Weekly bulletin issue 57

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”
etHekWini launcHes first
state-of-tHe-art eMergency
coMMand veHicle in kZn
I
N AN effort to prioritise
the safety and security of
eThekwini residents, the
Municipality’s disaster
Management unit has launched
an Emergency Command
Vehicle. The high-tech vehicle,
which is the first of its kind
in KwaZulu-Natal will provide
rapid response to major
disasters in eThekwini region
and surrounding areas when
required.
Speaking at the launch, deputy
City Manager for Community
and Emergency Services unit,
dr Musa Gumede said the City
had considered investing in
the state-of-the-art facility after
the attacks against African
immigrants that plagued the
country in 2015.
“Soon after that, we
experienced heavy rains and
felt that our officials could
have been more effective if
they had this vehicle,” he said.
The acquisition of the vehicle,
said Gumede was another
way of improving the level
service delivery to the people of
eThekwini.
Mayor Zandile Gumede
congratulated eThekwini
residents for the new
acquisition which will ensure
that emergency incidents are
dealt with more effectively and
speedily.
“It is of utmost importance
to us that all our citizens
enjoy the service provided by
this innovation. That is why
I am happy that the vehicle
has been designed in such
a way that it will be able to
have access and be stationed
in any area within eThekwini,
including rural areas,” she
said enthusiastically. Gumede
thanked experts from various
private organisations that had
worked with the Municipality
in providing the required
specifications for the vehicle.
“This is testimony that if
government works together
with the private sector, we can
indeed improve the lives of our
people,” she added.
The Emergency Command
Vehicle cost approximately
r9 million for capital and
operations. It is equipped with
a server room, boardroom,
lighting mast, work stations,
satellite, Wi-Fi and Closed-
Circuit Television (CCTV)
equipment.
The vehicle will not only be
used during emergencies, but
will also be used as a joint
operations centre when the
Municipality hosts big events in
areas where there are not CCTV
cameras.
4 NOVEMBEr 2016 [Issue 57]
EThekwini Mayor Zandile Gumede and deputy Mayor Fawzia Peer, officially unveiled the Emergency Command Vehicle which will
assist personnel in managing emergency incidents more efficiently and effectively.

2. www.durban.gov.za
2 eThekwini Weekly Bulletin issue 57
ETHEKWINI Mayor Zandile
Gumede led by example
when she participated in the
eThekwini Walk for Cancer
initiative on 29 October.
The aim of the five kilometre
walk was to stand in solidarity
with cancer patients and
their families while raising
awareness of the disease. It
also encouraged participants
to lead a healthy lifestyle.
The walk, a joint initiative
between eThekwini
Municipality and Mabliza
Lifestyle, started at the Moses
Mabhida Stadium and ended
at the Green Hub in Blue
Lagoon.
Gumede said as October
was Breast Cancer Awareness
Month, it was important to be
involved in a campaign that
highlighted the importance
of breast cancer awareness,
education and research.
“South African women have a
one in nine chance of getting
cancer. Breast cancer tops the
list according to the Cancer
Association of South Africa.”
Gumede said breast cancer
Bricklaying course to develop future entrepreneurs
ETHEKWINI MAYOR leadS
CANCER awareness walk
constitutes around 25 percent
of cancers in women.
“Cancer affects one in every
29 South Africans. This
figure is even higher in urban
communities in South Africa
affecting one in every eight
South Africans according
to the National Health
Laboratory,” Gumede added.
A number of initiatives have
been held throughout Breast
Cancer Awareness Month
by the City in partnership
with Non-Government
Organisations and civil
society. These included
various campaigns and
wearing the colour pink which
has become synonymous with
breast cancer awareness.
Gumede urged residents,
especially women, to go for
regular check-ups.
“Early detection is crucial,”
she said.
Founder of Mabliza Lifestyle,
Zanele Maphumulo, said the
walk was the beginning of
great things to come.
The graduation of 30
unemployed youth from
Inanda, KwaMashu and
Ntuzuma who successfully
completed a three months
bricklaying course has
further reaffirmed eThekwini
Municipality’s commitment to
skills development.
