Developing Durban – eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality 2021

inside

Local Economic Development

2

Inner-city Renewal

12

Catalytic Projects

25

Human Settlements

30

Roads & Transport

36

Community Health & Well-being

39

Service Delivery

44

Township Economy

48

Agro-economy

52

Greening

56

Editor Tristan Snijders Head of Design Beren Bauermeister Production & Client Liaison Manager

Antois-Leigh Botma Bookkeeper Tonya Hebenton Distribution Manager Nomsa Masina Distribution Coordinator Asha Pursotham Group Sales Manager Chilomia Van Wijk Researcher Margaret Callado Advertising Amanda De Beer +27 (0)72 600 9323 Amanda.DeBeer@3smedia.co.za

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Publisher Jacques Breytenbach

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PLEASE NOTE: City of eThekwini statistics and content have been drawn from publicly available documents that may or may not reflect the absolute correct numbers applicable at the time of going to print.

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E THEKW I NI • LO CA L E CON OM IC D EV ELO P MENT

DRIVING ECONOMIC GROWTH TO THE BENEFIT OF ALL The goal of stimulating local economic development is to create a prosperous, diverse economy with extensive employment opportunities and sustainable growth. EThekwini Municipality has identified and implemented numerous programmes to feed the economic potential housed within its bounds.

C

onstant shifts in government’s policy environment requires the alignment of goals, strategies, plans and projects in real time. Few policy adjustments are of greater importance than those that identify and capacitate the tools that ensure economic development on a local and regional scale.

The role of eThekwini’s Economic Development Unit is to align with the national policy packages and to further carve out the local interventions that can support these goals. This requires a regular review of the City’s

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Economic Development and Job Creation Strategy, which was most recently reviewed for the period 2019 to 2025, together with an implementation plan that forms the basis of the City’s implementation of its economic mandate.

Economic intelligence is also provided to the municipality and its strategic partners in implementing economic development. Some of the roles of the Economic Development Unit include feasibility studies, the application and development of decision-making tools, and monitoring the performance

thereof. A pivotal player in the area of investment facilitation is eThekwini’s investment promotion agency (IPA) Invest Durban.

Numerous interventions and plans have been identified across the ambit of municipal activity to aid in and facilitate the growth of the local economy. A breakdown of these key programmes follows.

Innovation programme The world is starting to see rapid advancements in various aspects of life – in both the workplace and at home – which is having a disruptive impact on jobs. Known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution, this entails the internet of things, robotics, artificial intelligence and 3D printing, which hold both opportunities and threats for jobs and societies. Cities that can skill their populations, particularly the youth, will reap the rewards while those that fail to respond will experience further disruptions in the labour market.

Against this backdrop, Innovate Durban was established. This innovation programme has the objective of

ET H EKW I NI • LO C A L EC O NO MI C D EV E LO P MENT

keeping business abreast of changes and ensuring the retention or creation of jobs. investors during the location selection process. Once Invest Durban has succeeded in elevating Durban on to an investor’s long list, the role of the IPA moves into facilitation and the servicing of investor needs.

Investment promotion and marketing Invest Durban’s marketing and promotion programme seeks to proactively focus on the following: • Brand and location: Cities that are Policy support and advocacy able to successfully attract FDI typically Market research and intelligence have a good international image, while (specifically relating to targeted sectors best practice IPAs generally have a and markets) is essential for the success clear brand so as to get on to the of the IPA and, as such, gathering of radar screening of potential investors such research and intelligence will be (World Bank Group, 2015). Given the embedded as a core function of Invest lessons from best practice, the City has Durban. This information will ensure that developed a clear brand image for the the promotional activities and decisions IPA that has been determined as Invest of Invest Durban are guided by the latest Durban and will be the mandated IPA to intelligence, and that information that is drive implementation of this strategy crucial in influencing investors’ decisions and act as the ‘first-stop shop’. is up to date, packaged and disseminated • Market entry strategy: The to the potential investors. market entry strategy for In addition, the IPA will Invest Durban is the package and present development of highmarket intelligence quality investor DID YOU KNOW? to key private and propositions that EThekwini Municipality public sector will be tailored has more than 1 500 stakeholders within specifically registered cooperatives in the City in order towards the its database. It sees small to constructively target sectors businesses as vital contributors inform policy, and markets, to the health of the economy, strategy and updated offering a diversity of operational annually, and opportunity in society improvements in the accompanied investment climate. by supporting research material Catalytic Projects (detailed industry Another key strategic focus area research, database and is to leverage, influence and facilitate statistics, benchmarking, etc.). key infrastructure development and maximise the local benefit.

Investment facilitation and servicing The purpose of the City’s Catalytic Investment facilitation and servicing Projects Unit is to manage and oversee attempts to convert investor interest the implementation of a series of land into a decision to invest, by providing development catalytic programmes and information and assistance to potential

projects within eThekwini as part of the spatial transformation agenda informed by the approved IDP, SDF, LAP and Precinct Plans. It also provides a one-stop shop for project prioritisation, planning, scheduling, coordination and implementation. The objectives are to promote economic growth, poverty alleviation, social cohesion, and empowerment goals within the eThekwini region.

Urban renewal The Durban inner city represents the most transformed space in the municipality.

During apartheid, people of colour were once prohibited from the city centre, yet today the inner city reflects a region-wide demographic profile. The city centre is now a place of home, work, school and access to a range of private and social amenities to some 70 000 people.

The Urban Renewal Programme is largely informed by the Inner-city Local Area Plan and Regeneration Strategy. However, given the vast scale of interventions and a small start-up resource base, prioritisation is key for the inner city. In addition, specific institutional arrangements and resources to provide focused and innovative attention to all the precincts within the inner city in collaboration with partners remains important.

Enterprise and sector development Stimulating and supporting key sectors that promote economic growth and create jobs is vital to the region’s socioeconomic development.

The City’s allocated programmes strive to stimulate economic growth in key activity sectors aligned with the KwaZulu-

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ET H EKW I NI • LO C A L EC O NO MI C D EV E LO P MENT

The Durban inner city represents the most transformed space in the municipality.

During apartheid, people of colour were once prohibited from the city centre, yet today the inner city reflects a region-wide demographic profile

Natal Industrial Development Strategy, namely the automotive sector, ICT, BPO, tourism, agriculture and agri-processing, chemicals, metals, creative industries (crafts, film, TV and music), clothing and textiles, the maritime sector, as well as wood, pulp and paper.

Facilitating industry skills and economic inclusion The skills challenge currently exists permeates all facets of society and addressing it requires coordinated and targeted intervention from all spheres of government, the private sector and society. This programme aims to respond to the need for a larger and more skilled workforce, while encouraging young professionals, artisans, etc. to stay within eThekwini.

In addition, inclusion is important in ensuring that women are integrated effectively into the workplace.

As such, key interventions include the implementation of empowerment initiatives, the creation of partnerships and investing in strategic skills development.

Enterprise development Small businesses are vital contributors to the health of the economy and offer a diversity of opportunity in society.

Small businesses boost productivity, increase competition and innovation, create employment and prosperity, and revitalise communities. Through focused programmes, a platform is created for small enterprises to develop into sustainable businesses.

The municipality has more than 1 500 registered cooperatives in its database.

A total of 600 cooperatives have been capacitated through the Cooperative Development Programme, within the

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E THEKW I NI • LO CA L E CON OM IC D EV ELO P MENT

last five years, through various interventions. A total of 480 cooperatives have been provided with procurement opportunities in various work streams for a period of 36 months. More than 5 000 jobs have been created through these procurement opportunities.

Promoting investment in priority nodes and corridors Various projects are based on ‘new urbanism’ principles that aim to reverse the effects of the apartheid city, by creating all-inclusive live, work and play environments within a historically racially segregated municipal area. The key tenets of these programmes are those of inclusive settlements and sustainable residential densities, alongside mixed-use business activities and recreational uses – to focus primarily on town centre renewals and tourism nodes and corridors.

Ensuring township development Due to the apartheid legacy, the former township areas were developed as dormitory residential areas with an insular focus, hosting almost exclusively minor retail activities and basic social services. As a result, they have weak and underdeveloped economies, and are not well integrated into the existing economy. Programmes are under way that aim to improve the business environment within the township areas and create a conducive environment (through active facilitation and direct interventions) for growth.

Managing the informal economy This programme speaks to supporting the informal economy through initiatives such as the provision of infrastructure support and development to informal trade, the provision of advisory and information services to product owners and visitors, and to ensure competitiveness through

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gathering business intelligence and improving product quality.

Managing the fresh produce market The role of the Durban Fresh Produce Market is to facilitate the distribution of fresh produce. Commercial farmers, small and emerging farmers are dependent on the bulk fresh produce market in order to sell their fresh produce. This platform creates business opportunities for big, small and emerging businesses, inclusive of informal traders, from where they can purchase their fresh produce. The bulk market contributes extensively towards both creating and sustaining jobs in the fresh produce sector.

Durban Film Office The Durban Film Office (DFO) is a specialpurpose vehicle of eThekwini Municipality and is mandated to position Durban as a globally competitive film city, with a view to boosting tourism, job creation and the development of core skills and SMMEs. The DFO strategy for the next five years will therefore specifically focus on projects that seek to unlock opportunities to fast-track the establishment of commercial film and television hubs, with a particular focus on growing the digital media capacities of the City.

Durban Tourism The role of Durban Tourism is to promote the City as a premium lifestyle destination locally and internationally. The Review of business licence regulatory key drivers forming the strategic focus framework and processes of increasing tourism to the City – In terms of the Businesses Act (No. 71 beyond the traditional seasonal of 1991), many businesses require a holidaymakers of the past – are sport, business licence in order to operate various events and MICE (meetings, incentives, enterprises in the services sector. These conferences and exhibitions). may relate to food, medical and health Durban Tourism will work cooperatively services or products. The licensing of with all role players businesses and the in the tourism field processes involved The Durban Film – from hotels to must align with Office is a special- activity organisers, to the KwaZulu-Natal purpose vehicle of commercial enterprises Economic Strategy. Of and event organisers – particular relevance eThekwini Municipality to ensure that maximum and allied to the four and is mandated to leverage is obtained pillars of the provincial position Durban as a for the City and its strategy is the ‘stepglobally competitive stakeholders. All the wise rise to prosperity’ film city, with a view activities it undertakes concept and focused to boosting tourism, are intended to be programmes aimed job creation and the quantifiable in terms of at supporting small development of core their economic impact businesses and black skills and SMMEs and it will continue to entrepreneurs. raise the profile Regulatory of the Durban brand through frameworks must be aligned to economic sustainable marketing in burgeoning policy and strategy in a manner that niche markets such as business and promotes the policy objectives of the incentive tourism.

Spatial Economic Development Strategy.

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Achieving excellence in our industry Founded in 1997, we’ve set our sights on being an industry leader and preferred contractor in the greater KwaZulu-Natal region. We make sure that quality, HSE and skills development are at the core of what we do.

Areas of civil engineering expertise • Project Management • Bulk Earthworks • Water & Sewer Reticulation • Canalisation • Roads Construction & Stormwater Drainage • Industrial & Residential Paving • Sports & Synthetic Turf Fields • Township Developments • Buildings • Heavy-Duty Container Parks • Landfill Sites & Waste Transfer Stations • Motorsport Street Circuits • Turnkey Projects • Retaining Walls

Some of our notable clients DevTech Civils is a proud...

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PR O F I L E | D EV T EC H C I V I L S

Achieving excellence in the civil engineering industry

Founded in 1997, DevTech Civils has grown to become a cidb 8CE Contractor and Level 1 BBBEE Contributor with a vast range of expertise in civil engineering works.

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he extensive expertise, diverse and inclusive organisational structure, and cidb grading of DevTech Civils all come together to make the company an ideal partner on civil engineering projects up to the value of R200 million.

DevTech Civils tenders for work in both the public and private sectors, with systems in place to ensure that each awarded project receives the proper organisational structure and management processes for timeous delivery of a successful contract.

DevTech Civils’ areas of expertise include: • project management • bulk earthworks • water and sewer reticulation, as well as canalisation

• roads construction and stormwater drainage • industrial and residential paving • sports and synthetic turf fields • township developments • buildings • heavy-duty container parks • landfill sites and waste transfer stations • motorsport street circuits • retaining structures • turnkey projects.

