STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS BY THE HONOURABLE … · STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS BY THE HONOURABLE MAYOR, ... GOOD MORNING I stand before you today following what was a historic 5th national

State of the City Address June 2014 Page 1

STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS BY THE HONOURABLE MAYOR, COUNCILLOR CHRIS NDLELA AT THE AGRICULTURAL SHOW GROUNDS IN PIETERMARITZBURG ON MONDAY, 30 JUNE 2014 AT 10H00. SPEAKER OF MSUNDUZI MUNICIPALITY CLLR. BABOO BAIJOO MEMBERS OF THE PROVINCIAL CABINET [MECs] AND MPLs DEPUTY MAYOR, MSUNDUZI MUNICIPALITY, CLLR. THOBANI ZUMA MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE [EXCO] uMDM MAYOR & LOCAL MAYORS CHIEF WHIP OF MSUNDUZI MUNICIPALITY CLLR TRUMAN MAGUBANE AMAKHOSI AND MEMBERS OF TRADITIONAL COUNCILS PRESENT HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS AND PUBLIC ENTITIES BUSINESS LEADERS RELIGIOUS LEADERS LEADERS REPRESENTING THE YOUTH, WOMEN, THE DISABLED AND OTHER FRATERNAL ORGANISATIONS ACTING RS, REC BEC MEMBERS OF THE RULING PARTY ALL OTHER POLITICAL PARTIES REPRESENTED IN COUNCIL DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN PEOPLE OF KWAZULU-NATAL THE MEDIA HOUSES PRESENT HERE TODAY GOOD MORNING I stand before you today following what was a historic 5th national general elections, one where President Jacob Zuma was voted back as the head of state of our republic. Flowing from the 7th May 2014 elections, it has become very clear that some areas need unprecedented urgency for attention. This year marks not only 20 years of South Africa’s democratic dispensation but also 18 years of integrated local government – a major feat for a country that many wrote off as yet another African state that was on the verge of a civil war, bound to disappear to oblivion. Just last week, Pietermaritzburg – the capital city of our wonderful province KwaZulu-Natal, the “City of Choice” – hosted the State of the Province Address as delivered by our Premier Mr Edward Senzo Mchunu, as mandated by our people to lead our provincial administration for the next 5 years. Looking back at where our country in general and our province in particular was 20 years


ago, I can only marvel at the strides we as a city have made with our infant democracy. I therefore cannot continue without acknowledging the major strides that we have made across all three spheres of government since the dawn of the new democratic dispensation. Little can be said about the major advances that were made in the fight against oppression and white minority rule without mentioning the names of John Langalibalele Dube, iNkosi Albert Luthuli, Harry Gwala, Nelson Mandela, Lilian Ngoyi, AS Chetty, Oliver Tambo, Wally Adams, Helen Suzman, Peter Kerchoff, Chris Hani, to name but a few. When I sat down to apply my mind about penning a speech for an occasion as auspicious as the State of the City Address, this got me thinking about what the founding fathers and mothers of what is now the capital city of KwaZulu-Natal would say about how far we have come? “We have a good story to tell.” What would uMama uJabu Ndlovu, a revolutionary and a mother who was gunned down by hired guns of the repressive regime, say upon seeing the much changed face of the city compared to her last recorded memory of a divided city she once called home? “We have a good story to tell.” What would uBaba uMphephethwa uHarry Gwala, a true soldier and a hardline freedom fighter, utter on realizing the serious headway we have made amongst the 9 wards in the greater Vulindlela area in terms of bringing meaningful and tangible services and facilities in the betterment of their lives? Equally shocked and lost for words would be AS Chetty, a champion for affordable and efficient services for the people of our beloved city, about the advances we have made in providing guaranteed service and product levels – especially for the indigent citizens within our area of jurisdiction. I again. Ladies and gentlemen, ask the question to all of you present today: What would our forefathers and foremothers say about the state of the city today versus that of yesteryear? “We have a good story to tell.” Synonymous with the early years of the fight against the evil apartheid system in Pietermaritzburg is Sobantu’s own giant in the late Anton “Mfenendala” Xaba, a disciplined cadre who did not burn down a school in the 1950s because of his lack of appreciation of education but because of demanding that the same level of resources be afforded all learners across all racial lines. What would Mfenendala say about his people having a direct say in the affairs of


