The City recently hosted a stakeholder engagement meeting with representatives from Eskom and the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to provide updates on the smart meter rollout project and the ward delimitation process ahead of the upcoming local government elections.
The purpose of the meeting was to ensure that all key stakeholders have a shared understanding of these initiatives. Stakeholders in attendance included councillors, traditional authorities, and religious leaders. The City continues to play an important coordination role when Eskom implements projects within municipal areas.
Eskom presented plans for the rollout of smart electricity meters across parts of the City. Smart meters will improve billing accuracy by automatically recording and transmitting electricity usage data to the municipality. The system will also allow for real-time monitoring, enabling quicker response times when addressing customer queries and service-related issues.
As part of the presentation, Eskom introduced the contractor responsible for the installation of the smart meters. The rollout forms part of ongoing efforts to improve electricity management and reduce electricity losses.
Eskom has already begun installing smart meters in some areas, and a significant portion of the City will be included in the rollout programme.
During the engagement, the IEC also delivered a presentation on the ward delimitation project, which is the redrawing of ward boundaries to ensure elections remain fair and balanced as communities grow and change. It was also highlighted that some ward boundaries within the City have been adjusted as part of this process.
The Honourable Mayor, Cllr Xolani Ngwezi launched a programme aimed at strengthening the fight against illegal dumping. The initiative was launched in Esikhawini during the past weekend, where large amounts of illegally dumped waste were removed, particularly waste that had been discarded next to municipal skips instead of inside them.
Through this programme, the Mayor aims to ensure that residents of the City of uMhlathuze live in clean, safe, and healthy environments. Maintaining clean neighbourhoods is essential for the wellbeing of communities and for preserving the beauty of the city.
Therefore, the Mayor appeals to residents who continue to dump waste illegally to refrain from doing so. He encourages residents to make proper use of the municipal skips by placing waste inside them or, alternatively, using designated legal dumping sites (Empangeni Dumpsite). Residents are reminded that dumping waste next to skips contributes to environmental pollution and creates health risks.
The Mayor further calls on community members to play an active role in keeping their neighbourhoods clean. He urges residents to report illegal dumping and those responsible for it by contacting the City’s toll-free number: 0800 222 827.
Illegal dumping continues to cost the City millions of rands every year in clean-up operations funds that could otherwise be used for service delivery and community development.
The City assures residents that this mayoral programme will reach all areas affected by illegal dumping. We call on all residents to work together with us in protecting the environment, stopping illegal dumping, and making our city clean and beautiful.
A Traffic Awareness Programme was rolled out at Tehillah Primary School to educate learners about the importance of road safety and responsible behaviour as pedestrians.
The initiative aims to empower young learners with knowledge on how to stay safe on the roads and to build a culture of responsible road use from an early age.
The City of uMhlathuze is embarking on an extensive programme to install high-mast lighting infrastructure across many wards within the city. This initiative is aimed at addressing areas with little to no access to public lighting, ensuring that darkness in these communities becomes a thing of the past.
The installation of high-mast lights is part of the City’s ongoing dedication to enhancing public safety and improving visibility across the municipality. Sufficient lighting is essential for preventing crime, ensuring pedestrian safety, and fostering an environment conducive to economic activities, especially during the evening hours.
This initiative aims to enhance the quality of life for residents by establishing safer, better-lit, and more secure communities. The rollout also reflects the city’s commitment to fair service delivery by focusing on wards and areas that have traditionally faced inadequate or insufficient lighting.
The following areas will benefit from the installation of high-mast lights under this programme:
* Ntambanana (Wards 32 & 33) – 2 high-mast lights
* Mecekane (Ward 31) – 1 high-mast light
* Ngwelezane (Wards 27, 28 & 29) – 3 high-mast lights
* eNseleni (Wards 5 & 6) – 2 high-mast lights
* Dlangezwa (Circle, Ward 34) – 1 high-mast light
* eSikhaleni (Wards 16, 20 & 22) – 3 high-mast lights
* Empangeni (behind the taxi rank, Ward 24) – 1 high-mast light
* Mandlanzini (Ward 4) – 1 high-mast light
* Mzingazi (Ward 1) – 1 high-mast light
* Richards Bay (next to Bayside Hospital; John Ross/RBIDZ intersection; and Western Arterial/John Ross intersection, Ward 2) – 3 high-mast lights
The City of uMhlathuze remains committed to building safer, brighter, and more inclusive communities. Through the installation of high-mast lighting, the City is taking decisive steps to ensure that residents can live, work and move freely in environments that are secure, dignified and well illuminated.
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Call Centre: 0800 222 827
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035 907 5000
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