eThekwini and  tradditional leaders

17 March 2003 will go down in history as a day of significance for developing broad-based institutions of governance in eThekwini and South Africa. In the eThekwini council meeting of that date, council agreed that those traditional leaders with jurisdiction within the boundaries of eThekwini, should be invited to participate in municipal affairs. Given the way that colonial and apartheid governments had whittled down traditional areas, from comprising the majority of our country to today comprising only some 6% of the area of South Africa, that decision of council will go a long way to restoring our sense of who we are and where we have come from.

In section 212 of the Constitution, provision is made that "national legislation may provide for a role for traditional leadership as an institution at local level on matters affecting local communities". The Municipal Structures Act regulates that arrangement and today's decision by council brings it into effect locally. By so doing, eThekwini becomes the first metropolitan area, and the first major municipality, to allow for traditional leaders to participate in the affairs of governance.

The amakhosi who will be invited to participate are as follows: : Inkosi Cele (KwaCele); Inkosikazi Maphumulo (Baphehli); Inkosi Luthuli (Umnini); Inkosi Makhanya (Umbumbulu); Inkosi Mkhize (Zwelibomvu, Mntamuntengayo);Inkosi Shozi (Mangangeni); Inkosi Mkhize (Mophela, Sankotshe); InkosiMlaba(KwaXimba); Inkosi Shangase (Mkhizwane); Inkosi Gwala (Maphepheteni); Inkosi Bhengu (Ngcolosi); Inkosi Mkhize (Embo); Inkosi Ngcobo (Umzinyathi, Nyuswa); Inkosi Maphumulo (Maqongqo); Inkosi Hlengwa (Thoyana);Inkosi Mqadi (Mahlogwa).

SOME DECISIONS OF COUNCIL: 17 MARCH 2003

INTERIM PROCUREMENT POLICY: As a municipalitywe are prioritising that whenever we procure goods and services we must make use of local resources, we must redress skewed employment and ownership patterns, we must focus on job creation and poverty alleviation,we must ensure there is effective skills transfer and development and we must fast track the growth and sustainability of SMMEs. To assist in this process, the City Manager is now empowered to evaluate tenders and negotiate with tenderers to meet these objectives where they are not being met.

COMMUNITY MOBILISERS: Council agreed with the employment of up to twenty community mobilisers who have been employed on short-terms contracts to assist the Head:Community Participation and Action Support in the critical work of bringing residents, community organisations and the like more actively into the work of Council. This is a critical area of activity, but unfortunately eThekwini presently only has one person employed to specifically work with communities. As the final organograms are developed, this will undoubtedly change.

CONSOLIDATION OF PAYMENTS TO SPCA: Council agreed that we deal with the SPCA in a consolidated way.

AMAKHOSI SUPPORT PROGRAMME: Council agreed that amakhosi within eThekwini should be invited to participate in council affairs.

AMENDMENT OF WATER BY-LAWS: Council adopted a set of amendments addressing complaints received from water customers living in multiple occupancy residential developments supplied by a single bulk water meter. The new policy will mean that developers of new multiple occupancy developments will be required to pay for the installation of individual water connections, metered at the road boundary or pay for the installation of a bulk water connection, metered at the road boundary and also pay fir individual water meters located in the water pipe feeding each separate dwelling unit. This will allow people to know what their own consumption is and also allow them to take advantage of the free basic water.

WELBEDACHT WEST TRUNK SEWER EXTENSION: Additional authority was provided to ensure this major housing project could be further fast-tracked.

AMENDMENT OF ROAD TRAFFIC BY-LAWS AND BYLAWS RELATING TO THE ALLOCATION OF TAXI RANKS: Council approved an important set of changes to the bylaws dealing with road traffic and the allocation of taxi ranks.

NOTICES OF MOTIONS:

Councillor Gumede introduced a motion dealing with
councillors who may be in arrears requesting that EXCO I investigate whether or not all councillors should provide details of all properties registered in their own names, their spouses' names, or in the names of a close corporation or trust fund, where the councillor or his/ her spouse is a member of
same.

Councillor Pepler introduced a motion to ensure that the benefits of Free Basic Water (and also Free Basic Electricity when introduced) filter down to all indigent persons living in housing estates, cluster housing and flats.

Councillor J. Singh introduced a motion requesting EXCO to report back on increasing the removal of domestic waste from once to twice a week during the summer months.

DID YOU KNOW:

DURBAN AIRPORT RATED TOP IN SOUTH AFRICA!:All three major airports in South Africa fall into the international category of "small airports" based on through put of passengers and IATA conducts a special study in terms of comparing these airports of similar characteristics to each other. In the recent study of the 17 airports which fall into this category, in terms of overall satisfaction Durban ranked 7th, Cape Town 10th and Johannesburg 14th. Durban was above average in terms of flight
information screens, restaurants, conditions of washroom, security inspections, comfort of waiting areas/ lounges, business facilities and cleanliness of terminals. Well done ACSA!