Fighting substance abuse … Mangaung Metro executive mayor Thabo Manyoni said centre will strengthen city’s response to drug and alcohol abuse

Govt to expand prevention and treatment services to cater for growing problem

The breakdown in the family unit is one of the main reasons for the spike in drug and alcohol abuse among the youths as well as adults, Mangaung Metro executive mayor Thabo Manyoni said.
Speaking at the launch of the city’s Local Drug Action Committee (LDAC) at the Bloemfontein City Hall on Wednesday, Manyoni said the family unit was an important pillar in the fight against drug and alcohol abuse but it was unfortunate that this unit no longer stood as firmly as it used to do in the past.

The mayor said while the establishment of the LDAC was expected to play a significant role in the fight, its work would be more effective if it was supported by a stronger family unit.

“Some of the problems faced by youths today would not be there if we had functional family units,” said Manyoni at the launch of the Mangaung LDAC, which has been set up in partnership the Free State department of social development.

“Drug abuse is very high in the country. It is more than double the global average and that is a very disturbing situation. Is this the future that Mandela wanted? The Freedom Charter is very clear about what we should enjoy in a free South Africa and drug and alcohol abuse is not one of them,” he added.

At least 42 percent of patients admitted to treatment centres in the Free State during the first half of last year reported with an alcohol problem while over 30 percent had abused drugs,” he said.
The mayor encouraged communities to work closely with the LDAC so that they can effectively deal with the problem of drug and alcohol abuse. He said without the support of the communities, the anti-drug committees would not be able to achieve even half their tasks.

“Shouting at a problem would not resolve it. No matter how many committees you form, the problem won’t go away. Everyone needs to be involved in the fight against drug and alcohol abuse,” the mayor explained.

Aurora Alcohol and Drug Centre director Gert Kruger told the meeting at least 42 percent of patients admitted to treatment centres in the province reported with an alcohol problem while 33 percent had a drug problem.

According to a study by the SA Community Epidemiology Network on Drug Use (SACENDU) at least 32 percent of youths under the age of 20 years who were admitted during the first half of last year had an alcohol problem.

Some of the most widely used drugs include dagga, mandrax, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine commonly known as Crystal Meth.

Social development MEC Sisi Ntombela announced in her budget vote speech in Sasolburg on Wednesday that the provincial government would be setting up respite centres to assist those struggling with drug and alcohol abuse.

She admitted that the drug problem was worsening in the province and urgent measures were needed to curb the vice.

“There is a rise in substance abuse in the province, therefore a demand is growing for prevention and treatment services.
“The department will establish the first ever “state-run” treatment centre and a halfway house for substance abuse for dependent persons. The treatment centre will be established in Botshabelo and a building contractor is already on site to start construction… for the next 12 months.

A total of R68 million has been set aside for this purpose and in the 2016/17 financial year, R42.5 million has been set aside for the project.

The second centre in Clarens will serve as a halfway house that will prepare substance abuse dependent persons especially the youths for re-integration into community by providing skills development and life skills programmes. The project will be launched on April 1.

We did it … Executive mayor Thabo Manyoni says Mangaung reaping benefits of perseverance

• Says metro was financially unstable, depended on government funding
• Now one of the most financially sound, with lowest debt to revenue ratio

Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality executive mayor Thabo Manyoni says he is happy with the achievements made by the local authority towards improving its finances and services to the people.

Manyoni said despite numerous challenges faced by the municipality, it had successfully delivered according expectations.

Addressing the media in Bloemfontein yesterday after a two day Mayoral Lekgotla, Manyoni said they had inherited an unstable municipality that was in a dire financial situation and was heavily dependent on central government for funding.

This, he said which meant the municipality had no strategies around generating income and most importantly, revenue collection.

The municipality had also received a series of disclaimed audit outcomes from the office of the auditor general, increasing debts, encroachment of capital grants to the tune of R340 million, failure to provide services and unstable labour relations.

“The municipality was not up to standard,” said Manyoni.

He said it was therefore important to acknowledge strides made by the current council in ensuring that the community of Mangaung received quality services as promised by government.

According to the mayor, these objectives would not have been achieved if the municipality had remained unstable, hence the first step was to stabilise the institution and ensure that critical departments such as finance and engineering were progressively resourced.

