As sinful as living in shacks, say flooded Qunu’s RDP residents
Formal housing as well as informal settlements flooded in low-lying areas of Gqeberha
Nelson Mandela Bay
Stellantis Invests ZAR 3 Billion in South Africa, Establishing State-of-the-Art Automotive Plant in Coega
Stellantis (www.Stellantis.com) MEA COO Cherfan and SA Minister of Trade, Industry & Competition Patel shake hands on a new manufacturing plant in South Africa; Rapid progress has been made since the MOU signing in March 2023 with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic); this bold initiative reinforces Stellantis MEA Region's Dare Forward 2030 ambition to sell one million vehicles by 2030 with 70% regional production autonomy.
Stellantis has confirmed its intention to develop a greenfield manufacturing facility in Coega in South Africa with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic). Minister Ebrahim Patel, senior officials from the IDC and Mr. Samir Cherfan, Stellantis Middle East and Africa Chief Operating Officer met at the Parliament Buildings in Cape Town to agree on investment in the South African motor industry.
“It is a wonderful day for all South Africans when a global company of Stellantis' proportions decides to expand its manufacturing footprint in South Africa, to assemble completely knocked down units,” said Mr. Ebrahim Patel, Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition. “South Africa currently has the capacity to produce close to 700 000 vehicles annually. This will add considerable additional capacity, just as we prepare to implement the African Continental Free Trade Area. The country remains a great investment destination and this commitment from Stellantis to invest in our local motor industry highlights the success of our manufacturing sector policy, its capability and potential. We look forward to welcoming Stellantis to South Africa and sharing in the detailed plan for employment and investment”.
“We are delighted with the speed at which we are progressing on this project, thanks to the commitment of Minister Patel and the great collaboration with IDC, CDC and dtic teams,” commented Samir Cherfan-Chief Operating Officer Stellantis Middle East and Africa. “This project reflects our focus and trust in South Africa as one of the most important markets in Africa & Middle East. It is also the execution of our Dare Forward 2030 Strategy to reach over 22% Market Share in the region by 2030 with 70% regional localization of our sales leading to over 1 million units produced. We believe in South Africa and we intend to develop industrially and commercially bringing value to our customers”.
The manufacturing plant will be built in the South African Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Coega situated near Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The greenfield manufacturing project is planned to complete by the end of 2025. The first launch planned early 2026 is a 1 T pick-up truck with volumes expected to reach up to 50,000 completely knocked down (CKD's) units annually including export, in line with the industry masterplan, known as the Automotive Production Development Program (APDP). The plant will be predisposed in terms of space and painting to go up to 90K units / year.
Direct employment to support the first capacity step is expected at 1000 jobs. Stellantis will be massively investing in over 500 000 hours in training and skills to develop and support the local teams to the level of global standards. We are targeting a localization rate over 30%.
“The Coega Development Corporation (CDC) is enthralled for Stellantis to have chosen the proposed site in Coega for their Southern African manufacturing operations. Joining other major manufacturers in the area makes the Coega region the primary automotive hub in the country. The investment in the plant, employment, training and skills transfer will certainly benefit the region tremendously. “This is a much needed and welcomed economic boost for the Eastern Cape Province with an anticipated economy wide impact on the province's GDP of R 664 million. Household income is anticipated to increase to R558.4 million within the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) and R577.4 million for the entire Province. Most importantly, an anticipated 1800 jobs will be created in the Metro and around 2 097 for the EC Province,” said Khwezi Tiya, CEO the CDC.
Stellantis continues to work closely with the IDC in developing a viable joint venture (JV) partnership that will be evaluated by appropriate credit committees. “Stellantis' success with similar manufacturing plants around the world is well-known and our planned JV with Stellantis to build another greenfield plant in South Africa is progressing well. The investment is in line with IDC's intent to drive investment that supports the development of the regional automobile value chain,” said Mr. TP Nchocho, CEO of the IDC.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Stellantis.
For more information, contact:
Tshepo RAMODIBE
+27 269 3106
TshepoR@idc.co.za
Deidre Du PLESSIS
+27 10 252 5000
deidre.duplessis@stellantis.com
communications@stellantis.com
www.Stellantis.com
Social Media:
Twitter: https://apo-opa.info/48ueEXZ
Facebook: https://apo-opa.info/3Pcrv8c
LinkedIn: https://apo-opa.info/3PGD2OG
YouTube: https://apo-opa.info/3EDsBF6
About Stellantis:
Stellantis N.V. (NYSE: STLA / Euronext Milan: STLAM / Euronext Paris: STLAP) is one of the world's leading automakers and a mobility provider. Its storied and iconic brands embody the passion of their visionary founders and today's customers in their innovative products and services, including Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroën, Dodge, DS Automobiles, Fiat, Jeep®, Lancia, Maserati, Opel, Peugeot, Ram, Vauxhall, Free2move and Leasys. Powered by our diversity, we lead the way the world moves – aspiring to become the greatest sustainable mobility tech company, not the biggest, while creating added value for all stakeholders as well as the communities in which it operates. For more information, visit www.Stellantis.com.
