Day: May 5, 2022

Budget Vote of the office of The Premier delivered by the Honourable Premier Mr Sihle Zikalala Premier of the province of KwaZulu-Natal 05 May 2022

Honourable Speaker;
Honourable Members of the Provincial Legislature
Distinguished Guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen;

Sanibonani! Good Day! Namaste! A Salaam Wailikum!

Approaching the end of three decades of our Freedom

Hon. Speaker, we deliver this Budget Policy Speech for Vote 1, Office of the Premier, to this esteemed house after marking 28 years since South Africa entered democratic rule, and severed ties with the racist apartheid regime, setting our country firmly on the path to true non-racism, non-sexism and an equal and prosperous society.  We commemorated Freedom Month under the theme of “Consolidating Our Democratic Gains”, in recognition of the giant steps we have taken, but also the road yet to be travelled. We commit to strive daily to honour the contributions and heroic sacrifices of those who laid the foundation on which we continue to build.

Marking End of the Holy Month of Ramadan

Our Muslim compatriots have marked the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan and the beginning of the new season has particular significance for all the people of KwaZulu-Natal who are beginning a new journey of recovery, restoration and lasting peace in the aftermath of a season of storms, diseases, and floods that devastated the province of KwaZulu-Natal. We say Eid Mubarak to all our fellow citizens of the Islamic Faith.

Celebration of Founder of Ibandla LamaNazaretha

On Monday, 02 May 2022, Ibandla lama Nazaretha commemorated its founder, Inkosi Isaiah Shembe who founded the Church more than a century ago, in 1910.  We cherish the rich spiritual heritage of the Shembe Church and take immense pride in it as the people of KwaZulu-Natal and South Africa.

After the devastating floods: Recovery and Resilience

Hon. Members, we stand here still reeling from an extraordinary act of nature that has produced the most catastrophic human tragedy in the history of our province and country. We are still nursing our wounds, recovering from the tragic loss of life and human suffering on a massive scale. The Provincial Government and the people of KwaZulu-Natal pay tribute to South Africans from all walks of life, political parties, civil society, and the international community for standing with our province during South Africa’s worst floods in recent history.

As of today, more than 435 people lost their lives, about 63 people are reported to be still missing, over 6000 people were left homeless, over 630 schools were affected, and over 100 of which were inaccessible. While the floods had a disproportionate and more severe impact on the poorest of the poor in our province, it was indiscriminate – it brought misery to all, black and white, rich and poor, urban and rural, young and old.

Dedicating May Day to Support Flood Victims

We once again convey our deepest sympathies to the families who lost their loved ones and we pray that those who are yet to locate their family members will ultimately find closure as search and rescue efforts continue.

Together with our social partners we have been hard at work healing the wounds and providing support to the bereaved and affected families ensuring that they bury their loved ones with dignity.

Honourable Speaker, we applaud the decision by COSATU to use International Workers’ Day or May Day to contribute towards flood relief efforts in KwaZulu-Natal and donated R500 000, worth of goods to help, the flood victims. Indeed, COSATU has lived up to its founding motto that an “injury to one, is an injury to all”. We have no doubt that as we continue with the rebuilding of KwaZulu-Natal and assisting survivors, many more individuals, businesses, organisations, unions and labour federations will offer a helping hand.

Allow us also to acknowledge among others, the help our province has received from the Motsepe Family Foundation, AVBOB, Gift of the Givers, ABSA, Rivers Church, Hillgrove Hindu Temple, Revival and Mission Centre, the Catholic Church, the Salvation Army and the Covenant Fellowship Church International.  We note with gratitude that the Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation also donated R1million to the Solidarity Fund towards flood relief efforts.

Hon Speaker, in the coming days various MECs and departments will expand in detail about specific plans to respond and recover from what is the worst natural disaster in our country’s living memory.  Guided by the three-phase intervention approach which was announced by His Excellency President Ramaphosa, the focus will be on:

(i) Continuing with immediate humanitarian relief.

