Suraya Asmal

On Wednesday, Ithala Bank and Okhahlamba Local Municipality hosted an Imbokodo Iyazenzela Women in Business Workshop at the Sports Complex. The initiative was a multi-stakeholder partnership that included various governmental departments and role-players including SARS, EDTEA and Consumer Protection.

The workshop included information on Ithala products and services, Edtea Women Empowerment Programmes, Supply Chain Management Training, Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) business management and business plan development, Small Finance Development Agency (SEFA) financial support for SMMEs; as well as a KZN Treasury help desk which attended to the central supplier database (CSD) enquiries and registrations.

A large number of ladies from across the municipality attended the workshop and engaged in robust discussions where they raised pertinent questions and sought knowledge on improving their business skills.

As a municipality, we would like to thank our stakeholders for committing to improving the lives of women in our municipality through this informative initiative. We would also like to thank all the women who actively participated in the sessions that made this day a success.

Here’s some information from our local SASSA Office. They will be in various wards to offer their services:

• 18 September – Greenpoint Community Hall
• 21 September – Ngoba Community Hall
• 26 September – Hambrook Community Hall
• 28 September – Emamfemfetheni Community Hall

The Department of Human Settlements Housing Unit is having a consumer education at the Mamfemfetheni Housing Project.

The project is at close out stage 1 and in the application process of of stage 2. Stakeholders involved include: Mr Dumisai Ntuli, Provincial Director DOHS (Consumer Education), Mr Dlamini (Rental Housing), Land affairs, and the municipality.

July thus far has been a very productive and progressive month in my working schedule. I have managed, inter alia, to formally notify and engage with community members from various wards of Okhahlamba Local Municipality regarding the pending road projects and introduced the contractors that have been tasked with the primary responsibility of improving our road infrastructure. Most importantly, jobs will be created in the immediate and sustained during the course of these projects.

The road projects include but not limited to:-

1. Hoffental, Ward 04 road L1526 – R3 501 391.03 budget – Contractor: Indumiso Yolwazi Holding
2. Sandlwana, Ward 05, road D2311, R2 899 651.78 budget – Contractor: Siyakutakulana
3. Hoffental, Ward 04, road D1376, R5 025 974.04 budget – Contractor: Lekganyago
4. Kwanobadini, Ward 03
5. Ngoba, Ward 03, road P388, R10 785 411.39 budget – Contractor: Jahanna Kalisha Reddy
6. Mhlaza, Ward 01, road P294 – R8 500 000 budget – Contractor JK Reddy
7. Mpondweni, Ward 01, road D742, R 8 300 000 – Contractor: Heshan M Contractors
8. Stulwane, Ward 14, Contractor: Zihlobo’s Trading
9. Ogade, Ward 8, R5 528 044.74 budget – Contractor: Golden Rewards 1850
10. Mazizini, Ward 06, R3 129 551.25 budget – Contractor: Magnacorp 522
11. Greenpoint, Ward 13 (2 roads D285 & D43), R5 933 973.49 budget – Contractor: Rishakwa Construction
12. Bhudlu, Ward 14, road D277 – R8 400 000 budget – Contractor: Global Mycel Investors
13. Acton Homes, Ward 11, Hershan M Contractors
14. Emangwaneni, Ward 11, R5 071 846.63 budget – Contractor: Hershan M Contractors

Overall, the projected value for all the road projects amounts to R30 691 819.40

Eskom announced that due to the loss of 4 generation units overnight, Stage 5 loadshedding will be implemented from 10:00 until 16:00 today, thereafter Stage 6 until 05:00 tomorrow. Eskom will publish another update this afternoon.

We are scheduled to be off the grid at the following times:

Tuesday:
13:00 – 15:30; and
21:00 – 01:30

For more information on loadshedding and to access the schedules, please access ESKOM’s website:

loadshedding.eskom.co.za

It has been brought to the attention of the Council Leadership and Municipal Management that we have another syndicate dealing with “Municipal Jobs for Cash Scam” which promises ordinary citizens municipal jobs in return for money.

An appeal is made to all members of the community to be aware of this “Municipal Jobs for Cash Scam”. The latest scammer calls himself Mr. Richard Vilakazi and is using the following phone numbers: 0648053618, 0665479608, and 0716212328. They request potential job seekers to make a payment at a retail store.

The Municipality has approved Human Resource Management policies and procedures which are applicable in all recruitment and appointment processes of municipal employees. Furthermore, the municipality does not charge any money throughout any of its recruitment processes.

We are encouraging the public not to pay or deposit any money via Spar/Shoprite/Pick N Pay/Pep or any other Retail Shop/Bank Account for the purpose of getting an appointment for an interview or municipal job.

The Service Excellence Legacy Committee that will lead initiatives to sustain improved service levels in Bergville was announced today. The team comprises of tourism business owners, members of the community and officials from the Okhahlamba Local Municipality.

#ServiceExcellenceStartsWithMe
#WeDoTourism

Happy Easter!

We would like to take this opportunity to welcome all our tourists visiting the area, and welcome back home people that have traveled to be with their families.

Please travel safely if you’re traveling and maintain the rules of the road.

Our Essential and Emergency services will be operational throughout this Easter Weekend.

If any assistance is required, please call our Emergency Control Centre hotline on: 0800 111 455.