Manyoni said the council had made significant strides in setting the city on a sound financial path, saying the first unqualified audit report since 2006 was achieved in 2013.

 He said the city as well as the municipality’s power distribution company Centlec had sustained the strong audit outcomes for the 2014/15 financial year.

The municipality obtained an investment grade rating from Moody’s in April last year for the first time.

“These achievements cannot be overlooked and should in fact be appreciated by residents of Mangaung,” said the mayor.

One of the most important achievements highlighted by the mayor was the reduction of irregular expenditure from over R104.4 million in 2011 to less than R 9 million last year.

This, he said, provides comfort and accountability on the use of funds.

“This is one aspect the municipality needs to keep working on and ensure that no public funds are left unaccounted for,” he added.

Another boost for the municipality was its debt to revenue ratio which is the lowest in the country when comparing with other metros. In 2014 it stood at 14 percent, meaning there is sufficient borrowing capacity for the institution.

Manyoni said the journey was however not without its own challenges. He said among these challenges was the municipal indigent register which had grown significantly over the years, forcing the municipality to spend R300 million in the last financial year.

The money was spent on providing poor households with free water, electricity, garbage collection and sanitation services.

The mayor highlighted the shortage of water as one of the main challenges that the municipality was presently faced with and urged communities to continue using water sparingly.

The mayor announced that the Gariep pipeline which is to deliver water to Mangaung is estimated to cost the municipality R4.5 billion.

He said the pipeline would also ensure that surrounding towns such as Zastron, Bethuli, Trompsburg and Rouxville also got water.

Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality executive mayor Thabo Manyoni has admitted that Africa has not done enough to empower women in local governance despite increased efforts to improve women’s participation across all sectors.

Speaking on SABC’s Morning Live during the TNA Business Breakfast broadcast live from Sandton Convention Centre on Wednesday, Manyoni said the continent was still caught up in the olden practice which restricted women to domestic chores and not allowing them to excel professionally.

“We’ve not done as much as we should have to address women’s issues and that challenge is not being faced by South Africa alone but the African continent in general,” Manyoni said.

Manyoni, who is also the national chairperson of South African Local Government Association (SALGA) said the discussion around women in local governance was an important one hence the South African government has spoken openly against it. He pointed out that the issue was very important and could not be swept under the carpet anymore.

Manyoni said South Africa’s pace in addressing women issues was not satisfactory and more urgent action was needed.

“We’re moving slowly and that’s a fact that cannot be denied, not by me or anyone for that matter. However, it is equally important to acknowledge strides made on the very same issue that is in question,” said Manyoni.

The SALGA boss was however quick to point out that it was not entirely correct to say that the country was not doing much to promote women because it takes time for people to rise professionally.

He emphasised that for Africa to achieve the best results, it should not take short cuts in order to get the job done but promote women on merit.
“Women empowerment is not an event but a process. This process must be respected not pressurised,” said Manyoni, adding that this was an imperative concept that needed to be understood. He pointed out that applying undue pressure for the sake of getting results could result in many unnecessary mistakes being made.

“Empowerment means appointing the right people into the right positions and not only because they are women. It’s important that we get the right people in the positions they deserve which is exactly what is happening at the moment,” added Manyoni.

He however said the appointment of Namibia’s fourth Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, who took office in March, was a step in the right direction for women’s empowerment.

He said the move is an indication that women with knowledge, capacity, ability, determination and willingness to bring about change in their respective country can be afforded the opportunity to do so.

“Though we’re not preoccupied with people’s opinion its astonishing that very little praise is given where strides are made to address the issue and yet so much noise is made whenever there are shortcomings,” said Manyoni.

He said government would not only talking about the matter but it will actively address the under-representation and low participation of women in political decision-making.

According the Manyoni, there will be engagements with all political parties represented in government to implement the 50/50 representation in all municipalities across the country while also trying to confront the structural and cultural barriers that impede women’s access to decision-making and leadership positions.

Women’s Month ended on an emotional note when the only surviving organiser of the famous 1956 Women’s March, Sophie De Bruyn paid a symbolic visit to Bloemfontein from Friday to Saturday last week.

De Bruyn, 77, was an executive member of the Textile Workers Union in Port Elizabeth, and one of the founding members of the South African Congress of Trade Unions (Sactu). She was a full time organiser of the Coloured People’s Congress in Johannesburg.

