Mossel Bay increased its number of Blue Flag Beaches to four as the Little Brak River beach has now also achieved Blue Flag status. The other beaches in the Mossel Bay municipality, which achieved the coveted Blue Flag status previously are Santos, Hartenbos and De Bakke.
 
Mossel Bay is now the Municipality with the largest number of full Blue Flag beaches in the Western Cape outside the Cape Town metropole. 
 
Santos, Hartenbos and De Bakke will be operated as Blue Flag beaches from 1 December 2013 to 31 January 2014. Little Brak River will be operated as a Blue Flag beach for a shorter period of approximately five weeks, and the exact dates will be announced soon.
 
A total of 41 South African beaches have attained Blue Flag status for 2013/2014. Of these 26 are in the Western Cape. Because of cost considerations the majority of these beaches are only operated as Blue Flag beaches during the peak holiday season.
 
To qualify for Blue Flag status, beaches have to adhere to 32 coastal management criteria, which cover water quality, environmental education and information, environmental management as well as safety and services.  
 
The international Blue Flag programme has been in existence for 27 years. South Africa joined in 2001. It is a highly coveted status as it lays down strict quality standards and environmental requirements for beaches. It therefore also stimulates tourism in the areas where the programme is in place.
 
Internationally, Blue Flag status has been awarded to 3 849 beaches and marinas for the 2013/2014 season.
 

Mossel Bay’s new Junior Town Council had its first meeting on 3 September 2013 and will in future meet on the first Tuesday of every month during school terms.
 
The Junior Town Council was established as a youth development project of the Municipality. The Executive Committee was elected with the assistance of the Independent Electoral Commission.  The Council consists of 24 members, and all the high schools in the Mossel Bay municipal district, namely Great Brak River, Hillcrest, Indwe, Point and Sao Bras as well as Curro Private School participate in the project.
 
The Executive Committee is comprised of Jessica Kees (Junior Mayor, Sao Bras), Werner Theron (Junior Deputy Mayor, Point), Beauty Sebonyane (Junior Speaker, Great Brak River), Laverne Grootboom (Community Affairs, Hillcrest), Devon-Wade Baker (Youth Affairs, Sao Bras), Noluvuyo Myeko (Sport, Indwe). Jia Jun Yu of Curro is the Junior Municipal Manager. The Municipal Youth Co-ordinator, Yolande van Aswegen, is an ex officio member of the Council.
 
One of the main purposes of the Council is to represent the aspirations of the school-going youth of Mossel Bay and to provide a mouthpiece for the youth regarding civic affairs.  Another is to promote understanding and appreciation amongst schools in Mossel Bay and to promote good relationships amongst the different language groups.

PICTURE CAPTION

The Executive Mayor, Alderlady Marie Ferreira (back), together with the Executive Committee of the Junior Town Council. In front are, from left to right, Devon-Wade Baker (Youth Affairs), Jessica Kees (Junior Mayor), Beauty Sebonyane (Junior Speaker) and Werner Theron (Junior Deputy Mayor). At the back, from left to right, are Laverne Grootboom (Community Affairs), Noluvuyo Myeko (Sport) and Jia Jun Yu (Junior Municipal Manager).

Council at its monthly meeting on 29 August 2013 gave approval, subject to a final public participation process, for the proposed redevelopment of Erf 3972 and Erf 3991 in Diaz Beach to proceed and that the two properties may be alienated by way of the prescribed tender procedures for this purpose.

In terms of the Council resolution, Erf 3972, which is approximately 55 474 sq m in size and the site of the old Diaz holiday resort, must be developed into a lifestyle centre for people older than 50 years.

Erf 3991, which many years ago was destined to be a construction laydown yard for the proposed development of a  new harbour, must in terms of the resolution be split into two erven of 44 000 sq m each. One must be used for the development of middle income housing while Council will decide at a later stage how the remaining erf should be utilised.

The Council resolution was advertised in early September and Council will consider any public comment received in October 2013 with a view to taking final decisions. 

The process to upgrade and redevelop the two erven commenced in June 2012 when development proposals were invited in the media for the two properties. Nineteen proposals were received and the lifestyle centre and the middle income housing project were selected from these.

None of the erven are required for basic municipal service delivery purposes.

Erf 3972 was the subject of a legal process for a long time during which the Municipality could not invest money in the upgrading of the Diaz resort nor alienate the property. 

