{"id":22161,"date":"2013-08-27T19:53:22","date_gmt":"2013-08-27T17:53:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/ward-9-newsflash-august-2013\/"},"modified":"2013-08-27T19:53:22","modified_gmt":"2013-08-27T17:53:22","slug":"ward-9-newsflash-august-2013","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/ward-9-newsflash-august-2013\/","title":{"rendered":"Ward 9 Newsflash August 2013"},"content":{"rendered":"

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To see how hard working Ward Councillors go about their jobs, see Ward 9<\/a> councillor, Heinrich Muller\u2019s newsletter below.<\/p>\n

You may contact Ward 9 using the contact form at the bottom of this report.<\/p>\n

Strike Action In The Metro<\/strong><\/p>\n

We have received information that \u201c\u2026all construction sites are closed due to the wage strike in the construction industry.\u00a0 The contractors have advised that they will keep us informed of the status\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

I have also received the following media statement from Cllr Andrew Whitfield, DA PR Councillor: Sports, Arts, Recreation and Culture on the strike at the libraries:<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026Libraries across Nelson Mandela Bay have shut their doors as children line up to complete their homework.<\/em><\/p>\n

Children from Walmer Township were lined up outside the Walmer Library today hoping to gain access to complete their homework but were denied this basic opportunity.<\/em><\/p>\n

I have been reliably informed that the dispute that saw all libraries in the Metro closed in July has been revived once again due to the Municipality\u2019s failure to deliver on their commitment to library staff.<\/em><\/p>\n

In July the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality agreed, after an extended period of library closures, to regrade the positions of library staff. This regarding was, however, not reflected on their pay slips in August and the staff have decided to strike again. This situation cannot continue.<\/em><\/p>\n

Libraries are a provincial competency and this situation must be taken seriously by Bisho. It is simply unacceptable that while the ANC controls both local and provincial government they cannot seem to sit around a table and find solutions to ensure our libraries are open to our children.<\/em><\/p>\n

Closing the doors of our libraries closes the doors to opportunities for our children. This situation would not be tolerated in a DA led government as we believe that children are the foundation of our future and that opportunity should be expanded, not contracted. Where the DA governs libraries are well resourced, well staffed and kept open to the public six days a week\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Save Our Metro Petition<\/strong><\/p>\n

DA Cllr Dean Biddulph\u00a0sent the following e-mail:<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026Given the current ongoing crisis within the metro administration, I have set up an online petition calling for the stabilisation of the city administration.<\/em>
\u00a0<\/em>
As citizens of the Nelson Mandela Bay metro, we hereby declare our disappointment and frustration with the current political and administrative leadership of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.<\/em><\/p>\n

We submit this petition as active and concerned citizens as a declaration of our intent to SAVE OUR METRO from the ongoing political interference and maladministration which has resulted in poor service delivery across our Metro.<\/em><\/p>\n

We therefore demand:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n