To see how hard working Ward Councillors go about their jobs, see Ward 9 councillor, Heinrich Muller’s newsletter below. Scroll down to see the contact Details for Ward 9.
KRAGGA KAMMA TIP SITE UPDATE
The Kragga Kamma tip site was temporarily closed on 16 July 2012. According to information received from the Metro, the site will be temporarily closed for ± 6 to 7 months.
I want to thank everybody who adheres to the request not to dump outside the Kragga Kamma tip site and want to re-iterate my last request that the public must please be patient and give their support by abiding to the rules and regulations of not dumping outside the closed site.
STREET LIGHTS ISSUES:
I am receiving numerous enquiries w.r.t. street lights that have been out of order for a long period already. Kindly take note that all street light issues reported to my office, have been forwarded to the Metro. We received feedback that due to the heavy rains we had, there was a huge backlog as they had to help the residents who were without electricity.
If you have reported a faulty street light (and received a reference number) and it has still not been fixed, please contact my office and we will follow it up.
NEWS FROM THE METRO
Some issues from the Metro which I would like to bring to your attention:
Customer Care staff members training
We received the following information from the Metro:
“…In order to improve our service to the public training sessions for all Customer Care staff members have been arranged and will commence on 8 August 2012 until November 2012.
Note that every Wednesday only 2 satellite offices will open one hour later for business, but notices has been put up at all the offices and newspaper notices will be advertised on the weekend and next Monday.
Your patience will be greatly appreciated…”
Pre-paid electricity purchases blocked due to arrears
Please take note of the following notice which published in all local newspapers this past weekend and during this weekend week, which is self explanatory.
“…Kindly note that a warning sms is sent every morning to each customer (where a valid cell phone number is on record) when the pre-paid electricity meter is activated for a 100% set-off.
PRE-PAID ELECTRICITY PURCHASES BLOCKED DUE TO ARREARS
Are you a municipal account holder who has made arrangements with the Municipality to pay our arrears off in installments but has since DEFAULTED on these arrangements?
OR
Are you a municipal account holder who has used and benefited from the Municipality’s Debt Relief Programme, but has since DEFAULTED on the monthly pay arrangements made in terms of the Programme?
If so, please be aware that the Municipality has introduced a measure to recover some or all of the default installments, in concern about the fact that more than 50% of account-holders usually default within three months after making an arrangement to pay their arrears.
In terms of the new measure, which became effective on 23 July 2012, the next time you try to purchase prepaid electricity, the Municipality will deduct the money owed by you from this amount. For example, if you pay R200 towards prepaid electricity, and you owe the Municipality R3000 in arrears on your municipal accounts for water, sewerage, etc., the full R200 you paid towards electricity will be used to reduce the amount you owe on you municipal account, and you will receive NO electricity. Only when you have paid the full amount of the arrear installments you have defaulted on will you be allowed to purchase electricity again.
This measure is fully in line with the Municipality’s Revenue Management and Customer Care By-laws, as well as its Credit Control Policy, which Council approved on 31 March 2011.
Account holders affected by this measure should remember that it is normal municipal policy to disconnect/block electricity for arrears owing by a customer and to permit reconnection only once all arrears have been paid or once suitable repayment arrangements have been concluded.
Please ensure that you are not left without electricity! The Municipality appeals to you to honour previous arrangements you made with it to pay your arrears off in installments or the arrangements made in terms of the Debt Relief Programme.
For more information,
Please call the Customer Care Helpline
on tel. 041 506-5555 or
visit our website at www.nelsonmandelabay.co.za
TRAFFIC CONTROL:
We received the following feedback from the Traffic Department re speed law enforcement conducted in Warbler Street:
“… On 25 July 2012 between 10:00 – 12:30, a total of four hundred (400) vehicles were measured, the highest speed recorded was 81 km/h and six (6) prosecuted for exceeding the speed limit in a 60 km/h zone
We measured the speed of four hundred (400) vehicles, the highest speed recorded was 81 km/h and the offence rate was 1.5%.
Speed Law Enforcement will be conducted as and when manpower permits…”
LINTON GRANGE LIBRARY BOOK SALE:
Please take note that the friends of the Linton Grange Library will have a book sale at the library on Saturday, 4 August 2012. Doors will open at 08h00.
MANDELA DAY: 67 MINUTES
My assistant, Yolanda, and I contributed to Mandela Day (18 July) by visiting St Francis Hospice to hand over second hand clothes and books for distribution. Should you require any further information regarding this wonderful institution, please do not hesitate to contact my office or Pam Lewis, Resource Facilitator, on 041 360-7070 or hospicefund@progen.co.za
THANK YOU
Thanks to all residents reporting problems due to the excessive rains we experienced. Another weather warning has been issued for the next couple of days. Should you need any urgent assistance, please contact the Metro’s JOC centre on 0800 20 50 50. Please stay safe.
Ward 9 Greetings
