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NEWS 16 July 2010 Page 3 Green expo: last chance THE deadline for the Sustainable City Exhibition, being organised by the Imagine Durban programme has been extended until Monday (19 July). The exhibition aims to encourage locals to live and work sustainably. The show, at the Durban Exhibition Centre, from 13 to 15 August, will cover issues like energy efficiency, water conservation, renewable energy and organic gardening. Application forms can be dowloaded from www.imaginedurban.org/exhi bitor or call 031 311 4277 Pigeon Valley: plants wanted THE Friends of Pigeon Valley is appealing for donations of indigenous plants, for replanting at the natural beauty spot in Glenwood. Crispin Hemson, of the Friends, said they were especially interested in indigenous trees and shrubs that often spring up in suburban gardens, seeded by birds. Contact him at [email protected] or 082 926 5333. Learn how to draw plants THE Botanical Artists Association of Southern Africa are presenting a drawing with pen and ink workshop at the Durban Botanic Gardens tomorrow (Saturday, 17 July). The workshop, at the garden’s Discovery room, will be led by Carol Lee Beckx and is suitable for beginners and more experienced artists. Call 031 266 3082, 072 337 5142 or e-mail [email protected] . Furniture factory sale THE Furniture Technology Centre Trust (Furntech) will host a factory sale tomorrow (17 July) from 8am to 1pm at 63 Willowfield Crescent, Springfield Furntech is an incubator for small businesses in the furniture and wood product manufacturing industry. On sale will be furniture, wooden trays, chopping boards, rolling pins and bathroom cabinets. Art gallery on the ball Time_Frame, an exhibition which explores the intersection of space, place and people in the context of the World Cup, is showing at the Durban Art Gallery until Monday (19 July). Another football themed exhibition, Art of the Ball , drawn from the gallery’s collection closes on August 2. For more details, call 031 311 2262. IN BRIEF LEGENDARY conservationist Dr Ian Player will be the guest speaker at the AGM of the Botanical Society of SA (KZN Coastal Branch) on Sunday, 25 July. He will talk on Conservation and the Human Spirit, at the meeting, to be held at the Botanic Gardens Visitors’ Centre, John Zikhali (formerly Sydenham) Road at 3pm. Player was instrumental in pioneering efforts to save the white rhino and founded the Wildnerness Leadership School. For more details, see www.ianplayer.com . – Metro Reporter S’CELO KHUZWAYO THE eThekwini Municipality’s Disaster Management Unit played a leading role in providing relief to victims of the fire that recently gutted some 600 shacks at the Kennedy Road informal settlement. Emergency workers were on the scene within seven min- utes of the fire being reported. About 2 000 people were left destitute and two lost their lives. The Unit bouyed survivors by organising blankets, food, tents and other items. Chairperson for Health, Safety and Social Services Committee, Councillor Nom- vuzo Shabalala, said the victims were also given build- ing materials, water and sanitation. Disaster Management’s Malcolm Canham said they had worked with non-govern- mental organisations and companies. Initial media reports blamed the fire on illegal electricity connections but authorities maintained that the cause was still unknown and that investigations were ongoing. “After the fire we conducted an assessment of the extent of the damage. Unfortunately we still don’t know the exact cause of the fire, but a candle is suspected to have been the cause,” Conham said. Local Government MEC Nomsa Dube visited the area soon after the fire and was quoted as saying that some people in the area had refused to move to other places like Riverdene, Newlands East and Mount Moriah, where houses had been built. Dube’s spokesman, Lennox Mabaso said they were con- cerned about the regular fires at Kennedy Road, but he praised the Municipality for responding so quickly to the emergency. “This is a leading Muni- cipality when it comes to building houses. This is why the numbers of people living within its borders increases all the time,” Mabaso said. He said the Department was working with the Muni- cipality, to find a permanent solution to the Kennedy Road fire problem. [email protected] MUSA MTHALANE, NONDU NGCONGO and SAMKELO MTSHALI HUNDREDS of needy children and elderly people will be warmer this winter thanks to donation of blankets, gloves and hats. The Municipality and the Office of the Premier’s Operation Winter Warmth coordinated donations from the Al-Imdaad Foundation and the Minara Chamber of Commerce. In Chesterville, Chief Whip, Councillor Fawzia