2020 is nearly at an end, and I’m sure we are all saying… Thank goodness!
There have been some highlights and some positive things happening in eThekwini and in Ward 58 in particular.
Although development and building ground to a halt for a while, things have started to pick up and the Sibaya precinct at Umdloti has new residential buildings going up as we speak.
The hillside at Inyaninga has been reshaped to create platforms for industrial use and the necessary drainage is being addressed, so that this area can be fully developed.
The Tongaat Mall shopping centre has hit a snag with owners changing horses mid-race but once the lawyers have sorted things out, this should restart in 2021.
Another snag that we seem to have overcome is the marketing and maintenance of our beaches.
Historically we have had an up and down approach to Durban’s beaches.
In 2001 South Africa was the first country outside of Europe to implement the Blue Flag programme with eThekwini’s South Beach our country’s first to get the accreditation.
More beaches followed, but in 2008 the city manager pulled out of the Blue Flag scheme.
Our sea had pollution problems.
Some of us began agitating and in April 2010 the province instructed eThekwini municipality to re-join the Blue Flag programme.
Durban’s beaches started to be accredited again.
Then in 2016 the new city leadership took different decisions, and our Blue Flag beaches began to fall away.
Fortunately that executive was redeployed in 2019 by our new President, and a new team who understand tourism and marketing are now at the helm.
So the city is back in the Blue Flag scheme.
For the 2020/21 season we have 5 Full Blue Flag beaches, and 7 Pilot Blue Flag ones.
It has been a chequered route but we are back in business as the premier tourist beach destination of the country.
Technology, in the form of social media, has also taken off during the coronavirus pandemic.
WhatsApp groups have blossomed and this has given civic minded people a chance to really improve their areas.
To all of them, I say thank you for reporting and assisting councillors and officials to fix and improve service delivery.
You may keep us on our toes but you really help to keep local government on track.
On behalf of Ward 58, I wish all residents and visitors a safe and relaxing festive season.
There will be lots to do in 2021, so mask up and enjoy a break.
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