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Welcome to eThekwini Mayors Blog. Read all about what is on your Mayor's mind.
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Durban > City Government > Council > City Mayor > Mayor's Blog
November 21
Mayor’s Community Outreach Campaign
by  Siphokazi Mxinwa  on 11/21/2011 4:03 PM

EThekwini Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Cllr James Nxumalo has recently visited theINK areas and Tongaat as part of continuing with the campaign of teaching people more about climate change ahead of COP 17.

Nxumalo along with Municipality officials and EXCO members paid a visit to these areas with a purpose of making sure that people have a clear understanding of what the COP 17 is all about. They distributed pamphlets containing valuable information. "It is very important for everyone to understand the effect of climate change. We have seen terrible things in other countries like Japan as a result of changing weather patterns and as we are holding this conference in eThekwini we will be coming up with solutions to some of these problems," Nxumalo said.

Just like in other areas that he visited Nxumalo with his team started their day by distributing pamphlets at Taxi Ranks before making their way to various Clinics. Apart from teaching people about climate change, Nxumalo also told people about the importance of being safe during the festive season, urging commuters at Taxi Ranks to report bad drivers. The campaign has been taken to uMlazi, Hammersdale, the Ink areas and Tongaat. On Wednesday and Friday it will officially be concluded in Isipingo and Cleremont respectively.

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September 26
Climate change is in our backyard
by  Siphokazi Mxinwa  on 9/26/2011 6:10 AM

The countdown to the 17th Conference of Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, otherwise known as COP 17, is underway and the Municipality, working together with national and provincial government, is doing its best to ensure that the event runs smoothly. We all know that Durban is unsurpassed when it comes to the hosting of major national and international events. However, this event is different in that the decisions taken will determine the future sustainability for the rest of humanity, especially for Africa and other developing nations who are adversely affected by the changing climate.

This conference is not only about our ability as the Municipality to host major international events, but it’s about us taking the lead in showing the world what needs to be done to protect our environment for the sake of our future generations. This is only the second time that the COP has been held on African soil, so the event also provides Durban with the opportunity to profile its own climate work, and to demonstrate African responses to the specific impacts that climate change is likely to have on African cities. Talks about climate change is no longer confined to conferences and academic debates. We are beginning to see the effects in our own backyards.

 
We have seen the devastating effects of the drought in Somalia and here in our city and province we’ve seen many families lose loved ones and belongings due to storms and lightning. Our dams are running dry and we’re seeing unusual weather patterns. All these things say to us that we need to act now to save our environment. In my capacity as Mayor I will be leading a number of campaigns, like the cleaning up of rivers and streams, especially those that runs through our residential areas.
As citizens of eThekwini there’s a lot that we can do within our localities to protect the environment. Things like correct disposal of waste, clearing the environment around our homes, planting trees, saving energy and adopting safe driving techniques can go a long way in mitigating the effects of climate change. It’s the little actions that we take as individuals and families that can make a difference. In conclusion, I would like to wish our Muslim community a blessed Eid-Ul-Fitr.​
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September 23
Making a good start
by  Siphokazi Mxinwa  on 9/23/2011 7:30 AM

Greetings to eThekwini citizens! At the beginning of September the new Council under my leadership finished the first 100 days in office and we know that those first few months always attract the attention of the media and other commentators who begin their evaluation on how they think we have performed. I must point out that three months is by no means a good time to begin to judge a person’s performance and I have emphasised that people should give us time to implement the programmes that we committed ourselves to undertake. Maybe the correct time to make a thorough assessment would be half way through the term.

Having said that, it is important to note that this Council has hit the ground running and work began on the first day in office. The first step was to ensure that the Municipality continues to function and to strengthen oversight to avoid the recurrence of some of the financial woes that affected the Municipality in the past financial year. Portfolio committees were realigned and we strengthened the Municipal Public Accounts Committee to ensure that there’s full compliance with the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) and supply chain management regulations. On top of that Councillors have undergone training to ensure that they understand their roles and the legislative environment under which they operate, and this will be an ongoing process. Council is presently finalising the Anticorruption and Whistle blowing policies, as further measures we are putting in place to fight corruption. These will include input from all political parties. In addition a compliance officer has also been appointed by Treasury to ensure that all SCM policies are followed. Our financial governance is recognised as best practice and we remain a model Municipality.

