BUILDING OUR CITY

These days whenever I am asked to give a presentation I start by showing a map of Africa on which the following countries are superimposed: China, USA, Europe (including Scandinavia), India, New Zealand, Argentina. Together, these countries are just over 30 million square kilometres, but Africa is even larger than that.

Our role as Africans committed to the development of each part of our continent is huge and each day we are reminded of the need for strong and effective urban and regional planning and development to improve the lot of everyone.

This month is designated as a month where we focus on urban and regional planning and development and while in eThekwini we are focussed on service delivery throughout the metropolitan area, we also have a special focus on a number of areas which have strategic importance:

The Central Business District (CBD): Our CBD contributed greatly to our rates base. We have constituted a team of professionals (iTRUMP) actively working to regenerate the area to ensure it continues to be the heart (some might say the soul) of our city;

The Southern Industrial Basin (SIB): This is probably the largest concentration of manufacturing industries in South Africa with a huge population living cheek-by-jowl with industry. Our Multi-Point Plan is a partnership between government, communities and business and promises to ensure we clean and green the area and industries.

The Inanda, Ntuzuma and Kwa Mashu urban renewal project (INK): Outside of Soweto, INK is probably the largest concentration of poor people, living in poor conditions with very little direct access to work opportunities. This has also led to very high levels of crime and the Presidential projects focussed on this area aim to turn things around.

Cato Manor: This Presidential project has won national and international acclaim, and while some R350 million has ensured that the basic infrastructure is now in place, the focus must now be on social and economic development in the area.

The KwaXimba and Cato Ridge and all other rural development areas: Some 16 traditional areas are located in the Thekwini municipal boundaries and a wide variety of strategies are in place to bring development to these areas.

Our long-terms vision is: "By 2020. eThekwini Municipality will enjoy the reputation of being Africa's most caring and liveable city, where all citizens live in harmony.The Vision will be achieved by growing its economy and meeting people's needs so that all citizens enjoy a high quality of life with equal opportunities, in a city that they are truly proud of."

Let's work to ensure that by the time 2020 dawns, we can proudly say that the whole of eThekwini is developed and people everywhere are enjoying the benefits of good service delivery, in safe and secure circumstances.

ITEMS FINALISED AT EXCO ON 29APRIL 2003:

REZONING MATTERS: EXCO finalized a number of rezonings which were focused on our regeneration programmes.

CLINIC FOR KWAMAKHUTA: Approved the consolidation of landfor a clinic to be built at KwaMakhuta.

POLICY: EXCO adopted policy proposals: (i) to ensure a uniform approach to the development of ancillary units and outbuildings and (ii) the management of bed and breakfast facilities.

BROADWAY PRECINCT, DURBAN NORTH AREA: Proposals to ensure the growth of non-residential land uses on Broadway were adopted. This Special Zone comprises three land use components : Commercial, Residential Office Conversion and Redevelopment, Residential Office Conservation. The following controls shall apply to each component:

TOWARD A RETAIL MARKETS POLICY FOR THE ETHEKWINI MUNICIPALITY: A draft retail markets policy was adopted and consultations on it will now begin.

TENDERS: Tenders worth tens of millions of rands were approved and are too detailed to list.

INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT PLAN (IDP) ward workshops are being held throughout the city to report back on our IDP and receive comments from communities.

ID DOCUMENT CAMPAIGN: The city is working with Home Affairs and we have an ongoing campaign throughout the city to assist people in getting ID books.

REPORT OF AUDITOR-GENERAL ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE FORMER NORTH OPERATIONAL ENTITY FOR THE YEAR ENDED 2002-06-30: An unqualified report was received in this regard.

PROPERTY LEASEBACK INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO: We will be going out to seek bids for properties owned by the municipality.

TARA ROAD HOUSING INITIATIVE ETHEKWINI/ENGEN PUBLIC/ PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP: EXCO accepted with thanks thereport on a public-private partnership where ENGEN will be providing the city with some R8 million towards housing people who had been dumped by apartheid governments in poor housing next to factories in the South Basin area.

PERFORMANCE CONTRACTS AND PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT: The draft Performance Contract and Plan for the City Manager was adopted.

BUDGET 2003/2004 : For the first time ever, budget hearings will be held to discuss the Operating and Capital budgets of the city.

DID YOU KNOW:

For the first time ever we have been openly discussing and
inviting comment on our Operating Budgets. In future we will have an even more thorough process of community involvement starting in July each year and finishing when the budgets are passed in April the following year.