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Two interventions show what can and what can’t be done
Makana
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Mass Protest Against Failing Makana Municipality
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Makana’s Immigrant-Owned Spaza Shops Remain Closed
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SIU collects evidence in Makana Local Municipality maladministration allegations
SIU collects evidence in Makana Local Municipality maladministration allegations
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has searched and collected evidence related to allegations of serious maladministration at the Makana Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape.
This after it obtained a warrant to search the premises of the municipality on Thursday.
“At 9 am on Friday, 01 November, the SIU, assisted by the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation, commonly known as the Hawks, entered the municipality's premises to collect evidence that is in line with Proclamation 207 of 2024 authorised the SIU to investigate allegations of serious maladministration,” the unit said in a statement.
The SIU and Hawks collected documentation and equipment required for audit or compliance purposes concerning successful tenders from 1 January 2019 to 18 October 2024, as stipulated in Proclamation 207 of 2024.
“This includes comprehensive records such as company registration documents, all forms of payment documentation (invoices, purchase orders, remittance advice), and devices—such as laptops, mobile devices, external storage, or media used by relevant committees, officials, or employees.
“The documentation also extends to any electronic data stored on these devices, including emails and cloud storage, covering current and outdated devices associated with specific personnel and posts.”
The warrant was granted by the Grahamstown Magistrate Court.
The application for a search and seizure followed the signing of Proclamation 207 of 2024 by President Cyril Ramaphosa, which authorised the SIU to investigate allegations of serious maladministration in the affairs of the Makana Local Municipality involving seven tenders, which was gazetted two weeks ago.
The SIU’s investigation will look into the:
• Makana Bulk Sewer Upgrade Phase 1.
• Professional Engineering services for groundwater development project.
• Implementing agents for water conservation and demand management.
• Re-appointment of MBB Consulting for water conservation and demand management.
• Electrification of the greater Makana and surrounding areas 11KV line project.
• Host municipal emails and provide internet services.
• Operate and manage the Makana burning landfill site for six months.
“The SIU has reason to believe that a normal route of requesting information and documents would not have yielded positive results. Hence, it was deemed necessary to approach the Grahamstown Magistrate Court for a search warrant to seize documents and computers to assist with the ongoing investigation.
"Upon the receipt of the allegations, the SIU engaged the municipality seeking documents that would help assess the merit of the allegations and help prepare a motivation for a proclamation.
“However, the municipality did not cooperate with the SIU’s request. The SIU engaged the Auditor General of South Africa (AGSA), as the office was auditing the municipality at the time. The AGSA indicated that the municipality failed to furnish it with documents.”
The SIU is empowered by the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act 74 of 1996 (SIU Act) to subpoena bank statements and cell phone records, search and seize evidence, and interrogate witnesses under oath to thoroughly investigate allegations brought before it.
The SIU is also empowered to institute civil action in the High Court or a Special Tribunal to correct any wrongdoing uncovered during investigations caused by acts of corruption, fraud or maladministration. In line with the SIU Act, the SIU will refer any evidence pointing to criminal conduct it uncovers to the National Prosecuting Authority for further action. -SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Fri, 11/01/2024 - 10:35
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SAWS warns of disruptive rain, severe thunderstorms
SAWS warns of disruptive rain, severe thunderstorms
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has warned that the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal will experience disruptive rain while severe thunderstorms are likely to occur in the Free State, North West as well as the Northern Cape.
“A cut-off low pressure system, surface trough and ridging high will result in scattered to widespread showers and thundershowers resulting in flooding in places,” said SAWS.
A surface high pressure south of the land will feed in a deep layer of moisture over the Eastern Cape, resulting in heavy downpours along the southeast coast between Cape St Francis and Port St Johns where the highest amounts of rainfall are expected between Monday evening and Tuesday afternoon.
The latest models are increasing rainfall along the south coast.
READ | Disruptive rain warning for Eastern Cape
The impact of the disruptive rain includes flooding of settlements (formal/informal), roads, and bridges, damage to infrastructure as well as difficult and dangerous driving conditions due to slippery roads and reduced visibility.
Some areas could be cut-off due to flooded roads.
