Ballito taxi rank imminent?

KwaDukuza mayor Ricardo Mthembu has promised KwaDukuza residents that within 30 days notice will be served to the landowners for the commencement of the expropriating of land in Ballito for the building of the long awaited taxi rank.

Mthembu was speaking at the inaugural council meeting at the KwaDukuza Town Hall last Wednesday.

The issue of the taxi rank has for years been in the thoughts and prayers of those who use the taxis daily.

Currently the rank is next to the Sangweni Tourism Centre on Ballito Drive.

It was ‘temporally’ moved there in 2014 following the decision to widen Ballito Drive to six lanes, which incorporated the previous informal rank, also a much complained about eyesore next to the Lifestyle Centre, into the new improved road.

Like the previous location the temporary rank is exposed to the elements, forcing commuters to stand in the rain and drudge through the mud and endure blinding dust storms when it is windy.

Before the move, in 2013 the municipality was already searching for a possible permanent solution.

Preliminary conceptual designs were prepared for two possible sites and a proposal to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the landowners was tabled at a special council meeting on August 21, 2013.

At the time the land where the Shell Greenfields Service Station once stood (next to the P455/ Ballito Drive between Virgin Active and the N2) was earmarked as the preferred site.

However, Mthembu did not disclose the location of the current site, and KDM spokesperson Sphelelo Ngobese said he could not reveal this until the land had been expropriated.

Mthembu also announced a number of new projects around KwaDukuza.

“We will formally meet with the new MEC for art and culture to discuss the re-construction of the new KwaDukuza Museum, extension of the KwaDukuza main library and building of a library in Groutville,” said Mthembu.

He said the construction of Groutville Clinic will begin in 18 months.

“The plans have been approved and the project has been approved by the health department.”

The mayor said they would ensure the human settlement department provided a full budget for the construction of RDP houses at Etete, Driefontein, Ntshawini, Chris Hani, Lloyd and Sihle Phakathi.

“We will also launch the electronic document management system for the building control and development planning before next June.”

Lastly, he said the municipality was set on fighting corruption and an anti-corruption toll free number would be launched before March next year.

Positions within council were then elected. Dolly Govender was re-elected as the deputy mayor, Phumlile Zulu as the new speaker of council, Dumisani Ndimande as the chief whip and Lindi Nhaca as the chairperson of the municipal public accounts committee.

Council also resolved that the executive committee (EXCO) be constituted of nine members (previously 10) to reduce costs. The executive committee members are: Ricardo Mthembu, Dolly Govender, John Phahla, Nombuleleo Khumalo, Thulani Ntuli, Jenifer Vallan, Malcom Hubner, Madan Sing and Jabulani Sibiya. The first inaugural meetings of the councils across the Ilembe district took place last week, where the new leadership of Ndwedwe, Maphumulo and Mandeni council were also elected.

Matozi Dlamini is the new mayor of Maphumulo municipality and her deputy is Zama Ncalane. Simphiwe Shange was elected as the new speaker of Maphumulo council.

Ndwedwe municipality has a new mayor, Vincent Chili and Nokulunga Bloss was re-elected as deputy mayor on Thursday.

Khonzuyise Ngidi is now the new speaker of Ndwedwe council. In Mandeni things are much the same as mayor Sphesihle Zulu, deputy mayor Phindile Sishi, and speaker Makhosi Zungu were re-elected on Thursday at the Sibusisiwe Hall.

The grand finale, the Ilembe district municipality inaugural meeting will take place at Sabuyaze Sport Ground in Maphumulo on Thursday.

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