She started her political career during her higher primary education when she started working at a textile factory during school holidays.

That was where she was chosen as a shop steward because she helped workers solve their disputes with their employers.

“I did not expect this visit to be so emotional. From the moment I landed at the airport I was taken aback by the warmth and compassion of the people of Mangaung.

On more than one occasion I had to hold back my tears,” De Bruyn said during her visit to the Waaihoek Church.

Also known as the Wesleyan Church, Waaihoek is the birthplace of the ANC in 1912. It was renovated in time for centennial celebrations held in 2012.  It has since been declared a heritage site.

“The multi-cultural history of Waaihoek is not properly noted in our history books; someone must be commissioned to research and expose the beauty of this great place,” said De Bruyn.

De Bruyn encouraged Free-Staters to never let others downplay the integral part Mangaung played in bringing this truth to the world, especially the first Women’s March of 1913.

“The true history of our people is not in the history books, but recollections in the minds of elders and passionate youth, who make time to know their history.

Thank you, Mangaung, you have done us proud,” De Bruyn enthused.

“I will be back, God willing! Mangaung has crept into my heart,” De Bruyn said.

De Bruyn was scheduled to visit the grandchildren of two other organisers of the 1956 Women’s March at Heidedal Township, Clorence Ann Peters who died in 2007 and Cathrine Louw who passed on in 1968.

But she only managed to visit Peters’ family but promised to come back to visit the other family.

Peter’s granddaughter who is named after her, Annie Clorence Peters Junior (43) is one of the five grandchildren still living in the house where Peters lived while she was active in community activities in Heidedal.

The department of human settlements has said it will build a house for Peters’ grandchildren to honour the memory of their grandmother. Peters Jr said this would fulfil her grandmothers’ wish.

“She wanted to own a decent house. She fought for a better life for all, not her family only. I am happy that her dream will now come true,” Clorence said.

The Angels Foundation, a non-profit organisation in Bloemfontein, hosted De Bruyn in partnership with the ANCWL, University of the Free State, Central University of Technology, the provincial government and the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality (MMM).

Angels Foundation’s Mark Murison acknowledged the role played by their partners during this visit.

“We want to acknowledge the office of the premier, the honourable Ace Magashule, the office of the honourable Thabo Manyoni, our patron MEC of social development Sisi Ntombela, deputy mayor Constance Rampai and the members of the community who really owned this visit from one icon in the struggle for the emancipation of our country and people,” Murison said.

Money to be used to fund roads, water, sanitation projects 

Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality is planning to raise R5 billion on the bond market which will be used to finance several capital infrastructure projects which the local authority has prioritised for its domestic medium term note (DMTN) programme.

The prioritised capital projects are expected to be implemented between the 2016/17 to 2020/21 financial years.

The primary goal of the bond market – which is also known as the debt or credit market – is to provide long-term funding for public and private expenditures.
Although executive mayor Thabo Manyoni would not specify the exact projects in his response to written questions submitted by The Weekly, since the proposed projects were yet to be approved by council, he indicated that the projects were expected to improve people’s lives and broaden the municipality’s revenue generating base.

However when he presented his pre-budget speech in May, Manyoni said Mangaung residents in all the 44 wards had told the municipality during a series of public participation hearings earlier this year that they urgently wanted roads to be upgraded and storm-water drains fixed as most of them were blocked.

At least 32 wards wanted improved water and sanitation services while 31 wards requested more health and emergency facilities as well as the rehabilitation of parks and cemeteries, the building of Schools and waste removal services.

This week the mayor said the municipality had decided to turn to the bond market for increased funding in order to implement the capital infrastructure projects faster.
“The opportunity has arisen for the Metro to diversify its funding sources by accessing the South African bond market,” said Manyoni.

“Bonds issuance provides an alternative funding mechanism for Mangaung… Consideration of alternative funding sources enables the City to ensure sufficient and cost-effective financing mechanisms in order to achieve its long term objectives,” added the mayor.

Outlining some of the benefits of going to the bond market to seek funding, Manyoni said the method increased the municipality’s pool of potential lenders both locally and internationally and that it also raises its profile in financial markets and other arenas.