The company strives to achieve excellence on all its projects with the integrated management of all elements involved in bringing tenders to life. Time, project scope, cost, quality, HSE (health, safety and environment), production, stakeholders, training and skills development are always considerations at the forefront of every project undertaken.

Delivering quality lies at the heart of every well executed civils project, and at DevTech Civils, quality is never compromised. The Quality Management System within the organisation controls all aspects of construction activities, ensuring compliance to the applicable quality standards.

A keen municipal partner DevTech Civils has long been a keen partner to eThekwini Municipality,

delivering work on key projects within the municipal area and the wider KwaZulu-Natal province.

Key projects undertaken for eThekwini include the realignment of the Inanda arterial between Seacow Lake Road and Chris Hani Road – to accommodate and expand the GO!Durban BRT service – as well as the second phase of the Vusi Mzimela (Bellair) Road upgrade, which entailed extensive bulk earthworks.

The former was valued at over R60 million, while the latter had a budget of over R35 million.

In executing public sector tenders in the wider region, DevTech Civils provided extensive bulk earthworks and allied services for the Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone, on a project valued at nearly R140 million, as well as upgraded Main Road P489 for the KwaZuluNatal Department of Transport (at a value of nearly R44 million).

The company has also executed numerous projects for private sector clients such as Easigas, Basil Read, Gold Circle, Tongaat Hulett and BPB Sindi Civils, among others.

With over 24 years of experience and a proven track record of delivering civil works on almost any scale imaginable, DevTech Civils stakes its claim as KwaZulu-Natal’s preferred civil engineering contractor.

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Pholela Special Needs School

Building a nation Temi Construction is a 100% Black-youth-owned and 50% woman-owned company that delivers the highest quality work on every project it undertakes.

Ezimbuzini Market Trader Stalls

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Springs Fresh Produce Market

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emi Construction was founded in 2010 by the late Bongi Majozi, a fearless female entrepreneur in relentless pursuit of delivering quality projects in the infrastructure sector. Since inception, the company has grown rapidly from a CIDB Grade 2GB to a Grade 9GB contractor, becoming an industry leader in the construction space through the execution of projects at scale.

As the company has matured, so have its offerings, positioning Temi as an infrastructure specialist that aims to be a preferred

end-to-end supplier. The company identified the challenges faced by the complex dimensions of the construction industry and therefore expanded its operations to address these.

Employing over 800 people, through permanent and subcontracted labour, Temi Construction is a registered home builder with the National Home Builders Registration Council, under the terms of the Housing Consumers Protection Measures Act (No. 95 of 1998). All projects the company undertakes successfully engage with local communities and SMMEs to meet and exceed the stipulated Contract Participation Goal requirements.

PR O F I L E | T EMI C O NS TRU C TI ON

namely the clinical areas (280 beds) and the residential areas (843 beds).

• Joshco (6GB): A six-storey office refurbishment of the Old Pikitup Building is under way for the Johannesburg Social Housing Company.

Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital

Further illustrating the commitment the company has to the people its work ultimately serves – its fellow South Africans, particularly those in need – Temi regularly partakes in various CSI initiatives and believes in giving back to communities to empower and equip them for the future where possible.

Notable building projects The driving forces behind Temi Construction’s successful projects are its two primary divisions, namely Building and Housing.

The Building Division specialises in projects that include new construction projects, renovations and major refurbishments to schools, hospitals, clinics, universities, sports fields, etc., ranging from R25 million and up.

To date, the Building team has successfully completed 20 projects, including KwaMnyandu Light Industrial Park (6GB), Ottawa Depot (6GB), Ezimbuzini Retail Stalls (5GB) and Waterloo Sports Facility (4GB).

Indicative of its consistent project pipeline, the Building Division’s teams are

currently hard at work on various sites.

These include: •D UT Indumiso Campus (9GB – combined tender with DUT Steve Biko): Two new buildings are being constructed at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) Steve Biko Campus. These are a new engineering building comprised of two floors, navigated by a new lift, containing a total of 25 workshops and 12 computer labs, as well as a new lecture hall with three lecture rooms on the ground floor, three on the first floor and a lift.

• DUT Steve Biko Campus (9GB – combined tender with DUT Indumiso): Two new buildings are under construction at the DUT Steve Biko Campus, namely a new multipurpose hall and a new student centre.

• Dr WK Du Plessis School (8GB): This project entails the complete demolition and rebuilding of the Dr WK Du Plessis School in Springs, Gauteng.

• Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (9GB): Temi is presently busy with renovations and the construction of new buildings at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, which is divided up into two main sections,

Flagship housing projects The Housing Division specialises in lowcost housing, BNG (Breaking New Ground) projects, gap and Flisp (Finance-linked Individual Subsidy Programme) housing, ranging from 350 houses and above. To date, the Housing team has successfully delivered 5 193 houses, with a further 600 houses currently under construction at the Brickvale Housing Initiative for Mogale City.

Other flagship projects include: the Lawley Housing Project, which entailed the delivery of 909 houses; the Palm Ridge Housing Project, where the company built 650 houses; and the Etwatwa Housing Project, which saw 1 765 houses delivered.

The Temi team has also identified a major gap in the market when it comes to the building of RDP/BNG houses and those waiting to move into their new homes.

The company therefore came up with the solution of providing temporary residential shelters, as well as various sanitation solutions.

The above projects are certainly not an exhaustive list. Temi has delivered on contracts for many notable clients, which include the Department of Infrastructure Development, City of Ekurhuleni, Coega Development Corporation, University of Johannesburg, Development Bank of Southern Africa, and Kgatelopele Local Municipality, to name but a few.

Industry recognition Temi Construction has also received industry accolades and awards for the projects it has delivered. These include the Govan Mbeki Award, as winner in the category of ‘Best Established Youth Contractor’ to recognise outstanding performance in the delivery of sustainable human settlements, and the Gauteng Premier Service Excellence Award, where the company took first place in the category of ‘Sustainable Development and Infrastructure Development’.

As a company, both acknowledged by its peers and appreciated by its clients for the quality work it carries out, Temi Construction always strives to embody the company’s core value, which takes the form of a promise to all its stakeholders: “We Deliver”.

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E THEKW I NI • IN N E R-CIT Y RE N E WA L

Point Waterfront to regenerate the inner city

FLAGSHIP PROJECTS at the Point Waterfront Development The Point Waterfront project is a public-private sector investment and forms part of eThekwini Municipality’s initiative to redevelop and regenerate the inner city. It includes the extension of the existing promenade by about 750 m and the upgrading of water mains.

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his infrastructure investment, carried out by the City, is a catalyst to the R30 billion Point Waterfront Development to be undertaken over the next 10 years. The development comprises a hotel, retail mall, offices, as well as a residential apartment and leisure facilities.

This will create a total of 17 500 jobs during construction and 11 000 jobs once completed and operational. To date, 320 jobs have been created. The project will inject about R110 million into the City’s revenue annually.

The R380 million Point Promenade was launched in 2019 and is a key asset to the tourism sector. It extends Durban’s promenade from the north at the uMgeni River to the south at North Pier at the

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harbour mouth. With the extension, it has earned the title of being the longest waterfront promenade in Africa.

The extended promenade includes public amenities such as toilets, changerooms, the Point Watersports Club, the Seine Netters facility, and a leasable area underneath the promenade.

Approximately 1 500 jobs were created from 2016 to 2019.

The Point Waterfront Development is expected to be a major catalyst for the Durban Point and central business district areas as a key economic hub of eThekwini.

The Point Waterfront Development will raise the profile of the area to one of the most sought-after investment nodes for residential, entertainment, and retail.

Point Promenade • Public realm completed in 2019 • City investment: R380 million • Jobs created during construction: 1 000 • Jobs created after construction (direct and indirect): 500 Point Water Mains • Bulk water supply • Construction in progress.

To be completed December 2021 • City investment: R230 million • Jobs created: 120 Point Waterfront Private Development • Hotel, residential and retail • Commencement targeted for October 2021 • Private investment: R15 billion • City investment: R600 million • Annual City revenue: R110 million • Jobs created during construction: 17 500 • Jobs created after construction (direct and indirect): 11 000

ET H EK W I NI • I NNER - C I T Y R ENEWAL

Midway Crossing creates jobs The development of the R980 million Midway Crossing in the Dumisani Makhaye Node is set to significantly transform the local economy of Westrich. It will also kickstart further investment and impact the broader economy of eThekwini.

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his joint investment between Fundamentum Property Group and eThekwini Municipality is among the biggest investments in a township area in South Africa.

Midway Crossing is eThekwini Municipality’s response to the call by President Cyril Ramaphosa to attract investment in townships and rural areas.

The development included several substantial upgrades to the road infrastructure and surrounding areas.

Transit-oriented development Based in a critical transport node, with an adjacent C3 GO!Durban BRT station, Midway Crossing will forever change the lives of people living in Lindelani, Ntuzuma, KwaMashu, Newlands East, Newlands West, and surrounding areas.

This transit-oriented development is the first of many investment projects in the area. In the future, the City is expecting to see the development of manufacturing hubs, entertainment, and tourist hot spots. These many investments will change the face of the area.

This will bring numerous employment opportunities to local communities.

A total of 5% of Midway Crossing is owned by the Dumisani Makhaye Community Trust. The local small, medium and micro enterprises contracts reached a value of nearly R100 million, which were implemented through the Radical Economic Transformation Policy of eThekwini Municipality.

Midway Crossing successfully created 1 100 jobs for local community members,

with 600 more permanent jobs created when it opened.

Youth and vulnerable groups accounted for 63% of jobs created during construction, while the contractor exceeded their expectations by subcontracting 38% of the work to the local community.

Private sector confidence Coinciding with the opening of Midway Crossing was the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the centre’s new Shoprite supermarket.

This store opening indicates the confidence the Shoprite Group has in the new development and the prospects for the wider Ntuzuma area.

Jay Behari Ram, divisional manager at Shoprite, said he believes the future lies in the hands of women; the retailer saw fit to fill four of the five management positions at the store with women. “Our staff represent the various sections of society and we are proud to have been able to provide employment in the area at a time when jobs are so hard to come by,” he said.

Also present at the opening was Cllr Nokufika Biyela of Ward 38, who stated, “This represents growth and development of our area. It will instil pride in the people here. In turn, we as the people will protect these facilities because they are here to serve us. The people working here will be from Ward 38 and surrounding wards so there will be a sense of ownership that is created.”

Midway Crossing will also include a Sizakala Customer Centre, library, and eThekwini Transport offices. eTHEKWINI 2021

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FACULTY OF

FACULTY OF

• Auditing and Taxation • Finance and Information Management (Midlands) • Financial Accounting • Information and Corporate Management • Information Technology • Management Accounting

• • • • • • • • • •

ACCOUNTING AND INFORMATICS

FACULTY OF

ARTS AND DESIGN • • • • • • • •

Drama and Production Studies Fashion and Textiles Fine Art and Jewellery Design Media, Language and Communication School of Education Adult and Community Education Unit Video Technology Visual Communication

FACULTY OF

HEALTH SCIENCES • • • • • • • • • • •

Basic Medical Sciences Department Biomedical and Clinical Technology Chiropractic Community Health Studies Dental Sciences Emergency Medical Care and Rescue Homeopathy Medical Orthotics and Prosthetics Nursing Radiography Somatology

APPLIED SCIENCES Biotechnology and Food Technology Chemistry Clothing and Textile Studies Food and Nutrition Consumer Sciences Horticulture Maritime Studies Mathematics Physics Statistics Sport Studies

FACULTY OF

ENGINEERING AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT • • • • • • • • • • •

Architecture Chemical Engineering Civil Engineering and Geomatics (Durban) Civil Engineering (Midlands) Construction Management and Quantity Surveying Electrical Power Engineering Electronic and Computer Engineering Industrial Engineering Mechanical Engineering Town and Regional Planning Urban Futures Centre

FACULTY OF

MANAGEMENT SCIENCES • • • • • • • • •

Applied Law Ecotourism Entrepreneurial Studies and Management Hospitality and Tourism Human Resources Management Marketing and Retail Operations and Quality Management Public Management and Economics Public Relations and Communication Management

For more information, visit www.dut.ac.za (+27) 31 373 2000 (DBN) · (+27) 33 845 8800 (PMB) · info@dut.ac.za @DurbanUniversityofTechnology

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Durban University of Technology

Temi Construction is a 100% Black-youth-owned and 50% woman-owned company. We achieve our clients’ organisational goals and pride ourselves on being recognised by major organisations as a preferred contractor.