“The Mossel Bay Municipality has now received PetroSA’s contribution of R3 million towards the cost of converting the old Rose and Crown building in the central business district to a centre for the homeless after the underhanded efforts by amongst others the now dismissed ward councillor to convince the company to withdraw its support, were unsuccessful.

“We can now proceed with the establishment of the centre to address the problem of homelessness in a meaningful and constructive way,” said the Executive Mayor, Alderlady Marie Ferreira, according to a news release issued by the Municipality.

“It is really a pity that the project was delayed through the efforts by amongst others the former ward councillor to convince PetroSA not to pay over the money even though his own caucus in Council voted in favour of the project,” she said.

The Municipal Manager, Dr Michele Gratz, must get much of the credit for the project as she grabbed the bull by the horns to address a real problem. She acted immediately upon requests from the community to establish such a facility and it is mainly through her sustain efforts to find suitable premises and funding that the project can now proceed,“ said Alderlady Ferreira.

Alderlady Ferreira also had praise for the persistence and contribution of the local Haven Committee under the chairmanship of the Rev Robert Knobel towards the eventual realisation of the project. The Haven Organisation has been active in Mossel Bay for a number of years and Mr and Mrs Richard Ambler-Smith did sterling work in this regard.

She said the utilisation of the building up to now resulted in certain social problems in the central business district and even the SA Police Service approached the Municipality to do something about it. The utilisation of the building as a centre for the homeless, which means that there will be supervision 24 hours a day and that it will be operated according to strict rules, will be of great importance in this regard.

The project is financed jointly by PetroSA, The Haven Organisation and the Municipality. The building will be let to The Haven which also contributed R1 million to the purchase price.

The Haven Night Shelter Welfare Organisation was founded in Cape Town in 1978 to provide temporary shelter, physical care and social welfare and family reunification services to adult homeless people.
The organisation also involves homeless people in meaningful projects and train them for job creation projects. At one of the fourteen similar centres that the organisation operates in the Western Cape, in inter alia Paarl, George and Malmesbury, 45 sustainable jobs were created for homeless people.
The organisation has also achieved many successes with the reunification of homeless people with their families. Some homeless people from Mossel Bay have also been reunited with their families in other parts of the country.

The improved audit results that were achieved by the Mossel Bay, Langeberg and George municipalities in the Western Cape are the result of leadership commitment. It shows without a doubt that clean administration is possible when there is leadership commitment towards clean administration.
This was said by the Auditor-General, Mr Terence Nombembe, when he announced his findings on 13 August 2013 on the audit of local government for the 201/2102 financial year.
Mossel Bay is one of nine out of 278 municipalities in South Africa which achieved a clean audit in the 2011/2012 financial year.
In her reaction to the Auditor-General’s report, the Executive Mayor, Alderlady Marie Ferreira, said it is not always realised what it entails to get a clean audit.
“It is a very strict audit, which is much more than just an audit of the financial affairs of a municipality. It includes, for example, the municipality’s tender processes, performance management systems and legal compliance in the finest detail.
“It can only be achieved through hard work and consistent commitment and I would therefore like to thank our capable management team under the leadership of Dr Michele Gratz, as well as our Councillors.
“Mossel Bay has proved itself over and again as one of the best managed municipalities in the country in several respects. The Municipality really has excellent personnel, and we regularly receive compliments on the tidiness of the town as well as the good condition of its infrastructure,” she said.
She said the clean audit and the many other achievements over the past number of years do not rhyme with the negative picture a small group of individuals have been trying to paint of Council and the municipal management in the media in recent times.

Two national championships, two regional championships and South Africa’s biggest cricket week for schools – these will all form of the Mossel Bay Sports Festival that will officially be held from 20 September to 24 September 2013.

The programme will also include fun events such as a Fun Walk, to be known as the Moss Walk, a street party with live music from noon till late and a doggy walk.

The national championships that will form part of the sports festival are the SA Finn class dinghy sailing championships, which will coincide with the South Eastern Regional championships for dinghies and catamarans from 21 September to 24 September, and the SA body board surfing championships from 22 September to 27 September.

The other regional championship is the Western Cape regional aerobatics championships that will take place from 19 September to 21 September. Up to 30 aircraft are expected to participate.

The KFC Point High U 19 Schools cricket tournament will be held for the 15th consecutive year. It is South Africa’s biggest cricket week for schools and has attracted 28 teams from all over the country for this year’s tournament that will take place from 19 September to 24 September.

