“KEEPING YOU IN THE KNOW”

CORNUBIA RETAIL FACILITY TO BOOST LOCAL ECONOMY

ETHEKWINIWEEKLY BULLETIN

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By 2030 eThekwini will be Africa’s most caring and liveable City 16 July 2018 [Issue 130]

THE Cornubia Retail Facility, which is set to boost local economic growth within the

integrated human settlements project, will market and expose small and emerging businesses that were being operated from the housing units.Officially opened by Economic

Development and Planning Committee Chairperson Councillor Sipho Kaunda on 12 July, the Cornubia Retail Facility will ensure that the operating environment meets the needs of businesses and enables new opportunities.The facility, situated within

Phase 1A of the human settlement project, has 10 trading shops which have been allocated to Cornubia business owners. Of the 10 trading shops there is a butchery with a shisanyama facility, a restaurant and other smaller food shops, a car wash, a

Economic Development and Planning Committee Chairperson Councillor Sipho Kaunda flanked by Ward 102 leadership, beneficiaries of the Cornubia Retail Facility and residents of Cornubia Integrated Human Settlements Project during the official opening of the facility that is expected to boost local economic growth.

hardware store, an internet café, a laundromat, a medical doctor’s rooms and a detergent store. The facility also houses a fenced multiple sports court, ablution facilities and an office.Councillor Kaunda said

that street and home retail industries are some of the dominant economic activities at Cornubia.“In response to this need, the

City has created a conducive environment by building this facility. In view of the demand for retail trading facilities at the human settlement project, another retail facility in Phase 1B of Cornubia, is at conceptualisation stage,” he said.A database of existing local

businesses was created to help identify opportunities for business, training and mentorship programmes for improved capabilities. This has resulted in improved

coordination between the labour market demand and supply.Informal Economy Senior

Manager Michael Hlangu said the construction phase of the retail facility provided employment opportunities for 10 local people. He said the idea of a multiple sports court, which is part of the retail facility, was to promote a mixed use integrated approach where residents can work, live and play.“Given the major housing

development programme at Cornubia and other initiatives like GO! Durban, strong focus has been on construction opportunities that exist for local emerging Small, Medium and Micro-sized Enterprises currently sub-contracting at Cornubia to ensure that they get exposure through the necessary skills and mentorship programmes,”

explained Hlangu.Resident and business owner,

Asanda Nqweniso of Tshiwo Cleaning Products said the facility will expose and market his business.“I was operating my business

from home and this hindered its growth. Having a trading stall will promote my cleaning detergents and market my business,” he said.Members of the Mkhonto

We Sizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA) and business owners will be operating a car wash from the retail facility.“We would like to thank the

Municipality for enabling local economic growth in Cornubia. The car wash will be convenient for Cornubia vehicle owners because we are operating within the human settlement project,” said MKMVA member Mandlenkosi Mahlobo.

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2 ETHEKWINI WEEKLY BULLETIN ISSUE 130

AS A TESTAMENT to eThekwini Municipality’s continuous bid to promote and provide service delivery, the City scooped five awards at the Premier’s Service Excellence Awards on 12 July at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre (ICC). The awards, now in its 19th

year, aims to recognise the outstanding work done in KwaZulu-Natal by individuals and departments in the public sector. This year’s awards consisted of 11 categories and was subject to rigorous adjudication which began on 11 May and concluded on 20 June. KwaZulu-Natal Premier Willies

Mchunu saluted all the finalists, adding that their dedication to their work is a fitting tribute to late former President Nelson Mandela and his principles of a good and caring work ethic. “As we commemorate the centenary birthday of Nelson Mandela this year, we are happy that these finalists have

CITY PROVES SERVICE EXCELLENCE BY BAGGING FIVE AWARDS

Various City officials were involved in compiling evidence to present to adjudicators and worked tirelessly to scoop five awards.

displayed what Madiba was always striving for.” While there are pockets of

excellence evident, Premier Mchunu said there is always room for improvement. “Let this be your pledge of loyalty and patriotic duty. This government will not tolerate incompetence and indolence.” Councillor Nkosenhle Madlala,

representing Mayor Zandile Gumede said: “At eThekwini

Municipality we understand that public service means that you dedicate your entire being to serving other people with integrity and respect for the greater good of the community and the province.”The Municipality was

nominated in various categories including the Best Batho Pele Team of the Year, Best Public Service Innovator and Creative of the Year and Best

Public Service Implemented Programme or Project of the Year. The awards won by the City were: • Silver Award for the

Forecast Early Warning System;

• Bronze Award for the Best Batho Pele Team of the Year;

• Bronze Award for the One Number Project;

• Certificate of Commendation for the EThekwini Municipality TV Project; and

• Premier’s Discretionary Award to the ICC for its contribution to the KZN economy.

Bongani Hlophe, team leader of the Best Batho Pele Team said: “We are delighted with this award as this is the first time that we have entered this category. It was a long process with lots of hard work, long hours and dedication and I thank the team for their commitment.”

