“KEEPING YOU IN THE KNOW”

CITY ENGINEERS SCOOP PRESTIGIOUS DESIGN AWARD

ENGINEERS from the Engineering Unit Roads Provision Department scooped a prestigious

South African Institute of Civil Engineering (SAICE) Award at the SAICE Award Gala held at Sibaya Casino and Entertainment Kingdom on 20 October.The Herrenknecht Technical

Excellence Award was won by the City engineers for the M25-C9 Underpass Interchange, which is part of the fi rst phase of the Integrated Rapid Public Transport Network known as Go!Durban. The award is regarded as the top civil engineering award in the country as it is recognised

by private-sector peers.The Interchange connects two

dedicated bus routes that run from Pinetown to uMhlanga via the new Bridge City town centre development cluster.It is the fi rst time in 22 years

that any government-employed engineers have won an award at this level and the fi rst time in history for the Municipality.Dave Thomas, Deputy Head

of Roads Provision said: “This project was among 60 project entries from across the country to compete for these illustrious awards.” Greg Evans, Head of the

Engineering Unit said he is extremely proud of his team for this prestigious achievement.

“This award clearly confi rms the value of expertise of government. The fact that two of the lead designers of the project are under the age of 30 indicates a solid foundation for the future,” he said.SAICE described the

award winning project as an underpass that has been designed to provide passage for both dedicated busways and ordinary traffi c to eliminate the need for a second route across the M25 at another location. The institute said the project is also of signifi cant architectural value and substantially improves the aesthetic appearance of the surrounding environment.

They added that it provides an important demonstration of how integral piers and abutments can be used to push traditional design limits and create bridge structures that are fl exible enough to meet the demands of highly constrained road geometrics, without excessive expenditure. By carefully negotiating space and level constraints, the interchange provides an essential connection between a cluster of new Bridge City developments and a neighbouring industrial area, while threading an entirely new transport system through the City’s existing infrastructure, SAICE added.

ETHEKWINIWEEKLY BULLETIN

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By 2030 eThekwini will be Africa’s most caring and liveable city 3 November 2017 [Issue 101]

Pictured from left is South African Institute of Civil Engineering (SAICE) President Sundran Naicker, Linga Govender from the Roads Provision Department, Carlos Esteves from EThekwini Transport Authority (ETA), Jitesh Harripershad and Luke Reid both from the Roads Provision Department, Sizwe Mkulisi from ETA Go!Durban and Mohammed Nakhooda from Roads Provision who received the Herrenknecht Technical Excellence Award for the M25-C9 Underpass Interchange at the SAICE Award Gala on 20 October.

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2 ETHEKWINI WEEKLY BULLETIN ISSUE 101

SPAZA SHOPS TO BENEFIT FROM CITY’S SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE

ETHEKWINI Municipality’s ongoing drive to transform and empower entrepreneurs running informal businesses in order to enable rapid economic growth has resulted in another pioneering initiative. The Township Business

Workshops, which are held in partnership with KwaZulu-Natal provincial government entities will be held between 7 November and 5 December in various eThekwini regions. The Municipality’s Senior

Manager for Informal

Economy Michael Hlangu said: “The main aim of this initiative is to provide local business owners with key training, business coaching support, introduction of a revolving funding facility model and bulk buying concept to grow their businesses.”With this initiative, Hlangu

said the City is targeting tuckshop and spaza shop owners. Other role-players within the informal economy will also benefit from the workshops.

“The dire need of accelerating economic growth, job creation as well as reducing poverty levels is real and small businesses are recognised for their potential to address these economic challenges,” Hlangu added. Chairperson of the Economic

Development and Planning Committee Councillor Sipho Kaunda applauded this strategic move which is spearheaded by the Municipality’s Business Support, Tourism and Markets Unit.

In a bid to create more jobs, Councillor Kaunda said ensuring business growth is high on the Municipality’s agenda. “I trust these workshops will deliver tangible development and empowerment solutions to small businesses.”He urged local small

business owners to attend these workshops, saying it will positively impact on the growth and success of their businesses.

