Joint effort towards a cleaner, greener Jacobs
A workshop was held recently, where senior representatives from eThekwini Municipal departments were invited to discuss the challenges being experienced in Jacobs.
AS part of the Industrial Revitalization Strategy of the city, Jacobs has been selected as a pilot area for regeneration as an industrial hub which is seen as crucial to the city.
The project is spearheaded by National Treasury and the City’s Economic Development Unit which identified the area is a significant source of rates for the city and creates opportunities for sustainable economic and environmental growth and job creation.
A workshop was held recently, where senior representatives from eThekwini Municipal departments were invited to discuss the challenges being experienced in Jacobs, and to come up with possible solutions to regenerate the area into a well-functioning one.
“Service delivery needs to be drastically improved in the Jacobs area. It is suggested that this can be achieved by configuring an institutional model or precinct management structure for the strategic and operational management of the Jacobs industrial space. This could mean an entity that is made up of business and social stakeholders with a municipal counterpart as an institutional structure,” said Shunnon Tulsiram, head of the Economic Development Unit from eThekwini Municipality. 
It was suggested that an Integrated Enforcement Team needs to be formed, made up of cross-functional departments. This enforcement team will aim to break down the embedded silos within the municipality and co-ordinate service delivery for Jacobs, as well ensure a more synchronised enforcement implementation by the city.
“To this end, the South Durban Basin Area Based Management (SDB-ABM) was tasked with co-ordinating an interdepartmental joint operation to escalate service delivery and enforcement operations in the Jacobs area. This is an effort to ensure compliance with municipality by-laws in the Jacobs area. The SDB-ABM Unit in partnership with Metro Police, Business Licensing, Business Support, Environmental Health, Fire Department, DSW, Roads and Storm Water, Town Planning, ETA, Building Inspectorate and other municipal departments, conducted an integrated operations and enforcement initiative in Jacobs last month.
“Issues of illegal dumping, damaged infrastructure, congestion, parking infringements, illegal business, compliance issues for businesses were all addressed. These operations will occur on an ongoing basis and will focus on 2-3 roads at a time,” said Eurakha Singh, Senior Manager SDB ABM.
She said further that there is a call for community stakeholders and businesses to come on board with the city and to participate in the programme and to assist in the sustainability of the programme by being ears and eyes of the municipality, on the ground.
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