R168 million for Sarah Baartman centre of remembrance. The National Department of Arts and Culture has allocated R168 million for the construction of the Sarah Baartman Centre of Remembrance at Hankey during the next financial year. The memorandum with the depart-ment’s budget also reveals that the new English Literary Museum in Grahamstown will be completed in 2013/4. Planning on the new museum started in 2008/09.
The Sarah Baartman Centre is to be developed on 80 hectares of land adjacent to her graveside. Speaking at the launch of the architectural competition for the project in 2009, then Arts and Culture Minister Pallo Jordan said the Centre would be “a multi-purpose space of national significance” and “the gateway into the Baviaanskloof” so assisting with the promotion of Kouga as a tourist destination. Jordan said the Centre would include a library, exhibition spaces and an indigenous plant garden and nursery. Several sites were under considera-tion, he added, including Adam Kok’s grave in Griqualand.
Buffalo City budgets R1 million for easter festival. Marine sanctuary proposed for humpback dolphin. A marine sanctuary for the Humpback Dolphin has been proposed between Bird Rock and Cape Recife in the latest Beach Aquatic Safety Zones (BASZ) Plan for Nelson Mandela Bay’s southern beaches. The initiative is aimed at protecting a species that is classified as “Vulnerable to Extinction” and at the same time providing a tourist attraction. The dolphins use the shallow water – less than 15 metres – reef areas of Algoa Bay for “social interaction and feed-ing” according to the plan. However, it is noted, “degradation of their shallow inshore habitat and an increase in boating activity have been identified as the primary causes of their unfavourable conservation status”.
The plan states that scientific studies have shown that the high frequency noise emitted by a speeding inflatable boat or personal water craft (PWC) interferes with the echo location of dolphins and whales, while craft travelling at high speed also cause injury to the animals. October 25 Blue Flag D-day for NMB beaches. An announcement will be made on October 25 as to whether the Metro’s application for Humewood Beach to be awarded Full Blue Flag status has been approved. The annual Blue Flag Awards launch takes place on that day. A report to tomorrow’s Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture Committee states that it is likely if Humewood does regain Blue Flag status, this will come with strict conditions”.
The report says planning and maintenance are on track. It states that currently the only challenge lies with the completion date for the sewer upgrade taking place along c. METRO MINUTES is an electronic up-to-date daily newsletter (Monday to Friday) covering decisions taken by the Nelson Mandela Bay Council and its committees, in addition to business developments within the Metro and occasionally in other parts of the Eastern Cape. NMB takes drastic measures suggested to combat cable theft. The Electricity and Energy Directorate has suggested that, except for the N2, no lighting should be installed where roads run through remote areas where there is no housing and that where necessary only main intersections on these roads be considered for lighting.
A report to the Infrastructure, Engineering, Electricity and Energy Committee that meets next week, says examples of this are: *Victoria Drive – all street lighting beyond the Arlington sub-station has been vandalised and it is suggested that the lights beyond Arlington should be removed and only the Glendore Road and Sardinia Bay intersections be lit. *Perseverance/Despatch Road – it is suggested that this road be lit to the end of the housing in Despatch and the Sumcay Camp and Redhouse Village and the road through the Perseverance Industrial Area also be lit.
The lighting will be resumed at Debonisa Road turnoff and continue to the Swartkops Road intersection with all other light poles being removed. Tenders called for hosting of NMB splash festival. The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has called for tenders for the hosting of one of its major events, the Splash Festival over Easter, with a compulsory briefing meeting to be held on February 14 and the closing date for tenders February 23.
The event will be held between April 6 and 9, and is being billed as the biggest the Metro will have ever seen. Among the events lined up are: a World Cup Surf Ski Race, World Inflatable Boat Championship and a South African “A” rated volleyball tournament. Nelson Mandela Bay is likely to be fully booked over the period as the national convention of Alcoholics Anonymous is taking place at the same time at the university. METRO MINUTES is an electronic up-to-date daily newsletter (Monday to Friday) covering decisions taken by the Nelson Mandela Bay Council and its committees, in addition to business developments within the Metro and occasionally in other parts of the Eastern Cape.
The newsletter is free from October to the end of January. Innovation startegy workshop planned for Port Elizabeth. The Eastern Cape Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism is to hold a public participation workshop at the Summerstrand Inn on February 28 on the development of an Eastern Cape Innovation Strategy. The department states that the objectives of the workshop include the sharing of innovation insights from shareholders, the outlining of “locally specific” innovation opportunity, practical ways to stimulate collaboration among key stakeholder groups, and create awareness of the active and potential innovation projects”.