Mulaudzi And Mailula Win SA Senior Cross Country Titles In Gqeberha
Kabelo Mulaudzi and Karabo Mailula emerged triumphant to secure the most prestigious titles on offer, on a spectacular day of racing at the ASA Cross Country Championships held at Nelson Mandela University sports grounds in Gqeberha on Saturday. Competing in tough conditions, which included near gale-force winds, in-form athlete Mulaudzi delivered in style after turning …
ASA Cross Country Championships
Athletics SA, EP Athletics and the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality will be hosting the ASA Cross Country Championships this Saturday, 16 September, at the Nelson Mandela University Sport fields. The best of South Africa’s Cross Country runners, ranging in age from 8 years to over 80 years, and covering distances from 2km to 10km, will …
RCL FOODS Young Chefs & Bakers Challenge 2023 Semi-Finalists Announced
RCL FOODS, in partnership with SA Chefs Association (SA Chefs), is proud to unveil the exceptional young culinary talents who have earned their place in the regional semi-finals of the RCL FOODS Young Chefs & Young Bakers Challenge 2023. The competition is dedicated to cultivating the careers of the country’s most promising culinary students. Selected …
Algoa FM Celebrates decades of transforming communities on International Charity Day
On International Charity Day on September 5, Algoa FM reflects on more than three decades of dedicated community service. For 35 years, Algoa FM has made a profound impact on the lives of people residing within its broadcast footprint through numerous fund-raising drives. Algoa FM’s broadcast footprint extends from the Garden Route to the Wild …
Promoting Local Nelson Mandela Bay Business
The Eastern Cape is a real dichotomy – many internationally known business and sportspersons hail from Nelson Mandela Bay and the Eastern Cape, many businesses are lauded for their innovational ways of conducting business and then… most of those people, schooled and hardened in the deep, hot trenches are then snapped up to work in …
Superb Dance Moves as NMBF Celebrates 42 Years at Gala Event
The Nelson Mandela Bay Dance Festival wowed its full-house audience at the Savoy Theatre on Saturday night. The full programme had guests clapping throughout as they were entertained by the top performances from the six-day Festival. From sassy modern dancers, graceful ballerinas, foot stamping hip hop to the adorable young dancers – the gala programme …
Crackdown on crime pays off in the Eastern Cape
Crackdown on crime pays off in the Eastern Cape
Nelson Mandela Bay District SAPS Commissioner, Major General Vuyisile Ncata, has commended the men and women in blue following significant arrests and confiscations that were recently made.
In a statement, the South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Eastern Cape said the relentless crackdown on criminals sends a strong message that illegal activities will not be tolerated.
This as SAPS Humewood arrested a 20-year-old suspect allegedly involved in a business robbery at 12:06 in Govan Mbeki Street. It is alleged that the complainant was in the shop when the suspect entered and threatened him and demanded money. The complainant scuffled with the suspect and managed to apprehend him and confiscated a replica firearm. The suspect was arrested on charges of business robbery.
In another unrelated matter on Wednesday, near Truckers Inn, Public Order Policing were performing crime prevention duties when they noticed a suspect standing nearby. Upon being searched, the suspect was found in possession of a silver revolver (serial number filed off) with six rounds of ammunition. The 25-year-old was detained on charges of possession of a prohibited firearm and illegal possession of ammunition.
On Thursday night, police arrested two suspects involved in a house robbery in Perridgevale. It is alleged that the suspects entered a residence occupied by students in Haven Road and stole four cell phones and fled the scene in a blue Volkswagen Golf.
SAPS Mount Road members received information that the blue VW Golf was driving in Sydenham. Suspects were found in Milner Street. The two suspects aged 21 and 22 years were arrested.
On Friday, the SAPS Anti-Gang Unit executed a search warrant at a house in Bowles Street in Bloemenda. A revolver with its serial number filed off and eight rounds of ammunition were found. A 32-year-old suspect was arrested on charges of possession of a prohibited firearm and illegal possession of ammunition.
A firearm of which the serial number was filed off, was found when police responded to a complaint in Chase Street, Walmer Location. In addition, 82 rounds of ammunition were found at the scene and confiscated.
The suspect was arrested on charges of possession of a prohibited firearm and Illegal possession of ammunition.
Some of the suspects that were arrested over the course of last week have already appeared in court while others are expected to appear in various courts today, 28 August 2023.
“We are committed to upholding the law and ensuring the safety of our citizens. Your actions would not go unchecked,” Ncata said. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Mon, 08/28/2023 - 10:50
206 views
Section 63 water intervention lifted in Nelson Mandela Bay
Section 63 water intervention lifted in Nelson Mandela Bay
Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu has lifted the Section 63 intervention in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality (NMBM).
Mchunu, together with the Eastern Cape MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Zolile Williams, announced the closure of the department’s section 23 special intervention in the metro during a meeting with the NMBM Council.
