CITY MAYOR EXTENDS HIS CONDOLENCES TO KHUMALO FAMILY
EThekwini Mayor Cllr James Nxumalo extended his condolences to the family of KwaMashu community stalwart Zwelithini Fuhluza Khumalo who was killed on Monday, 10 August 2015.
Nxumalo also expressed concern that violence had flared up again at the notorious KwaMashu hostel.
“I was saddened to read about Khumalo’s death. He was a prominent community figure, on the forefront of fighting crime at the hostel. He was very committed to the community and while he was a leader of the IFP, his main focus was fighting crime and social ills. He wanted to bring peace and stability to the area,” Nxumalo said.
The Mayor said Khumalo’s death was a huge loss.
“I respected him so much as he always put the interest of the people first. I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family,” he said.
Nxumalo said this was the second murder of an IFP leader in KwaMashu in recent weeks.
IFP Ward Chairman Mbhasobheni Biyela was gunned down as he left a branch meeting last month.
“I am concerned because this looks like the violence and killing is starting again in the area. We need to discuss this matter with the security cluster. We are busy sorting out issues with the Glebelands hostel but we cannot fold our arms while killing is going on at this hostel. We cannot allow ordinary citizens to be killed,” said Nxumalo.
MAYORAL DELEGATION TO TRAVEL TO NEW ZEALAND FOR 2022 COMMONWEALTH GAMES BID ANNOUNCEMENT
EThekwini Mayor James Nxumalo and nominated members from the Executive Committee will travel to Auckland, New Zealand for the Commonwealth Games 2022 announcement of the host city.
The delegation will leave on Sunday, 30 August 2015 and return on Friday, 04 September 2015.
The Mayor said it was important to attend the bid announcement and suggested a mixed political party Exco delegation attend.
“We travelled to London to hand in the bid document, it is important for us to be there when the host city is announced. If Durban is awarded the opportunity it is important for us to be there to accept it in person, not just for Durban but for South Africa and Africa as a whole,” he said.
Nxumalo said hosting the Games would bring huge investment for the City.
The Commonwealth Games are held every four years featuring athletes from the 71 Commonwealth nations. The next Commonwealth Games will be held in Gold Coast, Australia in 2018.
If Durban’s bid is successful, it will be the first Commonwealth Games to be held in the African continent
CITY TO HOST INDABA
The EThekwini Municipality in partnership with the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs will host the KwaZulu-Natal Procurement Indaba between Thursday, 13 August 2015 and Friday, 14 August 2015.
The Indaba will be held at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre and will provide a platform for stakeholders to engage constructively in key procurement and transformation challenges.
The Indaba is in line with government’s core transformation policies through the promotion of local procurement of goods and services. This is critical to building the local economy and stimulating production and job creation.
The eThekwini Municipality will be responsible for the cost of the venue hire which will not exceed R1.3 million.
Deputy Mayor Cllr Nomvuzo Shabalala said hosting events like this showed that Durban was a global competitor.
“Five years ago Durban was not known. We have put this City on the world map and we are now competing with big cities of the world. We are doing our job as the Executive Committee by hosting these and similar events.”
FUNERAL OF BIG NUZ MUSICIAN
Exco approved the request for assistance for the funeral and memorial service of Sibusiso Khomo, a member of popular group Big Nuz.
Khomo died on Friday, 14 August 2015, arising from complications of surgery he had earlier that day.
Exco approved the use of two Municipal-owned venues. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, 13 August 2015, at City Hall from 3pm to 6pm.
The funeral will be held on Saturday, 15 August 2015, at King Zwelithini Stadium from 9am to 3pm.
AUDITOR GENERAL IN PURSUIT OF GOOD GOVERNANCE AND CLEAN ADMINISTRATION IN THE CITY
A report was presented to Exco on the progress made with regard to the resolution of audit issues raised by the Audit Committee and the Auditor General.
The Internal Audit Unit are working together with the Auditor General in pursuit of good governance and clean administration in the City.
In an effort to achieve this, the Unit has consolidated all issues that have been reported at the Audit Committee meetings in order to track progress made in resolving these issues.
As of June 2015, 56 percent of the issues raised, including the Mayor’s commitment, have been resolved.
The remaining 44 percent are still in progress and are being resolved by the City’s administration working together with the Internal Audit Unit.
Some of the issues being resolved are overtime costs with certain departments authorising blank overtime forms, lack of maintenance of the City’s infrastructure and the awarding of Section 36 contracts to existing service providers.
City Manager Sibusiso Sithole said he was pleased with the overall report which showed that significant strides have been made to resolve issues.