The Garden Route Casino Trust touchies on 20 September and the motorsport gymkhana on 21 September and 22 September will also be big draw cards.

Although they take place just before or just after of the official Sports Festival dates, the PetroSA marathon and the Oystercatcher Trail Run on 28 September and the Eight Bells mountain bike race on 13 September also form part of the Sports Festival.

New events among the 30 events on this year’s programme include a sea kayak angling competition, target shooting and events for the disabled.

The programme also includes golf, bowls, downhill skateboarding, tennis, karate, lifesaving, rubberduck races, squash, netball, women’s rugby, badminton, boxing, darts, dominoes, a tug of war, jukskei, chess and possibly soapbox races.

The full programme is available on the website www.mosselbayevents.co.za .

The Mossel Bay Town Council at its monthly meeting in 30 May 2013 approved a total budget of R842,5 million for the 2013/2014 financial year. This compares with the second adjustments budget of R843,3 million for 2012/2013 and the initial budget of R818 million for the same year.
 
The total 2013/2014 budget is comprised of a capital budget of R110,7 million and an operational budget of R731,8 million. The operational budget includes departmental and non-cash transactions in the amount of R65,2 million. If this amount is subtracted the operational cash budget for 2013/2014 amounts to R666,5 million.
 
The increase in tariffs for services rendered by the Municipality as well as property rates is 6% across the board.
 
The fixed monthly charge for water for domestic consumers will increase from R113,93, plus VAT, to R120,55, plus VAT per month, and the tariff per kilolitre of water consumed from R5,40, plus VAT, to R5,72, plus VAT, for consumption of up to 20 kilolitres per month. For consumption between 21 kilolitres per month to 30 kilolitres per month the tariff will increase from R7,65, plus VAT, per kilolitre per month to R8,01, plus VAT, per kilolitre per month.  All households will continue to receive 6 kilolitres of water free per month.
 
The monthly domestic refuse removal fee will increase from R92,18, plus VAT, to R97,71, plus VAT. The annual domestic sewerage charge will increase from R1 852,29, plus VAT, to R1 963,43, plus VAT. Residential property rates will increase from R0,002402 in the rand to R0,0022546 in the rand based on the municipal valuation of the property. The first R50 000 of the property’s valuation will be exempt.
 
Electricity tariffs, as approved by the National Electricity Regulator of South Africa, will increase by 7%. The basic charge for domestic consumers on the two-part tariff structure will change from R178,81, plus VAT, per month, to R191,22, plus VAT, per month, and the unit charge from R0,852, plus VAT, to R0,911, plus VAT.
 
 
The tariff per unit for consumers on the one-part structure (prepaid electricity) will go up from R1,126, plus VAT, as at present, to R1,204, plus VAT. All households will receive 20 kWh of electricity free per month, except indigenous households that will receive 50 kWh of free electricity per month.
 
Council again considered the plight of the poor and households respectively classified as indigent or poor will both receive a monthly subsidy of R381,88, plus VAT, on their household accounts, subject to certain conditions with regard to monthly income and water and electricity consumption. This compares with R360,27, plus VAT, for both categories in the 2012/2013 financial year. These subsidies will cover the basic fees with regard to sewerage, refuse removal, water basic and electricity basic.
 
The total monthly income limit of a husband and wife at which pensioners will become eligible for a discount of 50% on their property rates is increased from the present R9 000 per month to R11 000 per month. The limit to qualify for a discount of 30% is increased from R12 000 per month to R14 000 for the 2013/2014 financial year[v1] . The same income limits will apply to qualify for discounts of 40% and 30% respectively in respect of sewerage fees for pensioners.
 
All fees in respect of outdoor advertising and signage will be reduced by 50 per cent from the current levels for the 2013/2014 financial year. The approval fee per square meter in respect applications as well as amendments for billboards will be scrapped altogether.
 
The 2013/2014 Capital Budget will be financed mainly by R72 million from the Municipality’s Capital Replacement Reserve, R17,5 million in Municipal Infrastructure Grants, ie MIG funding and R10,8 million in Provincial Human Settlements funding.
 