Bonds also lowered loan interest rate spreads and allowed the municipality to dictate terms and conditions for the financial instruments. The system also forces financial management discipline and encourages transparency in dealing with external parties, among others.

Manyoni said the municipality was confident that it would raise the proposed amount because it had received improved audit opinions in recent years, a development expected to instil confidence in potential funders.

“The municipality received an unqualified audit opinion for the 2013/14 financial year… (international ratings agency) Moody’s released a credit opinion on April 14 2015 confirming an investment grade of A3.za (long-term rating) and P-2.za (short-term rating).

“The issuer rating reflects the Mangaung’s strong operating balance and improving cash flows supported by low debt levels relative to other rated Metros.

“The stable outlook also reflects expectations that the Metro will continue to post solid and a consistently sound liquidity position despite increased capital infrastructure investment that will translate into a moderate increase in debt levels,” the mayor explained.

He said their financial advisors had already assessed the market and established positive outlook and appetite by investors.

The roles of each institution should play in the development of sport in municipalities across will dominate the conferences agenda

Sports development and greater social cohesion in municipalities across the country are topics expected to take centre stage at the inaugural joint national conference between the South African Sports and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) and the South African Local Government Association (Salga) in Bloemfontein this weekend.

The two-day conference starts today (Friday) at the Bloemfontein City Hall and will feature top government officials and sports administrators, including Free State sports, arts, culture and recreation MEC, Mathabo Leeto; Sascoc chief executive, Tubby Reddy; Sascoc president, Gideon Sam, as well as Salga chairperson and mayor of the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality, Thabo Manyoni.

ANC stalwart and former minister of home affairs, Tokyo Sexwale will also be present as a representative of Global Watch, an anti-racism organisation that aims to do away with racial discrimination in the world of sport. The keynote address will be delivered by sports minister, Fikile Mbalula.

Among the various issues on the conferences agenda will be the respective roles and obligations that each institution should play in developing sports through the implementation of pertinent projects and programmes that will help foster sports development and change the lives of citizens through sport.

The conference will also clearly define and divide these roles while aiming to successfully implement the National Sports and Recreation Plan (NSRP) which generally seeks to enhance sports participation by creating opportunities for citizens and enabling environments that will maximise access to sports resources and facilities in schools and communities.

Salga, Sascoc as well as the national sports department will further update each other on progress made in their respective programmes pertaining to sports development, while they are also expected to agree on new capacity-building programmes at local government level.

The parties will also outline the progress made in the implementation of the resolutions that were taken at the 2012 Municipal Conference on Sports which was hosted by the national sports department in Pretoria.

The latter conference outlined how municipalities should get involved in the holistic development of sports within their respective perimeters, more specifically, the provision of sporting facilities, parks and recreation in accordance to stipulation of the country’s constitution.

To this effect, big sports development initiatives have gradually been taking place in various municipalities across the Free State and the country. In the Mangaung metro, for example, the municipality has broadly revamped various sporting facilities including several community swimming pools; the improvement of the Mangaung Athletics stadium’s track which is now an accredited venue for international events; and the refurbishment of the Bloemfontein Tennis stadium courts which now annually host leading national tournaments such as the South African National Junior Tennis Championships and the Dunlop Free State Challenge.

In March this year Sascoc and Salga signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to promote social cohesion and human development through sport development. This has now culminated into the first ever joint conference between Sascoc and Salga in the Free State capital, which has for over a century or so been the founding city of many prominent organisations and political movements.

The conference will conclude tomorrow with the signing of a joint declaration by the Sascoc, Salga and the sports department to commit themselves to service delivery and bettering the lives of citizens through sport.

The quest for Justice and Freedom has always been at the heart of all revolutionaries and giants of mankind.“During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people.

I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is ideal for which I am prepared to die.” (Nelson Mandela, 1964)

“… We were taught that 10 October 22nd and 24th February are glorious anniversaries of national rejoicing, because they mark days on which Cubans rebelled against the yoke of infamous tyranny. We were taught to cherish and defend the beloved flag of the lone, star, and to sing every afternoon the verses of our National Anthem: ‘To live in chains is to live in disgrace and in opprobrium, and ‘To die for one’s homelands is to live forever!” (Fidel Castro, 1953)

At the very onset let me make it clear that my lecture focuses on Paying Tribute to the Cuban Five in Memory of Nelson Mandela. This is because I consider this occasion as a belated welcome as their captors denied them the opportunity to receive a warmest heroic welcome Madiba would have showered them with.