(ii)  Recovery, Rehousing people and Restoration of services.

(iii) Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of the province.

We can confirm that commendable work in the execution of all these pillars is forging ahead as you will hear from the presentations from other departments.  The Office of The Premier will continue to update the nation and this Legislature on progress being made.

The Zulu Royal Family Remains our Lodestar

Honourable Speaker, while we waded through the valley of sadness in our province, the leadership of His Majesty, King Misuzulu ka Zwelithini continues to comfort and inspire us. There can be no doubt that the sun has risen. Given the magnitude of the flood disaster and the Royal family losing no less than five family members, ISilo decided to postpone His coronation to give full attention to the disaster. Our King did not only console his people in distress but has been leading from the front in mobilising resources to meet the needs of our deprived communities. Sithi Bayede! Wena weNdlovu!

Epoch Changing Developments in our Province

We deliver this address still fully aware of the epoch-changing developments in our province which are the Covid-19 outbreak, the floods, and the passing of His Majesty King Goodwill and Regent Queen Mantfombi Dlamini-Zulu in the same year. In the coming days we will join the Royal Family as we commemorate the passing our Queen Regent. The Provincial Government will support the Royal Family as we remember Her Majesty and pray for the healing of our nation following the pain we are going through as a province. Last year, the province also underwent another baptism of fire when we suffered the July civil unrest. These setbacks must be recorded as defining moments in the history of our province after which KwaZulu-Natal can never remain the same.

We again wish to convey our deepest sympathies to the Royal family on the passing of Princess Thembi Zulu-Ndlovu, sister to the late Umdlokombane, uBhejane uPhuma esiqiwini.  Kunina nonke bo Phunga no Mageba nemindeni yonke elahlekelwe, sithi lalani ngenxeba, kwangathi umdali unganibopha amanxeba, aniqinise, aniduduze.  Read more [PDF]

 

 

Source: Government of South Africa

Employment and Labour Minister Nxesi formally launches South Africa’s hosting of a global conference to discuss urgent interventions to tackle child labour

Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi formally launched the 5th Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labour which will be held from 15-20 May in South Africa to help find solutions towards the elimination of child labour.

“The time is therefore opportune for the global community to converge on African soil to find solutions that will help our continent, in particular, to deal with the reported highest prevalence and largest number of working children,” Nxesi further said in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Department of Employment and Labour will host the conference for the first time on African soil.

The conference will take place at Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre (ICC) in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal Province. South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to open the conference. He will share the stage with Southern African Development Community (SADC) chairperson and President of the Republic of Malawi Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, ILO Director-General Guy Ryder and Argentina President Alberto Ángel Fernández Pérez (virtual).

The Conference will be attended by ILO constituents, international and regional organizations, civil society organizations, research institutions, foundations, individual experts and Nobel laureates.

“After the devastating natural disaster that befell KwaZulu-Natal and Durban in the last weeks, it is important that we go ahead and hold the Conference in eThekwini as a show of support and solidarity with the people of the province and the Republic of South Africa. As part of that show of solidarity, the conference organisers took a decision to forego the usual social events that characterise these events,” the Minister said.

According to the International Labour Organization more than 160 million children are still in child labour around the world. Over one third of them are out of school. Agriculture is said to be the sector that accounts for the largest share of child labour worldwide.

The 5th Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labour will be taking place amidst the COVID-19 pandemic which is threatening to reverse years of progress. More than 4,000 delegates half of whom will attend in person to discuss good practices, identify gaps and the urgent measures that are needed to help children in child labour.

The ILO conference is in line with Sustainable Development (SDG) Target 8.7 and the International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) that focuses on the elimination of child labour in all its forms by 2025 and the eradication of forced labour, modern slavery and human trafficking by 2030.