CUSTOMERS URGED TO REGISTER ON CITY’S E-SERVICES DURING POST OFFICE INDUSTRIAL ACTIONTHE CITY is currently experiencing difficulty in disseminating utility bills to customers due to labour challenges faced by the South African Post Office. Therefore, to avoid any postal delays, customers are urged to register on eThekwini Municipality’s e-Services portal to receive their bills timeously via e-mail. The City’s Deputy Head of

Customer Services Khanyi Gama said: “We utilise the Post Office to get our bills to our customers. We acknowledge that customers have not received their monthly bill and we urge them to register on e-Services as it is fast, efficient, paperless and convenient.” Gama added that customers

can contact the Municipality if they require a copy of their

utility bill. Nobuhle Njapha from the

SA Post Office explained: “Delivery of eThekwini Municipality bills is delayed by the industrial action taking place in KwaZulu-Natal. We apologise for the inconvenience.” Njapha added that

unprocessed postal mail have accumulated in sorting centres and will take about 20 work

days to be processed.The City’s e-Services portal

offers a variety of features which includes the updating of account information and the delivery of accounts to linked email addresses. Customers can register on e-Services at https://eservices.durban.gov.za/v2/ and may also log a query at http://correspondence.durban.gov.za:200/

3 ETHEKWINI WEEKLY BULLETIN ISSUE 130

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YOUTH RETURN EMPOWERED AFTER GERMAN SPORTS EXCHANGE PROGRAMME

SIXTEEN local female athletes received a warm welcome from sport fans, family and City officials on 13 July after participating in a three week International Youth Sport Leadership Exchange Programme in Bremen, Germany.The exchange programme,

which was held from 23 June to 13 July, was facilitated by eThekwini Sport Development and Recreation Department with its sister city in Germany.The programme allowed the

young female athletes to follow their passion and explore sports

development strategies which will move the City towards creating a physically active nation. Upon arriving at the King

Shaka International Airport, the young women were pleasantly surprised when they received a warm welcome from officials in the City’s Parks, Recreation and Culture (PRC) Unit.Speaking at the informal

gathering at the airport, PRC Head Thembinkosi Ngcobo said that the youth, especially young women, are the foundation upon which eThekwini will build a caring

City. He encouraged the team to empower themselves and their communities with the skills and knowledge they acquired during the exchange programme. The programme will further

create opportunities for the participants to implement programmes that will inspire children to participate in sports and to create an athletics programme targeting children. Ngcobo added that the exchange programme will continue to promote networking opportunities and continued communication between the

local and Bremen team.Team leader, Aphiwe

Thengwa, thanked the City for what she described as a “once in a life time opportunity” to travel abroad and learn about international cultures and sporting codes. Thengwa said she is eager to start designing and implementing new activities to encourage the youth to be involved in sports.Thengwa, who enjoys playing

street soccer and athletics said her sports role model are Jamaican champion sprinter Usain Bolt and Caster Semenya.

Head of Parks, Recreation and Culture Unit Thembinkosi Ngcobo welcomed 16 sportswomen back home after the girls attended a three week sports development exchange programme in Bremen, Germany.

ISSUE 130 ETHEKWINI WEEKLY BULLETIN 3

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Email: gugu.sisilana@durban.gov.za

If you would like to submit feedback or contribute to eThekwini Weekly Bulletin

EDITORIAL TEAMACTING EDITOR: Mandla Nsele, Acting Head of Communications

CONTENT EDITOR: Gugu Sisilana • SUB-EDITOR: Nondumiso Mathomane • WRITERS: Silindile

Maluleka, Romita Hanuman-Pillay and Jessie Singh • DESIGN & LAYOUT: Zimana Bashe

COUNTDOWN TO ETHEKWINI GAMES BEGINSTHE BUILD-UP to the eThekwini Games finals kicked off with an energetic aerobics workout for the elderly and people with disabilities at the Durban Amphitheatre on 14 July before proceeding to the Bridge City Shopping Mall in KwaMashu.The purpose of the

activations was to encourage the public to support local players who will be competing at the eThekwini Games. The Games were initiated in

2017 by the Municipality’s Sport Development and Recreation Department to promote sports development and social cohesion in the City. Participants from all 110

wards within eThekwini will be participating in various sporting codes such as soccer, netball, basketball, tennis, table tennis, boxing, karate, chess, volleyball, swimming, athletics, dance, cricket and indigenous games. The games are also a

platform to scout for talented players to represent Team eThekwini during the annual SALGA KZN DSR Games.The Games will be held in

various venues across the Municipality on 21 and 22 July. Supporters are invited to join in the fun and games at the various sporting venues which includes the Cato Manor sports ground, the Bayview swimming pool in Chatsworth, Hoy Park and the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium for some soccer action.

Head of eThekwini’s Parks, Recreation and Culture Unit Thembinkosi Ngcobo (centre) encourages the public to support local sport stars during the eThekwini Games Final which will be held this weekend.

Senior residents and people with disabilities participated in a two hour aerobics workout on the Durban beachfront as part of the build-up to the eThekwini Games which will be held from 21 to 22 July.