We welcome these gallant fighters in the Judicial Capital of the Republic of South Africa – a sovereign state founded upon the values of: “Human dignity, the achievement of equality and the advancement of human rights and freedom” as enshrined in our Constitution.

We welcome these heroes as a nation that has vowed to always be indebted to those who sacrificed their lives to build and develop our country. Indeed we owe our nationhood to the Cuban people.
The quest for freedom and liberation needs an understanding of commitment found in men and women who are extraordinary. It is such revolutionaries that make us mere mortals feel humbled and yet blessed that they touched our lives with their commitment in action.

The quest justice, freedom and liberation driven by a high sense of commitment and dedication is not enough in freeing the people from the shackles of slavery and colonialism. Men and women of the same mind need to join hands and move in unison for that quest for freedom. It is the same values that underpinned the lives of Mandela and Castro.

Mandela’s rise to prominence (1950s) as the centre of the African National Congress (ANC) politics coincided with the triumph of the Cuban Revolution as witnessed in 1959. This period presented an inescapable parallelism between the Cuban Revolution and the South African struggle for liberation including similarities between Fidel Castro and Nelson Mandela. Both of these world’s icons were banned, arrested, imprisoned and operated underground in pursuit freedom.

While Castro came from a wealthy family background, Madiba came from the royal family of Chief Henry Mandela of the Tembu Tribe. All these, could not eclipse their sight for the national liberation struggle – or the quest for justice and freedom. Finally, they ascended the presidency in their respective countries, Cuba and South Africa respectively. In one of his popular essays titled “The Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte” Karl Marx made a postulation that says:

“Men make their history, but they do not make it just as they please; they do not make it under circumstances chosen by themselves, but under circumstances directly encountered, given and transmitted from the past” (Karl Marx).

The life of Madiba proved the above hypothesis correct. He might have changed the world, but surely did not have a say to be born and live during the colonial and apartheid epoch. His direct encounter with the above circumstances [as argued by Marx) produced a glittering jewel of humanity in him simply because he believed just like Karl Marx; that theirs was to change the world.
International solidarity is one of the key pillars of our struggle. The ANC has always strived to see the world with the eyes of a better international order, one that is equitable, just, humane and democratic.

Cuba as a country has been incredible in a manner in which they gave it all in liberating the African continent. Their involvement in our revolutionary struggle resembled Madiba’s towering legacy of humility and selflessness.

On international solidarity, Fidel Castro once said:
“In no other people has the spirit of international solidarity become so deeply rooted … over 2,000 heroic Cuban internationalist combatants gave their lives fulfilling the sacred duty of supporting the liberation struggles for the independence of other sister nations. However, there is not one single Cuban property in any of those countries. No other country in our era has exhibited such sincere and selfless solidarity (Castro,2003)

And, if there is one African leader who accordingly acknowledged the support of the Cubans was none other than Nelson Mandela who, during his first visit to Cubaenquired:

What other country has such a history of selfless behaviour as Cuba has shown for the people of Africa? How many countries benefit from Cuban health care professionals and educators? How many of these volunteers are now in Africa? What country has ever needed help from Cuba and has not received it? How many countries threatened by imperialism or fighting for their freedom have been able to count on the support of Cuba? (Mandela, 1991)

According to Noam Chomsky, an American linguist and social critic explicates the Cuba involvement as:

“Cuban had played a huge role in liberating Africa … And they did it in a completely selfless way. They [Cubans] never took credit for it. They never wanted to be known (2013:75-76).
Another iconic figure of the Cuban Revolution, Ernesto Guevara de la Serna – known as Che Guevara, further argued that:

“The life of a single human being is worth a million times more than all the property of the richest man on earth … Far more important than a good remuneration is the pride of serving one’s neighbour. Much more definitive and much more lasting than all the gold that one can accumulate is the gratitude of a people” (1960: 1).

Almost a year ago, the Philadelphia’s Geller Foundation honoured and granted its Nelson Mandela Prize to the Cuban five who sacrificed their lives in preventing further terrorist attacks against their compatriots (Cuban) by the anti-Cuba groups operating in Miami in the early 1990s. This presented America as a nation with two faces – perhaps a nation at war with itself. The act by the Geller Foundation was a clear manifestation of the power of the struggle for freedom and justice. Its power divides even the most hegemonic nations of the world such as the US.