Sustainable Development Goals, calls on all to take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of all forms of child labour as an essential step to achieving decent work for all, full and productive employment and inclusive and sustained economic growth.

The ILO describes the term “child labour” as work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development. It refers to work that: is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful to children; and/or interferes with their schooling.

Department of Employment and Labour Director-General Thobile Lamati said a total of 943 delegates had already confirmed attendance. He said the conference will focus on thematic subjects relating to: education, crises and climate change, social protection, youth employment, financing, agriculture, supply chain, and inequality.

“In essence the conference is a call to action to eradicate child labour. We do not want this to be a talk shop. We will be working with the ILO to produce a daily outcome document,” Lamati said.

ILO Director in South Africa Joni Musabayana said Africa carried the high burden of child labour in the world and the conference had to come with solutions to deal with key drivers. Musabayana said the Durban conference would provide a seminal platform to review road travelled since the past conferences.

Nxesi said conference will close with the adoption of the Durban Call to Action. The Call to Action of Durban on the elimination of child labour, aims at forging a renewed and accelerated commitment between governments and other stakeholders towards the elimination of child labour by 2025.

With only three years left to 2025, many obstacles remain to be overcome, and the Call to Action intends to catalyse national efforts through concrete actions coupled with the monitoring of indicators on child labour to accelerate and keep track of progress towards the achievement of that goal.

 

 

Source: Government of South Africa

Speech by Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Patricia De Lille – Latest bridge handed over to Empangeni community to bring much needed relief especially after flooding

Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Thandi Modise

KZN MEC for Public and Human Settlements, Jomo Sibiya

Mayor of the King Cetshwayo District Municipality, Cllr. Thamsanqa Ntuli

Mayor of the Mthonjaneni Local Municipality, Cllr. Mbangiseni Biyela

Deputy Mayor, Phumlani Ntombela

Ward 10 Councillor, Thandinkosi Mkhize and all councillors

Traditional Leader, Chief: Nkosi Biyela

Government officials from various departments and spheres of government

Community members

Members of the media

Good morning, Sanibonani, molweni

It is my great pleasure to be here today in KwaZulu-Natal again to hand over yet another bridge to a community in need. This is one of three recently completed bridges here in KwaZulu Natal.

I am also delighted to be joined by my colleague, the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Thandi Modise as her department is a key stakeholder in this project and ensuring that these bridges are installed quickly.

As I always say, infrastructure is not just about cold, cement buildings, it is about life-saving measures such as these bridges which will provide decent and safe access to this community who for many years risked their lives to cross the river to get to schools, clinics and places of work.

Today we are pleased to come to this community to hand over your bridge and I know that the community has waited long and you have been very patient.

Thank you for being patient because I will be the first to say that you have waited too long for this basic infrastructure to ensure that you have safe access.

We always see the horror stories of how our community members and children have to cross river streams to get to school and work and many times, people and children have lost their lives drowning due to lack of infrastructure.

This is something we are working hard to stop through this intervention, the Welisizwe Rural Bridges Programme which has been successfully implemented in the Eastern Cape and here in KwaZulu Natal.

Since last April, all partners have worked together to ensure that we complete the 14 bridges planned for various communities in KZN.

In November 2021 we handed over the 11th bridge to the community in Ndwedwe and today we are pleased that we can finally hand over the Nsimbakazi Bridge in the Mthonjaneni Local Municipality.

Two more bridges have been completed and these will be handed over to the communities by the provincial government. These are the Nyalazi bridge in Mtubatuba Local Municipality and the Okhombe bridge in the Okhahlamba municipality.

These bridges for our communities is made possible by a partnership between different government departments and spheres of government.

The Department of Public Works & Infrastructure (DPWI), the Department of Defence & Military Veterans (DOD) and the Department of Transport – KZN entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on the implementation of Welisizwe Programme within the province.

The programme is aimed at providing urgent safe access to social amenities and further respond to potential disaster areas and emergency disaster situations.  The intervention is done through the construction of Modular Steel Bridges.