We focus on servicing both the private and public sectors on an end-to-end scale.

SERVICES INCLUDE: • Building – education and healthcare facilities, retail development, refurbishment, and renovations • Civils – infrastructure development, bulk earthworks • Housing – low-cost and affordable housing units • Temporary relocation units and ablutions – prefabricated units for temporary housing, ablution facilities, building renovations, installation of water and sewerage infrastructure

WE DELIVER. We ensure all work is done with pride, passion, and the utmost professionalism, operating in Gauteng, KZN, the Eastern Cape, North West and Limpopo.

+27 (0)11 682 3862

www.temi.co.za

cidb grading: 9GBPE

BBBEE Level 1

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PR O F I L E | T H E B R I C K WORK S Investec Property is redeveloping the old Corobrik site on Durban’s northern corridor into one of South Africa’s largest and most well-located logistics facilities – aptly named The Brickworks.

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he Brickworks, set to become one of SA’s most pivotal logistics and distribution hubs, is being positioned to attract users requiring large warehousing and logistics spaces, both locally and internationally.

With billions of rand being spent on building new and improving existing infrastructure, Investec Property expects to invest over R6 billion in redeveloping the old Corobrik brickworks site into a distinctive and unique business park.

“Investec Property, a subsidiary of Investec Bank, is proud to be the development company spearheading the creation of what is set to be an iconic industrial park,” joint-CEO David Rosmarin says.

“While the property market has been challenged by the pandemic and lockdowns, the industrial property sector has proven to be resilient. The growth in online shopping and the need for warehousing and distribution has driven demand for best-in-class logistics offerings. This will also help cater to the needs of Durban North, which is one of the fastest-growing residential development nodes in the country,” Rosmarin adds.

Strategically located between Riverhorse Valley and Umhlanga, The Brickworks will provide world-class, highly accessible facilities to warehousing and logistics users that require secure, controlled storage at scale. A state-of-the-art, layered security

Unlocking potential, brick by brick network will ensure goods and assets housed at The Brickworks are as secure as possible.

Centre of KZN’s strategic hub A development of this size demands extensive site clearing and excavation. Site preparation for The Brickworks, which commenced in January 2021, represents one of the largest earthmoving contracts currently under way in KwaZulu-Natal, with 1.7 million cubic metres of earth being moved.

Upon completion of the earthworks, construction of the top structure is expected to begin in Q1 2022, with 33 hectares of platformed land planned for the first five-year phase. Upon completion of the development’s three phases – expected to take between 10 and 12 years – The Brickworks will boast 90 hectares of platformed commercial land and over 500 000 m2 of gross lettable area.

“Our platforms will allow for the construction of large warehouses of up to 100 000 m2 under roof,” says Iain Burns, Development Manager of The Brickworks.

“The scale of our offering, complemented

by Investec Property’s track record, has drawn the interest of numerous potential clients and we’re in advanced discussions with a number of multinational and bluechip companies who wish to site their operations at The Brickworks.”

Beyond its impressive size, the site is exceptionally well located. “There’s a shortage of large industrial stands in the greater Durban area, so our ability to cater

for users requiring considerable warehousing space at a prime location underpins our strategic competitive advantage,” Burns adds.

Near both King Shaka International Airport and the Port of Durban, the business park boasts superior accessibility to various major arterial and secondary road networks. Its development has also served as a catalyst for the upgrading of surrounding road infrastructure, which will include an offramp from the M25 directly into The Brickworks.

Of further benefit to the surrounding communities, local labour has been deployed extensively on the earthworks phase, and Investec Property aims to strongly promote local procurement, employment and skills development at the site.

“The Brickworks has access to a substantial labour force, along with well-trafficked public transport routes, which is a real advantage for our clients.” notes Burns .

Municipal buy-in It goes without saying that developments such as The Brickworks require the buyin of the municipal authorities. “The City of eThekwini’s efforts in this respect are notable and it is thanks to the City’s ‘One Stop’ Catalytic Projects Unit, alongside their proactive and unique Rates Rebate Policy, that enabled this project to come to fruition,” Rosmarin adds.

“Investec Property has developed some of South Africa’s most prominent and progressive properties over the past four decades. We are proud to be able to bring a business and logistics park of this size and stature to the region,” he concludes.

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PR OFILE | BC I ND US T R IAL & E N G INEER I NG S U PPL I ES Durban-based BC Industrial & Engineering Supplies is a major distributor of industrial metal products and value-added services within South Africa.

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ith new approaches and advice on the effective, economic and innovative use of metal products, BC Industrial & Engineering Supplies is committed to improving every facet of the steel industry in its role as a major supplier.

The company takes great pride in being part of the steel industry and, as such, is constantly seeking to elevate service levels in manufacturing and metals distribution to new heights.

BC Industrial & Engineering Supplies provides products that are broadly broken down into three categories: abrasive products, power tools and industrial supplies. Its metal products offering includes structural steel,

The metal products professionals plate, sheet and coil, tubular, merchant bar, pipes, valves, fittings, rails, as well as stainless and engineering steels, fittings and hardware.

Adding value across a range of industries Providing both the above products and valueadded services across the breadth of South Africa, the company’s customers operate in industries ranging from construction, mining, manufacturing and engineering to oil, gas, rural, defence, marine and food.

In a market demanding excellence, BC

Industrial & Engineering Supplies leads the industry in service and value. The company has also expanded its capabilities to meet the demands of a constantly changing market, offering competitive pricing and service that is second to none.

With efficient staff who conduct business at the highest level of professionalism, BC Industrial & Engineering Supplies seizes every opportunity to deliver exceptional service to its customers and clients, with a focus on strengthening these relationships and ensuring they stand the test of time.

www.bcindustrial.co.za ABRASIVE PRODUCTS

POWER TOOLS

INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES

We are a major distributor of a full range of industrial metal products including structural steel, plate, sheet and coil, tubular, merchant bar, pipes, valves, fittings, rails, stainless and engineering steels, fittings and hardware.

We extend our value-added services to customers operating in industries ranging from construction, mining, manufacturing, and engineering to oil, gas, rural, defence, marine and food. collin@bcindustrial.co.za

+27 31 579 3989

38 Beechfield Cres, Umgeni Business Park, Durban, 4001

AM Consulting Engineers: a medium-size multidisciplinary consulting engineering corporation with Level 1 BBBEE and ISO 9001:2015 accreditation

PR OFILE | AM CO N S ULT IN G E N G IN EER S

Proven multidisciplinary

engineering expertise AM Consulting Engineers is a proudly South African 100% Black-owned and -managed consulting engineering and project management firm that provides professional services in all engineering disciplines, as well as project and programme management.

A

M Consulting Engineers (AMCE) is led by professionals with vast experience in the planning and management of engineering projects of all aspects of the built environment – ranging from master plans, sector plans and feasibility studies to designs for infrastructure, contract documentation, construction monitoring and project management. The current staff complement of the firm has a

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mature diversity across the professional disciplines, age, and gender.

With its head office based in Midrand, Gauteng, and satellite offices in Polokwane, Richards Bay, East London, Gqeberha and the Free State, AMCE has a project footprint that spans the entire South Africa and is actively looking forward to growing in regions earmarked for further infrastructure development.

Driving development AMCE’s vision is not only to be a leading consulting engineering firm in South Africa but to play a pivotal role in the redevelopment of our nation’s infrastructure landscape, contribute to social integration, and drive the upliftment and upskilling of our people.

The company’s dynamic and youthful structure allows it to bring forth highly qualified professionals who are both energetic and innovative in developing solutions for clients.

AMCE has served a multitude of government agencies across the country, which has given rise to in-house intellectual property in delivering key catalytic projects, holding the highest public interest at the core of such endeavours. The company has an in-depth understanding of the integration between spheres of government and the regulatory concerns surrounding the delivery of projects in according with the appropriate legal and financial frameworks.

Diversified offering The company’s diversification and growth over the last 16 years has seen it expand from its initial civil engineering offering into a one-stop engineering service provider.

AMCE’s expertise ideally positions the company to provide the following engineering services to its clients: • civil and structural engineering • electrical engineering • mechanical engineering • project and programme management • public transport operations planning • renewable energy • spatial and land-use planning and design • traffic and transportation engineering • transport economics • water engineering.

As it has expanded, AMCE has also grown into an employer of choice for a range of multidisciplinary professional staff.

The company currently boasts a staff complement of 87, including engineers, technologists, technicians, planners, managers, and administrative staff.

Through the diversification of its skill base and the employment of top talent across the engineering ambit, AMCE has expanded its operations into all sectors of South Africa’s economic landscape.

The company has operated in numerous sectors, including: • commercial • education • energy • health • housing • tourism • transport • water.

AM Consulting Engineers is a 100% South African, Black-owned professional engineering consulting firm with a proven, 16-year track record in delivering multidisciplinary megaprojects across core business lines

The AM Consulting Engineers Ethos Mission To continuously provide quality professional services to clients, driven by dynamism, innovation and creativity through the clinical application of high standards for engineering excellence

Its expansion programme has seen the company establish a physical presence in Richards Bay, East London, Gqeberha, and Mangaung, with plans to expand further afoot into the Western Cape within the next fiveyear period. AMCE’s fundamental skills and firmly established foundation also equip the company to expand beyond South Africa’s borders, to deploy its expertise into the wider African continent.

AMCE continues to strive not only to grow in commercial value as an entity but to provide an environment and services that enhance the lives of its staff and the communities within which it operates. It strives to be a service provider of choice to its clients, an incubator for small, emerging businesses, and a driving force in the training and development of the next generation of engineers, project managers and technicians.

MEET MANAGEMENT

Footprint expansion Clearly not resting on its laurels, AMCE has also engaged in an active regional expansion programme, which has seen the firm grow into KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, Free State and North West. This is no mean feat considering the tough prevailing economic climate, especially in the civils sector.

In consolidating its existing base, the company has also significantly grown its presence in Gauteng and Limpopo.

People Development To prioritise mentorship, skills development and professional registration Vision Statement To be a business partner of choice to private sector, parastatals and public sector clients, for efficient professional engineering and consulting services

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PR OJECTS | AM CO N S ULT IN G E N G INEER S

AM Consulting Engineers has time and again proven its transport engineering expertise through its work on various rapid transit networks across South Africa.

Moving people with purpose

A Re Yeng IRPTN – City of Tshwane

Huaweng BRT – Mangaung Metro

Harambee BRT – City of Ekurhuleni

Project value: R4.5 billion Project duration: Two 3-year contracts AMCE led the City of Tshwane’s A Re Yeng IRPTN to the point of implementation of the system’s first phase of operation. The scope of works included project management, professional services for the planning and implementation of the IRPTN system, design and implementation of engineering and construction projects, and specialist studies in line with project requirements.

Project value: R80 million Project duration: 8 months AMCE was appointed to provide project management and technical support to the Huaweng BRT network. However, the project encountered numerous delays and challenges from the municipality’s side, which required remedial action.

AMCE’s interventions culminated in additional funding being allocated to the municipality for the implementation and roll-out of the infrastructure development programme. The company also embarked on the first ever roadshow during transport month, with the unveiling of the system during October 2015.

Project value: R180 million Project duration: Two 2-year contracts The City of Ekurhuleni is busy implementing its IRPTN, which AMCE has helped to expand. The company’s scope of works has included project management, professional services for the planning and implementation of the IRPTN system, as well as design and implementation of engineering and construction projects. The focus of Ekurhuleni’s IRPTN is to connect the region’s nine disparate towns and 17 townships through various public transport modes, of which the Harambee BRT is the backbone.

AM Consulting Engineers structures projects for implementation not planning

Leeto la Polokwane IPTS – City of Polokwane Project value: R1.8 billion Project duration: 3 years AMCE has played a pivotal role in the recent Phase 1A launch of the Leeto la Polokwane IPTS (Integrated Public Transport System) in Limpopo’s capital city. This first phase is focused on the infrastructure interventions related to rapid public transport. The objective of Leeto la Polokwane is to ensure that all members of the Polokwane community have access to safe, affordable and reliable public transport that will link them with social, economic and employment opportunities.