The major allocations in the Capital Budget are as follows:
 
-       Streets and Stormwater              :                       R30,4 million.
-       Electricity Services                    :                       R21,2 million.
-       Sewerage Services                    :                       R17,3 million.
-       Community Services                  :                       R16,4 million.
-       Water Services                          :                       R12,1 million.
-       Human Settlements                    :                       R 10,8 million
 
An analysis of the Capital Replacement Reserve has shown that the present levels of financing of capital budgets from this Reserve are sustainable over the medium term. The Municipality’s policy is to contribute an amount equal to the depreciation costs towards the Capital Replacement Reserve annually. On this basis it is envisaged that the Municipality will be able to finance the capital budget with between R71 million and R72,5 million annually over the next four financial years.
 
In her speech when the draft budget was tabled in March 2013 the Executive Mayor, Alderlady Marie Ferreira, said Council heeded the call of the National Treasury to pay particular attention to maintaining rates at affordable levels. She said the Municipality’s revenue and cash flows are expected to remain under pressure in the 2013/2014 financial year and it is necessary to manage all revenue and expenditure and cash streams effectively and to evaluate all spending decisions carefully.
 
 [v1]Mayco het na die draft begroting, in terme van kommentare ontvang, besluit om die maandelikse inkomste op te stoot vanaf R9 000 na R11 000 en vanaf R12 000 na R14 000 onderskeidelik

The organising of Mossel Bay’s second sports festival from 20 September 2013 to 24 September 2013 has kicked off in all earnest and 28 sports codes have already indicated that they would be staging events as part of the festival. A street party, a big fun walk, the Moss Walk, and a doggy fun walk will again form part of the festival programme.

The event is co-ordinated by the Mossel Bay Municipality as a project to market the town and to promote a healthy lifestyle. Individual sports codes will, however, organise their own events.

One of the major attractions in 2012, the KFC Point High Cricket Festival for under 19’s, has already attracted 28 entries for the 2013 festival so far. Another, the PetroSA marathon, is again expected to attract international competitors as well as athletes from all over South Africa.

The aerobatics championships will take place from 20 September 2013 to 22 September 2013 and is expected to attract at least 20 aircraft.

The festival programme will again include a sailing regatta staged from the Mossel Bay Yacht and Boat Club. In the order of 160 entries are expected over the four days of the regatta from 20 September to 24 September 2013. Other water sports events being planned are rubber duck races, sea kayaking and lifesaving competitions.

A trail run as well as a skateboarding competition will be further attractions, while the motorsport gymkhana that will be held at De Bakke parking area on 21 and 22 September 2013 can again be expected to attract large numbers of spectators.

The objective is also to involve as many as possible disabled people, either as competitors or for logistical requirements. Activities are being planned for the disabled.

Other events that have been confirmed so far are touch rugby, soccer, boxing, netball, bowls, golf, tennis, squash, cycling, martial arts, darts, jukskei and squash. More possibilities are a shooting competition as well as a horse endurance ride.

More information about the sports festival, including from sports organisations that want to become involved, can be obtained from the Office of the Municipal Manager at telephone (044) 606-5003 or by e-mail from twilliamson@mosselbay.gov.za.

Picture Caption

Sailing competition at Mossel Bay during the 2012 Sports Festival.

The Mossel Bay Town Council at its monthly meeting on 25 April 2013 approved the purchase of the Rose and Crown building on Erf 11199 in the Central Business District and that it is leased to The Haven Organisation for a period of thirty years for the establishment of a centre for the homeless.

The purchase price of the building is R3,9 million and PetroSA and The Haven Nightshelter Welfare Organisation will respectively add R1,9 million and R1 million to the Municipality’s R1 million to buy the building. PetroSA will also contribute R1,1 million to the upgrading of the building. The Municipality will own the building.

The Haven Organisation operates 14 centres for the homeless in the Western Cape, including in Paarl, George and Malmesbury. It will be responsible for the payment of the services accounts as well as for the payment of insurance premiums in respect of the Mossel Bay centre.

The Council noted that the prescribed public participation processes had been followed and voted in favour of the transaction after the comments and objections received had been taken into account. A petition signed by 1 217 persons in favour of the project was received while 528 objections, including a petition with 508 signatures, 12 letters and 4 newspaper letters were considered.

In terms of the Council decision the present five commercial lease agreements in force at the building will be honoured. The Haven will also be permitted to lease out the small shops in the building provided that it is not contrary to, or negatively affecting the purpose of establishing the building as a centre for the homeless. The income generated from these activities will be utilised for the maintenance and operational requirements of the building and the centre for the homeless.