DPWI and SANDF undertook technical assessments in the identified potential disaster sites in KwaZulu Natal and KwaZulu Natal Department of Transport (KZN DOT) committed funds for the installation of the fourteen (14) bridges in the province.

The KZN Department of Transport allocated around R110.4million for the construction of 14 bridges including contingencies and R103million was spent on the installation of the 14 bridges.

The initiative forms part of government’s response to challenges of access to social facilities and forms part of the SONA commitments as announced by the President earlier this year.

Skills development, job creation and economic empowerment

The programme contributed towards skills development as 23 graduates were appointed as the bridge assessment, project management team and maintenance team. These positions included junior and assistant engineers as well as candidate construction project managers.

The project also provided EPWP opportunities to residents from surrounding communities. In total 420 EPWP opportunities were provided during the construction of the 14 bridges in KwaZulu Natal.

Of the 420 EPWP opportunities, 60 of those work opportunities were provided for this bridge to residents from surrounding communities.

This project has also brought a significant amount of economic empowerment to local contractors in various communities with the installation of the 14 bridges.

More than 30 local companies have benefited from these projects as they supplied various goods and services during the installation of the bridges over the past year.

Other interventions by DPWI following flooding in KwaZulu-Natal

Apart from the 14 bridges that have been completed since May 2021, we are now working to upscale this project and bring more bridges to communities in need in KwaZulu Natal especially in light of the recent, devastating floods across the province.

The DPWI and DoD are working with the provincial government to respond to the need for more bridges to be installed in various communities.

18 bridge sites were identified and assessed for the 2022/23 financial year and following the floods, the total number of sites where bridges need to be installed across KZN now stands at 52 bridge sites which have been identified.

These 52 bridge sites are across the province in various municipalities including; Mkhambathini, ILembe, Mvoti, UMsunduzi and in eThekwini.

The process of adding more technical capacity has started and technical assessments for the first 18 bridges have already been completed.

The technical assessments for the remainder of the 52 bridge sites is expected to be completed in the coming days.

Apart from the intervention of more bridges in KZN following the recent flooding, I can also report the following assistance and intervention by DPWI since the flooding.

On 19 April, the deputy Minister and I were joined by MEC Sibiya to visit various sites affected by the flooding.

We have brought together a multi-disciplinary team of built environment professionals from organisations such as the Council for the Built Environment (CBE) and Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) which will be  allocated to various teams to asses, scope, cost, design and implement critical reconstruction and building work associated with bridges, roads, storm water and other critical infrastructure and for use by other sphere of government.

31.The team of built environment officials includes architects, quantity surveyors, civil and electrical engineers, structural engineers and project managers.

Internal departmental resources will focus on the 49 government owned buildings that have been damaged in order for them to be made fit for purpose and usable by client departments in the shortest possible time.

One of the sites we are working at currently is the Airforce base in Durban.

Severe damage was caused to the water and electricity system and the kitchen and hanger was flooded. There was also damage to the walls, floors, roofs, gutters, downpipes and cladding.

Following an assessment by the teams, a generator was provided to the military base and water tanks were also delivered.

High level scoring and quantification of costs was conducted for all assets reported by client departments and service providers have been appointed to conduct repairs at 33 various state-owned buildings. The department is finalizing detailed assessment using internal professionals.

DPWI has also identified land parcels which could possibly be used for the resettlement of households that have been left homeless in light of the flooding.

The verification process by the Housing Development Agency is ongoing to confirm which land parcels are suitable for release for resettlements of displaced communities.

Ladies and gentlemen, as I always say, the patience of our people is running out and the President has asked us to “Khawuleza”. So we must move and work with urgency.

All of us in government from national to provincial and local level, must work closer together and we must work harder to work with urgency and bring our communities the infrastructure they deserve.