their governance like the Integrated Development Plan and the budget? With his characteristic vigour, he would passionately say, “We have a good story to tell.” What makes our country, our province and our city in particular, one that is a miracle in action is that while the apartheid system was one that allowed oppression of the majority Africans by the minority whites, there were whites who had forsaken their “illegitimately” granted rights and preferred to walk side by side with their fellow African brothers and sisters in their fight for their emancipation. Some of these included Peter Kerschoff and Peter Brown, amongst many others. If we had to wake up Alan Paton, what would he say to us today? He’d probably say, “Better Is Our Beloved City”. On that very note, I would ike to challenge our learned writers to ponder about writing a book along that title. What would the gentle giant, uBaba u”Madevu” Moses Mabhida say upon coming to terms with brick and mortar we have laid to elevate the quality of life of the people of Dambuza, Jika Joe and Ezinketheni from the sub-human levels of services that they had been subjected to for so many years that they were made to believe that is what they were worth? He would say: “We have a good story to tell.” By now, you will have realized that the people I have made mention of above are all deceased and the one person that lived with and whose path crossed with all these above-mentioned people is the man that we all fondly call “Nkomose”, uBaba uMagubane. Politically, he remains our moral campus – one that does not need any calibration from time to time as he is always right on the mark when it comes to his judgement. Having seen what he has been in the past 7-odd decades of his political activism, perhaps we should ask him what he thinks about the current state of affairs? If all the aforementioned people had to wake up knowing only what their last memory was before they passed on, what would be their impression of what some of us take for granted? While vast of my working experience is in the education and trade union sectors, I cannot claim to be a soothsayer, a medium or a sangoma but I can just about assure you of one thing that they would utter, at the very least: “We have a good story to tell.”


SERVICE DELIVERY As we mark the 20th anniversary of what is a young and fledgling democracy, relatively speaking, perhaps we need to remind ourselves where we were as a city and as a municipality twenty years ago and even the period preceding the birth of our democracy. The city of Pietermaritzburg was a tale of two cities in 1994 and before, one that was characterized by chasms edged on race – a small, white minority enjoying the benefits of a system that largely exploited the disenfranchised, black majority living in indigence and squalor. Deprived of their most basic needs and all amenities, they were also deprived of rights and priviledges as well as a say on matters that directly affected them. Twenty years on, our people are telling a different story. It is one of hope and a better life. We have brought light where there was once no electricity, clean running water where communities previously used streams as a water source – a practice that often resulted in disease. We are by no means saying our job is done as we will continue to try and reach communities that remain in the dark and have no clean, running water. By the end of October this year, the 600 homes in the community of Nhlalakahle will benefit from an electrification project, thanks to a partnership with the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Treasury. Furthermore, in conjunction with the Department of National Energy, 2000 homes from the community of SWAPO will benefit from the Intergrated National Electrification Project, which has been funded to the tune of R123 million. This project and another in Ezinketheni will be completed before December this year while another in Peace valley will be completed at the end of the 2014/15 financial year. More areas will be identified through IDP processes accordingly. It should be noted that as part of providing electricity in the Vulindlela area, constant communication has been taking place between the council and Eskom and high masts for phase 1 will be connected this week as a sign of good engagement with Eskom.


