City of uMhlathuze exco extracts

Keeping the customer satisfied

IN its quest to deliver the best possible services to its constituents, the City of uMhlathuze commissioned a customer satisfaction survey among all 34 wards, and those results have been shared.

During May and June 2017, Siloam People Development Agency, using 38 unemployed youth trained as enumerators, gathered statistical data for quality indicators through 3216 questionnaires each containing 56 questions.

Evaluation and perceptions of municipal performance with regards to the following services and issues were examined: water, health care, sanitation, electricity supply, refuse removal, roads, IDP/budget, communication, municipal pay points, sports facilities, vehicle licensing, traffic law enforcement and 24-hour emergency services.

Overall, residents who deem municipal services to be excellent or satisfactory increased from 58.08% in 2015 to 61% in 2017.

However, those who were partially or totally unsatisfied rose from 24.89 in 2015 to 34% in 2017.

It was noted that residents from the more developed areas of the city posted higher satisfaction ratings.

Of interest, 68% of respondents believe city officials are not corrupt while 92% said they had never been asked to pay a bribe.

Ridge development moves forward

Subject to any objections being lodged, the tender for the development of ‘The Ridge’ in Richards Bay has been awarded to Sotobe Management & Instratin Properties to the amount of R515 203 668.

With a lease period of 35 years, the alienation and leasing of the land comprises three components:

• High density residential measuring 15 335m2 be alienated at R16-million, once off;

• The hotel component measuring 9 695m2 be leased at R106 000 per month;

• The commercial component measuring 7 721m2 be leased at R93 000 per month.

Aerial walkway approved

The application for an airspace servitude over a section of Lira Link was approved.

This would allow for a ‘sky bridge’ between Netcare The Bay Hospital and the new Dukuza Civils building under construction opposite the rear of the hospital.

Six metres above ground level, the bridge will allow for the movement of patients between the two buildings.

Awaiting the design plans, the city is insisting on structural integrity and appealing aesthetics.

Driving wedges

After an attack from the DA, the City of uMhlathuze has defended its decision to purchase a luxury new vehicle as a ‘mayoral fleet back-up’.

The objection was raised after the item appeared on the Exco agenda, with the DA claiming the Toyota Fortuner 4X4 worth over R500 000 would be better utilized by the Traffic Department ‘which has seen a huge decline in revenue since the inauguration of the new administration’.

However, City Communications Manager, Mdu Ncalane dismissed the claims, referring to ‘practical reasons’ for the decision to purchase.

‘The city has not invested in buying any new mayoral fleet vehicle since the Local Government Elections held last year and the city leadership are still chauffeured on a fleet bought in the last term of office.

‘It must be noted that the city recently revealed 14 new vehicles for traffic section, a new road sweeper, refuse truck and other services vehicles to drive service delivery to the 34 wards.

‘The City therefore dispels the misleading notion that Traffic Department is in need of such working tools and the City is in financial crisis, as mentioned on the statement,’ said Ncalane.