Latest news with #municipality
The Herald
4 days ago
- Business
- The Herald
Nelson Mandela Bay metro sticks with plan for 12.8% electricity hike
The Nelson Mandela Bay municipality is moving forward with plans to increase the electricity price by more than 12%, starting on July 1. The council noted the 2025/2026 budget and the integrated development plan on Thursday. They will meet on Thursday next week to adopt it. Capital budget and asset management senior director Nomphelo Scott stood in for Jackson Ngcelwane as acting CFO. According to proposals, electricity is expected to increase by 12.8% and refuse collection by 6%. If approved, property rates will go up by 5%. Water and sanitation are expected to increase by 5.5%. The total budget is R21.58bn, which is made up of the R2.9bn for the capital budget and R19.47bn for the operational budget. Councillors expressed concerns that meeting agendas were being delivered late. Some only received copies on the day of the meeting. 'It is important to note that the financial position of the electricity service is under immense pressure due to the extent of electricity losses, which significantly affects the sustainability of the municipality,' the report says. 'This is supported by the fact that the budget for electricity bulk purchases exceeds the total electricity service charges budget. 'This means the electricity service, which is a trading service, is operating at a substantial deficit, requiring support from property rates.' About 71% of revenue for the city comes from rates and services. This amounts to R13.93bn. Tabling the budget, mayor Babalwa Lobishe said they had embarked on an IDP and budget consultative process for three weeks. She said the budget was brought to the council for noting. 'We note with disappointment the fact that the agendas were delivered late, but we wish councillors could pardon us, but we have been ready since last week.' DA councillor Rano Kayser said he wanted to establish whether Ngcelwane was present. 'How do we expect a credible budget if every second week we have a new acting CFO?' he said. Kayser said a decision was taken in the last council meeting that councillors must be consulted when dealing with the IDP and ward-based budget, but this did not happen. 'I wrote to the acting city manager [Ted Pillay] a while ago requesting a meeting, but he didn't respond, and these are the issues I wanted to raise with him. 'In some wards, such as 35, the IDP didn't even take place, I was there. 'How do we accept this budget if officials didn't turn up to IDP meetings and ward councillors were not consulted. 'The directorates that are supposed to be implementing have no idea what's contained in the ward-based budget.' Kayser said it was not the first time they were sidelined from the budget. 'The acting city manager must tell us what he did from April 1 until today to ensure the budget is ready.' The Herald
CTV News
5 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Family sues over deadly landslide
The family of a Lions Bay couple killed in a massive landslide last winter has filed a lawsuit against the province, the municipality and a neighbour.
CTV News
5 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Halifax Regional Municipality closes Geary Street encampment site
An encampment for people experiencing homelessness is seen in Dartmouth, N.S. The Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) is closing and de-designating the Geary Street green space in Dartmouth, N.S., on Wednesday, according to a news release. The city has issued notices to vacate the site to those sheltering in the space. They have until June 22 to relocate and remove all their belongings from the site. The municipality said it is directing people sheltering at Geary Street to one of the available spaces at provincial shelters or another designated space. The municipality said it will offer resources and supports, including transporting people to other provincially-funded housing options or designated locations in HRM. It will also transport or store their belongings. HRM said the Geary Street site is the least-used designated encampment in recent months after three years of consistently low numbers. Service providers will work with people sleeping rough to determine which shelter is best for them, said the release. As of Friday, municipal housing and homelessness staff determined there were 51 tents and four trailers in the city's remaining designated locations. Those locations, established in July 2022, were always meant to be temporary, said the release. HRM said more designated locations will close and be de-designated as more indoor shelter spaces and supportive housing options become available. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
The Herald
6 days ago
- Business
- The Herald
KZN municipality to give poor 10,000 litres of free water a month
The budget is pro-poor, Shandu said, adding that most people there live below the poverty line. 'To provide relief for the indigent residents, the council has endorsed the provision of 10,000 l of free water to registered indigents. Our assumption is that a 2,500 l tank should be able provide a family of four with a week's supply of water, if used conventionally.' He called upon poor households to register to benefit for the programme. 'This programme is for those who are unemployed and who have a family income of R5,000 or less a month. 'We strongly believe that this budget reflects a strong commitment to pro-poor service delivery, infrastructure development and financial sustainability.' Shandu took a swipe at the DA for protesting after the council proposed a 13.5% water tariff hike. The DA, led by provincial leader Francois Rodgers, called for no increase. Rodgers said the municipality should not increase water tariffs while it fails to deliver services. TimesLIVE
Arab News
7 days ago
- General
- Arab News
Urban initiative's green spaces transform Jeddah
JEDDAH: The Jeddah municipality is stepping up efforts to adopt a human-centered approach through the Bahja project — an initiative aimed at improving quality of life by transforming open and underused spaces into urban parks. The project encourages healthier lifestyles and supports the Quality of Life Program under the Kingdom's Vision 2030 reform plan, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday. Municipality spokesperson Mohammed Al-Buqami said the initiative is guided by strategic goals, including strengthening the connection between people and their surroundings, promoting healthy cities, increasing opportunities for physical activity, and designing public spaces that reflect local identity. He said that the project includes the development of five waterfronts and more than 442 parks across the city, which have become popular spots for families and community events. Walking paths with essential services and safety features have also been introduced to encourage active lifestyles and social interaction, Al-Buqami added.
