Six years and counting, Ballito UIP continues the fight against urban decay

It has been 6 years since Ballito’s Urban Improvement Precinct (UIP) was started and the town’s main road and business district remains clean, green and well-maintained.

Up to 2013, Ballito was looking progressively shabbier and despite rapid growth the urban decay was evident.

Following the success of a similar initiative in Umhlanga, local property owners, businesses and community groups banded together to lobby for their own UIP.

Now a common sight in Ballito’s busy streets, how does the Ballito Urban Improvement Precinct (UIP) actually work?

The Courier spoke to precinct manager, Thierry Leclezio to find out.

The UIP is a commercially-funded Special Ratings Area (SRA), which means it works in a designated area in order to supplement municipal services.

This area is decided as part of the SRA agreement and in the case of Ballito, it translates as the Ballito business park, down Ballito Drive and on the beachfront from Zimbali to Willard Beach.

The agreement is why you will not see UIP staff on residential roads which are left to be maintained by KwaDukuza municipality (KDM).

“The UIP addresses Ballito’s ever-changing public realm service needs especially with respect to crime and grime,” said Leclezio.

The 4 main services they provide are security, cleaning, maintenance and greening which encompass the majority of work its 56 employees undertake.

“Pothole repair and other maintenance tasks such as replacing curbs, fixing paving and maintaining the boardwalk are an important aspect of the UIP’s role in improving Ballito’s public areas.”

Residents may have also seen UIP officers on the beachfront during the festive period as part of the community policing initiative.

“It is important to note that the UIP is not mandated to enforce bylaws, it is only the municipality and Saps who have this authority, however the UIP supports the authorities in this regard.”

There are further provisions for special projects like the Moja Carts initiative to uplift local informal street traders and beautifying the entrance of Ballito at the same time.

“The UIP is a nonprofit company which is funded through SRA rates that are raised by KDM and disbursed to the Ballito UIP monthly and the system is working well.”

This is a separate rate paid by all commercial property owners over and above their general rates and is compulsory.

The commercial rate is calculated against the property value as prescribed by the municipal valuation value.

For the financial year ending in June 2021, the UIP raised R10 815 024 in commercial property levies, which is the main funding for the precinct.

Aside from the commercial rates received, several residential property owners also contribute on a voluntary basis.

These rates come from 24 beachfront located residential schemes, which together contributed R1 138 116 in the current financial year.

Security is the highest funded facet of the UIP, accounting for just under 50% of spending followed by cleaning (14.42%), special projects (9.54%), greening (3.5%) and repairs and maintenance (2.59%).

SRA revenue received from both KDM and voluntary contributions are subject to an annual independent audit by the UIP auditors.

The UIP manages the precinct through 6 transversal business units namely operations, finance, corporate governance, development control, communications and stakeholder engagement.

More information can be found on ballitouip.co.za.