“Disruptive rainfall is expected associated with a cut-off low move over the Eastern Cape, while a surface high pressure south of the land feeds in a deep layer of moisture over the province. The Koukamma, Dr Beyers Naude, Blue Crane Route, Makana, Raymond Mhlaba LMs will be affected from Monday into Tuesday evening,” SAWS said.
This might result in flooding of roads and settlements, danger to life, disruption to essential services, communities temporarily cut-off and damage to roads and bridges.
meanwhile, KwaZulu-Natal is on Monday expected to experience widespread showers and rain is expected over the south-eastern parts of the province.
“Some good rainfall amounts north of 50mm have been observed with Mount Edgecombe standing out with 146mm. As rainfall is still falling in some parts in the south-east, this may lead to flooding of roads and settlements, damage to infrastructure and mud-based houses,” SAWS said.
The province has been warned of the likelihood of flooding of roads, bridges and settlements (formal and informal), danger to life (fast flowing streams/deep waters), major disruption of traffic flow due to major roads being flooded, disruption to essential services (Water, electricity, communication, etc) as well as damage to mud-based houses.
“Conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms resulting heavy downpours with possible rainfall amount in excess of 40mm expected over the Free State, central and western parts of the North West, and the north eastern parts of the Northern Cape on Monday. These conditions are accompanied by strong damaging winds, excessive lightning and hail,” SAWS said.
These conditions are expected to result in flooding of roads, settlements and low-lying areas. This may lead to the closure of some bridges and roads Injuries and danger to life.
Furthermore, the impacts could include damage or loss of infrastructure, settlements (formal and informal), property, vehicles, livelihood and livestock, falling of trees and possible injuries due to flying debris as well as disruption of municipal and other essential services (power supply).
There could also be major travel disruptions (including route obstructions) and accidents.
On Tuesday, Gauteng, Limpopo and Mpumalanga could experience severe thunderstorms.
“Thunderstorms are expected to develop over Gauteng, the Highveld of Mpumalanga and the western Bushveld of Limpopo tomorrow resulting in heavy downpours (widely 15-25mm with isolated areas receiving up to 30mm and strong to damaging winds.
These conditions may lead to minor impacts.
These include localised damage to informal houses or structures, disruption of services due to power surges and localized flooding of susceptible roads, low-lying areas and bridges.
“Given these potential impacts, it is essential to stay informed and monitor weather warnings from the South African Weather Service throughout this period to ensure preparedness and safety.
“The South African Weather Service will continue to monitor any further developments relating to this weather system and will issue subsequent updates as required,” SAWS said.
Furthermore, the public is urged and encouraged to regularly follow weather forecasts on television and radio. -SAnews.gov.za
Updated information in this regard will regularly be available at www.weathersa.co.za as well as via the SA Weather Service X account at @SAWeatherServic. -SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Mon, 10/21/2024 - 15:32
43 views
Disruptive rain warning for Eastern Cape
Disruptive rain warning for Eastern Cape
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has warned that the Eastern Cape will experience disruptive rain that could cause flooding in some areas on Monday and Tuesday.
“A cut-off low pressure system, surface trough and ridging high will result in scattered to widespread showers and thundershowers resulting in flooding in places,” the SAWS said.
A surface high pressure south of the land will feed in a deep layer of moisture over the province, resulting in heavy downpours along the southeast coast between Cape St Francis and Port St Johns where the highest amounts of rainfall are expected between Monday evening and Tuesday afternoon.
READ | Weather warnings for Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal
The latest models are increasing rainfall amounts along the south coast.
The impact of the disruptive rain includes flooding of settlements (formal/informal), roads, and bridges, damage to infrastructure as well as difficult and dangerous driving conditions due to slippery roads and reduced visibility.
Some areas could be cut off due to flooded roads.
“Disruptive rainfall is expected associated with a cut-off low move over the Eastern Cape, while a surface high pressure south of the land feeds in a deep layer of moisture over the province. The Koukamma, Dr Beyers Naude, Blue Crane Route, Makana, Raymond Mhlaba municipalities will be affected from Monday into Tuesday evening,” the weather service said.