To the community, again I want to thank you for your patience. You finally have your bridge and we hope that it makes life better for you.

To all our partners in DoD, the provincial government, local municipalities, thank you for your support and partnership on this important programme.

We look forward to cementing our relationships even further and working harder and faster to bring more bridges to communities in need.

 

 

Source: Government of South Africa

Speaking notes for Minister Enoch Godongwana at Sheraton – Southern Africa-Towards Inclusive Economic Development Phase 2 launch

Good morning High Commissioner Anthony, ladies and gentlemen.

Introduction

Today we launch the second phase of SA-TIED. This follows a successful first phase of the programme, that was rolled out between 2017 and March 2022.

The SA-TIED programme seeks to improve the interface between research and policy, by fostering partnerships between experienced academics and government policy specialists, to respond to key policy gaps.
Too often, research on the South African economy has focused on diagnosing the problems, but stops short of giving policymakers practical suggestions. It is this, that SA-TIED is seized with.

In its first phase, the programme was able to respond to the sudden and critical challenges created by COVID-19, as well as inform thinking on long-standing issues of inequality, poverty, and stagnating growth.
With regard to COVID-19, research was rapidly produced to inform government interventions.

SA-TIED was also able to provide technical research support to Operation Vulindlela, a key policy initiative jointly implemented by the National Treasury and The Presidency.

Allow me to briefly contextualise the policy challenges faced by South Africa, which Phase 2 of the project will help us address.

The economic challenges that we face

South Africa’s economic challenges are well documented.

While much progress has been made to improve the performance of the economy since 1994, unemployment and inequality remain stubbornly high, and poverty is still pervasive.

The economic stagnation of the past decade, coupled with the impact of the COVID-19, mean that much of the progress achieved in the earlier period of democracy could be derailed.

This is of great concern, as low economic growth entrenches poverty and inequality, while high income inequality aggravates social divisions and poses a risk to long-run economic growth.

In addition to the domestic issues, we are also faced with global challenges, such climate change.

As we navigate these internal and external uncertainties, which present both risks and opportunities, evidence-based decision making will be critical.

Thus, in considering the various options available to address these challenges, policymakers must at all times be informed by high quality research.

The role of SA-TIED in developing solutions

The best policy research requires a wide and diverse network of researchers.

This includes international scholars, and collaborations with public servants at the coalface of implementation.

This ensures that research can inform policy debates.

In addition, the programme focuses on including both young scholars and the co-authoring of papers by policymakers.

Novel data and analytical approaches will be further explored in phase 2.

The programme will build on the past success of innovative approaches, it will expand the infrastructure for administrative data and build research capabilities around the use of new data to explore new topics.

SA-TIED Phase 2 will continue to work alongside decision-makers to build the evidence base for improved policy-making.

The key areas of phase 2 will include:
1) Enterprise development for job creation and growth,
(2) Public revenue mobilization for inclusive development,
(3) Structural transformation, labour markets and inequality dynamics,
(4) Macro-fiscal analysis and policy modelling,
(5) Food, energy, and water in a context of climate change, and
(6) Reform implementation.

These speak to some of the burning policy questions that keep me up at night.

I look forward to engaging with the research findings.

I challenge the researchers to continue to provide either more nuanced reflections of the problems or possible solutions.

Quality policy choices are informed by quality research.

Conclusion

In closing, we wish to thank our implementation partner, UNU-WIDER and the donors willing to support us on this journey.

UNU-WIDER will support the next phase of SA-TIED by providing a series of internationally benchmarked operating procedures and best practices, expose it to the relevant international academic fora, ensuring that the research produced is rigorous and of the highest academic quality.

We are appreciative of the collaboration with UNU-WIDER.

It has established a reputation as one of the world’s leading development economics research institutes.

It has an extensive international network of world-leading development economics researchers, with experience operating in the context of developing countries and emerging economies.