The Executive Mayor of Mossel Bay, Alderlady Marie Ferreira, tabled a total draft budget of R880,6 million for the 2013/2014 financial year at the Council meeting on 28 March 2013. This compares with the second adjustments budget of R843,3 million for 2011/2012 and the initial budget of R818 million for the same year.
 
The total 2013/2014 budget is comprised of a capital budget of R100 million and an operational budget of R780,5 million. The operational budget includes departmental and non-cash transactions in the amount of R103,4 million. If this amount is subtracted the operational cash budget for 2013/2014 amounts to R677 million.
 
The Mayor announced that the proposed increase for services rendered by the Municipality as well as property rates is 6% across the board. The National Electricity Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) notified municipalities on 26 March 2013 that a guideline increase of 7% will apply in respect of municipal consumers. Municipalities are, however, still awaiting the increase in the Eskom tariffs.
 
In her budget speech the Mayor said Council heeded the call of the National Treasury to pay particular attention to maintaining rates at affordable levels. She said the Municipality’s revenue and cash flows are expected to remain under pressure in the 2013/2014 financial year and it is necessary to manage all revenue and expenditure and cash streams effectively and to evaluate all spending decisions carefully.
 
The Mayor also said the time had come for all to lower their expectations with regard to levels of service delivery and infrastructure that are provided. She said it is clear that many ratepayers and consumers are struggling to keep their heads above water and rates and tariffs cannot be increased simply to appease the unrealistic demands of a minority of ratepayers who can afford much higher rates and tariffs.
 

The main categories of expenditure from the cash budget for 2013/2014 will be as follows:
 
-       Employee-related costs of R190,9 million, which at 28,2% of the cash budget is below the national norm of 30%.
 
-       Bulk purchases of R203,6 million, or 30,1% of the cash budget.
 
-       Other general expenses of R128,3 million, or 19% of the budget. This category includes an amount of R65 million in respect of housing top-structures, which is derived from Provincial Human Settlements Funding.
 
The 2013/2014 Capital Budget will be financed mainly by R72,4 million from the Municipality’s Capital Replacement Reserve and R17,8 million in Municipal Infrastructure Grants, ie MIG funding.
 
The major allocations in the Capital Budget are as follows:
 
-       Streets and Stormwater                      :                       R30,4 million.
-       Electricity Services                            :                       R21,2 million.
-       Sewerage Services                            :                       R17,1 million.
-       Community Services                          :                       R16,6 million.
-       Water Services                                  :                       R12,5 million.
 
Alderlady Ferreira said an analysis of the Capital Replacement Reserve has shown that the present levels of financing of capital budgets from this Reserve are sustainable over the medium term. The Municipality’s policy is to contribute an amount equal to the depreciation costs towards the Capital Replacement Reserve annually. On this basis it is envisaged that the municipality will be able to finance the capital budget with between R71 million and R72,5 million annually  over the next four financial years.
 
Council remains committed to addressing the plight of the poor and it is proposed that households respectively classified as indigent and poor both receive a monthly subsidy of R381,88, plus VAT, on their household accounts, subject to certain conditions with regard to monthly income and water and electricity consumption. This compares with R360,27, plus VAT, for both categories in the 2012/2013 financial year. These subsidies will cover the basic fees with regard to sewerage, refuse removal, water basic and electricity basic.
 
All households will continue to receive 6 kilolitres of water free per month. Indigent households will continue to receive 50 kWh of free electricity per month and all other households 20 kWh per month. As in the present financial year they will also not pay for sewerage and refuse services and do not pay property rates on the first R50 000 valuation of their properties.
 
The total monthly income limit of a husband and wife at which pensioners will become eligible for a discount of 50% on their property rates will remain at R9 000 per month. The limit to qualify for a discount of 30% remains at  R12 000 for the 2013/2014 financial year.
 
It is also recommended that the existing 40% discount on sewerage fees for pensioners  whose income does not exceed R9 000 per month and 30% when their income is more than  R9 000 but does not exceed R12 000, remains in place.
 
The budget document is available for public inspection and comment at municipal offices and libraries in Mossel Bay, D’Almeida, KwaNonqaba, Great Brak River, Hartenbos, Friemersheim and Herbertsdale. It will also be placed on the Municipality’s website. Comments must be in writing and reach the Municipal Manager, PO Box 25, Mossel Bay, 6065, by not later than 3 May  2013.