Latest news with #eThekwiniMunicipality
IOL News
a day ago
- Business
- IOL News
eThekwini Municipality denies awarding contracts for smart meters amid allegations of wasteful expenditure
eThekwini Municipality denies purchasing smart meters from seven companies, saying the procurement process is still ongoing. Image: Willem Phungula eThekwini Municipality has denied awarding seven companies to supply electricity smart meters. In a written response to the story that the Independent Media published last week, the city's spokesperson, Gugu Sisilana, said the municipality was not aware of differing quantities being placed across suppliers; therefore, dismissing the assertion of wasteful expenditure. Sisilana said the procurement process is still ongoing. 'The allegations of wasteful expenditure, which are not corroborated by any evidence, are not true. This is due to the fact that the procurement process for electricity meters is still ongoing through the Supply Chain Management process. We are not aware of differing quantities being placed across suppliers,' she said. 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 Despite the city's denial and information obtained from the city's website, it was revealed that indeed the companies were awarded. Independent Media also saw purchase orders matching the companies on the city's website. Sources within the municipality have described the decision to award all the companies as an attempt to avoid awarding the tender to a qualified supplier with the lowest quote. The source said the only possible reason for this was that the officials wanted kickbacks from the highest bidders. In May 2024, the National Treasury approved the RT29 national transversal for smart metering. The Treasury approved seven companies for the city to choose from when buying these smart meters. In the purchase orders, the city ordered 2,000 smart meters from a particular supplier, which cost R2,591 per unit, whereas the other supplier's unit price was R1,645. One provider charged R2,218 per item, while the other charged R1,811. The city had to pay R5.9 million for 2,000 smart meters from the highest-priced supplier, which likewise had a unit price of R2,600. The source said the city also ordered non-smart meters for R1,996 per unit, which totalled R4.5 million for 2,000 units. It is not clear why the city needed non-smart meters and which customers will be supplied with them, whereas others use smart meters. Among the companies are two giant cellular network companies. In contrast to non-smart meters, which require personnel to physically visit the site and disconnect when consumers have circumvented them or established unauthorised connections, smart meters may be switched off by city officials from the office, the source claimed. 'This is another wasteful expenditure the city has incurred, and there is no valid reason why the officials chose to purchase the same product with the same quality from different suppliers with varying prices. Surely, there is something fishy,' said the source. The municipality has been in the headlines for incurring costs that many view as wasteful, stemming from court cases it has lost. It was recently forced to pay a supplier more than R20 million, which was an interest that had accumulated from the court appeals it had finally lost. The supplier had initially demanded R30 million, which the city disputed but lost the appeal.
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Splash of colour, stroke of genius for Durban CBD corridors
EIGHT youngsters are highlighting their talent through murals on the walls of Monty Naicker Street, Gillespie Street, The Workshop, the City Hall and the beachfront. This is part of the Corridors of Excellence movement by the eThekwini Municipality. Nqobile Hlela, Sihle Shozi, Thokozani Nxumalo, Celimpilo Mthembu, Lindani Maduna, Nhlakanipho Ndimande, Manqoba Bhengu and Mncedisi Mkhize do not take the opportunity lightly, and are determined to put their hand forward. Nqobile Hlela, on behalf of his fellow artists, said they were grateful to embark on the mission, seeing that the project was their first substantial project. They come from different areas of Durban, and all possess skills and training in Fine Arts. 'We had to submit a proposal based on the municipality's brief. After some time we were selected. We grabbed the opportunity with both hands. It meant a lot to have our signature on the city's walls. This is not just us putting art out there, it's about inspiring our peers and the next generation in the arts space,' Hlela shared. He attributes the opportunity to undeniable talent they all possess, as well as the effort they constantly put on networking and connecting with like-minded crowds. 'For us, art is not a hobby or part-time work, we do this full-time and it's our survival. Working on such a project, and others, is a testament that arts can be a livelihood. There are many possibilities when you believe in your talent. 'What we have painted in the CBD is our ways of engaging with the locals as well as tourists, as we depicted what Durban is about, ie vibrancy. We were also hoping to evoke emotions of hope, to those who find themselves defeated by everyday circumstances. This art is therapeutic and calming,' Hlela beamed. For more from Berea Mail, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Click to subscribe to our newsletter – here At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Herald
3 days ago
- The Herald
Woman and toddler die as fire razes more than 120 houses in Durban's Kennedy Road settlement
