LOCAL NEWS AND ISSUES ARCHIVE

• DOING BUSINESS WITH eTHEKWINI
  To do business with the city you have to be registered on the database. [registration form.]

• WARD COMMITTEE PROFILE FORM
  To register your organization / NGO for the ward committee election please use this stakeholder registration form. Deadline 4th May 2012.
  [ward committee stakeholder profile]

• SIZAKALA CENTRE
  Hillcrest Sizakala Customer Centre now open on the first and last Saturdays of every month. 
  [more] [map]

• REPORT CABLE THEFT
  Please report any suspected cable theft. 031 311 9611

• LAND INVASION UNIT
  You must call them within 24hrs of the invasion. After 24hrs a court order is required to evict. 031 311-4703

• MR 360 (Gillitts to N3)
  There has been much talk and rumor lately about the MR 360. Please note that I have spoken with both eThekwini Roads Dept and Provincial Transport Dept, both have informed me that there are no plans to go ahead with this road for at least the next 20 - 30 years.
  
  
• SENIOR CITIZENS REBATE
  The deadline for the rebate is 30 April 2012. If you need a Commissioner of Oaths stamp please contact me. [download form]
  
  
• VALUATION ROLL
  EThekwini Municipality released its second General Valuation (GV2012) on 10 February 2012 and it will remain open for Objections until 30 March 2012.  Rates will be raised from this new Roll from 1 July 2012. [valuation roll]
  
  
• STREET RENAMING
  Street renaming notice withdrawn. DA seeking to surcharge officials who authorized premature placement of ads at a cost of R140,000 [public notice]
  
  
• ELECTRICITY OUTAGE
  This summarizes the root causes of power outages in the Kloof, Hillcrest, Gillitts and surrounding areas. [read report]
  
  
• ELECTRICITY OUTAGE
  We had a double main feeder cable fault from the Hilcrest Major substation into the Kloof and Gillitts area yesterday afternoon. 
  [outage explained]
  
  
• NAME CHANGES REVERSED
  The eThekwini municipality was ordered to remove the signage of nine renamed streets by the Supreme Court of Appeal on Wednesday. [court judgment]
  
  
• NEW TOWN PLANNING APPEALS
  Ratepayers are hereby notified that as of 1 October 2011, a process change for the lodging of Town Planning Appeals in eThekwini Municipality will take effect.
  [ read more]
  
  
• TARIFF TABLES 2011 / 2012
  For those interested this document contains the municipal tariffs for 2011 / 2012 [ tariff tables]
  
  
• ROADS BUDGET FOR WARD 10
  A number of roads and sidewalks in Ward 10 have been slated for upgrade, reconstruction or widening. [ view list]

• DA COUNCILLOR SIDELINED
  A DA councillor has accused the eThekwini Municipality of failing to provide him with an office to conduct his municipal duties [Daily News article]
  
  
• CENSUS
  Please take note that census takers have informed me that they will be operating in our ward. The are all female and will have ID's with photographs.
  
  
• eTHEKWINI 100 DAY SCORE CARD
  The scores are based on performance of the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Speaker, Chief Whip and chairpersons of the portfolio committees. [score card]
  
  
• NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING
  Please note that there will be a public meeting to discuss the introduction of a Development Charge that is anticipated to come into effect on 1st July 2012. The public meeting will be at Durban City Hall on Monday 14th November at 16h00. [public notice]
  
  
• RELAXATION OF BUILDING LINES
  Over the past few months, rate payers in the city have experienced challenges in building plan approval where buildings have been proposed on or in close proximity to cadastral boundaries. [more]

• PROPERTY RATES AMENDMENT BILL
  The Department of Cooperative Governance and Local Government has issued the Property Rates Amendment Bill for public comment. [more]
  
  
• SPECIAL RATING AREA (SRA)
  Various local communities have banded together in order to improve the environment for the areas in which they live. These take the form of neighborhood- watch, or may develop further by registration of a company (previously known as Urban Improvement Precinct companies) to manage delivery of additional services (complimentary to existing services provided by local or national government). The cost for these benefits is born by members of communities concerned, often supplemented by various funding drives that they undertake. [find out more]
  
  
• REPORTING ISSUES IN THE WARD
  Please note that in most cases you fist need to log a problem with the correct City Department and get a ref #. You then wait approximately 10 days and if the problem is not resolved, then use the form below to inform me of the problem, lack of response and your contact details.
  
  When you report issues to the various municipal departments please copy me on any correspondence as it makes it easier for me to follow up on your behalf. I have compiled a list of most often used municipal contacts, you can also use my issue reporting form on this website, please include as much detail as possible. [municipal contacts] [report an issue]
  
  
• GILLITTS TRAIN STATION
  The on again - off again debacle with the Gillitts train station is on again. Some of you may have noticed that the fence around the station and the bricks have been removed. The lease with the Pietermaritzburg brick company has been withdrawn, so it is assumed that it will once again go out to tender. I will keep you updated with any further news on the subject.
  
  
• MUNICIPALITIES PROCUREMENT SYSTEM GOES ELECTRONIC
  The eThekwini Municipality's Supply Chain Management is going digital in procuring tenders by introducing the new electronic Quote Management System (QMS) that will select service providers electronically. It is scheduled to go live on 01/07/2011. [more]
  
  
• TRAFFIC FINES SCAM
  The Metro Police would like to warn residents and motorists about alleged fraudsters who are conning people under the pretence of being Metro Police members. [more]