The department has established Innovate, Eastern Cape, to drive the project. Located in the East London Industrial Development Zone, the main function of Innovate EC is “to drive the development of provincial systems of innovation” and align them with the priorities of the provincial government as set out in the Provincial Growth and Development Plan. EIA green light for Nirove paint stripping operation. The Eastern Cape Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism has given the go ahead for the decommissioning of the existing plant and construction and installation of new facilities on an adjacent erf at Nirove in Perseverance for the stripping of paint from wheel rims and skids using a variety of methods.
The environmental authorisation specifically excludes commissioning of the facilities at the new site. Prior to commissioning, the company must obtain a waste licence in accordance with the National Environmental Management Act and an Atmospheric Emission Licence in terms of the Air Quality Act. Giving reasons for its decision, the department notes that Nirove Paint Stripping is an existing industry that was “established due to demand especially in the motor vehicle manufacturing and supporting industries in Port Elizabeth. This had required Nirove to decommission its existing facility and relocate to an adjacent erf. NMB Council says YES to disclosure of interests changes. Council has approved a proposal that some of the interests of councillors they are required to disclose should be made public. A report presented by Speaker Maria Hermans allowed for two options: partial disclosure or the retention of the status quo in terms of which the disclosure of councillors’ interests is placed on Green Paper and therefore not for public consumption.
Adoption of the partial disclosure option means that the interests of councillors including: shares and securities in public or private companies, financial interest in any business undertaking and interest in property will have been made public. Included in the matters remaining confidential are: pension details, private residential details and interest in any trust. Run & Cycle against Climate Change to raise awareness during the COP 17 Conference. PORT ELIZABETH – DURBAN | A group of 15 athletes from 4 different Eastern Cape townships, the Seeland Development Trust and Masibambane in Saldanha Bay will “Run and Cycle Against Climate Change”, some 900 km from Coega to Durban during the COP 17 conference.
The grueling journey will start at the base of the Electrawinds’ 1,8 MW Wind Turbine in the Coega IDZ in Port Elizabeth on 01 December and end at Durban’s ICC on 08 December 2011 after gathering signatures en route to raise awareness of the direct effects of climate change on their local community. The athletes will each complete between 120 and 150 kilometers and at the end of the event be greeted in Durban by, among others, a Municipal delegation from Saldanha Bay and the Belgian Minister of Environmental Affairs. They will hand their petition, MasiSeeland, to high ranking COP17 officials. The Run & Cycle Against Climate Change wants to establish a legacy with the following message to those leaders present: Overview of Run/Cycle. AsgiSA EC comments on the budget.
Amatola water appoints new CEO. Water utility Amatola Water has appointed former Eastern Cape Water Affairs and Forestry chief director Nomonde Mnukwa as its new chief executive officer for the next five years. Amatola Water chairperson Nothemba Mlonzi says Mnukwa has vast experience and knowledge of the water sector in the province and which will be leveraged to the benefit of the utility as it embarks on a growth path. “Mnukwa commands respect in the water sector having worked closely with municipalities in various capacities across the province and in KwaZulu-Natal. Her appointment as chief executive comes at a time when the utility has adopted an expansion strategy which aims to expand its operations to cover the entire province.
“We are confident that her experience and expertise will help us to achieve our intended objectives and provide strategic leadership in this period of growth,” says Mlonzi. AsgiSA EC to tackle storage and funding challenges. AsgiSA Eastern Cape (EC) says cost reduction, refurbishing silos and temporary grain storage methods are measures planned to counter negative impact of maize price dips, funding and logistical challenges.
The rural development agency, says it will reduce cropping by less than 10% from this year due to financial and logistical constraints. Agency planted close to 30,000 hectares since 2008 AsgiSA EC will have planted close to 30,000 hectares since it first began the programme in 2008 says the agency’s agronomist Luvo Qongqo. Since the initial planting, a feasibility study and funding proposal for the establishment of three regional silo complexes at Butterworth, Tsolo Junction and Matatiele has been completed. With no storage facilities, AsgiSA EC says it had to transport its crops to the market immediately in the last harvest.