All workshops are scheduled to start at 9am and details are as follows:7 November Ngoqokazi Hall, Inanda

9 November Bester Hall, Inanda

14 November Dassenhoek Hall, Nagina

20 November Old Cinema W-section, uMlazi

21 November Clermont Auditorium, Zazi Road

22 November ITrump Hall, Warwick Avenue

23 November Mkhumbane Hall, Cator Manor

24 November Heavenside Hall, Chatsworth

27 November UMbumbulu Pandwini Hall, Folweni/UMbumbulu

28 November Waterloo Community Hall

29 November Magaba Hall, Harmmasdale

30 November Newlands West Hall

5 December Mountview Hall, Verulam

Entry to the workshops is free. For further details contact Michael Hlangu on 031 308 9900/38 or email michael.hlangu@durban.gov.za

PRACTICAL SERVICE DELIVERY PLAN FOR LAMONTVILLETHE City has implemented a proactive plan to address service delivery issues in Lamontville Township after a strategic implementation meeting was held at the Johnny Makhathini Media Centre on 31 October. The service delivery

programme is part of the South Durban Basin (SDB) Area Based Management (ABM) through its Urban

Management Forum.The team has adopted a

work stream approach where relevant service unit officials, stakeholders and the ward councillor work together in an integrated manner to address and fast track issues and challenges faced by Lamontville residents.During the meeting, the

City’s Roads and Storm Water Maintenance official,

Solethu Zulu reported on the Lushezi Project and said it involves the rehabilitation of Lushezi Road in Lamontville which was damaged due to extensive water leaks. He said a contractor is on site fixing potholes on the road.Ward 74 Councillor Octavia

Mthembu said infrastructure in Lamontville needs to be urgently upgraded. “Efforts by the work stream needs to

come to fruition. The team is also working on repairing the damages caused by the recent storm,” said Councillor Mthembu. SDB ABM Senior Manager

Eurakha Singh added: “We are pleased to see all stakeholders in attendance as well as their commitment to finding solutions to problems faced by Lamontville residents.”

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ISSUE 101 ETHEKWINI WEEKLY BULLETIN 3

AFUS SHINES THE SPOTLIGHT ON THE SAFER CITIES STRATEGYTHE spotlight at the Africa Forum for Urban Safety (AFUS) Learning Exchange Conference continues to be cast on the outcomes of the implementation of the Safer Cities Strategy since the inception of the Safer Cities Network 20 years ago.The Safer Cities Programme

was initially launched in Johannesburg in 1996, before it was piloted to Durban two years later. Delegates and speakers at

the conference interrogated and delved deeper on the value and delivery of the Safer Cities Strategy in Africa. The co-ordinator of the Safer

Cities Programme at the UN Habitat Juma Assiago said it is important for cities to evaluate if the Safer Cities Strategy was implemented correctly and if it was yielding the desired results towards attaining the New Urban Agenda.

“African cities need to look at a broad definition of safety and how to improve on crime prevention. We have come a long way

and are proud of the fact that the concept of Safer Cities is

now institutionalised in local government structures in most African countries,” said Assiago. He further explained that

the Safer Cities Strategy was not about policing, but

about managing inadequacies presented in urban environments.The role of open spaces

in enhancing safety in communities was also brought to the fore during the conference.Attendees agreed that if open

spaces are converted into social spaces, crime levels will be drastically reduced. Representing eThekwini

Municipality, Bongumusa Zondo said the City has a long-term plan that aims to ensure that all who live and work in Durban feel safe in their private and public spaces. “The Municipality’s approach

is to interrogate the factors of crime and advocate for a collaborative justice system. Policing, community empowerment and urban management has proved to be effective,” said Zondo.

BY 2050, 6.5 billion people, which is about two thirds of the world’s population, are expected to live in cities. It is therefore critical

for cities to search for sustainable solutions to the challenges they face. And by collaborating with other cities around the world, they can become a leading force on climate action and create a sustainable future for all.EThekwini Municipality

is one of the first cohorts to be selected, along with partner cities Chennai, India and Santiago, Chile, to participate in the global programme, Cities Fit for Climate Change (CFCC), implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) on

behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety. The programme aims to

strengthen cities as actors of sustainable development and assist cities in the development of integrated, resilient and low carbon instruments for sustainable urban development.This is the first climate

change programme in the City to focus on urban planning and development as a key instrument of climate action.Helene Epstein, Senior

Manager for Strategic Spatial Planning and a key participant in the CFCC programme, saw this as an opportunity to implement Durban’s Climate Change Strategy (DCCS,

2015) and with the financial assistance of GIZ, a project was initiated.Epstein said the project

involved drafting content on Climate Sensitive Spatial Planning that can be included in the spatial plans of the Spatial Development Framework (SDF) and developing an itemised implementation plan of all the relevant climate related development projects, to be implemented through the SDF.Epstein said the project

started with a review of the SDF and DCCS to highlight how these spatial responses are currently reflected in the spatial plans and where additional spatial responses are required.