 

 

Source: Government of South Africa

North West Committee on Cooperative Governance to hold follow-up meeting with Maquassi Hills Municipality over issues of Governance

The North West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Premier, Finance, Cooperative Governance, and Human Settlements will hold a follow-up meeting with Maquassi Hills Local Municipality over issues of governance that were raised during the previous oversight meeting with the municipality in Wolmaransstad.

The meeting is scheduled as follows:

Date: Friday, 6 May 2022/
Time : 9h00
Venue : Legislature Committee Room 2

Mayor of Maquassi Hills, Councillors and senior management of the municipality have been invited and are expected to attend the follow-up meeting.

The meeting will be live streamed on the North West Provincial Legislature Facebook page.

Members of the Media who would like to attend the meeting can contact Ms. Namhla Luhabe on 079 527 0628.

 

Source: Government of South Africa

While South Africa’s African National Congress-led government has refused to condemn Russia’s war on Ukraine — preferring to take a neutral stance and calling for mediation — the Democratic Alliance Party’s John Steenhuisen isn’t mincing his words.

He said seeing the destruction of the towns on the outskirts of the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, was heartbreaking.

Steenhuisen said besides showing Ukraine’s citizens that there are South Africans who care, he also went there to build networks, which could help him make informed decisions.

“To put it in perspective, one out of every three slices of bread in Africa and the Middle East comes from grain in this region,” Steenhuisen said. “Cooking oil, they’re the number one producers of cooking oil and fertilizers, which are essential to growing of crops in our own country. There’s been a 300% increase in fertilizer costs in South Africa, which is going to have a huge impact on domestic food security as well. And that’s obviously also tied in with rising fuel prices as a result of the instability in the region.”

The leader of the Democratic Alliance said Africa is particularly vulnerable because of the high levels of poverty.

“There are 30 million South Africans who live below the poverty line,” Steenhuisen said. “And that’s obviously exacerbated by an almost 50% unemployment rate.”

Not everyone was pleased with Steenhuisen’s visit. Critics said he seemed more interested in far-off conflicts than those happening in South Africa and the rest of the continent.

“Well, I would say that those criticisms are frankly a little bit childish,” Steenhuisen said. “Firstly, I have been to conflicts in Africa. I spent some time in Somaliland. I’ve been to Mozambique.”

Ukraine’s ambassador to South Africa, Liubov Abravitova, welcomed Steenhuisen’s visit.

“I think it is important from Ukrainian point of view to receive a message that some South African people are supporting Ukraine,” Abravitova said. “It will also give some impetus to other political parties not only in South Africa but in Africa in general to have dialogue with Ukraine.”

When asked whether she would like to see South Africa’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa, visit, she said, “Of course, yes.” She added that, during a recent telephone conversation with her president, President Ramaphosa said he would visit.

“And I believe this visit will happen as soon as the security situation allows,” Abravitova said.

South Africa’s Department of International Relations said it was not commenting on Steenhuisen’s visit to Ukraine at this time.

Questions sent to the spokesperson for the ruling African National Congress, Pule Mabe, about Steenhuisen’s allegations that the ANC-led government is not neutral but siding with Russia, were not answered. Neither were several phone calls to Mabe.

 

 

 

 

Source: Voice of America

Statement by Cape Town Mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis

Today I visited Vrygrond to see some of the proactive interventions that our teams are carrying out ahead of winter to protect residents and their homes as far as possible from flooding. The City is doing our part now to prepare for winter. We ask residents to also do their part by protecting stormwater infrastructure and by being aware of the risks of building structures below the winter flood lines.

I inspected the work being done with jet vacuum trucks to remove roots, litter, sand and other obstacles that cause blockages in the sewer system.

Sewer jetting is a key part of preparing the wastewater system for the rainy winter months.

Before the end of June, the City’s Sanitation teams will proactively jet clean 100 kilometres of pipe in the most flood-prone parts of the city. This programme is well under way.