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AM Consulting Engineers’ transport project specialties • Business & Finance • Industry Transition • Infrastructure • Intelligent Transport Systems • Marketing & Communications • Operations Planning • Programme Management • Risk & Compliance • Safety & Security • Stakeholder Engagement • Systems Planning

ET H EKW I NI • C ATA LY T I C P RO J EC TS

Driving development at scale

Across much of South Africa, projects of a vast scale have been identified to serve as key enablers in raising the socio-economic growth trajectory of our country. Within eThekwini, a number of Catalytic Projects, which are set to be game-changing developments for the municipality and its residents, are in various stages of planning and development.

Automotive Supply Park The project is strategically located on a 1 000 ha agricultural site in Illovo South, which is to be developed as a KwaZuluNational automotive supplier park to strengthen the automotive manufacturing sector in eThekwini and the broader province. The project is located to the south of the city and has easy access to the N2 Automotive Supply Park

Corridor both northwards and southwards.

Its location in the Prime Investment Corridor (PIC) has significant multiplier effects for the motor industry development in the city. From a connectivity point of view, the site can access the N2, which will feed into the City’s transport network, emanating from the north into Durban. This project is viewed as one of the key economic

development projects to the south of the city and can assist in providing much-needed employment opportunities in the southern municipal area.

Cato Ridge Multi-modal Development The Cato Ridge Multi-modal Development will be home to a logistics hub/inland or dry port, with business units that include Cato Ridge Multi-modal Development

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E THEKW I NI • C ATA LY T IC P ROJE CT S

Centrum Site Development Project

the following: a mega truck stop and staging with various amenities, such as an overnight facility, 700 to 1 000 truck parking bays, a fuel station, convenience stores, a drivers’ wellness centre, a pharmacy truck and tyre repair facilities. It will also host a container and automotive terminal with an envisaged maximum container annual throughput capacity of about 750 000 TEUs, and a logistics and industrial park with warehousing facilities for added container services such as stuffing and de-stuffing.

The industrial park will house various manufacturing facilities and a tank farm (petroleum product storage) with an estimated annual throughput capacity of 3 168 000 million litres. The project site is located strategically along the N3 corridor and is part of the broader National SIP 2 project. The site is within the PIC and can be accessed via the N3 into and out of the city.

Cornubia interchange

Centrum Site Development Project The Centrum site is situated within the core of the inner city; it has remained underdeveloped for some decades now. The City, through its Urban Renewal Unit, has completed an urban design framework that has been bold in its development vision. A potential 700 000 m2 of bulk is achievable on the site that includes the Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre, the Durban Exhibition Centre, the current bus terminal and workshop.

The Centrum Site is within the PIC and has direct access to the IPTN. One of the proposals for the IPTN includes an intermodal transport facility in proximity to the site. A super basement parking garage is planned for Centrum also housing the IPTN and ICDS terminals. A combination of public and private sector commercial opportunities, together with the planned new library, will

assist in providing jobs as well as build social cohesion in the city. There is planning for enhanced pedestrian movement within the Centrum precinct and connecting it with the rest of the city.

Cornubia Integrated Human Settlements Development The Cornubia Integrated Human Settlement development is a joint venture between the national and provincial Departments of Human Settlements, eThekwini Municipality and Tongaat Hulett. It is set to be eThekwini and the province’s largest sustainable integrated human settlement initiative.

Cornubia will be a mixed-use mixed-income development, incorporating industrial, commercial, residential and open space uses.

This project falls within the PIC and the IPTN is a key component in the development.

The IPTN C9 Corridor traverses the project

ET H EKW I NI • C ATA LY T I C P RO J EC TS

Dube TradePort Special Economic Zone

Cornubia Integrated Human Settlements Development

site and provides improved public transport access to economic activities in Umhlanga and the CDB via the C2 Corridor. There is also improved access via the C3 Corridor from Bridge City to Pinetown. This project provides integrated human settlement solutions and various employment opportunities arising from the commercial, manufacturing and industrial development in the project area.

Dube TradePort Special Economic Zone The Dube TradePort SEZ, strategically located 30 km north of the city of Durban, is over 3 000 hectares and home to the state-of-the-art King Shaka International Airport. It is ideally positioned 30 minutes from Africa’s busiest cargo port, Durban Harbour, and 90 minutes from Richards Bay Harbour. Dube TradePort takes advantage of

its prime location as the only facility in Africa combining an international airport, dedicated cargo terminal, warehousing, offices, retail, hotels and agriculture. This SEZ is located in the PIC and along the key N2 North South Corridor. The projects site also has additional access to the R102 route.

Ntshongweni Development The Ntshongweni Urban Node is the largest of several new developments, which collectively represent a significant development dynamic in eThekwini – particularly in the western region, to the extent that a formal and efficient urban pattern of development is emerging in this region. The project falls within the City’s PIC. The total investment value for the Nsthongweni Development is R90 billion over a 20-year period; it is expected to create 19 000 construction jobs and 8 500 permanent

jobs. After the completion of Phase 1, the total real estate investment value is estimated to be approximately R8 billion.

Rivertown Precinct Development Rivertown Precinct lies to the east of Durban CBD, between the ICC and beachfront. The precinct is formerly Durban’s light industrial area with several low-rise warehouses, some of which are of heritage value. A canal diagonally traverses the precinct along John Milne Street. Rivertown will be a destination for a diverse and sophisticated inner-city community with a mix of contemporary apartments, offices and cultural venues of different sizes. It will also capture the rhythm and spirit of Durban’s beach lifestyle.

Showcasing the best in contemporary design, Rivertown will retain strong links to its rich heritage. Chimney stacks and industrial relics will stand as landmarks to the

Ntshongweni Development

Rivertown Precinct Development eTHEKWINI 2021

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E THEKW I NI • C ATA LY T IC P ROJE CT S

past. Heritage buildings will be repurposed and reimagined for contemporary activities.

This project is limited to public realm upgrades aimed at creating a connected, walkable and integrated city that realises its potential. The investment value is R44 million.

Virginia Airport Site Redevelopment The eThekwini Municipality Catalytic Projects Unit has embarked on a process to unpack the Land Development Strategy and Framework to determine the viability of redeveloping the Virginia Airport Site situated along the M4 in Durban North.

The site measures 29.6 hectares, although the portion with development potential is approximately 9.8 hectares. According to some of the high-level studies undertaken in recent years, the developable land has potential bulk of 99 470 m2. The site is currently zoned as an airport in terms of land use. The redevelopment site is located in the PIC and along the IPTN C2 Corridor and provides for additional residential and commercial activities via a mixeduse proposal.

Warwick Junction The Warwick Precinct redevelopment project aims to restructure transport facilities and operations, as well as social economic activities and social fabric, within a wider strategic framework for the area.

Projects under way in the Warwick area include the Berea Station Mall, taxi holding facility, the creation of a cold storage, and informal trade infrastructure upgrades. The Precinct accommodates a vast number of commuters and the area has developed into a major economic node boasting student accommodation, retail and social housing opportunities. This key economic node is located in the heart of the city in the PIC. Development of Warwick Junction is also

seen as part of a larger redevelopment approach to the inner city.

Bridge City & Kwamashu Town Centre Urban Hub Bridge City is a joint venture between the eThekwini Municipality and Tongaat Hulett. Bridge City is the northern bookend of the C3 Corridor and is supported by an intermodal transport hub. In order to support the transport element of the corridor, the Bridge City Precinct has been amended to allow for a vibrant and robust mix of land uses that allows this town centre to develop in line with other town centres within the municipality’s area of jurisdiction.

Bridge City is located in the PIC and in order to ensure its sustainability, the precinct is divided into the Town Centre Precinct and the Business Park Precinct. This allows the City to realise the vision of a liveable city, where people live, work and play in the same precinct.

Amaoti Amaoti is one of the five approved National Department of Human Settlements catalytic projects. It is the only one that has no history of formal township development pre- or post-1994, and is unique in that regard. Given the history of informal settlement development in large cities, it is key to understand how catalytic development occurs so that such a large informal settlement can be addressed. It is made up of a cluster of established settlements, each with its own sense of identity. To address each separate settlement independently would be difficult and the principle that a collective process would bear more fruit has been established.

The proposed project yield is estimated at around 20 000 sites. The Cuba area has been the first area of focus, with four

phases having been planned and just under 200 units having been delivered in the first phase. The remaining areas are in various stages of planning.

Dumisani Makhaye Development Node The Dumisani Makhaye Development Node is a township development project located in Ward 38. The project area has been catalysed by the development of the P577 (C3 Corridor), as well as the development of this road as part of the North west connector of the IPTN. The project is the first major development along the IPTN and is located adjacent to the Lindelani/Westrich station. The site also falls within the PIC. The overall total investment value of the project is approximately R769 million, of which the municipality is funding approximately R349 million. The site will be developed as a mixed-use area as part of the City’s densification programme. The key Midway Shopping Centre recently opened its doors, with further phases of development set to transform the region.

Avoca Nodal Development Programme The Avoca Nodal Development programme is strategically situated in the northern growth corridor of eThekwini, with easy access to the site off the N2 via the M25 and R102. Three key sites make up the programme area: the Brickworks, Rohill and Caneridge. Together, these sites measure nearly 350 hectares and represent one of the last significant greenfield infill development opportunity nodes centrally located in eThekwini. The Brickworks is being developed by Investec Property, while the development of Rohill is in the hands of JT Ross Properties. The adjoining Caneridge site, which has been proposed for housing development by the City, has been put on hold at this stage.

Warwick Junction

Virginia Airport Site Redevelopment

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PR O F I L E | S H A ML A PAT H ER AT TORNEY S

Making the law work for you towards a favourable resolution. In settling disputes as painlessly as possible, the firm provides legal services for divorce proceedings, local and international adoptions, maintenance matters, domestic violence, family law, and children's rights. Shamla’s team believes that a good settlement is one where parties are able to sleep at night and not sweat the small stuff.

Shamla Pather Attorneys is an excellence-driven legal firm that strives to make the law applicable and available, through the provision of sound legal advice and solutions to problems.

Uplifting others Beyond providing quality legal services, a passion point for Shamla is the upliftment of surrounding communities and improving people’s social environment. As a champion of women’s and children’s rights, Shamla is a patron of several organisations and does pro bono work, team building, and fund-raising for those in need. She believes that legacies

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hamla Pather Attorneys is owned and headed by the indefatigable Shamla Pather, a seasoned and widely respected legal practitioner with over 23 years of experience. Shamla and her team are experts in numerous aspects of civil and commercial litigation.

The firm offers professional, sound legal services utilising the latest advances in research, management, technology and communication.

Legal expertise Commercial law: Within the ambit of commercial law, Shamla Pather Attorneys provides clients with services addressing a range of ventures. These include mergers and acquisitions, banking and finance, private equity transactions, joint ventures, commercial contracts, BBBEE transactions, corporate governance, and due diligence investigations.

Civil litigation: The firm fully supports its clients in civil cases at all levels, from Magistrates’ Courts to High Court, the High Court of Appeal, and even the Constitutional Court of South Africa.

Labour law: South Africa’s multifaceted labour laws can be challenging to navigate on your own as either employer or employee.

Shamla Pather Attorneys provides its expertise in alternate dispute resolutions, hearing facilitation, policy guidance, counsel and recommendations, change management, CCMA matters, integrated forensics, employment law training, employment contracts, as well as arbitration and mediation.

Insurance law: The firm endeavours to help its clients negate risk and find financial stability during these particularly uncertain times, offering legal services relating to risk

management, insurance policies, repudiations, insurance litigation, and estate planning.

Property law: From property transfers and compliance, to sectional title registration and property-related disputes, Shamla Pather Attorneys aims to empower its clients in all matters relating to property law, including litigation.

Medical law: Shamla and her team offer compassionate representation in cases of malpractice or negligence – both defending and prosecuting these matters. Shamla’s experience in dealing with these matters also helps her to assist medical practitioners in defending unlawful claims.

Shipping/maritime law: The firm has the expertise and diligence to keep its clients’ ventures afloat, addressing admiralty jurisdiction and practice, flagging and registration of vessels, registration of mortgages and vessels, carriage of goods by sea, marine insurance, and general average.

Family law: Shamla Pather Attorneys approaches every family dispute with the empathy and delicacy required to work

Community work is part of the firm’s DNA

are built on one’s accomplishments within their community.