A Durban woman and an 18-month-old toddler died in a fire at the Kennedy Road informal settlement in the early hours of Saturday. eThekwini municipality said fire and emergency services and disaster management teams responded to the fire shortly after midnight at the sprawling settlement. The inferno destroyed about 122 informal structures and displaced more than 150 residents. 'Tragically, two lives were lost, a middle-aged woman and an 18-month-old toddler, both suffering fatal third-degree burns. No further injuries have been reported at this time,' the municipality said. Preliminary investigations suggest the fire may have originated from open flames, possibly due to an unattended stove. KwaZulu-Natal co-operative governance and traditional affairs MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi has also dispatched disaster management teams and social partners to provide relief to the community. Buthelezi has urged communities to be vigilant when using fire to keep warm this weekend as the province faces cold temperatures and rains due to a cold front. 'We urge communities to exercise extreme caution, especially during colder days when the use of open flames, such as izimbawula and heaters, significantly increases the risk of fires,' he said. Buthelezi is expected to visit the area on Monday to provide further support to the victims. TimesLIVE
IOL News
4 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Superyacht industry interest fuels Durban's blue economy ambitions
Durban has taken a step toward positioning itself as Africa's leading superyacht destination, Image: Supplied Durban has taken a step toward positioning itself as Africa's leading superyacht destination, following a site visit by Italy's Navigo International, organisers of the global Yachting Aftersales and Refit Experience (YARE). The delegation spent five days assessing Durban's marine infrastructure and port facilities as part of its bid to host the first-ever African edition of the event in November 2026. "YARE is a globally recognised annual business conference for the superyacht industry, bringing together shipyards, service providers, and over 100 superyacht captains, alongside more than 300 top-tier global companies". According to the eThekwini Municipality, the hosting of the event is currently under consideration by the Council. Earlier this week, the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government also signed an agreement with Navigo aimed at unlocking the province's estimated R100 billion ocean economy. The deal included plans for a superyacht manufacturing hub, marine skills training, port upgrades, and international marketing of KZN-built vessels 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 'This event will provide a high-impact platform to showcase Durban as a global investment destination. It will elevate our profile in the luxury tourism and marine innovation sectors, and attract international events to our shores,' city manager Musa Mbhele said. This comes as the city works to revitalise the tourism economy, which has faced setbacks in recent years due to declining visitor numbers and beach closures linked to E. coli contamination. These issues have affected visitor numbers and the city's reputation as a tourism destination. General Manager of Navigo International, Pietro Angelini, expressed strong confidence in Durban's potential to become a major superyacht hub, not just for South Africa but for the wider Southern African region. "We have found a very good place to develop a yachting destination. For the southern part of Africa, but even for this southern part of the place, South Africa, Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar," Angelini said. IOL Business Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel
IOL News
4 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Fingers pointed at eThekwini Municipality over alleged wasteful expenditure on overpriced smart meters
The eThekwini Municipality's procurement of water meters has come under scrutiny Image: Supplied The eThekwini Municipality finds itself under scrutiny once more, amidst concerning allegations of wasteful expenditure following a recent procurement of electricity smart meters. Officials opted to purchase these devices from the highest bidders rather than the lowest quote suppliers, triggering concern among residents and stakeholders alike regarding potential misconduct and improper financial practices. Sources indicate that this decision suggests an attempt to bypass a qualified supplier that provided the lowest bid — a move that raises various questions. In what many perceive to be an alarming indicator of corruption, it has been alleged that officials may seek kickbacks from these more expensive suppliers. In May 2024, the National Treasury approved the RT29 national transversal contract for smart metering, identifying seven companies for the municipality to choose from for their needs. However, documents acquired by Independent Media reveal a shocking deviation from standard procurement practices. The eThekwini Municipality ordered 2,000 smart meters priced at R2,591 per unit from one supplier, while another supplier quoted a mere R1,645 per unit. The total cost indicated that the city spent R5.9 million for these overpriced devices. 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 This instance of poor financial decision-making apparently didn't stop there. The municipality additionally procured non-smart meters at R1,996 per unit, accumulating a further cost of R4.5 million. With the distinction between smart and non-smart meters being that the former can be remotely disconnected by officials, while the latter necessitates physical travel for disconnection, questions loom large over why non-smart versions were even necessary. A source privy to the procurement process has expressed concern, stating, 'This is another instance of wasteful expenditure incurred by the city. There was no valid reason why the officials chose to purchase the same product with the same quality from different suppliers with varying prices. Surely, there is something fishy.' Attempts to obtain clarity from the municipality's communications team went unanswered as of Wednesday, leaving many to speculate on the motivations behind these decisions. This incident comes in the wake of previous controversies linked to the municipality's financial management. Just recently, the city faced a harsh financial penalty, having to pay over R20 million to a supplier, an amount accumulated from interest on a court appeal that the municipality lost. While the initial amount claimed was R30 million, the city disputed the claims but ultimately lost their case. DAILY NEWS
