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2022-07-07

07/07/2022

24-June-2022 IsiZulu

06/24/2022

24-June-2022_English

06/24/2022

Ezasegagasini Metro English

06/10/2022

eZasegagasini Metro IsiZulu

06/10/2022

Metro Ezasegagasini 27 May 2022 English

05/27/2022

Metro Ezasegagasini 27 May 2022 IsiZulu

05/27/2022

Metro Ezasegagasini English

05/13/2022

Metro Ezasegagasini IsiZulu

05/13/2022

Metro Ezasegagasini English

04/29/2022

Metro Ezasegagasini IsiZulu

04/29/2022

Metro Ezasegagasini English

04/15/2022

Metro Ezasegagasini IsiZulu

04/15/2022

Metro Ezasegagasini English

04/01/2022

Metro Ezasegagasini IsiZulu

04/01/2022

/Metro Ezasegagasini English

03/18/2022

Metro Ezasegagasini IsiZulu

03/18/2022

Metro Ezasegagasini English

03/04/2022

Metro Ezasegagasini isiZulu

03/04/2022

Metro Ezasegagasini IsiZulu

02/18/2022

Metro Ezasegagasini English

02/18/2022

Metro Ezasegagasini English

02/04/2022

Metro Ezasegagasini isiZulu

02/04/2022

Metro EzaseGagasini 24 Jan 2022 English

01/25/2022

<div>Metro Ezasegagasini. Article 1.  350 000 Visitors flocked to City over the festive season  Written By  NONDUDUZO NGCONGO  THE City’s tourism sector received a much-needed boost with approximately 350 000 visitors flocking to the City over the festive period starting from 15 December 2021 to 4 January 2022. There was also a 75 percent accommodation occupancy with an estimated R480 million direct spend, injecting R1.2 billion to the City’s GDP. Around 2 500 jobs were created during this period. This follows the release of the 2021/2022 festive season actual figures.  EThekwini Mayor Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda said he is elated with the figures and praised the City’s preparedness to host the influx of visitors. The actual figures exceeded the City’s projections which were a 65 percent accommodation occupancy and anticipating 275 000 visitors. However, it was indeed a booming festive season for the City as travelers that had planned international  vacations had to reschedule and plan domestic holidays as international borders closed without warning. Many of these travelers opted to visit Durban.  Over the Christmas weekend period, preliminary indicators show that close to 200 000 visitors descended on the City spending close to R150 million with the contribution to the City’s GDP being approximately R350 million. Throughout the festive season, the City’s occupancy rates across its accommodation establishments remained stable at 75 to 80 percent with uMhlanga averaging around 85 percent occupancy rates. Five-star hotels such as the Beverly Hills and Oyster Box were fully booked, said Mayor Kaunda. He said restaurants and eateries in townships and other destinations also did good business.  A breakdown of visitors to the City indicated that 34 percent of visitors to Durban were from KwaZulu-Natal, 31 percent hailed from Gauteng, 12 percent from the Eastern Cape and eight percent from the Western Cape. Compared to last year, there is a 50 percent increase in visitors and accommodation occupancy rates in the City. Mayor Kaunda said the Festive Season Management Committee ensures the safety of residents and visitors during the festive season. “We are indebted to eThekwini residents for their hospitality. We needed this development as the tourism sector was severely impacted by COVID-19.”  Article 2.  Student debt relief fund application open . Written By  JESSIE SINGH  ETHEKWINI Municipality invites qualifying applicants who wish to commence or continue studying towards their first undergraduate studies at a public higher education institution in the 2022 academic year to apply for the eThekwini Municipal Student Relief Fund. Application is open to South African citizens permanently residing in eThekwini. The closing date for applications is 31 January.  Head of the eThekwini Municipal Academy Professor Mpilo Ngubane said the financial assistance is for a full-time study programme at a public higher education institution. He said it will be awarded based on academic performance. The financial assistance is mainly for registration and a provision may be made towards a portion of tuition fees but not accommodation, meals, books, sports, transportation, and/or any other related costs. People with disabilities are also encouraged to apply. Ngubane said it is the student’s responsibility to get acceptance to a higher education institution.  Students are encouraged to further apply for financial assistance from other funding sources as well. Applications should include the following information/documents  • A copy of a Matric certificate if you have completed your NSC (Matric) and have not studied at any higher education institution.  • An academic record if you are currently studying at a higher education institution.  • Proof of income/salary of both parent/s and guardian/s (e.g. pay slip / letter from employer or sworn statement or tax return statement for self-employed parents or guardian/s).  • Income of parents combined and/or guardian is R160 000. Should there be two or more students in a household, the cut off income is R200 000.  • Proof of unemployment if parents are unemployed from the Department of Labour.  • Certified copy of your South African ID.  • Parents or guardian/s ID copies or death certificate where applicable.  • Acceptance letter from the public higher education institution.  • Financial statement from a higher education institution.  • Motivation letter from the applicant.  • Proof of residence.  HOW TO APPLY Applications must be submitted to Shell House, 11th Floor, 221 Anton Lembede Street, Durban, 4001. Applicants who have not been contacted within ten weeks of the closing date should consider their applications unsuccessful. For enquiries contact Vuka Gwacela: 031 322 0414 / 031 322 9836 Wendy Shabalala: 031 311 3924. Bright Shabalala: 031 311 3451.  Article 3.  SALGA conference charts new path for KZN municipalities  Written By  SIPHELELE BUTHELEZI  SOLUTIONS to address ongoing challenges in communities were among the issues discussed at the two-day KwaZulu Natal South African Local Government Association (SALGA) Conference held on 13 and 14 January. The conference aimed to chart a new path for KZN municipalities.  KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala acknowledged the progress local government has made in the provision of water. He said despite these gains, some areas still don’t have access to a constant water supply while other communities experience water shedding due to high demand. In response to these challenges, the provincial government recently launched its comprehensive master plan for infrastructure investment over the next 10 to 15 years. This includes the construction of dams. “We must move away from the provision of water through privately owned water tankers. Water tankers must be insourced and should not be a permanent feature but rather an interim intervention.  Provincial government insists districts prioritise the provision of water, sanitation, and other basic services,” said Premier Zikalala. He also recognised the crucial role played by SALGA in transforming municipalities. EThekwini Mayor Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda said local government is at the coalface of service delivery as the closest sphere of government to the people. He said: “Guided by ideals of the Freedom Charter which states, among others, that ‘The people shall govern’ we must be accessible to the public. It is important to be in touch with their daily reality on the ground.” He said the City has embraced the District Development Model which promotes an integrated approach by all spheres of government to avoid fragmentation and duplication. He urged councillors to accelerate local economic development and radical socio-economic transformation. “In eThekwini, we have identified job creation as a key imperative for economic recovery.  Our Economic Recovery Plan continues to drive our turnaround strategy for the economy and our finances,” he said. SALGA is expected to announce a new date for the election of the new leadership. Article 4. </div>

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