While the transfer of the Vulindlela Water Scheme has been completed, the council still has challenges with regards to operating and maintaining it but our water management is in negotiations with Umgeni Water to improve the maintenance of the scheme. It is for such reasons that we will continue to repeat our mantra: “We have a good story to tell.” While we are all aware that we are faced with a huge repairs and maintenance backlog, there is no reason of talking about it if we are not going to do anything about it. Vehicles have surpassed their lifespan, working tools take a long time to replace while jobs are being halted and workshop and office facilities are ageing as less maintenance has been conducted on them while the problem of skilled staff persists. That is why we have set aside a quarter of a billion rands [R250 million] on repairs and maintenance alone for the financial year starting tomorrow [1 July 2014]. As part of the South African government’s policy of intergovernmental relations, we will continue to work with all spheres of government – from National to Provincial to District, especially in areas which are not part of our direct mandate in terms of service delivery In speaking about the city of Pietermaritzburg or Msunduzi Municipality, there has always been a tendency to focus on the CBD or the urban part of our area of jurisdiction. In terms of how we have zoned ourselves, the focus has always been on zones 4 and 5 and not 1, 2 and 3 – which has been a great injustice. This has especially been the case in the media, where a lot of issues raised and by consequence, leaps achieved, are those in zones 4 and 5. I especially have a qualm with this as this is a jaundiced approach that does not do justice to the full spectrum that is Msunduzi Municipality. To think that about 60% of the population of Msunduzi Municipality lives in the Greater Edendale area yet there is very little, if anything at all, in the papers about these citizens of our city or their interests. In the same breathe, I am glad to announce that, together with some editors of media houses, we are holding meetings regarding how best we can all work together towards a single vision for our city. While our resources are restricted, we will continue to do our best to look after indigent families within our municipal area. In the past financial year, the threshold for a family to qualify under the council’s indigent policy is a total


monthly income of R3200 per month, which has since been revised to R3500 per month for the current financial year. WORLD CLASS OR FIRST WORLD CITY Looking back ten years ago, the City of Choice was just a small city that struggled to claim its rightful place as a key economic and political player in the provincial and national landscape but this all changed when we were rightfully granted our status as the capital city of KwaZulu-Natal. While this exercise was no stroll in the park, it saw all stakeholders across all divides and sectors pull together to deliver on what remains one of the major milestones we have achieved as a city or a municipality. Since this major feat, we have all had to pull our weight and get our house in order as the eyes of not just other towns and cities were now on us but we also had to make room and accommodate the throngs of people, companies and government departments, amongst others, as they made their way to the legislative capital city of this province. I am quick to add that becoming a capital city meant more than just merely changing our title, ordering rebranded stationery and making a whole lot of noise without making fundamental changes to the genetics of the city. Not only has the way people look at us changed significantly but so has the way we look at ourselves and the way we do things. With Oribi Airport being a gateway into the city from other major cities in South Africa, a number of upgrades have taken place over the past decade, with the latest having been completed in November last year. The construction of both the terminal building [and the extension thereof] and the apron have been completed, increasing the volumes in terms of people, luggage, office space, size and number of aircraft and cars that can be accommodated. In 2004, all our airport was good for was single-engined aircrafts fit for small towns but now two and multi-engined aircrafts have become a permanent feature in our skylines. We are shedding that “small town mentality” in everything we do and the Maritzburg United Football Club retention deal is a case in point.


While we have aspirations of being a world class or a first world city, it is important to note that we are not there yet. One of the defining characteristics of world class cities is the way they deal with traffic. It is fair and just to say that when Pietermaritzburg was built, this was not done so with the capital city status in mind but this does not mean that we must accept the status quo. While we deal with issues such as limited road capacity and parking bottlenecks, we still need to make maximum use of the resources we have at our disposal. You will have noticed that, more than ever before, there is more visible and efficient traffic policing in the Central Business District [CBD]. While traffic has reached previously unrecorded levels during peak hours, the double parking on streets like West between Langalibalele and Church Streets, Pietermaritz Street, Retief Street, Commercial and Langalibalele Streets does not exacerbate the situation. Becoming a first world city means we need to recruit additional resources and funding models without adding a financial burden to the ratepayers, hence you will see that Part of being a world class city of a first world city entails being a clean and tidy city, one that we pride ourselves about regardless of which part of town you are travelling through. I would therefore like to take this opportunity and request that we all heed a call made by the President of the Republic Jacob Zuma to use Nelson Mandela Day to roll up our sleeves and take matters into our own hands by taking the time to clean our towns and cities – all in the name of the one man who sacrificed so much for all of us as a country. With July 18 being a mere 3 weeks away and with this being the first birthday we will be celebrating in the absence of the ‘father of our nation’ former president Nelson Mandela, this is a fitting gift we can give to the late statesman. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, SMMEs & CO-OPERATIVES It is an open secret that it is not the work of government to create jobs but that of small business. What government is obligated to do is to create