The skills training will
also play a massive role
in instilling a culture that
encourages people to consider
entrepreneurship as an option
in order to grow the economy
and create jobs.
This emerged during the
graduation ceremony of
30 unemployed youth
who recently completed
the bricklaying course at
Corobrik’s Avoca Training
EThekwini Mayor
Zandile Gumede
was joined by
thousands of
people including
senior politicians,
City officials
and Founder
of Mabliza
Lifestyle, Zanele
Maphumulo, as
she took part in
a five kilometre
walk to raise
awareness about
cancer and
promote a healthy
lifestyle.
Centre. The course was
offered by the Municipality’s
Business Support Department.
The ceremony was held at
Durban Botanical Gardens on
19 October.
“The course was difficult at
first, but now I feel confident.
It will help me develop my
own business as I am now
well versed in both theory
and practical aspects of
bricklaying,” said one of the
graduates, Nobuhle Mncube.
She said she will forever be
grateful to the Municipality for
the opportunity, describing it
as life changing.
Mncube was one of six
students who were given
special awards in recognition
of their outstanding
performances during the
course which commenced in
mid-June.
Siyabonga Luthuli, Project
Executive from the City’s
Business Support Department
said they were pleased to see
the eagerness from young
people to start their own
businesses.
“We offer training in various
fields to empower people,
especially the youth. This
helps them get employment
opportunities or open
businesses,” he said.
Luthuli added that their
department will soon advertise
other bricklaying courses.
The City has
helped 30
youth acquire
bricklaying
skills.
The youth
have been
encouraged to
start their own
businesses.

3. www.durban.gov.za
issue 57 eThekwini Weekly Bulletin 3
City successfully stages 40th
International
Hospital Federation Congress
keynote address on the first
day of the conference.
He said the conference
provided a platform for
discussion on the role
hospitals play in providing
quality healthcare. “Some of
the topics to be discussed,
support government initiatives
to address health challenges
in the country including HIV,
TB, diabetes, hypertension
and obesity.”
Premier Willies Mchunu,
offering a message of support,
said the conference would
be a “great festival of ideas
from the speakers lined up
and the topics scheduled for
discussion”.
Chairwoman of the
Community Services
EThekwini cemented it status
as a leading conferencing
venue as it hosted the
40th International Hospital
Federation (IHF) Congress from
1 to 3 November.
The congress was held for the
first time on African soil since
the organisation was started
in 1929.
The conference was held
at Inkosi Albert Luthuli
International Convention
Centre under the theme
‘Addressing the challenge
of patient-centred care
and safety’. EThekwini
Municipality provided
logistical support with a
Mayoral Reception hosted on
the first day of the conference.
Delegates from eThekwini
and provincial government
also attended the conference
to ensure continued quality
healthcare would be provided
to KwaZulu-Natal residents.
Minister of Health, Dr Aaron
Motsoaledi delivered the
Committee, Councillor Zama
Sokhabase, representing
eThekwini Mayor Zandile
Gumede, welcomed delegates
at the opening ceremony.
She said the conference
brought together leaders in
healthcare to discuss patient
centred healthcare. “Thank
you for choosing Durban to
host this conference. I urge
delegates to experience all
the City has to offer, including
the warmth of the people,
rich culture and cuisine and
beautiful beaches.”
Dr Erik Normann, IHF
President thanked everyone
who worked hard to make the
event possible.
Deputy City Manager for
Community and Emergency
Services Dr Musa Gumede
said while the Municipality
doesn’t have hospitals,
what was learnt during the
conference would be used
in dealing with patients at
Municipal clinics.
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi and International Hospital
Federation President Dr Erik Normann with nurses at a stand in
the exhibition hall at the three day IHF Congress.
By-law enforcement operations
on illegal trucking business
HeEding the call from
residents for the City to be
more stringent towards freight
companies and heavy goods
vehicle drivers who continue
to disregard by-laws, the City’s
Metro Police Unit issued more
than 100 contravention fines
and fined an illegal business
repairing truck tyres in a
residential area.