With a team that is dedicated, has the utmost integrity, and thrives on a high level of functionality and professionalism, Shamla Pather Attorneys is undeterred in meeting every challenge. Get in touch today and ensure you get the right legal representation. eTHEKWINI 2021

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E THEKW I NI • HU M A N S E T T L E M E N T S

Housing the residents of eThekwini

Over the past five years, eThekwini Municipality’s Human Settlements Unit has acquired more than 13 500 hectares of land for housing development projects.

A

total of 15 799 qualifying beneficiaries received free homes under the Breaking New Ground (BNG) Programme. For the gap market, which comprises low-middle-income earners, 1 893 housing opportunities for both ownership and rental were facilitated.

Moreover, in addressing construction problems in houses built before 1994, 3 053 housing units were upgraded or rebuilt.

Included in the Unit’s scope of work is the upgrading and refurbishing of community residential units (CRUs), formerly hostels, in eThekwini Municipality.

To this end, 290 family units were constructed inside the CRU

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precincts. The ownership of flats was also transferred to more than 8 000 occupants.

In recent years, the City has dedicated resources to addressing the impact of storms, with the assistance of national disaster funding.

For residents who do not meet the income bracket for low-income housing or municipal rental stock, the municipality facilitates the Finance-linked Individual Subsidy Programme (FLISP), which assists in securing a mortgage as well subsidised rental stock by housing institutions.

In the 2020/21 financial year, 1 737 new BNG/RDP houses were built in eThekwini. These houses are subsidised by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Human Settlements (DoHS) for low-income earners who are first-time homeowners and meet the criteria as set down by the DoHS. The City provides additional funding for the delivery of associated engineering services.

The eThekwini Human Settlements Unit works as an implementing agent as per the developer status afforded by the KwaZulu-Natal Human Settlements Department for housing projects within eThekwini boundaries. This is done on

ET H EK W I NI • HU MA N SET TLEMENTS

581 informal settlements across the municipal area. These services include water, communal ablutions facilities, basic road access, footpaths, as well as prepaid electricity connections.

Approximately a quarter of the metro’s total population reside in informal settlements. To this end, the upgrading and development of informal Rental housing settlements is a priority within its Human There is a need for the City to provide Settlements programme. Informal some rental accommodation to cater settlements are, in most instances, for low-income residents who cannot being upgraded in-situ to avoid the afford market-related rentals. However, social dislocation that occurs when these the City has certain rental stock that settlements are uprooted and relocated is too great a liability. Therefore, in to more distant locales. This is dependent order to reduce the financial burden of on land acquisition, which has to go administering this housing, much of it is through a statutory process and being transferred to current occupants may result in time delays. utilising the Enhanced Extended Discount The priority is to upgrade informal Benefit Scheme. A further objective settlements where they are currently of this transfer of stock is to create located and, to achieve this, security of tenure for longhigher-density housing standing tenants. At the options will need to rehabilitated CRUs, be implemented to market-related DID YOU KNOW? minimise disruption rentals are charged.

The total number of to communities and Social Housing easily accessible housing improve overall refers to a rental opportunities created within urban efficiencies. or cooperative eThekwini over the last five Those informal housing option years is 21 035. This includes settlements for low to municipal rental stock, that are unlikely moderate income community rental units, and to be upgraded persons at a scale low-income housing in the short term and built-form that are provided with a requires institutional package of interim services management. This is including ablution blocks that provided by social housing provide water and sanitation services, institutions in partnership with drainage, essential access infrastructure, the municipality. electricity, refuse removal services, interventions for fire prevention and a Informal settlements labour-based infrastructure maintenance The Human Settlements Unit also programme that draws labour from the provides incremental services to behalf of the provincial department.

The Unit’s remit is the provision of housing, which is funded by the Department of Human Settlements and associated services, which are funded by the National Urban Settlements Development Grant.

local community. Within these informal settlements, a 2019 estimate placed the housing backlog at 385 000 units, which is estimated to take between 4080 years to address based on current funding levels and subsidies, as well as projected population growth over the period.

Covid response Looking back to recent concerns, the significant population living in densely populated informal settlements in eThekwini Municipality presented a raft of challenges. With the call for social distancing and improved washing and coughing hygiene, many of the residents in the informal settlements had become vulnerable to contracting the novel coronavirus.

To meet the national service standards, the City needed to ensure the provision of adequate water supply and proper sanitation measures. In addition, the City embarked on awareness-building campaigns and provided soaps, sanitiser, water dispensers, static water tanks and chemical toilets to these impoverished communities.

The responses to ensuring food security for vulnerable communities have primarily been targeted at the homeless population in the city centre through the active engagement and involvement of the NGO community. The City, together with various national departments, has also undertaken a programme to deliver food parcels to vulnerable residents in each of the 110 wards in the municipality.

A longer-term and more sustainable solution is being sought to address food security challenges in the informal settlements.

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Delta Property Fund (‘Delta’ or ‘the Company’), a Level 1 BBBEE Contributor, specialises in office accommodation in nodes that are attractive to government and other corporate tenants who require presence in CBDs. It is also strategically positioned to cater for call centres, educational and healthcare facilities.

Differentiated by dedication

32 | eTHEKWINI 2021

PR O F I L E | D ELTA PR O PERTY FU ND

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elta’s Level 1 BBBEE Contributor status is one of the highest ratings in the property sector. This also means that tenants qualify for a 135% procurement recognition on their leases.

Delta’s overall portfolio comprises almost one million square metres of lettable space. The Company holds assets across all provinces in South Africa, with specific concentration in the key CBDs of eThekwini, Pietermaritzburg, Tshwane, Johannesburg and Cape Town.

The retail component of Delta’s portfolio is based on the street levels of its corporate office buildings, with tenants benefitting from high trading densities and footfalls.

Delta is Black managed, with its largest shareholder comprising a female group and Delta’s employees. Delta aims to be

We are differentiated by our dedication to building strong, strategic, long-term relationships with our tenants, ensuring an exceptional user experience

a pioneer in nurturing and developing Black property talent.

The Company’s portfolio is currently undergoing renovations, making it attractive for potential tenants looking for a new look and clean finishes, as well as focusing on compliance certification. Delta has allocated R180 million towards refurbishments and upgrades to its buildings, with Durban and Pietermaritzburg being beneficiaries of this spend.

The Company is further partnering with the Urban Inner-city Precinct,

supporting their initiatives and ensuring growth in the Durban CBD. Delta is committed to Durban and Pietermaritzburg, and is a strong supporter of investment growth in KwaZulu-Natal, especially in the eThekwini CBD. For leasing enquiries, contact leasing@deltafund.co.za or call 087 803 3582. www.deltafund.co.za

Our commitment to superior service and delivery throughout the lease period is positioning us as a partner of choice for tenants seeking quality office accommodation in attractive CBD nodes.”

Bongi Masinga, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Delta

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Advance your indoor SARS-CoV-2 early detection with AerosolSense™ Sampler

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With the world’s most contagious diseases being transmitted by airborne pathogens, your first line of defence starts in the air…

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PR O F I L E | ER O A FRI C A

Keeping tabs on the air we breathe As a specialist provider of air quality monitoring equipment, ERO Africa is uniquely positioned as a South African distributor of the Thermo Fisher Scientific AerosolSense™ Sampler, which can capture airborne SARS-CoV-2 pathogens for PCR testing.

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ounded in 1983, ERO Africa has unrivalled local expertise in the provision of air quality monitoring equipment. The company strives to combine quality, reliability, responsiveness and value for money in every solution it delivers to its customers.

ERO Africa specialises in equipment dedicated to ambient air quality monitoring and emissions monitoring. Such monitoring equipment is utilised in applications that ensure organisations – from government to industrial manufacturing facilities, businesses, warehouses and mining – do their utmost to keep employees and customers safe, as well as maintain regulatory compliance with environmental legislation.

Delivering a key tool in the war against Covid-19 While the general health concerns associated with poor air quality and excessive

pollution are not to be underestimated, the importance of knowing what’s in the air we breathe has been placed under the microscope with the advent of the global Covid-19 pandemic.

Currently, only a fraction of South Africa’s population is vaccinated, while Covid-19 protocols are not always rigidly followed. Coupled with new virus variants, this contributes to a heightened risk and increased spread of Covid infections. The fact is that another layer of reliable defence is needed in the fight against Covid-19, as the world aims to resume prepandemic life.

The Thermo Fisher Scientific AerosolSense™ Sampler is an in-air pathogen surveillance sampling system

with the capacity to capture the Covid-19 virus (SARS-CoV-2) and other air pathogens in low quantities that can be detected by laboratory PCR testing.

The device is specified for use in indoor environments such as offices, schools, municipalities, hospitals, old-age homes, nursery schools, call centres, retail and shopping centres, hairdressers, beauty salons, guest houses, hotels, restaurants, bars and convention centres.

People with Covid-19 release virus particles into the air whenever they speak, breathe, laugh or cough, and these can linger in unventilated settings – increasing the likelihood of pathogens being inhaled and exhaled. Buildings with HVAC systems are particularly vulnerable and social distancing is not effective, as infections via the pathogen proteins are distributed through the system.

The AerosolSense™ Sampler surveillance system, paired with PCR testing, can detect novel coronavirus particles, supplying reliable information to help keep your employees and the public safe. It can detect coronavirus particles in the air up to 5 m and should be positioned in high-traffic spaces like waiting rooms, open-plan offices, board rooms, medical facilities, employee break rooms, restaurants, bars, schools and ventilation systems. Air samples should be collected for at least two hours, after which they are to be sent to a lab for PCR testing.

A close working relationship with eThekwini While this new system is set to be a gamechanging intervention, what ERO Africa truly hangs its hat on is the rapport it builds with its customers, a prime example being an enduring relationship with eThekwini Municipality.

In working closely with eThekwini, ERO Africa has successfully executed tenders for the City, such as the supply and installation of air quality particulate monitors and SO2 analysers for a period of three years. The final year’s order is currently being awaited. The company has also delivered TEOM 1405-DF and TEOM 1400ab ambient particulate monitors, as well as sequential dust samplers – both highand low-volume – for the determination of background PM10 particulate pollution levels.

When it comes to air quality monitoring and pathogen detection, ERO Africa provides proven solutions backed by extensive expertise and a passion to deliver service excellence. eTHEKWINI 2021

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ETHEKWI N I • ROA D S & T RA N S P ORT

Ensuring residents keep moving forward

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Thekwini aims to deliver 10-15 km of road per annum in dealing with the overall road backlog of around a thousand kilometres within the municipal area. The metro will take between 70-105 years to address backlogs based on current funding levels, so engagement with the KwaZuluNatal Department of Transport is vital in resolving this issue, to ensure alignment and support.

Over the past five years, ETA has fulfilled its directive through various projects, including but not limited to the implementation of the Integrated Rapid Public Transport Network (IRPTN) known as GO!Durban, strategic and integrated road safety programmes, and innovative transport solutions.

With most eThekwini residents using public transport daily, ETA has invested in building better and advanced public transport systems. GO!Durban is one of the City’s biggest catalytic projects. The focus has been building a safe, efficient, and

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The eThekwini Transport Authority (ETA) Unit’s mandate is to provide and manage a worldclass transport system with a engagements with affected public transport focus. ETA also communities, it was made aims to provide high levels of mobility clear that creating job opportunities was always at and accessibility for the movement the forefront. During Phase of people and goods in a safe, 1 of the project, 22 500 jobs sustainable and affordable manner. were created.

To this end, it has invested PPP successes billions in transport Public-private partnerships infrastructure.

(PPPs) have also borne fruit. The affordable public transport system while improving sustainable livelihoods.

ETA has invested over R2 billion in public transport infrastructure development in the first phase, with over R600 million awarded to subcontractors from local communities. During

successful completion of the Bhejane Interchange and C9 Cornubia Bridge are an indication of what can be achieved by fostering PPP relations. These bridges act as key connectors to economic hubs and job opportunities for communities. The City acknowledges the remarkable team of engineers who received an award for the Bhejane Interchange project.

ET H EK W I NI • ROA D S & T RANSP O R T

Anton Lembede Street construction The construction under way in Anton Lembede Street over the past year is nearing completion. The construction consists of two projects being undertaken as part of the Inner-City Regeneration Strategy.