These are just some of the measures that we are putting in place to ensure that we achieve a clean audit. I must emphasise that this Municipality has been consistently achieving unqualified audits but this time around we want to ensure that there are no matters of emphasis by the Auditor General. In addition, the Mayor and members of the executive committee, as well as councillors have been out and about assisting communities who have been affected by different disasters. We’ve mobilised resources to assist poor families needing immediate intervention. We’re also monitoring the implementation of programmes aimed at developing our economy and job creation. Our attention is now on organising a successful COP 17 conference at the end of the year and I want to urge all eThekwini citizens to play their part in mitigating the effects of climate change because it is affecting all of us. A good start has been made and it’s only the beginning of a long road ahead.

Working together we can do more.

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September 09
Thanks To Residents
by  Siphokazi Mxinwa  on 9/9/2011 8:00 AM

Greetings to eThekwini citizens! At the beginning of September the new Council under my leadership finished the first 100 days in office and we know that those first few months always attract the attention of the media and other commentators who begin their evaluation on how they think we have performed. I must point out that three months is by no means a good time to begin to judge a person’s performance and I have emphasised that people should give us time to implement the programmes that we committed ourselves to undertake. Maybe the correct time to make a thorough assessment would be half way through the term. Having said that, it is important to note that this Council has hit the ground running and work began on the first day in office. The first step was to ensure that the Municipality continues to function and to strengthen oversight to avoid the recurrence of some of the financial woes that affected the Municipality in the past financial year.

Portfolio committees were realigned and we strengthened the Municipal Public Accounts Committee to ensure that there’s full compliance with the Municipal Finance Management Act
(MFMA) and supply chain management regulations. On top of that Councillors have undergone training to ensure that they understand their roles and the legislative environment under which they operate, and this will be an ongoing process. Council is presently finalising the Anticorruption and Whistle blowing policies, as further measures we are putting in place to fight corruption. These will include input from all political parties. In addition a compliance officer has also been appointed by Treasury to ensure that all SCM policies are followed. Our financial governance is recognised as best practice and we remain a model Municipality. These are just some of the measures that we are putting in place to ensure that we achieve a clean audit.

I must emphasise that this Municipality has been consistently achieving unqualified audits but this time around we want to ensure that there are no matters of emphasis by the Auditor General. In addition, the Mayor and members of the executive committee, as well as councillors have been out and about assisting communities who have been affected by different disasters. We’ve mobilised resources to assist poor families needing immediate intervention. We’re also monitoring the implementation of programmes aimed at developing our economy and job creation. Our attention is now on organising a successful COP 17 conference at the end of the year and I want to urge all eThekwini citizens to play their part in mitigating the effects of climate change because it is affecting all of us. A good start has been made and it’s only the beginning of a long road ahead.

 

Working together we can do more.

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August 09
Women’s Day goes beyond lip service
by  Siphokazi Mxinwa  on 8/9/2011 5:51 AM
The month of August is a time to reflect and celebrate the achievements of women and their role in society. This month is more than a recognition of past achievements by women in South Africa in the struggles for freedom, equality and justice. The Municipality will continue to implement sustainable programmes for women empowerment, and to form sustainable partnerships between the public and private sectors as well as with civil society. The scourge of unemployment, poverty, disease and deprivation affects everyone in society, but we know that it is mainly women and children who bear most of the brunt of these societal ills.
 