Peer, said, “My special thanks goes to our partners for warming the community of Ward 24, since most of the people in this ward cannot afford to buy the things they need to keep them warm.” Ward 24 resident Nomsa Ndawonde said, “I thank Councillor Peer, the Municipality and the Al-Imdaad Foundation for keeping us warm this winter. “Most of us cannot afford to buy these things because we are not working.” Others benefiting from Operation Winter Warmth included Mthande Richmond Farm Service Centre, Ilungelo Labadala Children, Clermont Child Youth Care Centre, St Vincent Orphanage, Marianhill Streetwise Shelter, Zakhe Place of Safety in KwaDabeka, ZamaZulu Old Age Home in KwaMashu, and Adams Shelter. Thoko Xulu, Manager of Social Development in the Health Unit, said, “We were already helping homeless people with shelter and groceries and thought it would be good to give something to homes for the elderly and children.” She said people in other areas would benefit too. Mandela Day “We will continue this programme until Sunday, Mandela Day, when we will spend the 67 minutes wisely by helping another home,” said Xulu. Speaking at Zakhe, Al- Imdaad Project Coordinator Abed Karrim said, “We are proud to have been able to put smiles on the faces of children and elderly people. “We are thankful to the Office of the Premier and the Municipality for this project that helps young people to have a place of safety to grow and become better people.” Zakhe Facility Manager Nokuthula Phakathi said, “I thank this partnership for helping us look after these children.” Hundred-year-old Nomlova Duma, of ZamaZulu, said it was heartwarming to see the Municipality and sponsors taking care of them. [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] See Page 4 Blanket gifts bring winter warmth GOOD CHEER: Chief Whip, Councillor Fawzia Peer joins Chesterville residents for a handover of winter woolies Picture: JESSIE SINGH ROMITA HANUMAN IF YOU have received a form with your electricity bill titled Revenue Information Assess- ment, make sure you fill it in, attach a copy of your ID or drivers licence, and send it back. Deputy City Manager: Treas- ury, Krish Kumar, said, “We need to get all the necessary, updated information from our customers. This is to ensure we have a better relationship with our cus- tomers and to update the Municipality’s database.” The documents are being posted to customers with their utilities bills. They are being asked to fill them out, attach a copy of their ID or driver’s licence and drop them off in the relevant box at their nearest Sizakala Centre. Trained officials will be coming around to gather the information in certain areas where necessary, including rural areas in eThekwini. Due to the size of the project, service providers were appointed through a public tender process, and they have developed a data system, will capture all data, and provide a call centre for queries as well as analyse the data collected. The Treasury has urged the public to meet the 31 August deadline. For more information, call 031 328 1100, visit www. durban.gov.za, e-mail info@ durbancustomer.co.za or fax 031 328 1101. [email protected] THEMBA KHUMALO SURVIVORS of fires, floods or other disasters will be better off thanks to a donation of camping equipment worth more than R1-million by Australian soccer fans who stayed in Durban during the World Cup. City Manager Michael Sutcliffe and head of the Strategic Projects Unit Julie- May Ellingson took delivery of 100 tents, 200 beds, matresses and sets of linen, and 100 fire buckets and extinguishers at the Sahara Stadium Kingsmead recently. The Australian World Cup supporters’ camp used all of this equipment during their stay at the stadium. Mayor Obed Mlaba, speaking later, said, “We are grateful for this generous donation by the Australian supporters. “They are among thousands of international visitors who chose Durban as a base for their stay during the World Cup. These goods will be used to help the poor and victims of disasters.” Mlaba said international visitors had praised the organisation of the World Cup in Durban. “Our fan parks, the transport system and other places of interest have been commended by our guests. This donation is one of the many tangible benefits that have accrued from hosting the World Cup,” he said. Sutcliffe said the Municipality had set aside half of the equipment to help informal settlement residents, who were often displaced from their homes. The local branch of the Scouts Association of South Africa would use the rest of the equipment. [email protected] Kennedy Road fire: quick relief for victims Oz tent town goes to good cause Treasury wants your details Ian Player to top bill at AGM