Stormwater drains, ponds, canals and gullies in flood prone areas are also being cleaned by the teams from Urban Mobility.

In addition, our Disaster Risk Management teams will proactively visit all of those areas with high numbers of informal structures below winter flood lines, and so most at risk of flooding, to distribute information pamphlets to warn residents about the risks. They will use loudhailing, and in some parts erect signage indicating likely flood areas. Examples of these pamphlets and signage are available here.

Thirty-eight high-risk areas, mainly informal areas, have been identified for these preventative interventions. Awareness campaigns have already taken place in areas such as Lotus River, Philippi, Gugulethu, Marikana, Barcelona, Kanana, Winnie Mandela, ZweZwe (high risk area), Bloekombos, Wallacedene, Siyahlala, Happy Valley, Uitkyk, Pinetown, BM and RR Section in Khayelitsha, and more. This initiative is continuing in the remaining areas across the metro.

I joined in this awareness campaign today, loudhailing in the Vrygrond area to get the winter readiness message out.

In winter there are a number of areas and roads that get flooded, especially in low-lying areas, and where stormwater inlets and infrastructure are blocked.

The City is acting proactively to try to alleviate the effects of this flooding. We call on residents to please also play their part by ensuring that they do not burden our stormwater system with the dumping of waste in the infrastructure.

Finally, we have a winter readiness programme for persons living on the streets: This winter, R10 million will go directly to increasing beds at NGO-run shelters through the winter. The City’s Care Programme to help people get off the streets has been increased to R77 million in 2022/23.

Potholes and blocked stormwater infrastructure can be reported to the Transport Information Centre on 0800 65 64 63, which is available 24/7.

Investment in infrastructure:

Additionally, over the long-term significant investment will be made on water and sanitation infrastructure – with R1,6 billion this coming financial year alone.

This amount includes R406 million for the replacement of the Cape Flats Main Sewer, R755 million for the replacement and upgrading of pipes in our sewer network, and R300 million for the replacement and upgrading of pipes on our water network. We will double our pipe replacement to 50 kilometres this year, and in 2023 we will double it again to 100 kilometres. We will spend four times more than we did last year on pipe replacement.

At the instruction of the Mayor, the City has also formulated a sewer spill reduction plan. An additional amount of approximately R152 million was allocated for sewer line jetting and over-pumping. We have also allocated:

• R30 million for the procurement of additional new vehicles for fleet expansion. This includes: six 10 ton tipper with crane and grab, four combination (vacuum and jet combined) units, jet trucks and one vacuum tanker, and six water tankers.
• The water tankers will help provide drinking water to communities when needed, while the other vehicles will help deal with clearing sewer blockages.
• R41 million to replace additional sewer and water pipes.

The City has the following tips for the public about how they can help to reduce flood risks:

• Clear out drainage systems on properties
• Raise the floor level of a structure so that it is higher than the natural ground level
• Make sandbags
• Dig trenches around the house to divert water away from the house
• Report blocked drains, intakes and illegal dumping – illegal dumping in the stormwater canals and sewers make flooding worst.
• Don’t dump illegally, rather use the City’s solid waste services to get rid of waste or take their recyclables, garden greens and builders rubble to our drop-off facilities.
• Check for illegal stormwater-to-sewer cross-connections on your properties, where water is chanelled from roofs, gutters, and paved or hard yard surface areas into sewer drains. Ingress of rainwater and items such as litter, material, builders rubble, fats, sanitary ware, cause sewers to overflow especially when it rains.
• Waterproof roofs, clear gutters and remove dead tree branches
• Do not leave an open flame unattended as the risk of fires during winter especially is significant.

In an emergency or flooding:
Call the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre on 107 from a landline or 021 480 7700 from a cellphone.
The City of Cape Town will do everything possible to ensure we navigate the winter season as safely as possible, and protect life and property.

 

 

Source: City Of Cape Town