06 JANUARY 2009
Ugu District Municipality is currently undergoing a VIP toilet maintenance programme, an initiative by the Department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs (DLGTA) to drain rural toilets in certain areas of the KZN Province.
Two districts were chosen to pilot this programme and Ugu was one of them.
The Municipality in partnership with the DLGTA commenced with this programme in wards that received VIP toilets in 2000/2001 financial year. The starting point of the drainage and maintenance programme was the Hibiscus Coast Municipality, specifically those wards that fall within the KwaXolo, KwaNzimakwe, KwaNdwalane, KwaMavundla and KwaMadlala Traditional Authorities.
As this programme is set to run over three months in both Hibiscus Coast and Umdoni Municipalities, it will create much needed jobs at ward level, whilst ensuring a hygienic and hazard-free environment at a household level.
According to the Deputy Municipal Manager, Mr Mduduzi Mnyandu who is heading the initiative at a District Level, an estimated 24 unemployed people from each ward will gain short term employment from this DLGTA funded programme. The scope of works is extreme given the fact that this programme involves sewerage. We will be draining these pits in a bid to rehabilitate them and prevent environmental hazards, while ensuring that they remain in a stable and usable condition. Therefore, the people to be employed per ward will be remunerated in a fitting manner by the Department, said Mr Mnyandu.
Mr Mnyandu added by saying "this added capacity provides us with an opportunity to also deal with the more affluent areas with septic tanks, households and businesses alike, to have their septic tanks emptied at the same tariff that the municipality charges. Therefore, all households and businesses that require the service are urged to come forward and follow the normal municipal procedure of requesting a septic tank draw".
As this initiative forms part of the Ugu Mayoral projects, Mayor Cele said that this is to ensure that the infrastructure that was installed by government a number of years ago, remains cared for and maintained by both the community and government. "This is a start of greater initiatives and we plead with the affected communities to participate in the programme and ensure that it runs smoothly from beginning to end."
UGU DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY
For more information and media queries contact:
Brian Fikani Dube
Mobile: 079 525 7177
Email:brian.dube@ugu.org.za