conditions conducive for establishing new businesses and growing already existing ones. A number of major developments are currently taking place across the city, developments that will bring much-needed growth and consequently job creation – if we are going to truly deliver on our people’s dream of a better life for each and every one of them. Following a few snags, the R1.6 billion Camps Drift Waterfront development is back on the map again as the Environmental Impact Assessment is about to be finalized and blockages that stalled the project will be eradicated. The signing of a service level agreement is the last box to be ticked before phase 3 of the Liberty Midlands Mall commences. This is an addition of 17 000m2 which will comprise of a lifestyle centre, office space and additional parking lots. Because we take the informal economy within our city as much as we do the formal economy, we are in the process of putting together an Informal Economy Strategy that will deal with issues pertinent to informal traders. The Informal Traders Chamber has also been established to allow informal traders a platform through which to speak with a single voice. The Informal Chamber has already held a meeting to deal with, amongst others, the relocation of traders from National Key Points. INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT It is pivotal that we do not only develop infrastructure but that we also maintain it. It is well documented how old our infrastructure has become, owing to decades of underdevelopment just by this regime but largely by regimes before the new dispensation. However, this does not mean that we are not going to take responsibility for this quagmire we find ourselves in. that is why we have taken great strides in reinvesting in, amongst others, electricity infrastructure like sub-stations, roads, buildings and various facilities. Infrastructural developments are the lifeline of a growing economy like ours, if it is going to create jobs and businesses alike. This also contributes to being a vibrant and world class city.


It is for reasons like the ones above that we conceptualized the Greater Edendale Vulindlela Development Initiative, a project that aims to reconstruct and develop the landscape of the Greater Edendale area. One of the most notable shortfalls of the area is the lack of proper housing and related services, which resulted in hundreds of thousands of people living in informal settlements, characterized by poverty. The Greater Edendale area has been divided into 18 functional areas, subject to a macro planning analysis. Plans have been prepared to each of the functional areas, giving detail on the role, spatial features and key development interventions. The Bus Rapid Transit System, which will be within the framework of the overall Integrated Rapid Transport Network [IRPTN]. This is intended to transform the public transport system in the City of Msunduzi through the provision of a high-quality and affordable Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, in line with National Policy. Over the next 3 years R3,2 billion will be spent om this project. The IRPTN incorporates a BRT System which is a high-frequency road based bus system that consists of trunk, complimentary and feeder services to provide a modern, well maintained, comfortable and efficient system. The BRT System, as a major feature of the IRPTN, will integrate with existing transport modes to improve and simplify commuter’s trips. This is probably the most significant transport initiative that has been recently undertaken in Msunduzi. Available information from the preliminary planning suggests that a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route will be constructed between Georgetown (in Edendale) to Northdale and will traverse the CBD area along Church Street. In addition, an Integrated Rapid Public Transport Network with associated depots (including workshops), interchanges, holding areas and feeder services will operate throughout the Msunduzi area. The implications of these operations will extend into other spheres of municipal infrastructure and planning. The BRT System is not just a bus system, but it’s a life style changing public transport solution designed to transport us in a rapid yet safe fashion, getting


