Latest news with #R1.75
IOL News
15-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Political parties debate eThekwini's R1. 75 billion waste management strategy
eThekwini Municipality proposed R1.75 billion turnaround strategy for the Cleansing and Solid Waste unit, is aimed at addressing financial deficits and improving service delivery. Image: FILE Political parties in the eThekwini Municipality had mixed views on the Cleansing and Solid Waste (CSW) unit Turnaround Strategy, on Tuesday. The CSW unit updated the eThekwini Municipality Executive Committee (EXCO) on its strategy which is expected to cost approximately R1.75 billion over 10 years, with funding mobilised through reprioritisation, cost optimisation, and leveraging national reform-linked grants. The CSW reported that mounting financial deficits, declining infrastructure reliability, and growing service delivery backlogs have rendered the current solid waste business model unsustainable. The municipality stated that the turnaround strategy for the CSW was developed in alignment with the National Treasury's Metro Trading Services Reform (MTSR) framework. The deadline for the submission is 31 July 2025 with a special council meeting scheduled for Monday. The strategy identifies a clear trajectory for reform under the three-phase national model: stabilise, recover, and transform. The municipality has found that the current waste service value chain is highly linear, with over 98% of waste landfilled and minimal diversion. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. 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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ According to the municipality, the strategy introduces seven strategic focus areas (SFAs), each aligned with specific goals and causes of underperformance. One of them is the Single Point of Accountability (SPoMA) which will establish a dedicated, ringfenced utility structure for CSW with clear leadership and delegated authority. Councillor Nkosenhle Madlala, ANC Exco member, stated that the ANC caucus supported the strategy including the institutional and governance roadmap and the business and investment plan. 'We recognise that this strategy is a key step towards transforming the unit into a more efficient, financially sustainable, and environmentally responsible service – all under clear and accountable leadership,' he said. Madlala said that the ANC appreciates that the strategy aligns with the Treasury's MTSR, which aims to professionalise and strengthen municipal trading services. 'We note and support the development of the Performance Improvement Action Plan due in April 2026, which will help unlock much-needed funding through the Urban Settlements Development Grant. The ANC believes regular progress updates are essential. We support the decision to keep this matter as a standing item on the Committee's agenda to help address any gaps and monitor progress,' Madlala said. Madlala encouraged the CSW to continue working towards cleaner communities and improved service delivery. Andre Beetge, DA Exco member, said the DA supports the strategy that aligns with the prescriptive guidelines of National Treasury, by implication forcing compliance on the metro. 'We, however, remain in amused speculation on the political will to implement. This against the backdrop of recent Auditor General and Internal Audit reports, wherein the city's water and sanitation strategy was acknowledged, yet with implementation and outcome reporting being extremely vague and questionable,' Beetge said. He added that a strategy doesn't keep the streets clean, the gutters clear, the oceans uncontaminated, the landfills operational, or the compactors available. 'It is competent people willing to do what needs to be done without corruption, political interference or personal hindrance,' Beetge said.
The South African
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The South African
Beyoncé's foundation donates R1.75 million to university band
Beyoncé Knowles-Carter has once again demonstrated her commitment to uplifting the next generation of Black talent. Her BeyGOOD Foundation has donated $100,000, over R1.75 million, to Texas Southern University's (TSU) legendary Ocean of Soul Marching Band. This act of generosity promises to transform the band's future and resonates far beyond the United States. The donation will fund scholarships, boost recruitment and retention, and provide vital technological and infrastructure upgrades for the band, according to USA Today. TSU President J.W. Crawford III expressed his gratitude. 'We are deeply appreciative of the BeyGOOD Foundation. This significant demonstration of its commitment to empowering our student musicians and elevating their form of artistic expression'. Dr Brian Simmons, director of the Ocean of Soul, emphasised the impact: 'This is more than just a donation. It's an investment in our students, our sound, and our story'. Beyoncé's support for historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) is well known. The Ocean of Soul Marching Band gained worldwide attention. The band played during Beyoncé's electrifying halftime performance at the 2024 NFL Christmas Day game in Houston. Over 200 band members joined her on stage, captivating 27 million viewers on Netflix. The performance, dubbed the 'Beyoncé Bowl', showcased the band's artistry and the cultural power of HBCUs. Charlie Coleman III, TSU's senior associate vice president for development, highlighted the broader significance. 'The BeyGOOD Foundation's impactful investment affirms the powerful role that HBCUs play. This is especially so when shaping the next generation of artistic, academic, and cultural leaders. This partnership does more than support the Ocean of Soul it also opens doors for our students to access the arts in life-changing ways. Beyoncé's donation underscores the importance of investing in creative education. This is not Beyoncé's first act of philanthropy towards HBCUs. In 2018, she launched the Homecoming Scholars Award Programme. The program aims to support students at several Black universities, including TSU. Her ongoing Cowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin' Circuit Tour continues to shine a light on Black excellence and creativity. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