The first project is the replacement of the water main in Mahatma Gandhi Road and Anton Lembede Street. This project is a response to the dilapidated infrastructure that required upgrading to cater for future growth of the inner city and the Point Precinct.

The second project entails public realm upgrades intended to improve pedestrian connectivity and the urban environment along portions of the water main upgrade. This is to ensure that the total experience by the end-user is enhanced and is aligned with the Inner-City Regeneration Strategy. The new and improved public realm will have a positive impact on beautifying portions of the urban zone of Anton Lembede Street, boost investment in the City, and improve the overall experience for stakeholders.

The public realm upgrade work includes new paving for the extended sidewalk, new traffic bollards, street furniture, informal trader kiosks – which includes seating areas – and a Metro Police satellite station. They are located close to existing bus stops.

The clusters will be built off-site and positioned and fixed on-site to minimise disruption to the public. The pipe installation is expected to be completed by mid-December, while the public realm upgrade is expected to be completed by March 2022. The public is urged to be patient while construction is ongoing and find alternative travelling routes if possible.

This will assist to minimise traffic congestion, especially during peak hours.

The City is ensuring that its commuters are always connected as People Mover bus commuters can now enjoy free on-board Wi-Fi as the City tests internet provision for GO!Durban.

Transport goals One of the goals for transport in eThekwini, among others, is to implement an effective, efficient, sustainable and safe public transport system. In order to realise the objective of creating a sustainable public transport system, it will be necessary in a number of areas to prioritise public transport upgrades and budget allocations at the expense of car users.

It is in this context of developing a truly sustainable solution that pedestrians and non-motorised transport, together with public transport, need to be given priority over private transport in very scarce and restrictive corridor and routes.

ETA’s overarching Integrated Public Transport Network plan for the entire eThekwini Municipal area is a ‘wall to wall’ framework that defines the

ultimate public transport network for the municipality.

A key aspect of transport is, of course safety. ETA has implemented a programme that seek to address the issues of being safe while travelling – including both road and pedestrian safety.

The project focuses on integrating and coordinating road safety education, enforcement and engineering measures. In

FY 2020/21, the following three initiatives led by the City were set under way: • the introduction of traffic calming measures • the implementation of engineering improvements at high-frequency accident locations • the assessment of hazardous locations on an annual basis and dealing with these as necessary. eTHEKWINI 2021

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PR OFILE | AE CI M UCH AS P H ALT

Almost a decade of health and safety wins for AECI Much Asphalt

The winning team at AECI Much Asphalt Coedmore

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ECI Much Asphalt’s Coedmore branch has again excelled in the Manufacturers category of the 2021 MBSA Health and Safety Competition, with first place in the KwaZulu-Natal Regional Competition and third place in the National MBSA Competition.

AECI Much Asphalt Coedmore has a proud record of consistently winning the Regional Master Builders South Africa Competition every year since 2013. Entries scoring more than 90% in the regional competition are entered into the nationals.

Shivanie Rambaran, regional officer: SHEQ at AECI Much Asphalt, participated in the

successful competition audit this year. She has been with the company for four years and has grown from strength to strength to become a positive asset to the team.

Working with Shivanie to ensure continuous compliance are plant supervisors Patrick Blanka Mambane in Maintenance, Roland Gopichand in Production, and Simphiwe Hokomane in Quality Assurance and Laboratory, as well as branch manager Trevor Thompson.

“We work in a dangerous environment and the safety of our people will always be our top priority,” says Shivanie. She asserts that continuous improvement is the secret of the Coedmore plant’s success. “Compliance is the endgame for most, but the difference

ACCOUNTABLE FOR QUALITY AECI Much Asphalt, incorporating AECI SprayPave, is southern Africa’s largest manufacturer of bituminous products.

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A tribute to years of consistent health and safety achievements Bringing home the trophy through continuous improvement

between ordinary and extraordinary is the little extra. In keeping with our Zero Harm culture, the aim is to exceed compliance, and this requires continuous improvement.

“Over the years, the KZN team has rallied together to maintain a positive attitude, work diligently, remain focused and, most importantly, learn from past mistakes. These key ingredients have allowed us not only to identify pressing issues, but also to find and correct the root causes.”

E T H EKW I NI • C O MMU NI T Y HEA LT H & WELL- B EI NG

Bringing health to eThekwini’s residents Striving to ensure the health and well-being of eThekwini’s residents is key to fostering an engaged and productive citizenry, who are looked after with compassion and capable of driving economic growth.

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he modern delivery of health services is overwhelmingly based on a medical or curative model of care. While this model does improve prognosis and prolongs survival it is not economically sustainable in the long term. What is required for the future is a combination of both the curative model together with community-based disease-preventing strategies and healthpromoting activities. This model places greater emphasis on recognising the social determinants of ill-health and will allow for critical prevention strategies to improve the overall health of citizens.

Challenges The City aims to provide services of high quality towards achieving the National Core Standards through the Ideal Clinic Status, yet faces numerous challenges in this regard. This is due to various factors that include subprofessional-standard practices, insufficient supervision, a lack of implementing tools, a shortage of staff and inadequate infrastructure. To rectify this situation, the next steps entail addressing the challenges of infection control, risk management, improving the adherence to policies and processes, better management of pharmaceuticals, improving infrastructure, data management, and ensuring the adequate management of patient records.

It is no secret that HIV/Aids and TB are major health challenges faced across South Africa. The high rates of infection of these communicable diseases contribute sharply to reduced

City empowers traditional healers to improve safety The City’s Health Unit equipped traditional health practitioners on the management of diseases. This aimed to improve the safety of the sector’s approach to treating illnesses. This training is in line with the Traditional Health Practitioners Act (No. 22 of 2007) whose focus is on the professionalisation of the practice.

Earlier this year, the City held a Traditional Health Practitioners’ Seminar at the Ntuzuma F Community Hall. The seminar recognised the role played by traditional health practitioners while also allowing for the City to receive feedback on its initiatives to empower the sector. Councillor Ntokozo Sibiya, chairperson: Community Services Committee, said the City recognises the important role of traditional healers in society. She said it was therefore important to strengthen support to improve safety and compliance of legislation within the sector.

“We understand that some people prefer to consult with traditional healers.

Therefore, government must continue to work with the traditional sector to ensure healers are equipped with the latest information to manage diseases and protect themselves from being infected,” said Sibiya.

The City’s Health Unit also visits practices to assess the state of hygiene and hosts workshops to educate traditional healers about the storage and measurement of medicine dosages. Neziswa Ndaka, deputy secretary of the Provincial AIDS Forum and a traditional healer, recognised the strides made in the professionalisation of the traditional healer sector.

“We appreciate the progress that has been made. This includes being able to refer patients who are ill to hospitals. We are following guidelines to also protect ourselves from being infected when treating patients, and are open to working and learning from government and other sectors,” said Ndaka.

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E THEKW I NI • C OM M UN IT Y H E A LT H & W EL L - B EI NG

life expectancy and the collapse of socio-economic conditions for individuals, households and communities, resulting in a greater number of orphaned and vulnerable children.

The City’s programmes focus on attaining viral suppression in patients on ARTs and ensuring those patients who have started on treatment are retained in care. The importance of testing and ensuring individuals know their HIV/Aids status is also of paramount importance.

Exacerbating the HIV/Aids epidemic, tuberculosis is recognised as the leading opportunistic infection amongst HIVpositive persons, with just under two thirds of HIV infected persons co-infected with TB. Through the District AIDS Council, the municipality is focusing its five-year TB management plan on coordinating stakeholders whose work

environment and improved quality of life for residents. Programmes that address environmental health include the following: • water quality monitoring • food control • waste management • health surveillance of premises (control of the built environment) • surveillance of communicable diseases, excluding immunisation • vector control • environmental pollution control (air, water, noise, soil) • disposal of the dead • chemical safety.

has an impact on TB risk factors, such as housing, workplace, environmental pollution, etc. as a mechanism to reduce and end TB new infections by 2030.

Towards a healthy environment The City is also focused on improving the compliance monitoring of environmental programmes in accordance with Environmental Health Norms and Standards. These contribute to the City’s efforts to promote an environment that is conducive to a healthy

Upgraded clinics In its endeavours to provide premium healthcare, between 2016 and 2020, eThekwini Municipality upgraded six clinics. Among the facilities that were upgraded is the Savannah Park Clinic, where refurbishments were completed in 2020. The clinic expanded from three rooms to an 18-room structure that features a covered waiting area. The Savannah Park Clinic services two wards and attends to about 7 000 patients a month. Other health facilities in the City were upgraded through a collaboration by the National Department of Health in partnership with the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.

Intensified vaccination drive In eThekwini, under the guidance of the KwaZulu-Natal Command Council, an intensified social mobilisation and Covid-19 vaccination drive has been rolled out. This initiative will target communities and districts where there has been a low vaccination uptake.

Through the vaccination roll-out, government aims to achieve herd immunity. As more people are vaccinated, fewer people remain

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E T H EKW I NI • C O MMU NI T Y HEA LT H & WELL- B EI NG

Community projects drive well-being One of the City’s mandates is to create an environment where people interact creatively to stimulate economic growth, learning, sustainability, social cohesion, and unity.

To achieve this, the Parks, Recreation and Culture (PRC) Unit through its various departments has worked to deliver integrated environmental, cultural, heritage and leisure services in the municipality. Over the past five years, the Unit has spent over R120 million to support community-initiated programmes in the creative arts through the delivery of signature programmes. vulnerable and there will be a reduced chance of the virus being passed from person to person.

There has been a gradual but steady decline in the number of new Covid-19 infections, hospitalisations, and deaths.

This is due to measures introduced by government such as lockdown regulations and the vaccination programme that is currently under way.

Although many people have been vaccinated, the eThekwini district is not where it should be in terms of its vaccination numbers. Dr Musa Gumede, deputy city manager: Community Services, eThekwini Municipality, said the greatest challenge currently is to ensure that the City does not experience a surge in infections.

“This is not the time to let your guard down; people must continue to observe safety protocols and I urge them to vaccinate. The vaccination programme is under way, and government has made it easy for the public to access vaccines through mobile vaccination outreach programmes near their homes,” said Gumede.

Gumede also reminded the public that vaccination for children aged 12 years and older is open. “Our children are the future, and they deserve to be protected against Covid-19. It is recommended that a parent or another adult accompany eligible children when they present for vaccination,” he said.

The City has 97 libraries and two mobile libraries. The PRC rolled out free Wi-Fi at City libraries to ensure residents have access to information. The libraries are equipped with Wi-Fi, a computer lab, study rooms and, depending on the location of the library, can accommodate 120 visitors. An example is the Amawoti Library, which was built and opened in 2020. It boasts Wi-Fi, an outdoor gymnasium, basketball court, a garden, and an open space for socialising and parking. The City’s efforts to promote literature resulted in Durban being recognised as a UNESCO City of Literature in 2017.

To address environmental challenges, the City’s 10 park districts are required to plant 500 trees each year. This promotes urban forestry. In 2019, the City was named the Greenest City in the World in a survey by Husqvarna. This has resulted in eThekwini being recognised as winners of several Arbor Day city awards and, of late, the international Greenest City Award.

To transform the heritage landscape of the City, Council took the decision to expand its heritage footprint by adding more historical and cultural sites related to the liberation history of South Africa.

EThekwini Municipality has more than 10 cultural and heritage museums.

Each site is unique in its content and characteristics. The City is expanding its local history museums to include sites that were previously disregarded as insignificant historical sites when, in fact, they helped shape the historical landscape of the City.

In its mandate to protect the environment, promote recycling and enhance the health of the community, the Cleansing and Solid Waste (CSW) Unit’s operations include 32 operational centres, seven transfer stations, and two landfill sites.

The Unit also has 22 recycling plants, three landfill gas projects, and two leachate plants. These assets enable CSW to provide a full range of services to 3.4 million residential, industrial, and commercial customers. The City, through CSW, has created over 3 000 job opportunities through the engagement of community-based contractors.

The City has won the Greenest Municipality Competition for four consecutive years. The winnings for the competition were used to employ 170 Expanded Public Works Programme staff in the north of the City.

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We specialise in providing comprehensive solutions for all ticketing and telematics requirements.

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PR O F I L E | A L MEX T R A NS PO RT S OLU TI ONS

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As a long-term partner of well-known mass transit and transportation companies, Almex Transport Solutions specialises in individual and innovative solutions for sales of transportation services, providing a comprehensive solution portfolio for all ticketing and telematics requirements.