us all home earlier and safer so that we can utilize the time usually spent travelling doing what we want to do. The BRT system is inclusive of all the citizens of Msunduzi, with design facilities for universal access, Non Motorised Transport users such as pedestrians, cyclists and joggers and for young learners who travel to and from school alone. The IRPTN roll-out is divided into four phases. The preliminary design work has been completed. The detailed design phase of this project that is currently underway. Implementation of this project is targeted to begin in 2017. Public Participation is a requirement for the development of the IRPTN, and we are all encouraged to attend these meetings and get involved in the development of a project of such magnitude. The successful implementation of this initiative will result in improved quality of life for the city’s residents. We would like to request full support from all residents of Msunduzi and all affected stakeholders during the roll-out and implementation of this project. Future outlook suggests that the City of Choice has a potential to be the leading city in the country, that is if we are prepared to be competitive, especially in the engineering sector. Throughout the country, there is a high demand of technical staff and only if we are prepared to be competitive will we be able to fill the highly skilled positions that will ensure that we delivered services as expected and as we should. If we are going to deliver services to communities across the city efficiently, we need to take honest stock of the service delivery challenges that continue to plague us as a council, challenges that we need to meet head on. Illegal connections and non-payment by legitimate customers continue to be the thorn in the council’s flesh, so does meter tempering and a shortage of skilled and experienced staff members. Copper theft from more than 100 sub-stations since November of 2013 has also been a major challenge for us, especially because this has resulted in one staff fatality and countless staff members getting burnt and assaulted when illegal connections are being removed. We need to eradicate these service delivery impediments, if service delivery levels are going to improve.


GOOD, CLEAN GOVERNANCE Before I delve into detail about how we are going to ensure that there is good, clean governance in the administration of public funds, I need to speak about the unfortunate recruitment process of traffic officers that resulted in the death of eight applicants. As we did before, we condemn what happened in the strongest terms and we shall await the report of the commission of Enquiry appointed to investigate the process. You are all aware of the murky waters we traversed in 2008 and we have come a long way since then. We are all aware of the magnitude of work that a council like ours puts to tender and because these are public funds which we have to diligently spend and account for, we have a responsibility to ensure that systems are in place to counter irregularities. It is for this reason that we have engaged with a reputable and independent forensic service provider to assist with providing an anonymous platform for reporting unethical and corrupt behavior being carried out by council officials. We cannot allow anyone to slaughter the goose that lays the golden egg, so to speak as a dysfunctional council can do nothing for its people or to self-sustain. The whistleblowing hotline means that members of the society at large will be able to call and report fraud, corruption, theft, gross irregularities, etc. anonymously and confidentially through the free hotline. Any member of the public can report through a free fax number & email to the hotline or use the free post mechanism. All these facilities are working 24 hours a day, 365 days a year in both Isizulu and English. The whistleblowing hotline has been outsourced in order to create confidence to the members of the public that they will remain anonymous and confident. During the launch of the whistleblowing hotline statistics on cases investigated in the last three (3) years, cases that are currently under investigation, disciplinary cases & outcomes thereof, criminal cases with South African Police Service and cases relating to recovering processes will be outlined. The municipality, like any big organization, is faced with fraud, corruption, theft, gross irregularities, etc. and since coming out of administration a number


of investigations have been undertaken and concluded. Matters investigated ranged from fraud & corruption relating to Supply Chain Management, promises to place work seekers into permanent employment, fuel theft, theft of cash, theft of material and equipment, overtime, theft of time, theft of municipal vehicles, abuse and misuse of municipal vehicles. Disciplinary processes have been initiated against employees, others finalised and some in different stages of appeal in the bargaining council and labour court. In instances where it has been established that there was a prima facie case of criminality that may have occurred cases have been reported to the South African Police Services. To borrow from Premier Mchunu’s State of the Province Address: While the public tends to relate well with the arrest, prosecution and ultimate conviction of offenders charged with fraud and corruption, experience has shown that this stage always comes very late. It further shows that for any one act uncovered, many more pass undetected or with insufficient evidence to sustain a conviction: since those who are responsible for perpetuation often tend to be the main and only ones assigned not only to detect but also to prevent fraudulent activity. This realization has reinforced our belief in a proactive investment in strengthening the moral standing and integrity of those who take public service as a calling”. These words by our Premier underscore that we need to come with innovative ways and means to nip fraud and corruption in the bud so that government resources go to those who are the intended and most deserving recipients. Thanks to the Safe City initiative, we are the envy of this province, if not the entire country. Criminal activities in the CBD have drastically come down, largely due to the integrated approach of the South African Police Service, the council and the Prosecuting Authority. Many other councils can borrow a leaf from our book. SKILLS DEVELOPMENT, LEARNERSHIPS & LABOUR RELATIONS While it is imperative that we attract the right type of skilled personnel, it is just as important that we train and upskill our current pool of staff members. This will be done through various artisan programs and also through an internal bursary scheme.