Mchunu visited the province on 15 - 16 August 2023 to receive updates and progress reports on water intervention projects in the region.
The metro was placed under the Section 63 intervention early last year to avert Day Zero after facing a high risk of running out of water due to drought, which would have had a dire effect on livelihoods, jobs, the local economy and investment.
Section 63 (2)(B) of the Water Services Act of 1997, (read with section 139 of the Constitution), provides for the Minister of Water and Sanitation to intervene at municipal level and take full control of a service delivery programme in instances were Municipalities fail to provide water services as a basic human right.
Announcing the withdrawal of the intervention programme and exit of the department from the metro, Mchunu said he was satisfied with the progress made in the interventions in the metro to avert Day Zero through various short-, medium- and long-term projects to expand water supply.
However, Mchunu said the current water restrictions imposed on the metro when dams started drying up will remain as gazetted.
He said the municipality is expected, for the next 18 months, to report quarterly to the department on the business transformation progress, with particular focus on water conservation and demand management; improving the level of service, and the implementation of the business turnaround strategy to ensure resilience.
Mchunu lauded the municipality for the progress made in recovering from an imminent Day Zero and addressing all water leaks backlogs.
He further urged the metro to pay more attention to improving their demand and consumption, which has not reduced even during the drought season and "may threaten future water security".
“We hope that after our exit, the metro does not regress and is able to maintain the status quo with all the interventions that have been put in place,” Mchunu said.
Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Mayor, Gary Van Niekerk said, operations are in place to curb the scourge of vandalism. This includes collaboration with communities, security companies and the South African Police Service.
Van Niekerk said the interventions put in place include emergency water supply and expanding water supply through water tankering, and the new groundwater boreholes constructed and linked to distribution system.
Other interventions include upgrades to the Nooidgedacht Water Treatment Works (Low Level Scheme phase 3), which consist of increasing the supply of treated water from Gariep Dam to a total peak supply capacity of 210 megalitres per day, as well as the desalination of sea water as a long-term goal.
Kouga Municipality hailed for innovative and technological solutions
Meanwhile, Mchunu has hailed Kouga Local Municipality for finding innovative and technological solutions to ensure water security in the municipality.
Accompanied by Water and Sanitation Director-General, Dr Sean Phillips, provincial government and local government officials, Mchunu’s working visit started at Jeffrey’s Bay Water Treatment Works in Kouga Municipality, to assess progress on the Drought Relief Project.
The municipality was declared a disaster area in 2016 following severe droughts since 2015. This was after dams, including Kouga, Impofu and Churchill, which supply water to the municipality, were not filling due to lack of rainfall, resulting in the municipality losing most of its water allocation from these dams.
As a response to the drought, the department allocated R57 million to Kouga Municipality from the Water Services Infrastructure Grant (WSIG) to implement drought relief projects.
The municipality drilled nine more boreholes, followed by the construction of water treatment plants in Jeffrey's Bay, Humansdorp, St Francis Bay and Hankey.
The municipality has also constructed one of the biggest processing plants in Africa for water contaminated by iron and manganese within the Jeffrey’s Bay Plant to treat water from the boreholes and make it drinkable quality.
The municipality said these packages are completed and are currently working to treat water being pumped from the boreholes.
The four water treatment works will allow Kouga Municipality to supply up to 70% of its own average water consumption and rely on the metro for only 30%.
Mchunu said the forward thinking of Kouga is something that many other municipalities can learn from.
Williams implored leadership in the municipalities to address non-revenue water, improve billing systems, and he encouraged water users to pay for their use in order to keep the systems well functioning.
“We would like to thank the Minister for the intervention and support you are continuously providing to our municipalities. Now it is up to us keep these systems well maintained to ensure continuous services by ensuring that we bill all the users and collect revenue, which in turn will be used to service these water infrastructure and systems,” Williams said. - SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Thu, 08/17/2023 - 09:24
79 views
Ikhamva Athletics Club Celebrates Women with its top finishers
Melikhaya Frans successfully defended his title at the Nelson Mandela Bay Choose to Challenge 10km race with an excellent performance and a chase to the finish line in 28.44, closely followed, seven seconds later, by Nedbank Running Club’s, Thabang Mosiako, who finished second in 28.51. The top five men all finished in under 31 minutes, …
29 Year Wait for Housing
It was tears of joy for residents of Raymond Mhlaba area in Kwazakhele in Nelson Mandela Bay when they received government subsidised houses from the Eastern Cape Provincial Human Settlements MEC Siphokazi Mani-Lusithi on Tuesday, 9 May 2023. MEC Lusithi was accompanied by the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for …
Keith Horne anticipate ‘fun week’ at Humewood Links
In a field littered with skilled and seasoned professionals, 2022 Nelson Mandela Bay Classic runner-up Keith Horne is “looking forward to a fun week” when the third edition of the Senior Sunshine Tour event takes place at Humewood Golf Club in Gqeberha. A total of 67 players will be tackling the links from Wednesday to …