“It was concluded that extensive work has already been undertaken to mainstream climate responses in the SDF through urban planning instruments. This process was followed

by a series of workshops and one-on-one engagements with key sector departments and culminated in the Report entitled ‘From Policy to Action’ – Climate Resilience Implementation Plan for the eThekwini (Durban) SDF (CRIP, April 2017),” she added.Epstein added that the

Strategic Spatial Planning Branch is excited about taking the recommendations from the report forward.

CLIMATE CHANGE PROGRAMME FOCUSES ON URBAN PLANNING IN CITY

(Back) Vice President of HUWAEI Edwin Diender. (Front left to right) Regional Coordinator for Africa Huairou Commission Mimo Ramoroson, EThekwini Deputy Mayor Fawzia Peer, EThekwini Mayor Zandile Gumede, Deputy Minister for Human Settlements Zou Kota-Fredericks, Mayor of Attercoub, Cote d’I’voire, Paulin Danho and HUAWEI South Africa Executive Francis Chan at the AFUS conference.

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Email: gugu.mbonambi@durban.gov.za

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

EDITORIAL TEAMEDITOR: Tozi Mthethwa, Head of Communications • CONTENT EDITOR: Gugu Sisilana

SUB-EDITOR: Nondumiso Mathomane • WRITERS: Nonduduzo Ngcongo, Jessie Singh,

Charmel Payet, Silindile Maluleka and Simphiwe Dlamini

DESIGN AND LAYOUT: Sandile Sokhela

BEACH CLOSURES FOR SAND REPLENISHMENT OPERATIONS

IN preparation for the festive season, eThekwini Municipality will close parts of South Beach to begin sand pumping operations as part of a maintenance routine to ensure safe beaches that residents and tourists can enjoy.EThekwini’s Engineering Unit’s Coastal,

Stormwater and Catchment Management (CSCM) Department will close off portions of the Suncoast Beach, Bay of Plenty and Dairy Beach from 9 November to allow for sand pumping operations for three weeks. During this operation, bathing will not be allowed in the closed off areas.Explaining the process, Head of

Engineering Unit Greg Evans said sand from south of the harbour is dredged and transferred to Durban central beaches through sand pumping operations.“Sand pumping is part of the core

functions of the CSCM Department. The City prides itself with the maintenance of our beaches and it is important that we nourish our central beaches before the holiday season,” he explained.Evans said the Municipality is

committed to providing a cost effective, environmentally sustainable coastal stormwater and catchment management

system. Durban central beaches are artificially supported by sand pumping operations undertaken by the CSCM Department.Deputy Head for the CSCM Department

Randeer Kasserchun said there is a current severe shortage of sand on the beaches that will be closed for sand replenishment. “As a result, protection to Municipal

infrastructure along this coastline has been compromised. If sand is not pumped onto the above mentioned beaches, these popular beaches may have to be closed for bathing as the safety of bathers will be at risk,” he said.Beach replenishment at these locations

will be undertaken through an off shore system. This pumping operation will be similar to the current beach feeder line process and will allow the City to meet its needs prior to the December festive season. Sand and water samples will be taken, as per the norm with all sand pumping operations, to test for water and sand quality. This process has been approved by the

KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs.

CITY TO HOST WORLD TOWN PLANNING DAY

CONFERENCE

Three City beaches will be temporary closed for sand replenishment operations, similar to the one in the picture, which was conducted in Vetches Beach last year.

TO create awareness about the importance of effective planning in building better communities and ensuring environmental sustainability, eThekwini Municipality will host a three-day World Town Planning Day Conference, from 6 to 8 November at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre.Under the theme: “Creating a caring and liveable City”, the conference is aimed at advancing understanding and awareness of planning for eThekwini residents and across all levels of government.The session is a platform to assess effectiveness of town planning in creating a liveable City and to explore new approaches and best practice in development planning. The first two days of the conference will include a workshop seminar that will tackle critical planning matters. These are resilience, mobility planning, inclusivity, urbanisation, densification and safer cities. The third and final day of the conference will feature an exhibition and create a platform for the City to share new innovative planning practices that people can learn from. Acclaimed international speakers and experts on town planning will be in attendance to share with planners their expertise on how to strike a balance between the environmental, social and economic challenges that cities face. EThekwini Mayor Zandile Gumede said the conference will allow knowledge sharing that will help City planners to develop smarter policies to further increase opportunities for economic growth. She said with the increasing population in the City, there is high demand for services and resources. “This platform will provide a better way to address a range of issues from managing urban expansion and congestion to fostering competitiveness, innovation, social inclusion and environmental sustainability.”