Friday25 January 2008

Your FREE city paperwww.durban.gov.zaMETRO

e z a s e g a g a s i n i

News Page 2

BUMPEROFFERING OFCOUNCIL JOBSPages 6 to 12

COUNCIL BRINGSFOOD PARCEL JOYTO THE NEEDY

DERRICK DLAMINIand SOHANA SINGH

THE Umlazi andLamontville com-munities are thewinners in an em-powerment deal

that has given them a R50-million stake in the UmlaziMega City shopping complex.

This thanks to the sale of a25% stake in the centreempowerment group Sizo-vuna Investments, which isowned by local residents andcommunity organisations.

Deputy Mayor Logie Nai-doo, who chairs the City’sEconomic DevelopmentCommittee, said transfor-ming townships into viableand vibrant economic nodeshad always been a priority forthe municipality and theUmlazi deal was a perfectexample of this.

“It’s a real economic trans-formation initiative, and willmake people realise that theyare indeed major role playersin the mainstream economyof our country. Ordinarycitizens of Umlazi and surr-ounding areas will now havea stake in Umlazi Mega City.This will create businessopportunities and strengthenthe local and eThekwinieconomy,” Naidoo said.

The deal follows a series ofpublic meetings between theCity’s Economic Develop-ment Unit, local councillors,business people, and otherlocal stakeholders.

Chief Executive Officer ofSA Corp, and head of listedreal estate at Old MutualInvestment Group PropertyInvestments, Craig Ewin saidthe Umlazi Mega City hadexperienced a 17% growth insales last month overDecember 2006.

“Retailers, which includeseveral national chains,achieved trading densities(sales per square metre) of

more than R20 000 at thiscentre, which opened in April2006.

“We truly commend thecity for its involvement in thistransaction, and look forwardto a long and successfulpartnership. It’s a significantmilestone. Local people willhave a meaningful stake in

retail society,” Ewin said.Simphiwe Mbhele, of Sizo-

vuna Investments, said thedeal was a milestone for localbusinesses. “The concept ofeconomic empowerment isnow a reality, and we aregrateful to all those who’vebeen involved in this historicachievement.

“This gives BEE its truthfulmeaning. Undoubtedly, grass-roots people will learn a lotabout investments,” Mbhelesaid.

Sizovuna Investments willhost meetings to brief localbusinesses, organisationsand interested individualsbased in Umlazi, Lamontville

and surrounding areas on thedeal and the opportunities itpresents.

For more information call082 759 8426, 072 035 6899 or083 622 4783 and ask forGugu Dlamini or SimphiweMbhele.

DlaminiSD@durban.gov.zaSinghSohana@durban.gov.za

GUGU BLOSE

AS LOAD shedding continuesto make itself felt acrossDurban, City ManagerMichael Sutcliffe has urgedresidents to play their part insaving electricity.

“My plea is that you doeverything you can tominimise the consumption

of electricity. If you do that,chances are we won’t havemuch load shedding,” Sut-cliffe said.

Despite the inconvenienceinvolved, “this is a goodproblem to have because itresults from an economygrowing faster than expectedand from us increasing thenumber of people with

access to electricity, each ofwhom is now buyingappliances which consumeelectricity”.

He said the City had takenfeedback from residents toheart and incorporated it intoa new load shedding schedulethat should mean fewerdisruptions.

See Pages 2 and 4

COUNCILLORS gatheron Wednesday, 30January, for the firstmeeting of theeThekwini Council for2008. The meetingstarts at 10am in themain auditorium of theCity Hall.

Mega mall BEE dealSAMANTHA MOODLEY

THE poor matric results for2007, especially in Maths andScience, has strengthened theCity’s resolve to supporteducational initiatives.

The higher grade Maths passrate increased only marg-inally, from 25 217 in 2006 to25 415 in 2007. While highergrade Science pass numbersin 2007 (28 122) were down on2006 (29 781).

Now the City’s Procurementand Infrastructure cluster hasstepped in with a plan, whichit revealed last week at a SouthDurban Basin (SDB) businessbreakfast.

The SDB is an industrialhub, home to more than 4 000businesses, many of whichface a growing need for staffwith scarce skills in maths,science and technology.

The plan involves dev-eloping partnerships betweenthe city and businesses and tosecure investment foreducational initiatives.

Deputy City Manager forProcurement and Infrastruc-ture, Derek Naidoo, made nobones about the reason for themeeting. “The only way foryou to be sustained, is for youto give back – we want yourpartnership and we want yourmoney,” Naidoo told busi-nessmen at the meeting.

He said there was a hugeproblem with “inequitablequality” and it was vital thecauses of this, includingpoorly skilled teachers, wereaddressed.

Some of the bigger educationinitiatives the city will besupporting this year include aMaths and Science Sym-posium, teacher developmentworkshops, the World YouthInvitational Intercity Math-ematics Contest, the PanAfrican Mathematics Olym-piad, and school projects.

These will cost about R5-million.

The Maths and ScienceSymposium takes place at theKing Goodwill ZwelithiniStadium in Umlazi on 12 and13 February. There will be 27stalls at the symposium whichwill be attended by 15 000pupils and 1 000 teachersfrom 400 schools.

Call Ronel Mitchell on031 311 7275 or 083 587 5524.

MoodleySamantha@durban.gov.za

BIG DEAL: Gugu Dlamini of Sizovuna Investments and Executive Director of SA Corp, Peter Sparks, sign anempowerment agreement, transferring a stake of the Mega City shopping centre to Umlazi residents. Withthem are Deputy Mayor Logie Naidoo, Simphiwe Mbhele, of Sizovuna Investments, Chief Executive of SA Corp,Craig Ewin, and Sandile Cele of Sizovuna Investments Picture: DERRICK DLAMINI

Load shedding – ‘you can help’ Full Council Win, Win, WinEZASEGAGASINI Metro is givingaway 10 copies of Durban, AParadise and its People. Thestylish, full-colour book, whichtouches on everything fromfashion and music toarchitecture and eating out,has already proved a hit withlocals and visitors. The first 10people to call 031 311 2195between 8.30am and 9.30amwill win a copy.

Boost formaths,sciencepupils