Butterworth silo renovation on the cards “The idea is to start with the renovation of the Butterworth silo complex so it is ready for the next harvest in June 2011.” Let no-one fool you – the Eastern Cape is in business! Massive investments into the Eastern Cape economy this year seem to fly in the face of Grant Thornton’s international business report which states that the province’s business owners’ optimism levels are the lowest of all provinces for 2011. For example, Mercedes-Benz announced that it will be manufacturing in East London for the next 10 years. This follows its announcement late last year that it is to invest R1 billion in the East London plant where it will manufacture the next generation C-Class. Then there is General Motors South Africa which says it is investing R530 million this year as it chases 50,000 unit production target. On the renewable energy front, Sasol has also launched an R8 million integrated energy centre in Qunu.
Surely all these stories point to a province at work, and in business! The point is not to discredit the findings from a respected business advisor on optimism. This province has failed dismally to talk about the inroads it is making in business. January’s 40-tweet round-up. Transport, manufacturing shows exciting performance in the province. The Eastern Cape economy is on the resurgence according to the latest 2010 fourth quarter figures by economists.co.za. The numbers are a welcome boost for a province which has been hard hit by the deepest recession we have seen in 17 years. Importantly, these figures will do a lot to boost business confidence in the province. While there are indications that the provincial economy is not out of the woods yet, it is on the road to recovery.
As Border-Kei chamber chief, Les Holbrook says, “we can’t sit on a recession forever.” The economic recovery no doubt bodes well for further economic growth and job creation prospects. Province's forecast the only one to surge The report notes that while the manufacturing sector has been slow to recover nationally, the Eastern Cape manufacturing index at 7,5% was the only one to indicate a surge. The car-maker says its market share in South Africa also increased by 0.5% from 2009 to 19.9% in 2010. VWSA's exports show off impressive track record. Motlanthe urges students to adopt the principles and values of Walter Sisulu. THE DEPUTY President of South Africa, Kgalema Motlanthe delivered this year’s Annual Walter Sisulu (WSU) Memorial Lecture hosted by the South African Students Congress (SASC) at the university’s Mthatha branch over the weekend.
Motlanthe was accompanied by a delegation of African National Congress (ANC) national and provincial members that included the Eastern Cape Premier, Noxolo Kiviet, Provincial Executive Committee members of the ANC, ANC Leagues, Alliance, and the WSU community and the community at large. He urged students and ANC members to appreciate the connection between the present and the past by grasping the personal attributes of Walter Sisulu, as they seek to learn from his great leadership. “We need to have a clearer historical perspective, re-trace Walter Sisulu’s evolving consciousness from his youth and life of difficulties.
Sisulu skilled himself for the life of the struggle ahead, and he put much premium on education and training. LRC encouraged by progress in Eastern Cape schools agreement. The Legal Resources Centre (LRC) says it is closely monitoring the Department of Basic Education’s compliance with the settlement agreement reached between the department and the Centre for Child Law and seven crumbling schools in the Eastern Cape. While the department is three months behind schedule, the LRC is encouraged by the government’s willingness to fulfill the commitments made in the settlement of the case which was concluded in February. According to a letter from the Eastern Cape Department of Education, construction of temporary structures at the seven beneficiary schools in the OR Tambo District is already underway. This has been confirmed by the communities around the schools.
Two water tanks will be delivered to each school as a temporary measure whilst construction is underway. Permanent rainwater tanks will be installed when the buildings are completed as per the scope of work. “Desks and chairs have already been procured and are in storage. Q&A: ECDC Butterworth regional head Mkhuthazi Buhe. Kabuso Report – Nelson Mandela Bay Metro Municipality. NMB municipal notice board. An evening of collaborative artistry by John Edwards and Friends. NMB chamber looking at economic opportunities from twinning agreements. Spot Eastern Cape's amazing potential & make a great life says Bang Bang Club's Frank Rautenbach. OECD-FSB conference on financial literacy.
NMBM directorates not meeting payment target. 3rd quarter motor industry employment up. TNPA cadets sail to their dream maritime careers. Mercedes-Benz South Africa praised for community contributor efforts. Aloe site changes will meet new waste management standards. Metro considering fishing ban near recreational areas. Environmental report available for Motherwell housing project. Zahara’s rising star earns her five Metro Awards nomination. Metro writes of 1 billion. EL born Zahara scoops three Metro FM awards. PE civil debt dropes. ECDC bamboo initiative secures fourth pilot for province. Education, health will overspend by R1.2 billion. Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality to host Cooperative Indaba and Exhibition tomorrow.