We are proud to say the Municipality has programmes in place to empower women in general as well as in business. Through programmes such as Zibambele and cooperatives women are able to actively participate in economic activities. There are also several programmes aiming to empower women with skills and other issues affecting them. Throughout the month the Municipality has planned a series of events focusing on various issues affecting women. On the 19th of August, the Municipality will be hosting a Women Empowerment Conference which will provide support to women in businesses in the form of advice and development of critical business skills and systems
The struggle for women emancipation can only be won through strong partnerships across civil society including men. On behalf of eThekwini Municipality, I would like to salute all women for their role in shaping our society. We are committed to advance the struggle for total emancipation of vulnerable groups through various programmes within the Municipality
Wathint’ abafazi, wathint’ imbokodo!
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July 29
Donate and help those in dire need
by  Siphokazi Mxinwa  on 7/29/2011 7:30 AM

During my inauguration as Mayor of eThekwini Municipality we declared that we want to be a Municipality that is responsive to our people and to fast track service delivery. Since June we have witnessed a number of fires and other disasters that have affected our people, especially in informal settlements around the city. As part of our responsiveness, I have visited several of these disasters to empathise with our people and to give them hope in their time of grief. In these disasters people lose everything, including their homes, food, clothing and important documents like identity documents and birth certificates.

In these situations our Disaster Management Centre always provides relief aid and we have also been receiving assistance from NGOs and others who have donated things like food parcels, clothing and blankets. But these are often not enough to cover the dire situation that our people face.

As the Executive, we feel that there is a need for a comprehensive response to these disasters. Hence we have decided to initiate a massive donations campaign whereby we are calling on our staff, Councillors and members of the community to donate their old clothing and non-perishable food items.

These should be available in times of disaster. As Councillors we are taking the lead in this campaign, because we are the servants of the people. We need the support of the business community in this initiative and members of the public are also encouraged to contribute. This is in the spirit of the Nelson Mandela month when we are all encouraged to give for the benefit of those who are less fortunate. Lastly, let me take this opportunity to thank all citizens who responded to the call for 67 minutes for Madiba and gave their time and resources to help others.

Let the spirit of ubuntu prevail in our daily lives.

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July 15
Let’s Give Our Best for Mandela Day
by  Siphokazi Mxinwa  on 7/15/2011 10:44 AM

The eThekwini Municipality would like to wish our former President Nelson Mandela a HAPPY 93rd BIRTHDAY on Monday the 18th July, and many more years to come. May his life continue to plough the spirit of hope and love in all of us. It is this same hope and love that made Madiba sacrifice his family, life and time doing good and supporting an ideology that he was prepared to die for. Let us remember what the father of the Nation has taught us, the importance of putting aside time to help those less fortunate than us.

The eThekwini Municipality pledges its full support behind Mandela Day and 67 minutes of helping the less fortunate. Our staff and councillors will be engaged in a number of initiatives to assist the poor as part of celebrating this day. The Municipality challenges its citizens to follow in the footsteps of our great leaders by putting aside 67minutes to help others. Nelson Mandela once said, "A man's goodness is a flame that can be hidden but never extinguished." We are all born to do good for ourselves and to others. We too can strive to be the best that we can be in our lifetimes just as our struggle heroes have done.

We too can take time in our community visiting the aged, the aids orphans, feeding the homeless and cleaning the environment. Mandela has not only inspired fellow South Africans by his will to do good. In November 2009 the United Nations declared 18 July as Nelson Mandela International Day and last year it was marked with acts of goodwill in communities throughout the world. We as citizens of the world have a responsibility to make the world a better place just as Madiba did. We have a responsibility to instil the spirit of Ubuntu in our young generations just as Madiba has taught us. As we celebrate the birthday of our icon let us remember the spirit of helping others that he has engraved in our hearts.

Unwele olude Madiba. (Live long Madiba)

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February 16
Lets Support The TB Tracing Campaign
by  Msizi CeleNo presence information  on 2/16/2011 12:00 PM

The eThekwini area is one of the hardest hit by the high rate of Tuberculosis infections, with the highest burdened sub district being the South. In response to this the Municipality alongside the National Department of Health, KZN Department of Health and the eThekwini District Health have embarked on the Intensified Tuberculosis Tracing Campaign which is now well underway having started at the beginning of February 2011.

