CITY TAKES MEASURES TO PROTECT STAFF AND CUSTOMERS FROM CORONA VIRUS PANDEMIC

The City of uMhlathuze has swiftly responded to the call by the State President Hon. Cyril Ramaphosa by introducing measures to prevent staff members and customers from contracting the worldwide fast spreading Corona Virus.

The City of uMhlathuze front line, cashiers, licensing staff will be issued with surgical gloves, hand sanitisers and facemasks where necessary, in dealing with customers. Customers will be provided with hand sanitiser before engaging with municipal employees at all times until the virus is arrested.

This is applicable to all City of uMhlathuze offices, facilities and depots with immediate effect. All non-essential travelling out of the City of uMhlathuze by officials has been suspended until further notice.

The City strongly encourages customers to utilise electronic platforms to pay for municipal services and avoid visiting the municipal offices to physically engage with cashiers.

Renewal of motor vehicle licenses is unavoidable since the eNatis system requires that customers come to our offices. All eye testing equipment will be sanitised after each use.

“We are taking these and other measures to prevent our staff members, customers and community members from contracting the Corona Virus. We have, since the outbreak, formulated technical teams that deal with all mitigating measures internally as well as external to members of the public. This also includes communication with critical stakeholders including the City of uMhlathuze Disaster Management Advisory Forum (Department of Health, King Cetshwayo District Municipality, Private Hospitals, Department of Correctional Services, South African Police Services, Transnet, Department of Home Affairs, South African Revenue Services customs and other stakeholders), Joint Operation Committee (JOC) on Coronavirus,” says City Mayor Cllr Mduduzi Mhlongo.

“We also have every confidence in our Department of Health and the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) which is currently the only institution certified to test the Corona Virus. The Richards Bay Primary School suspected case is being investigated by authentic institutions and we urge parents and community members not to panic wait for confirmation and follow instructions from the authorities,” Mhlongo alludes.

Mhlongo reiterates that the city will take guidance from the National Ministerial Task Team with regards to any developments on the Coronavirus matter.

Community members are encouraged to contact their ward Councillors for Proof of Residence letters.

The City will constantly communicate to the citizens on further action plans as may be prescribed by the government in accordance with the Disaster Management Act and other prescripts.

The city has cancelled all its mass meetings and gatherings as per the President’s instructions. This includes meetings by ward Councillors, Budget public participation, community meetings, etc. Community members must by, all means avoid mass gatherings where over a 100 people may converge as per the directives.

All swimming pools within the city will be closed. Planned Ward Games are also cancelled until further notice.

Council will continue to operate as normal with precautions. Portfolio Committees will continue to seat due to the fact they have less than hundred members, Executive Committee (Exco) meeting will also continue as normal but Full Council meetings will be limited to few officials determined by the Municipal Manager. 

“We plead with our people to remain calm but vigilant at all times and get as much information as possible on the Coronavirus. Members of the community must also rely on official social media platforms and our website, Department of Health KZN and national website and communication platforms and avoid spreading fake news as this causes an unnecessary alarm,” Mhlongo says.

The City of uMhlathuze also likes to distance itself from the message that is making rounds on social media purporting to be authored by The Mayor Cllr Mduduzi Mhlongo, to close all shopping centres around the city.

“The primary message and precautionary measures in this whole situation is hygiene. We need to constantly wash our hands at all times with soap for at least 20 seconds. We need to keep the distance from each other of about 2 metres. We need to clean surfaces and objects that we share especially at homes and workplaces,” Mhlongo concludes.

This is bringing us back to normal ways of being clean, of which we are in anyway supposed to practice at our homes, work and everywhere.

EASY WAYS TO PAY

YOU CAN CHECK THE BALANCE AND RECEIVE NOTIFICATIONS HERE ONLY

• Via the Internet

(www.e-umhlathuze.co.za) receive your account balance and download statements. Please note that this database is only updated once a month.

Sign up for electronic notification of accounts

• Direct Debit

Long regarded as the safest and most convenient payment method. More than 33 000 current customers have authorised an automatic deduction from a nominated bank account each month in payment of each uMhlathuze bill. Then customers only need to ensure that sufficient funds are available in that bank accounts on the agreed date each month. No further effort is necessary, and customers need not be concerned about making these monthly payments. Maximum withdrawal limits are available to ensure the customers’ monthly budgets are respected.

All customers who have bank accounts are encouraged to consider moving to the debit method, as it really is a simple option!

Contact Customer Relations on Tel (035) 907 5131 / 5105 / 5142 / 5132 / 5497 / 5128

- And the application/ authorisation form can be emailed to you or you can be assisted over the counter - and any further assistance the customer might need, will be provided. What could be easier?

• Stop Order

Instructing your employer to deduct monies from your wages/salary and to pay over to council or instructing your bank to debit your bank account with a fixed amount on a date specified by yourself.

Our Banking Details:

• Electronic Payments

It has been encouraging to note the recent growth in the number of business and residential customers who are now opting to pay their bills via the internet or electronic transfer facilities that are being offered by the various banking institutions.

However, customers who use this payment option are reminded that payment receipt is not instantaneous, and several days delay can occur between the customer’s payment authorisation and the Department receiving the funds via the banking institution.

It is vital that the customer’s account number is correctly included as a reference. If these are missing or incorrectly recorded, the account will NOT be credited, and the customer will be in arrears.

Our Banking Details:

We are listed under the public recipient’s at most major banks:

From Absa - Absa – Richards Bay Municipality

From FNB - Absa - uMhlathuze Municipality eMpangeni

From Standard Bank - Absa – City of uMhlathuze Municipality

From Nedbank - Absa - Municipality uMhlathuze

Email proof of payment to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

For general municipal information and inquiries, visit our website and other platforms.

www.umhlathuze.gov.za

Call Centre (24 Hours): 035-907 5000

Toll-free: 0800 222 827

Facebook: umhlathuzeOfficial

Twitter: @umhlathuzeM