Metro Police Superintendent,
Anand Maharaj said the
operation was one of the
biggest the City has held, with
Metro Police officers stationed
in strategic areas.
“We focused on three main
regions, the central region,
which encompasses Bayhead
and surrounding areas. We
had officers in the north in
areas such as uThongathi,
Phoenix and Verulam, and
one roadblock was in the
south region and this covered
areas such as Clairwood and
Chatsworth,” he said.
Maharaj said the operation
yielded excellent results.
“We charged 20 drivers
who failed to produce proper
documentation required
for drivers operating heavy
goods vehicles. Ten drivers
were charged for driving
without valid licences, some
for driving with expired
licences and the rest had no
professional driving permits,”
he said.
Maharaj said other offences
included driving with
defective lights, breaks,
indicators and stop lights.
Maharaj said the City was
receiving more complaints
from residents and motorists
regarding the blatant
disregard of by-laws by heavy
goods vehicle drivers. He
said in order to combat this
scourge, more roadblocks
would be conducted.
The City continues to
regularly conduct similar
law enforcement operations
in residential areas, where
truck companies have been
found operating illegally and
making use of residential
roads, damaging roads and
pavements.
Maharaj said in those cases
contravention fines have been
served on the transgressors.
Metro Police issued more than 100 traffic fines in the south,
north and central regions where they had received complaints
from residents and motorists regarding by-law non-compliance
by heavy goods vehicle drivers.

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, Charmel Payet,
Nonduduzo Ngcongo, Vuyo Ndlovu and Vukile Mbata.
design and layout: Sandile Sokhela
Signature event to boost Durban’s
tourism SECTOR and economy
VISITORS are beginning to
flock into the City for the
highly-anticipated Essence
Festival Durban set to start on
8 November at Durban’s Moses
Mabhida Stadium and Inkosi
Albert Luthuli International
Convention Centre (ICC).
This was revealed by
eThekwini Mayor Zandile
Gumede, when she launched
the six days countdown to
the festival at the ICC on 2
November. The launch was to
drum-up more hype around the
festival which will be held in
Africa for the first time.
Gumede said the festival will
provide a unique experience
and create a vibe in the City.
“This signature event is
guaranteed to take the City’s
economic status to another
level as well as showcase
and empower local talent
and entrepreneurs,” added
Gumede.
The six days festival which
will run until 13 November is
expected to generate 3000 job
opportunities, attract 60 000
visitors with over R230 million
anticipated economic spin-off.
Head of Durban Tourism,
Phillip Sithole said: “This
period will definitely be added
to Durban’s history because it
will positively impact almost
everyone in different ways.”
Sithole revealed that the
City is expecting an influx
of global delegates from the
United States of America
and 28 European Union
countries. He said they are also
expecting visitors from over ten
neighbouring countries.
“We will utilise this platform
to showcase our unique
product offerings and
City attractions to our key
international source markets.
Specialised tours have been
arranged to give our delegates
a first-hand and memorable
Durban experience,” said
Sithole.
He added that the festival will
complement the extensive work
that has been done over the
years to position Durban on the
international map.
“Our prosperity is witnessed
by the number of global
accolades we received and
the economic returns such as
the increase of sustained jobs
created by the tourism sector,”
added Sithole.
Sithole said the festival will
intensify their efforts of taking
Durban to the world.
The festival will start with a
powerful business conference
at the ICC from 8 to 9
November.
The business conferences
include revered business
personalities such as Phuthi
Mahanyele, Thina Maziya, and
Ipileng Mkhari. Tickets can still
be purchased at info@ikhono.
co.za
The conference will be
followed by The Women’s
Economic Empowerment
Breakfast Seminar which will
take place on 10 November.
The festival will close off the
festivities with three music
concerts, which are the
Essence All Star Jazz, Essence
All Star Music Festival and
the Essence All Star Gospel.
Tickets are still available at
Computickets for all three
concerts.
For the full programme visit:
www.essencefestivaldurban.
com
EThekwini Mayor Zandile Gumede with local artists during the six days countdown to the Essence Festival Durban. Durban is abuzz
with local and international visitors that have started flocking into the City for the festival.