I have to give thanks to the various municipal departments as without their dedication and work ethic here in the Outer West it would be much more difficult to get these issues resolved.

Much of the information below is sent out in my regular newsletters to Ward 10 residents. Should you wish to receive the newsletter and periodic urgent updates please sign up on my website.

Herewith is feedback on the current state of affairs within Ward 10;

ELECTRICTY OUTAGES

1. On 5 December we had a double main feeder cable fault from the Hilcrest Major substation into the Kloof and Gillitts area yesterday afternoon.
   
   We managed to restore supply to 90% of the customers by late evening but there were 9 substations which we were unable to reconnect before the first of the cable repairs were completed in the early hours of this morning. Staff worked throughout the night. All supply was restored by 7am. We are still working on the 2nd fault after which the network will be back to normal going forward and hopefully we will not have a double fault again.
   
   Under single fault conditions we can restore supply to all customers in the area within a few hours.
   
   I have asked for an investigation and report as to why we are having so many power outages here in Ward 10, I will update you once I receive the report.

KLOOF

1. CIVIC CENTRE BUILDING
   The Kloof Civic Centre building had gone to tender and unfortunately there has been no resolution to the sale from the tender respondents or from any outside offers. My information is that the building will go out to tender again but not within the next 6 months.
2. KLOOF TOWN HALL
   A budget has been submitted for the repair and maintenance of the Kloof Town Hall, we have included a requirement for a security fence to enclose the entire property. I have requested the Parks Department either hire a security guard for the evenings or have an alarm system installed. A few months ago someone broke into the Town Hall once again and stole more than 60 plastic chairs. I have had reports of squatters on the grounds and have requested that Metro Police include the Town Hall on their nightly patrols.
3. RAILWAY LINE
   In November, along with Nikki Mohlmann from Kloof CPF, I met with the representatives from Transnet Security, SAPS and Durban Safer Cities. We walked the railway line to point out the challenges to the Transnet team. They were very responsive and suggested some solutions like removing the railway line from Willingdon Ave / Pioneer Rd bridge to Wyebank so that SAPS and Metro can drive their vehicles down the track area, and having a 3 day multi-agency operation in the area around the Stokers bridge to arrest and rid the area of undesirables. I will keep you updated on any progress in the area. Our Member of Parliament for West Durban, Gareth Morgan MP, asked Parliamentary questions of the Minister of Public Enterprises on our behalf regarding the railway line [parliamentary questions]
4. ROADS REHABILITATION
   The Roads Provision Department will be undertaking road rehabilitation work on various roads in the Kloof area. The works is planned to commence during October 2011 and anticipated date for completion is February 2012, subject to conditions beyond our control.
   
   The works will take place during the day between 08:00 to 16:00. Although all traffic movements will be allowed during these times they will be restricted by lane closures, which could result in delays. Residents and landowners will be advised of works in a particular road via door to door notices prior to commencement of the works.
   The roads affected are:
   1. Abelia Road -From lmpangele to Dan Pienaar Road
   2. Pioneer Road -From Old Main Road to M13 on ramp (Shell Garrage)
   3. Village Road -From Old Main to Pioneer Road
   4. Old Main Road -From Pioneer to Village Road
      

   Road users and residents are advised to exercise extreme caution and patience when traveling through the construction site during this period, and are also urged to consider alternative routes where possible.

GILLITTS

1. ILLEGAL BUSINESSES
   I have received numerous complaints from residents regarding illegal businesses in the neighborhoods. These have been reported to the appropriate municipal department for enforcement action.
2. NOISE
   There seems to be an increase in the complaints received regarding noise, there is a misconception that you only have to stop making noise after 10pm. It is up to Metro Police, so if they determine that the noise is excessive and a nuisance they can shut you down irrespective of the time.

HILLCREST

1. NEW ROADS NAMED
   Finally the municipality got it right. After going through the tedious process of naming the two new streets they erected the wrong street name signs, they are Greenway Close and Bamboo Close. Then on replacing the missing Crooked Lane sign, they replaced it with a sign reading Crook Lane. They have corrected all three.
2. CHRISTIANS CENTRE
   I am attempting to have a red line and no stopping signs erected on Old Main Road outside the Pick N Pay to combat the illegal stopping of taxis in that area. This has been a prolonged project as the responsibility for Old Main Road lies with the the Provincial Transport Department.
3. OLD MAIN ROAD / INANDA ROAD INTERSECTION
   There has been R3 million budgeted for this intersection and part of Old Main Road to the intersection. Work will commence as soon as the contractors have completed the work currently underway on Inanda Road..

STOCKVILLE

1. STOCKVILLE ROAD
   After the storms in November / December there was major damage down Stockville Road which included mudslides and flooding.
2. CLINIC
   I have motivated for a clinic to be place in Stockville, the study has been don and the report confirms that there is a need. I will keep you updated.

GENERAL

• ROADS & SIDEWALKS
  There is a list of roads and sidewalks in Ward 10 that have been scheduled for upgrade or complete reconstruction, you can view the list on my website.
• PROPERTY VALUATIONS
  The next General Valuation is scheduled for release in early 2012.  Council has taken a decision on the date of valuation being 1 July 2011.
• POTHOLES
  I know this is going to frustrating but with the amount of rain we are having there are an extraordinary number of potholes and it is going to take the Roads Dept. a while to get to them all. To report potholes email eservices@dmws.durban.gov.za and you will receive a return email with a reference number.
• SENIOR CITIZENS CHRISTMAS PARTY
  Every year at this time the municipality sponsors a "christmas party" in each ward for the senior citizens. In ward 10 this year the party was held at the Gillitts Primary School on Stockville Road in Gillitts on Thursday 8th December at 09:00am. There was a catered meal, entertainment and a food hamper.
• HOW TO REPORT ISSUES IN THE WARD
  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, if you have not received a response or any action from the Municipality within 5-10 days please use my issue follow-up form on this website, include as much detail as possible. [municipal contacts] [issue follow-up] [current status of issues]

 

COMMITTEE ISSUES
Below are some of the important issues that came before the Finance & Procurement committee that I sit on.

• BUDGET PROCESS 2012/13 - 2014/15
  This was a request by treasury for the Finance committee to approve line items for the capital budget. It consisted of 21 pages of line items. Due to the fact that we only received the agendas and documents about 2 hours before the meeting the DA dissented and did not vote to approve these budget items as we cannot approve something we have not interrogated.

• ANALISYS OF SECTION 36 AWARDS
  This was a report submitted to the Finance committee for consideration. After much debate, mostly by the DA, the report was approved by the full committee.

• REPORT ON INVESTMENTS: OCTOBER TO NOVEMBER 2011
  This report was for noting; it showed that our average rate of return for the period decreased by 0.02% from R3 077 618 in October 2011 down to R2 962 159 in November 2011. Our accrued interest fell from R12 507 in October 2011 to R12 319 in November 2011.

• SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT POLICY REVIEW
  After much debate, mostly by the DA, the document was approved by the full committee

• PROPOSED LOCAL BUSINESS TAX
  The 5 Metros have got together and are putting together proposals for consideration by National Treasury for a Local Business Tax. If you are a business owner please let us know how this tax would effect your business and employees. [proposed business tax]

• LOAN OF 100,000,000 EURO
  This item has since been removed from all agendas, including Executive Committee and it appears that they have given up on this. We will watch to see if it resurfaces.