Thousands of IDs uncollected
According to the Department of Home Affairs (DHA), about 19 150 smart IDs and 1 528 green barcoded IDs have not been collected from their offices across Ekurhuleni.
Metro spokesperson Themba Gadebe said the metro urges residents to collect their IDs so they can register on January 26 and 27 to vote.
“Furthermore, uncollected IDs hamper service delivery programmes because residents cannot register for other municipal programmes, such as the indigent programme, RDP housing and cannot collect their title deeds when they are available,” said Gadebe.
The metro has entered into a partnership with the DHA to fast-track collection of IDs by providing transport to elderly residents, people with disabilities, learners and military veterans.
“Non-governmental organisations, community-based organisations and churches have also been roped in to assist,” Gadebe explained.
There are 1 294 smart IDs and 40 ID books uncollected at the Benoni DHA.
The office with the most smart IDs waiting to be collected is Edenvale (4 540) and Alberton has the highest number of ID books uncollected (563).
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Nominations open for Shining Stars awards
The metro, in partnership with Inside Education, is calling for nominations for outstanding young achievers as part of the 100 Ekurhuleni Shining Stars 2018 programme.
The nominations will culminate in a celebratory breakfast on December 7.
Individuals and companies can nominate a young person who is considered an achiever.
The event seeks to honour young Ekurhuleni achievers, who are under 35 years old, in various fields, particularly those contributing to economic growth, community upliftment and job creation.
Categories: Education, Health, Justice and Law, Arts, Culture, Media and Entertainment, Science and Technology, Business and Entrepreneurship, Environment, Civil Society and Youth Activism, Philanthropy, and Politics and Governance.
Nomination forms: Facebook: Inside Education, Twitter: @Inside_Edu, www.insideeducation.org and www.ekurhuleni.gov.za
Criteria for nominations of youths 35 years or younger: Born in Ekurhuleni, youths who have made a significant change in their chosen field or in the lives of people in Ekurhuleni, who focus on the needs of developing Ekurhuleni and can show that their work and vision has had a positive impact on others or the environment, youths who have created structures suited to future-fit commerce and industry, youths who have contributed to a sustainable future, young people who “are capable of bringing down the towers of oppression and raising the banners of freedom”.
Deadline: November 26.
Air pollution being monitored
The Ekurhuleni metro has deployed Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations across the region to identify sources of potentially harmful emissions.
The locations of the 10 Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations were strategically chosen based on results of a feasibility study that identified areas with high concentrations pollution, such as industrial areas and areas with high traffic congestion, and include Bedfordview, Springs and Tembisa.
The metro’s air quality practitioner, Bobby Marilli, explained that the metro has a legal obligation to monitor ambient air in terms of National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act No. 39 of 2004.
“Air pollution occurs if there is a change in the composition of the ambient air caused by smoke, dust, gases, fumes, aerosols and odorous substances which are harmful to the environment. The burning of waste is also an underappreciated source of air pollutants.
“When waste is burnt, harmful quantities of dioxins, highly toxic chemicals, are emitted.
“The standards prescribe the acceptable level of pollutants that cannot be exceeded during a given time in a defined area,” Marilli explained.
Report air pollution or odour problems to the following air quality practitioners:
North: Samukelo Shongwe (Samukelo.Futshane@ekurhuleni.gov.za/011 999 3525).
South: Edmund van Wyk (Edmund.VanWyk@ekurhuleni.gov.za/011 999 2470).
East: Flip Visser or Chris Kapp (Flip.Visser@ekurhuleni.gov.za/Chris.Kapp@ekurhuleni.gov.za/011 999 8768/011 999 8759).
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