Of course there is some sense of resemblance between a war on terrorism against the Cubans – as pursued by the Cuban Five, and the “ideal of a democratic and free society” that Nelson Mandela cherished. This was an ideal they hoped to live or die for!

This perspective is amplified by Fidel Castro who defines a revolution as “… a struggle to the death between the future and the past”. Essentially, this was the struggle worth dying for, if needs be.
This is the ideal that has glued two great nations of the world together – South Africa and Cuba. It is upon this unity that our nations (SA-Cuba) elevated international solidary beyond civil society activism, but embraced becoming comrades-in-arms in the battlefields. The battle of Cuito Cuanavale (1988) in Angola demonstrated the intensity of our diplomatic relations.

A year after his release from prison, in 1991 , together with Fidel Castro, Madiba addressed the Matanzas rally, and bragged about the Cuito Cuanavale victory when he said:
“…

The crushing defeat of the racist army at Cuito Cuanavale was a victory for the whole of Africa! The defeat of the apartheid army was an inspiration to the struggling people inside South Africa! Without the defeat of Cuito Cuenavale our organizations would not have been unbanned! The defeat of the racist army at Cuito Cuenavale has made it possible for me to be here today! Cuito Cuenavale has been a turning point in the struggle to free the continent and our country from the scourge of apartheid!” (Mandela, 1991)

The final objective in the quest for freedom and justice, the commitment shown and solidarity struggles is: everlasting peace amongst peoples and nations.

There are four key defining moments in the life of Madiba after the 1990’s unbanning and release of political prisoners. These include suspension of armed struggle, negotiated settlement resulting in the establishment of the government of national unity and Truth and Reconciliation Commission as well as his presidency.

In 1992 the Boipatong and Bisho massacres took place. And in 1993 Chris Hani got assassinated and during those bleak moments, Mandela invoked his brevity and dynamic leadership as he addressed the nation and said:

“Now is the time for all South Africans to stand together against those who, from any quarter, wish to destroy what Chris Hani gave his life for – the freedom of all of us… Our decisions and actions will determine whether we use our pain, our grief and our outrage to move forward to what is the only lasting solution for our country – an elected government of the people, by the people and for the people.”

Mandela was an international icon who inspired many nations to unite and pursue peace at all times. According to the current Cuban President Raúl Castro:

“Mandela has set out an insurmountable example to Latin America and the Caribbean, which are currently moving towards unity and integration for the benefit of their peoples on the basis of respect for diversity and convinced that it is only through dialogue and cooperation that discrepancies can be resolved and a civilized relationship established between those who think differently. As Mandela’s life teaches us, only the concerted efforts of all nations will empower humanity to respond to the enormous challenges that today threaten its very existence.”

We dedicate this lecture to Fernando González, Ramón Labañino, René González, Gerardo Hernández and Antonio Guerrero for their heroic participation in the battle of Cuito Cuanavale.
The Cuban people have always occupied a special place in the heart of every nation in the mother continent of Africa. In expression of our deepest appreciation for the support of the Cuban people in our struggle against apartheid we sing a song that goes like this:

Cuban people, loving people, here we are far home, we need you, we shall love you, for the things you have done for us!
Long Live the Spirit of Madiba!
Long Live Fidel Castro!

*Thabo Manyoni is the provincial deputy chairperson of the African National Congress and Executive Mayor of the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality. He delivered the Nelson Mandela Memorial Lecture on the occasion to welcome ‘The Cuban 5’ during their visit their visit to Bloemfontein. The lecture was in honour of former South African President, the late Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, and former Cuban statesman Fidel Castro.

Residents of Heidedaal Township in Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality have welcomed the proposed merger of the city with Naledi Local Municipality, saying it could bring more opportunities to the city as it will have a bigger budget.

At a public hearing held in the township on Thursday, residents were optimistic that the merger would result in improved services as the city would be having a larger revenue base and a bigger budget with which to implement projects.

Heidedal has a population of about 9 000 people and it is one of the most impoverished areas in the metropolitan. Substance abuse and gangsterism are rife as most of the unemployed youths resort to crime to pass time. The township is also plagued with an acute housing shortage.