Furthermore, we will be offering learnerships and external bursary schemes in line with scarce skills identified within the council like finance, engineering, town planning and economics. Our Skills Development Unit has plans to train more than 900 employees and committee members in the 2014/15 financial year, with the top 3 priority areas being management and leadership development, legislative requirement training and specialist technical skills training. We also have a functional Labour Relations Forum, whose purpose is to ensure dialogue and discussion on employment issues of mutual interest. SPORT AND RECREATION We have always been a sporting city through various major national and international sporting events that we host and sports stars that we produce to compete against the best in the country and the world. Our very own Bongmusa Mthembu won the most challenging endurance race in the world by taking the Comrades Marathon while the UCI event held just this past weekend proved why we are the mountain biking capital of Africa. Major events such as the Duzi Canoe Marathon and Amashovashova will continue to put our name on the sporting map, together with Maritzburg United, who have agreed to stay in the city, despite other attractions elsewhere. About two months ago, there was a sod-turning ceremony at the Alexandra Sports Precinct on the ground where a new, state of the art athletics track will be built so that aspiring sportsmen and women can hone their skills so that we can start producing our very own Caster Semenyas. TRADITIONAL LEADERSHIP Traditional leadership has long been part of governance in African communities, long before the current way of democratic governance and, while elected representations are an integral part of governance across all three spheres of governance, traditional leadership remains relevant even today.


With traditional leaders housed within our area os jurisdiction, it is for this reason that we took a resolution oNdabezitha must attend the Executive Committee and Full Council meetings as ex officio members. Since then, Amakhosi have been part of council meetings as well as budget and IDP roadshows, headed by ‘yours truly’. The Traditional Council also has a representative ein the Operation ‘Sukuma Sakhe’ War Rooms in the various wards. We have encouraged councilors and ward committees to include this structure of leadership in their respective wards in discussing social ills and service delivery matters. The City of Choice, Second to None, in 30 years from now Mindful of the fact that our term of office will come to an end in May 2016, we have embarked on a very exciting project, known as “Vision 2030”, living in a city of choice, second to none. With this vision, our intention is to develop a city where all citizens can: Live peacefully Move about freely, in a cost effective manner, Work to earn a living, reducing unemployment, poverty and inequality,

and Play to lead a healthy lifestyle, thus increasing life expectancy of all our

citizens To achieve this, this council and the future councils will focus on six strategic priorities. These are:

1. A well serviced city, 2. An accessible connected city; 3. A clean green city; 4. A friendly safe city; 5. An economically prosperous city and last but not least 6. A financially viable and well governed city

Ladies and gentleman this is a promise that we want to make to a child born to day who will be 15 years then, as to what he or she should expect from his/her own city. With the fruition of our vision 2030, I have no doubt in my mind that come 2030, we will definitely have a better story to tell.


To end on a lighter note, I would like to congratulate Nelisiwe Dlamini for putting our name on the map by winning the music competition Who Wants To Sing Gospel. It is people like you, that our youth should look up to in order to take charge of their destiny. I would like to humbly plead our people to continue to walk this journey with us, to take interest in issues that affect them and to hold us public representations accountable as they have given us the mandate to transform not only this wonderful city of ours but also their lives. I thank you!

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STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS BY THE HONOURABLE … · STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS BY THE HONOURABLE MAYOR, ... GOOD MORNING I stand before you today following what was a historic 5th national