03-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Durban's R1. 75 billion strategy to revolutionise solid waste management
The eThekwini Municipality Cleansing and Solid Waste Unit (CSW) is devising a turnaround strategy in alignment with the National Treasury's Metro Trading Services Reform (MTSR) framework. Image: File The eThekwini Municipality's Cleansing and Solid Waste (CSW) unit reported that it was at a critical inflection point and is now developing a turnaround strategy for it. This strategy is expected to cost approximately R1.75 billion over 10 years, with funding mobilised through reprioritisation, cost optimisation, and leveraging national reform-linked grants, the municipality stated in a report to the eThekwini Municipality Executive Committee (EXCO) recently. The CSW reported that mounting financial deficits, declining infrastructure reliability, and growing service delivery backlogs have rendered the current solid waste business model unsustainable. The municipality stated that the turnaround strategy for the CSW was developed in alignment with the National Treasury's Metro Trading Services Reform (MTSR) framework. This is expected to transform CSW into a performance-driven, financially viable, and environmentally resilient municipal trading service with a single point of management accountability. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The strategy identifies a clear trajectory for reform under the three-phase national model: stabilise, recover, and transform. The municipality explained in the report that the initial phase targets operational recovery and institutional clarity, while subsequent phases focus on cost-efficiency, financial sustainability, circular economy readiness, and customer trust. The municipality has found that the current waste service value chain is highly linear, with over 98% of waste landfilled and minimal diversion. Other findings were: The CSW's average Operating Cost Coverage Ratio (OCCR) is 0.71, significantly below the sustainability threshold of 1.2. This indicates structural revenue shortfalls from high operational costs relative to tariffs. Landfill closures and aging fleet infrastructure are driving up the city's three major cost centres: overtime, maintenance, and fleet hire. Informal settlements and dense urban nodes remain underserviced, exacerbating illegal dumping and public health risks. Data fragmentation, weak asset management systems, and outdated tariff models impair cost recovery and operational optimisation. Institutional form lacks a single point of accountability, leading to fragmented leadership, diluted performance, poor consequence management, and misalignment of the shift system versus the standard of services. According to the municipality, the strategy introduces seven strategic focus areas (SFAs), each aligned with specific goals and causes of underperformance. They are: Single Point of Accountability (SPoMA) - Establish a dedicated, ringfenced utility structure for CSW with clear leadership and delegated authority. Fleet and logistics optimisation - Renew and optimise fleet through predictive maintenance. Route planning software and pooled vehicle reserves. Financial sustainability and ringfencing - Introduce activity-based costing, tariff reform, and revenue protection measures. Circular economy and diversion pathways - Expand recycling, establish MRFs, and integrate informal waste pickers to reduce landfill dependence. Data and information systems - Deploy an integrated waste information system to drive evidence-based decision-making. Environmental risk and compliance - Modernise landfill infrastructure and implement leachate and gas management to reduce environmental liabilities. Customer engagement and trust - Improve service transparency, complaint resolution, and community education to restore public confidence. The municipality has a 10-year implementation roadmap embedded within the strategy, comprising 34 phased projects mapped to the strategically focused areas. Stabilise (Years 1-2): Core service restoration, institutional reform, data infrastructure, and financial diagnostics. Recover (Years 3-6): Fleet replacement, tariff reform, separation-at-source expansion, and customer engagement rollout. Transform (Years 7-10): Circular economy scaling, full system digitisation, and integrated asset management. The municipality stated that the strategy marks a decisive shift toward a professionally managed, financially sustainable, and socially accountable solid waste utility. By executing this roadmap, the eThekwini CSW will address its service delivery backlogs, strengthen institutional capacity, and re-establish public trust-delivering universal, reliable, and future-ready waste services for all residents.