One of the councillors from the township Joan Peterson said she hoped that the incorporation of Naledi into Mangaung would improve the economic and social life in this township as the city would be operating on larger budget.
“This means our municipality will be bigger and our budget will also increase,” said Peterson.

“People from here will be able to receive the services they need such as more houses and jobs. We are hoping that we will also be gaining the needed skills from this new municipality,” added Peterson.
The main towns in Naledi include Dewetsdorp, Wepenaar and Van Standensrus.

City authorities are also considering incorporating Masilonyane Local Municipality which has also been struggling to deliver basic services to residents. The municipality which lies to the north of Mangaung is made up of the towns of Soutpan, Brandfort, Theunissen, Winburg and Verkeerdevlei.

Petrus Mela, 35, who is presently working under the community works programme cleaning parks and roads says he wants to see more opportunities coming to the city so that he can earn a better salary.
“The only way for our metro to get bigger is absorbing other municipalities especially those that are struggling financially,” said Mela

“That is how bigger metros like Johannesburg grew. Presently, I only receive a stipend of R1 000 a month but if Mangaung expands, my salary will also improve,” he added.
Elizabeth Scheepers, 65, has lived in Heidedal for most of her life and says she wants to see more development in Heidedal in the form of better housing and more jobs.

“We are happy and we welcome people from Naledi,” said Scheepers.

“We hope that our municipality will now be able to help us with what we need especially jobs for our young people. In this area young people and families struggle to make ends meet but hopefully that will pass,” added Scheepers.

But other residents were worried that the metro’s budget could be constrained as it will be spread over a larger municipality. They argued that the fact the municipality could not carry its own weight now means it will simply become a burden to Mangaung.

“We are not working, we need houses and we take on other people with similar challenges… This is worrying,” said one resident.

“Yes it will extend our boundaries and make our municipality bigger, but will it provide everyone with their basic needs?” the resident added.

Similar public meetings have already been held in Thaba Nchu and Botshabelo.

Disruptions to water supply in and around Bloemfontein are set to be a thing of the past with the official opening of a multi-million-ran water reservoir by Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality executive mayor Thabo Manyoni last week.

A total of 48 000 households in the metro will now benefit from an uninterrupted and regular supply of water.

The project, which started in 2011, was initiated in order to ease the water shortage challenges that were a frequent occurrence for the residents of the nearby Phahameng township, among others.

It was also intended to ease the pressure on the water supply system, especially on weekends when everybody was home and using water for a variety of needs.

Built at a cost of R42-million, the project saw scores of locals being employed to work on site and to build the fencing around the reservoir to keep it safe from vandals.

At full capacity the reservoir is built to contain 42-million litres of water ready for use by the locals.

During the official opening, Manyoni said the project will assist communities which had in the past been dogged by acute water shortages.

“It is also going to be used to supply water for new developments that we have already agreed on, such as the Vista Park 2 and 3 developments, as well as the Kenneth Motshabi township development, which is known as Dinaweng,” he said.

Manyoni said the development was in line with his administration’s drive to better the lives of the poor and to make true on the promises of the ruling party during the past elections.

“Water is life, and it is a constitutional right of our people, hence we embarked on this project to make sure our people have their dignity restored through the provision of this important, life-giving lubricant,” said the mayor.

Officials on the construction site said the reservoir was at almost 45 percent full – and that by the end of this week it will be 100 percent full.

Metro municipal manager Sibongile Mazibuko said the final water tightness testing for the reservoir will be conducted before the end of this month.

She said a new bulk line supply pipeline will take water from the reservoir to the areas of Hillside View and Turflaagte.

“The pipeline consists of an 800mm diameter pipeline, approximately 8.3km in length,” Mazibuko said.

She added that the facility will be fenced off to minimise chances of vandalism – and that a telemetric system will ensure that the water is not contaminated in any way.

Phahameng resident Mampho Mokebe said the reservoir will ease her troubles as she goes about her household chores.

“The sad thing about the water here was that it was never sufficient when you wanted to do your laundry and spring cleaning,” she said.

“Now one can be assured to start and finish one’s cleaning and washing with no water shortage hiccups.”

The project, which at its height provided employment to almost 80 people, is also meant to assist the metro in eradicating the VIP and bucket toilet systems.