By Nangamso Mabindla
9 March 2004

WITH celebrations over Buffalo City winning the Vuna award for best municipality barely concluded, the local government is gearing up to tackle its next challenge - that of alleviating poverty.

Speaking at a recent function celebrating Buffalo City winning the national Vuna award, the Executive Mayor Sindisile Maclean said it was imperative the city turn its attention to the poor. "Buffalo City would not have done its job if many of the city's citizens continue to live in poverty," he said.

Councillor Maclean was addressing dignitaries at a formal dinner at East London's Regent Hotel, including African National Congress spokesperson Smuts Ngonyama, deputy minister for local government Ntombazana Botha, King Maxhoba Ayakhawuleza Sandile and representatives of the business community.

The mayor said Buffalo City had a way to go in its fight to combat poverty. "Our statistics show that only 65 percent of our households have basic services such as water, electricity, sanitation and other basics services."

But Councillor Maclean was confident that Buffalo City had the capacity to change the current economic and social scenario. "We stand confident of our ability to help unleash an era of economic prosperity and poverty alleviation through job creation projects that will - must - make a difference," Councillor Maclean said.

Various Buffalo City development programmes that would provide jobs for local residents included:

• The East London Development Zone.
• The Bisho-King Integration Plan, aimed at linking Bisho and King William's Town.
• Various inner city rejuvenation programmes aimed at encouraging businesses to return to the CBD.
• The establishment of a downtown campus for the University of Fort Hare.
• The development of the West Bank Grand Prix area, which will offer five-star accommodation for overseas tourists.
• The Mdantsane Urban Renewal Programme, which is set to upgrade the facilities and change the face of the township.

Ngonyama, who was the guest speaker at the function, said he was proud of the progress made by local government. "It is heart-warming to see the excellent strides made by local government, especially in the Eastern Cape."

He too expressed concern at the high numbers of unemployed in the province. "Even though we have made remarkable strides in the past 10 years, poverty is still, and will always be, with us," Ngonyama said, urging those present to take drastic measures to redress the issue. Government, the communities and business needed to tackle the problem collectively, he added.

Ngonyama congratulated the municipality for leading the way in providing excellent service. "We are all proud of Buffalo City. The fact that you beat metros shows the commitment of the staff and citizens in improving service delivery."

At the end of the evening Councillor Maclean received a cheque of R50 000 from Eskom to celebrate the city's successes. In presenting the cheque, Paul Mbele from Eskom Southern Region said the company was "proud to be associated with the best city in South Africa". He added: "Eskom has always had a good relationship with the municipality and this relationship can only continue to improve."

The mayor thanked Eskom and other local businesses for the support they had given Buffalo City.

"There is a long and winding road ahead which we will negotiate with the same dedication and commitment as we have shown in the past," Councillor Maclean assured his guests.