By Tabisa Mntengwana
22 September 2009

COUNCILLORS, City management and staff totted up successes and thrashed out issues at an Integrated Development Plan (IDP) workshop on Friday, 18 September, held to look at progress to date and the way forward.

More than 50 officials attended the workshop, organised by the IDP and budget office, at the East London City Hall. They discussed where the City lacked in the last financial year and how to move forward this year.

The day kicked off with opening remarks from the IDP, budget and policy portfolio head, Sindiswa Gomba: "This is the platform where all City staff and councillors can voice their views and also highlight their successes."

He was followed on the podium by the director of executive support services, Vuyo Zambodla, who gave an overview of the workshop.

"Today we are going to look at the progress made in last financial year; how we can improve on the issues the City has lacked on; look at work projects; and also confirm projects that will be implemented in the next financial year."

Zambodla said the day was also set aside to find ways to monitor service delivery in various City wards.

Highlighting what had been undertaken in the last financial year, the IDP co-ordinator, Sindiswa Tengwa, named several successful projects, including the Mdantsane Urban Renewal Programme and internship programme, through which 12 unemployed graduates from the township received experience in their field of study.

Four kilometres of the Gonubie Main Access Road were widened to provide two out-going lanes.

Looking ahead at what needed to be done in the 2009/2010 financial year, Tengwa mentioned the installation of children's play equipment at various municipal open spaces, the beautification of cemeteries in Mdantsane and the establishment of refuse collection points in Mdantsane.

Giving the 2008/2009 performance assessment and key project report for 2009/2010 in the spatial and infrastructure cluster, the director of engineering services, Nceba Ncunyana, spoke about housing projects in Potsdam Unit P, which now has 2 003 units; Reeston phase 2, which has 2 500 units; the Duncan Village pilot project, which has 323 units; and Tyutyu Village phase 2, which has added over 300 units.

Looking at 2008/2009 road and construction projects, Ncunyana mentioned the construction of the Western Avenue and Beaconhurst Drive traffic circles and median islands, and the installation of 100 speed humps and pedestrian tables at various municipal areas.

"The City has many successes in this area, including the upgrading of substations and switch houses, the replacement of 1 200 railway sleepers and pothole repairs," said Ncunyana.

Plans for 2009/2010 include the upgrading of traffic signals in King William's Town, and provision of pavements in Ziphunzana Bypass and Nompumelelo Bypass near Beacon Bay. "More housing projects are expected to take place during this financial year."

The social and environmental cluster update was presented by the chief environmental officer, Shirley Ferguson, who highlighted a few successful projects in the 2008/2009 financial year.

She mentioned the three disability friendly clinics in the city, namely Berlin, Cambridge and John Dube in Scenery Park. "This cluster has also completed the upgrading at the East London Zoo, refuse collection points in Duncan Village and the extension of the lifeguard shack at the Esplanade."

Plans for the 2009/2010 year for the social and environmental cluster included improving and maintaining water supply in the Duncan Village area, increasing the number of fire engines, upgrading community halls in Mdantsane, and closing and rehabilitating illegal landfill sites.

Zambodla represented the finance and institutional cluster. He mentioned the launch of the blind facilities at the East London Central Library, the improved human resources electronic system and the improved computer and telecommunications network.

Highlighting plans for 2009/2010, Zambodla said: "The cluster is looking at upgrading the supply chain building, setting aside a budget for mayoral projects and the development of youth centres."

Gomba closed the event, encouraging councillors to be actively involved in all the upcoming municipal projects that were mentioned during the workshop.

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