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lmex supplies a complete solution for public transport ticketing and smart card solutions – both hardware and software – for bus, train, taxi and BRT companies. With its own development department, the company not only offers you design, initial development, and support, but accompanies you closely on the steady path of technological change and improvement. Your customer satisfaction is our number one concern.

Ticketing and fare management systems The fare collection (FC) system, via automatic fare collection or ticketing, includes the distribution of travel documents, their subsequent validation, and fare payment. It can be combined with access control based on turnstiles.

An important component is the follow-up processing of obtained data, its evaluation, the optimisation of connections, and their interconnection with any related systems.

Almex’s wide product portfolio allows the company to create FC systems tailored to every customer, according to the type of transport, payment habits, tariff policy, and numerous other factors.

Emv bank cards bring a new freedom of travel The EMV-based open loop payment

system brings a new freedom dimension to passenger travelling experience. It is no longer necessary to buy a travel ticket before taking public transport, No propriety travel card required.

Simply pay for your fare directly on board the vehicle by tapping your standard bank card, mobile phone, or QR code. The same card can be used in various public transport providers in your country or abroad.

The usage of the bank card to pay for public transport is very popular with passengers. This payment method allows the passenger to travel across multiple transport modes much easily with one payment card.

Transport operators have seen an increase in revenue and passenger count by simplifying the payment method.

SANRAL ABT account system We will be launching a new ABT account system that will be accepted by multiple transport operators.

The new suite of products will be launched supporting the ABT card from POS units, Fare Validators, on-board ETM devices and Mobile ticketing devices.

Vehicle movement awareness With the AVL (automatic vehicle location) system, you will have a perfect awareness of your vehicles’ movement.

The system automatically monitors and evaluates all the required parameters – vehicle route, speed of movement, timetable deviations, etc. In case of any deviations, the system will warn you, so that you can react to any nonstandard situations.

Everything can be monitored in real time, while driving performance can also be retrospectively analysed and evaluated. The transport company thus obtains a useful tool for checking on work activities, statistical outputs, or resolving passenger requests or complaints.

EMV/ NDoT installed projects to date EThekwini Municipality: Muvo Card To provide a complete e-ticketing solution for the Municipality of EThekwini. Price Waterhouse Coopers were responsible to provide Change management. Standard Bank supply the day-to-day settlements of the card.

The project went live in 2012 and continues to evolve with new ticketing ideas and we currently have around 300 000 bank smart cards in use which can be used for daily travel as well as purchases in Retail Stores.

We maintain the Municipality AFC systems daily with on-site personnel.

GO GEORGE Standard Bank in conjunction with Almex have developed a web-based ticket warehouse system for the George Municipality. This means that the commuter can top-up his transit card at any third-party vendor using a Standard Bank credit card machine. This has increased the footprint of convenient top-up stations. The project went live in 2018 and Standard Bank have rolled out a number of these credit card machines in registered spaza shops whereby the owner makes a commission on every single transaction.

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E THEKW I NI • SERVICE D E L IVE RY

Dignity for residents through water and sanitation About a million eThekwini residents are supplied with water by the municipality on a daily basis. The City is continually looking for innovative ways to provide services to customers.

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he hard work that has been put in over the years has been recognised through the many awards and acknowledgements the City has received.

Initiatives such as free basic water, water amnesty, flow limiters, the use of plasticbodied water meters, polypropylene water piping, ground tanks and semi-pressure water service levels and urine diversion toilets are some of the ways the City is achieving this.

Other initiatives include anaerobic baffled reactors, the use of greywater for urban agriculture, customer services agents, and condominial sewerage. The City’s Customer Water Debt Repayment Policy was the first such implement to be introduced in South Africa.

Water services Water is provided to 573 941 formal households and 387 161 informal and rural households, at a total of 961 122. According to Stats SA, there are a total of 1 159 272 households in eThekwini Municipality.

The municipality currently maintains and manages

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327 water storage facilities from which water is delivered through an extensive distribution network supported by 98 pump stations and five purification works.

The Water and Sanitation Unit is guided by the Water Services Development Plan, which seeks to ensure the efficient, affordable, economical, and sustainable provision of water services. The Water Services Development Plan deals with socio-economic, technical, financial, institutional, and environmental issues as they pertain to water services provisioning.

Wastewater sanitation services EThekwini Municipality operates 27 wastewater treatment plants and 300 pump stations, treating over 500 million litres of wastewater per day. The backlog in providing sanitation services has progressed from 159 618 in 2015/16 to 198 150 in May 2021.

This is due to the ongoing influx of people into the municipal area.

The municipality has introduced new and innovative methods to advance the delivery of services to residents. These solutions include urine diversion toilets, the reuse of greywater for agriculture, dedicated customer service agents, electronic workflow programmes, and specialised call centres. Informal settlements are also part of the provision of water and sanitation services.

A total of 1 600 ablution facilities across 78 wards have been built, complete with shower facilities and toilets. Moreover, local communities were employed to supervise and to keep the facilities clean.

A total of 1 650 permanent employment opportunities were created after construction of these ablution facilities.

These ablution facilities provide access to running water, baths, showers, toilets, hand basins and external wash troughs. Each facility consists of two modified containers, so that there are separate male and female blocks. The installation of ablution facilities in informal settlements was implemented by the City with the aim of providing basic waterborne sanitation to informal settlements. The municipal authority also took the decision to provide people with a range of basic interim services while they await formal houses.

Addressing water infrastructure backlogs The municipality has, as part of its Infrastructure Planning, documented the nature and extent of the urban and rural backlogs in service delivery across the entire metropolitan area, using digital records held by the Municipality together with input from communities and councillors.

ET H EKW I NI • SERV I C E D ELI VERY

Lighting up communities EThekwini’s electricity supply over the past five years saw a steady increase in the number of customers supplied. With just over 700 000 customers before 2016, the City has since gained over 50 000 new patrons.

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his growth in customer numbers naturally comes with great demand for consistent service from residential, industrial, and business customers. To cater to this, the City has introduced additional avenues of communicating with its customers to ensure quality service. The eThekwini

Power proposal interest KwaZulu-Natal has a strong market for power generation.

This follows proposals that were submitted through the Request for Information for the possible procurement of 400 MW of power from independent power producers.

Sbu Ntshalintshali, manager: Renewable Energy, said the City received “overwhelming support from various organisations, from private developers to finance institutions within the country and at an international level.” The programme generated interest from 104 potential projects, of which 96 projects fall under energy generation, and eight projects represent finance. The 96 power generation projects represent a combined capacity to power the City nine times.

Electricity Unit’s Contact Centre introduced a 24-hour WhatsApp line to provide customers with an additional interactive platform when reporting faults. While exploring digital ways of business, eThekwini Electricity also introduced interactive links, one of which is dedicated to assisting customers to submit their meter readings. The other helps with alerting customers when there is load-shedding.

Keeping the lights on In serving those who need it most, more than 100 000 customers benefit from the City’s Free Basic Electricity (FBE) programme. EThekwini Municipality awards indigent customers with 65 kWh FBE per month (which is 15 kWh more than the amount awarded by national government). FBE beneficiaries also purchase electricity at just R1.36, instead of the normal tariff cost of R2.09.

This further assists communities who cannot afford electricity to keep their lights on.

Over the past five years, approximately six million electricity tokens have been issued. To keep communities safe through a consistent supply of power, the Municipality has over the years worked to upgrade power capacity in communities that were prone to power cuts. This

was done by ensuring substations have sufficient supply for the areas. The unit has also done great work to reroute cables that were mostly found in informal settlements to help curb cable theft and power cuts.

Addressing electricity infrastructure backlogs The municipality aims to deliver 8 000 to 14 000 connections on an annual basis, but this is dependent on the rollout of subsidies. There are two main imperatives in the implementation of electricity programmes: the first is to address the backlogs that currently exist and the second is to align the delivery of electricity with new human settlements projects.

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PR OFILE | SE L I N C.

S

ome see automation as the domain of the future, while the truth is that automation is already here and is a key aspect of modern industrial and utility activity. Automation controllers are integral components that ensure the effective running of operations.

The versatile SEL-3350 is a great fit for panels with limited rack space and users who are looking for a hardened, costeffective yet flexible controller to run their choice of operating system (OS). The SEL-3350 can be configured as a RealTime Automation Controller (RTAC), as a Blueframe application platform, or to run Microsoft Windows and Linux OSs. Designed, manufactured and tested to the same standards as SEL’s protective relays, the SEL-3350 withstands the harsh environments in utility substations, industrial control systems, and automation systems. It also comes with an industryleading 10-year warranty and is made to the highest quality standards in the USA. Reliable, available, serviceable Focused on running dedicated embedded applications that require 24/7 availability, the SEL-3350 is designed around RAS – reliability, availability and serviceability.

Reliability: SEL designs, manufactures and tests all its automation controllers in the USA to ensure they can withstand harsh conditions, including temperatures ranging from –40°C to +85°C, up to 15 kV of electrostatic discharge (ESD), fast transients, high electromagnetic interference, vibration, and shock up to 15 Gs. All SEL automation controllers conform to or exceed IEC 61850-3, IEEE C37.90, IEEE 1613, and IEC 60255 standards and are backed by a 10-year, no-questionsasked warranty.

Availability: With the SEL-3350, you can monitor and alarm for numerous system services and conditions through the included programmable Microsoft Windows Management Infrastructure (MI)/Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) interface and configurable alarm service, Backup and Recovery Tool (BaRT), and watchdog timer to minimise downtime, with automatic recovery from system crashes.

Serviceability: You can also perform diagnostics, change out solid-state drives (SSDs), and install software and an OS.

46 | eTHEKWINI 2021

Taking control of automation The SEL-3350 is a versatile automation controller that is ideal for embedded applications that require midlevel I/O and computation.

Additionally, SEL’s System Monitor (SysMon) logs events specific to the installed system to aid in quick recovery.

Applications RTAC: Order the SEL-3350 as an RTAC for secure automation applications, such as a substation HMI or SCADA remote terminal unit (RTU), or for data concentration or event collection.

Blueframe: Improve your power system OT network management, simplify security patches, and ensure availability using the SEL Blueframe application platform.

You can configure SEL automation controllers (SEL-3350, SEL-3355, and SEL-3360) with Blueframe to manage and operate SEL containerised applications, like data management and automation (DMA) applications.

PR O F I L E | SEL I NC .

The SEL OS options available are: • RTAC* • Blueframe*.

Third-party supported OS options are: • Microsoft Windows 10 IoT Enterprise* • Microsoft Windows Server 2019 Standard* • Red Hat Enterprise Linus • CentOS Linux • Ubuntu LTS • Hypervisor supported options: • Microsoft Hyper-V • Linux KVM. *These are factory-orderable OS’s.

Accessories A number of peripherals (e.g., mouse, keyboard and touchscreen monitor) are available direct from SEL as accessories.

Accessories should not de-rate the operational specifications of the product, such as temperature, shock, vibration, etc.

About SEL Inc. Information processor – data concentrator/protocol converter: Seamlessly and flexibly concentrate data and convert protocols with any SEL automation controllers and a wide range of data concentration and protocol conversion software.

Kiosk: Select the SEL-3350 for remote user applications that require the power of a dedicated high-performance automation controller. With its small 1U form factor, the SEL-3350 packs the computing power your application needs into a limited space. Passive cooling and a wide temperature range mean it is possible to install SEL automation controllers in locations where off-the-shelf computers will not survive. With a projected mean time between failures (MTBF) of over 300 years, the SEL-3350 can operate with little or no maintenance, making it ideal for unattended operation.

Engineering workstation: Choose an SEL automation controller as your engineering workstation platform to get a reliable and robust system suitable for the harshest environments. You can view and change IED settings, view report and event data, and easily access diagram drawings

and documents on-site. In addition, you can securely and remotely access the engineering workstation using Windows Remote Desktop, Secure Shell (SSH), or out-of-band management with Intel Active Management Technology (AMT) KeyboardVideo-Mouse (KVM) over IP. HMI visualisation, monitoring and control: Use the SEL-3350 to make a secure system visualisation, monitoring, and control point for your substation or plant. You can leverage CIS Security Benchmarks settings to meet NERC CIP and other industry compliance standards.