This might result in flooding of roads and settlements, danger to life, disruption to essential services, communities temporarily cut-off and damage to roads and bridges.
“Given these potential impacts, it is essential to stay informed and monitor weather warnings from the South African Weather Service throughout this period to ensure preparedness and safety.
“The South African Weather Service will continue to monitor any further developments relating to this weather system and will issue subsequent updates as required,” SAWS said.
Furthermore, the public is urged and encouraged to regularly follow weather forecasts on television and radio.
Updated information in this regard will regularly be available at www.weathersa.co.za as well as via the SA Weather Service X account at @SAWeatherServic. - SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Mon, 10/21/2024 - 12:38
212 views
Weather warnings for Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal
Weather warnings for Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued alerts for heavy rain and flooding over parts of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.
Due to a cut off low pressure system, these conditions are expected from Sunday to Tuesday.
“Some areas in the summer rainfall region recently experienced their first Spring thunderstorms, but much of South Africa experienced calm weather conditions over the last few days. This is set to change with the arrival of a cut-off low pressure system, which will impact the southern, central, and eastern provinces from Sunday until Tuesday, 20 to 22 October 2024,” the SAWS said in a statement.
It added that cut-off low-pressure systems are notorious for resulting in severe weather during the Spring months, including heavy rainfall that can lead to flooding, as well as intense thunderstorms accompanied by hail and damaging winds.
“This system is expected to result in widespread and disruptive rainfall along the coastal regions and adjacent areas of the Eastern Cape and the southern and central coast of KwaZulu-Natal, which may result in minor to significant flooding in some areas.”
Additionally, isolated severe thunderstorms are also possible over the eastern and central interior regions, affecting areas such as the Free State, Gauteng, North West, Mpumalanga, and parts of KwaZulu-Natal during this period.
The cut-off low will develop over the south-western parts of the country on Sunday, while a stationary surface high-pressure system will bring moisture to the southern and south-eastern regions.
“These systems will lead to widespread rainfall over parts of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal mainly from Sunday to Tuesday. Some Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models suggest that accumulated rainfall could reach 100 to 200 mm along the coastal areas of the Eastern Cape and the central and southern coast of KwaZulu-Natal during this period.”
The SAWS has issued the following impact-based warnings:
• Orange Level 6 Warning: Disruptive rain leading to flooding of settlements, roads, damage to property and infrastructure is expected along the coast and adjacent interior between Port Alfred and Mtunzini from Sunday into Monday.
• Yellow Level 4 Warning: Disruptive rain leading to localised flooding of settlement, roads, damage to property and infrastructure for the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, Kouga, Sundays River Valley, Makana and Mdlambe Local Municipality as well Ngqushwa are expected from Sunday into Monday and likely to persist until Tuesday.
• Yellow Level 4 Warning: Severe thunderstorms with heavy downpour leading to localised flooding of settlements, low lying areas, resulting in closure of some bridges and roads, large amounts of small hail and damaging wind to informal/formal houses or structures and vehicles are expected over most parts of KwaZulu-Natal, the extreme eastern Free State and extreme southern Highveld of Mpumalanga from Sunday into Monday.
• Yellow level 2 Warning: Severe storms with heavy downpour leading to localised susceptible roads, low lying areas and bridges, large amounts of small hail that will result in localised damage to vehicles, houses and structures as well as localised damage to informal houses due to strong damaging wind are expected over the eastern parts of both North West and the Free State, Gauteng, the Mpumalanga Highveld and extreme northeast of KwaZulu-Natal as well as over the extreme south-west of Limpopo on Sunday into Monday.
• Yellow Level 2 Warning: Disruptive rain leading to localised flooding of susceptible roads, low-lying areas and bridges are expected south of escarpment of the eastern parts of the Eastern Cape from Sunday into Monday.
Calm weather conditions
Meanwhile, most parts of the country will experience warm to hot temperatures during this period, though cool to cold conditions can be anticipated in parts of the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and southern KwaZulu-Natal due to extensive cloud cover and rainfall.