The main aim is to educate our people about the disease and encourage them to get tested for early detection. The Door-to-Door Campaign will see teams of Foot Soldiers visiting households to check for any cases or possible cases of TB.
As the Municipality it is always our objective to encourage our citizens to take full advantage of the service delivery initiatives that government departments bring to the people as a means of improving their lives.

This Intensified TB Tracing Campaign is one such initiative which shows that the government is seeing, recognising and acting to address the burden of disease affecting our people. We cannot sit back and allow killer diseases like TB continue to shorten the life expectancy among our communities.

As eThekwini Municipality we have a proud record of service delivery especially in terms of infrastructure development and ensuring access to basic services. But the continued spread of diseases like HIV and Aids and TB remains one of the major draw backs. With health being one of the five priorities of our government, it is rather imperative to form strong partnerships between civil society, government and business to improve the health of our communities.

I also want to encourage our communities to play a role in this fight against the spread of diseases by ensuring that the environment they live in is clean and exercise basic hygiene.

Let us join hands in efforts to build a healthy nation.​

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February 04
Voter Registration: Why It’s Important
by  Msizi CeleNo presence information  on 2/4/2011 11:27 AM

Voter Registration: Why It’s Important

VOTER registration is an important process, not only because it allows people to cast their votes in an election, but because it contributes towards service delivery. In our door-to-door campaigns as public representatives we meet many people without ID books. This means they do not have access to social grants. The process of voter registration helps in identifying such people and ensuring they are properly registered. It also allows the government to get accurate information on the number of people living in particular areas and to understand their needs.
 
This information helps us plan service delivery. It is, therefore, important for our people to understand that registering to vote and casting the actual ballot is not only about putting a Councillor in a position. It’s also about helping yourself by ensuring that the government better understands your service delivery needs. I also call upon our young people to ensure that their names appear on the voters’ roll. The youth are the future of our country and it’s important they play a role in determining the way forward for our nation. Apart from the service delivery, voting is important in securing our democracy.
 
We are seeing conflicts elsewhere on the African continent which are mainly the result of governments not listening to their people. Voting is not just about exercising your rights. It also offers citizens a chance to vote the right people into office, people who will work for them. To ensure this happens, citizens must check that their details are correct on the roll. With this in mind, the eThekwini Municipality has joined hands with the Department of Home Affairs to ensure people get the correct documents. We encourage people to go to community centres and take advantage of ID registration and collection facilities. Remember to register this weekend.

​

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January 26
Voter Registration: Why It’s Important
by  Msizi CeleNo presence information  on 1/26/2011 12:00 PM

VOTER registration is an important process, not only because it allows people to cast their votes in an election, but because it contributes towards service delivery. In our door-to-door campaigns as public representatives we meet many people without ID books. This means they do not have access to social grants. The process of voter registration helps in identifying such people and ensuring they are properly registered. It also allows the government to get accurate information on the number of people living in particular areas and to understand their needs.

 
This information helps us plan service delivery. It is, therefore, important for our people to understand that registering to vote and casting the actual ballot is not only about putting a Councillor in a position. It’s also about helping yourself by ensuring that the government better understands your service delivery needs. I also call upon our young people to ensure that their names appear on the voters’ roll. The youth are the future of our country and it’s important they play a role in determining the way forward for our nation. Apart from the service delivery, voting is important in securing our democracy.
 

We are seeing conflicts elsewhere on the African continent which are mainly the result of governments not listening to their people. Voting is not just about exercising your rights. It also offers citizens a chance to vote the right people into office, people who will work for them. To ensure this happens, citizens must check that their details are correct on the roll. With this in mind, the eThekwini Municipality has joined hands with the Department of Home Affairs to ensure people get the correct documents. We encourage people to go to community centres and take advantage of ID registration and collection facilities. Remember to register this weekend.
​

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