finance Krish
Kumar.
Kumar said it takes six to
eight weeks to register a
transfer of an immovable
property. This has not changed.
However, due to the backlog
accumulated during migration
arena.”
The UCLG and Habitat III
will be held consecutively with
the latter taking place from
17 to 20 October in Quito,
Ecuador. Habitat III is focused
on sustainable goals 2030 and
it is important for Council in
its five year term to incorporate
Habitat III resolutions in its
activities. UCLG outcomes will
inform negotiations at Habitat
III therefore these two events
are interrelated.
EThekwini Municipality is set
to act as the Secretariat for
the African Forum for Urban
Safety (AFUS).
Chairperson of the Human
Settlements and Infrastructure
Committee, Councillor Mondli
Mthembu is also expected
to participate in the summit
in order to get a better
understand of the concept of
the urban agenda and related
to the new system, the transfer
period has been extended.
“We have continued accepting
clearance applications
regardless of this and this has
led to a backlog. Currently the
Municipality has approximately
1785 applications that need
to be processed and it is
anticipated that the backlog
will be cleared by the end
of October 2016. This
past weekend more than
500 applications and 100
certificates were issued,” said
Kumar.
He said the City’s Revenue
Clearance Section receives
approximately 300 applications
per day, adding that each and
every application is different.
There are various scenarios that
can delay the application like:
• If the sale price is too high
compared to market value
such that the application
has to be investigated.
• There are customers that
improve their structures
without proper approvals
• There are properties that
have prepaid electricity
and investigations have
to be done on all of those
properties.
• There are customers that
tamper with water and
electricity meters and those
fraudulent activities have to
be investigated.
• Properties that have been
handed over to the attorneys
for legal action.
The above list is not exhaustive
but all of the above scenarios
will delay the processing of
applications. Kumar said the
Municipality is doing its best
to ensure that applications are
dealt with timeously.
The normal applications
where there are no issues are
issued within reasonable time
of 10 days.
Kumar said the City
encourages feedback from
residents. “We are committed
to providing efficient service
delivery at all times,” he said.