Calm weather conditions are expected to return on Wednesday as the cut-off low moves eastward, away from the south-eastern coast. -SAnews.gov.za
Neo
Mon, 10/21/2024 - 12:05
41 views
Majodina hands over James Kleynhans Water Treatment Plant to Makhanda community
Majodina hands over James Kleynhans Water Treatment Plant to Makhanda community
The Minister of Water and Sanitation, Pemmy Majodina, has handed over the James Kleynhans Water Treatment Plant to Makana Local Municipality to address the ongoing water shortages in the area.
The R393 million water treatment plant, with a capacity upgrade, was handed over on Friday, 20 September 2024.
The water treatment now has an increased capacity of pumping 20 megalitres from 10 megalitres per day.
The project was funded by the Department of Water and Sanitation through the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG), with Amatola Water Board as the implementing agent.
Speaking during the handover, the Minister emphasised the importance of effective operation and maintenance of infrastructure to improve the delivery of water to the affected communities.
“I cannot overemphasise enough how important it is for the local municipality to ensure that the water treatment plant is well maintained. The maintenance of infrastructure is not just a nice thing to do, but an obligation by law that it should be done,” Majodina said.
The plant is set to benefit 97 815 people and created employment opportunities for 90 locals during construction.
Meanwhile, in Gqeberha, the Minister undertook oversight inspections of bulk water leaks meters, which have been installed in different parts of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro as an intervention from the Ministry of Water and Sanitation to help the metro to address non-revenue water challenges.
Part of the ministry’s intervention was a directive to the metro to implement a robust leak detection and fixing programme aimed at addressing the amount of water that was unaccounted for.
Nelson Mandela Bay Metro supplies about 310 megalitres per day of water to 1.3 million residents within its boundaries, and smaller municipalities outside its boundaries.
In the past several financial years, the department said 40% to 50% of the water supply was deemed non-revenue water.
“Therefore, the programme is aimed at reducing water losses to 20%. The installation of Generation Meter Adapters (GMAs) and District Meter Area (DMA) meters can indicate areas where the highest water losses occur, and where to implement interventions.
“South Africa is a water-scarce country. It is, therefore, unacceptable that water is being lost through leaks, which then affects the security of water. Through the leak detection and fixing programme, it is evident that the war on leaks can be won,” Majodina explained.
So far, 12 429 water leaks have been successfully repaired on the water reticulation network and 34 494 on domestic repairs.
She reiterated the department’s commitment to effectively implement bulk water projects in several parts of the Eastern Cape to ensure water security for current and future generations.
The Minister was supported by Makana Local Municipality Mayor Yandiswa Vara in Makhanda and Deputy Mayor Babalwa Lobishe in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality in Gqeberha, as well as several officials of the department and Amatola Water. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Sun, 09/22/2024 - 12:30
613 views
Rhodes University Plans Water Independence From Municipality
“Our students and staff can no longer depend on a dying municipality” says vice-chancellor
Another Makhanda water supply deadline missed
The town has experienced water shortages since 2012, but an upgrade to the water treatment works started in 2015 is still not complete
Three years after a court order, illegal dumps in Makhanda have not been cleared
There has been only partial compliance by the municipality, while numerous dumpsites continue to plague residents
Deadline for Makhanda water works upgrades missed – again
Completion of work at the James Kleynhans Water Treatment Works has been extended for the third time in six months
Ayanda Kota, who dedicated his life to fighting for the underdog, has died
Chair of the Unemployed People’s Movement was Makhanda’s most prominent activist
Makhanda taps dry for days after water treatment works failure
An emergency shutdown left most of the city without any water for a few days this week
Mandela Park families approved a sample toilet in 2008. 15 years later, they’re still waiting for the rest
Residents of Eastern Cape informal settlement say they’re not going to vote unless they get their promised toilets
Makhanda households fed up with living in a sewage nightmare
Residents of Hooggenoeg and Scotts Farm say the sewer system has been dysfunctional for over a decade
Zackie Achmat To Lead Action Against Corruption
Activist organisations express frustration at lack of action against corruption-accused Member of Parliament Sfiso Buthelezi
Dysfunctional Makana municipality slammed by COGTA minister
Municipality spent just 58% of its budget says Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs minister
Makana suspends official over “irregular” water pump payment
This comes as Makhanda battles crippling water crisis