OS options The SEL-3350 supports various OS installation options. The controller can be purchased as hardware without an OS installed, providing flexibility to install your own custom OS image.

The SEL-3350 supports several factoryinstalled configurations, including RTAC functionality, the Blueframe application platform, and Microsoft Windows 10 IoT Enterprise and Windows Server OSs. SEL network and serial port drivers are available to support the installation of third-party Linux OSs.

Making Electric Power Safer, More Reliable, and More Economical

SEL (Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories) specialises in creating digital products and systems that protect, control, and automate power systems around the world. This technology prevents blackouts and improves power system reliability and safety at a reduced cost. A 100% employee-owned company headquartered in Pullman, Washington, SEL serves customers worldwide.

As part of a commitment to designing and manufacturing reliable, high-quality products, the company researches, designs, builds, tests, distributes, teaches and supports each of its technologies at SEL facilities. Assembled SEL products travel directly from the company’s hands to where they need to be, so that you and your customers can rely on them to keep critical systems fully operational.

www.selinc.com

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E THEKW I NI • TOW N S H IP E CON OM Y

UNLOCKING TOWNSHIP ECONOMIES EThekwini Municipality is committed to transforming townships into sites for productive activities that contribute to socially inclusive wealth creation.

T

he development and transformation of eThekwini’s townships will help to foster sustainable livelihoods through job creation, social cohesion and active citizenship, unlocking an untapped economy with vast potential.

World-class roads for eThekwini townships The R26 million upgrade investment of Sbusiso Mdakane Drive provides essential infrastructure in the uMlazi area, leading to further employment opportunities. It also brings about key economic activities such as intermodal transport points with both formal and informal business activities.

The upgrade is part of the City’s initiative to promote township economies and to address the past imbalances in township areas by supporting local businesses, improving infrastructure, and bringing government services closer to the people.

The upgrade includes newly designed street lighting, while pavements have been enhanced by block pavers to give the precinct a new look and feel. The pedestrian walkways have also been widened to allow people to walk or run with ease.

Township Economy Regeneration Programme The Zazi Street upgrade is part of the Township Economy Regeneration Programme, which responds to the strategic role of township urban centres.

48 | eTHEKWINI 2021

Umlazi

Bridge City

It is located in the Clermont Central Precinct and is one of the most resilient and dynamic economic nodes within the Clermont/KwaDabeka township economy.

The first phase of the Zazi Street upgrade addressed the construction of kerbing with sidewalks completed in September 2020.

The total cost of the completed first phase was R1.6 million. Phase 2 sought to increase public space and infrastructure investment, thus supporting community activities while in turn encouraging even higher levels of private investment.

This included the overlay of Zazi Street with asphalt road resurfacing and rehabilitation with street markings.

Top-notch business infrastructure for uMlazi EThekwini Municipality has set aside R117 million over the next four years to develop uMlazi into an economic hub. This will benefit local businesses and residents of the township.

The eZimbuzini Automotive Hub and Informal Trading Stalls, together with the

ET H EKW I NI • TOWNSHI P EC O NO MY

government’s Industrialisation Strategy and supports small enterprises, including black industrialists, in townships and rural areas to create decent jobs in places where people live. This investment is to encourage and support locally produced goods and services to promote the City’s #BuyLocal campaign.

The new Light Industrial Hub in the kwaMnyandu Investment Node is expected to change the spatial economy of the area.

It caters for 30 units with 15 business and commercial units interfacing Griffiths Mxenge Highway. The R42 million hub also makes provision for 10 office units and five lower units, together with two takeaway food and shop stalls each and public ablution facilities.

The goods and services rendered by the businesses include light technological industries like steel welding, vehicle repairs, production of domestic cleaning chemicals, textile, arts and craft manufacturing, plumbing, electrical repairs, and carpentry. eZimbuzini Automotive Hub

KwaMnyandu Light Industrial Hub, have significantly impacted the local community and economy. Opened by Executive Mayor Cllr Mxolisi Kaunda, these projects allow for various quality goods and services to be sourced locally at reasonable prices.

Strategic responses to marginalised areas EThekwini Municipality has several responses to address the exclusion and challenges faced by its historically marginalised areas. These include: • Connecting and upgrading townships through public transport roll-out and the Urban Network Strategy (utilising hubs and connectors) • Social facility provision via a hierarchy of social facility nodes • Developing large-scale and mixed land-use housing projects through the Catalytic Projects Housing Programme • Provision of a suite of basic services via the Incremental Services to Informal Settlements Programme • Provision of serviced sites and top structures via the Housing Upgrading Programme • Facilitating the provision of institutional and social housing in transit corridors

This helps to stimulate the local township economy and create jobs.

The informal trader’s hub saw the trading conditions of 33 informal traders and entrepreneurs, who were previously operating under makeshift stalls, transformed for the better.

During the construction phase of the R22 million, state-of the-art project, 16 local subcontractors were given business opportunities and were able to create 50 job opportunities for locals.

The R42.7 million invested in the automotive hub responds to the challenge faced by most informal businesses in the township of operating in residential area back yards, illegally occupied vacant government land and closer to taxi ranks.

Industrialisation strategy This facility is in line with national

Connecting townships EThekwini Municipality recognises Mpumalanga Town Centre, Umlazi V Node, and Bridge City as primary township hubs, which will benefit from investments focused on connecting them more strongly to the CBD and Pinetown through road and rail improvements, and through improvements to public transport interchanges in the hubs.

Via the Township Economy Regeneration Programme, investments have been made consistently over the past five to ten years into the primary township hubs, in higherorder social facilities, economic facilities, and urban realm improvements. These investments will continue.

There are also numerous secondary township hubs connected to the primary hubs. Here, the strategy is to improve the road connections between the primary and secondary hubs, and to make further investments into local economic, public transport, and social facilities.

KwaMnyandu Light Industrial Hub

eTHEKWINI 2021

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Powertrans. Service. Sales.

10 years on, Powertrans continues to relentlessly pursue the principle on which it was founded to be the best in the industry.

Powertrans’ combination of sales, service, and efficiency puts us at the forefront of the automatic transmissions and engines market.

Powertrans offers a complete solution for various applications: • Transmissions • Engines • Hydraulics • Torque converters • Fuel injection • Plant & Equipment • Replacement parts • Automotive services

Powertrans is the first choice for sales, rebuilds, and repairs to automatic transmissions, engines, and materials handling equipment.

From having a highly experienced technical team and state of the art facilities, to providing the parts and services to ensure that we breathe new life into your equipment.

Powertrans.

14-16 Blue Street, Isithebe, Kwa-Zulu Natal P.O Box 2450, Stanger, 4450

www.powertrans.co.za Telephone: +27 32 459 5700 Telephone: +27 861 POWERTRANS Cellular: +27 82 555 4925 Fax: +27 32 459 1202 email: info@powertrans.co.za

“We won’t put our name to anything that does not have the very best of us in it...”

PR O F I L E | POWERTRA NS

The Rebuild Centre For more than 25 years, Powertrans has delivered quality rebuilding and remanufacturing services for the plant and equipment that has helped to shape the landscape of democratic South Africa.

F

rom humble beginnings and a staff complement of three, Powertrans has continuously expanded since its founding in 1994. This constant development has manifested in Powertrans being able to offer clients winning solutions, by sticking to what the company knows best: engines, transmissions and plant.

By understanding and perfecting the knowledge systems and technology, and by continuously raising standards through education, research and development, Powertrans has grown into a leading remanufacturer of heavy earthmoving equipment, diesel engines and transmissions in South Africa.

Extending the life of plant and equipment can save operators a significant amount of money compared to the price of new equipment. What’s even costlier is when equipment rebuilds are of substandard

quality, costing more to rectify in the long run. That’s why it’s critical to use specialists with the proven expertise the first time. This is where Powertrans comes in – serving a critical role that provides ultimate peace of mind.

Key departments Powertrans offers a turnkey solution by utilising the specialist skills of its various departments to consolidate the rebuild of plant and equipment on an assembly line.

The General Workshop undertakes all general maintenance to plant and equipment. When plant is brought in for a rebuild or service, expert workshop technicians carry out a diagnosis to ascertain the nature of the service and/or extent of the repair. General services are carried out here. If more involved repairs like engine and transmission rebuilds, chassis repairs, etc. are required, the plant is further stripped down and directed to the relevant department.

The multimillion-rand Transmission Workshop is kitted out with the latest automatic transmission diagnostics equipment on the market. From stripping down to diagnosing, repairing and rebuilding, customers can count on a dedicated, professional technical team that thrives on pressure and consistently performs to the highest levels.

The Torque Convertor Department and Machine Shop’s cutting-edge CNC lathes and milling machines make otherwise daunting tasks a cinch for Powertrans.

The Torque Convertor Department repairs and rebuilds torque convertors for most

major brands, while the Machine Shop repairs machine parts, manufactures new parts for stock, assists in rebuilds of old machines and effects modifications.

The Engine Department rebuilds engines – sometimes even those destined for the scrap heap! It also reconditions tired engines and engine components. Rebuilt engines undergo rigorous quality testing to ensure maximum performance, while every engine and component that is remanufactured is done so according to OEM standards. The department is also ERA, RMI and SABS approved.

No cost was spared in implementing the latest technology in the Hydraulics Department, which carries a complete range of specialised hoses and fittings – such as high-pressure, multispiral, two-wire and push-lock hoses – as well as Baltrotor rotators and reconditioned hydraulic pumps.

The in-house Bosch Centre, with its diagnostic diesel and fuel injection test bench, has proved to be of great benefit to clients, controlling the turnaround times and costs of refurbishment. This technically advanced facility houses highly trained technicians who take the greatest pride in breathing life into fuel injection systems.

Finally, the Plant Stores Department ensures that both internal and external customers receive a fast response with every enquiry. Stockholding consists of transmissions, engines and a wide range of diff spares from around the world.

Leveraging extensive product knowledge and exceptional customer service, Powertrans advises its clients on the most cost-effective solution to their plant and equipment woes.

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E THEK W I NI • AG RO-E CON OM Y

City helps cooperatives to grow

EThekwini Municipality has a dedicated department called Agri-Business, which falls under the Business Support, Tourism and Markets Unit. The Agri-Business Department’s objective is to incubate start-up and growth entrepreneurs operating in the sustainable food value chain.

T

he Agri-Business Department also works to develop previously disadvantaged entrepreneurs that can produce, process, and deliver food in a sustainable and profitable manner.

An empowering set of programmes have been established by the department. These include youth nurseries, fencing and irrigation, poultry farms, tunnel farm rentals, access-to-market programmes, and training and mentorship.

The achievements of the department and its programmes are unrivalled.

52 | eTHEKWINI 2021

by Council, focuses on five key areas. These Thus far, there has are vegetables, sheep, been an investment The eThekwini broilers, cannabis of approximately Agribusiness Master Plan and piggery. It is a R96.1 million by is earmarked to create guiding document the municipality, 2 371 direct jobs, 7 500 that aligns eThekwini’s provincial indirect jobs and attract agricultural initiatives government, and a total GDP of with current other stakeholders.

R10 billion agricultural development Markets have been approaches nationally opened for previously and in KwaZulu-Natal. It is disadvantaged farmers and earmarked to create 2 371 direct over 1 400 permanent jobs have jobs, 7 500 indirect jobs and attract been created. a total gross domestic product of In addition, the eThekwini Agribusiness R10 billion.

Master Plan, which has been adopted

DID YOU KNOW?

ET H EKW I NI • AG RO - EC O NO MY

BENEFICIARIES Sinqoba NgoKuhle – Cooperative The Sinqoba NgoKuhle cooperative is a group of women based in Umzinyathi.

They received support with fencing, irrigation, farmer development, market access opportunities, as well as a storage container. The cooperative produces different crops, including green beans, spinach, beetroot, and onions. They have successfully sold 120 bags of butternut to retailer Checkout and half a hectare of maize to Food Lover’s Market and Spar.

Sindiswa Zuma, chairperson of Sinqoba NgoKuhle, said they took up farming to combat poverty. They had no idea it would be so successful and that they could earn a living from it. When they started, it was difficult, as they had no fencing and their crops were either stolen or eaten by animals. “The municipality stepped in and fenced the whole area, provided tanks for irrigation, and a container that we use as an office. We can now sleep better knowing our crops are secure,” said Zuma.

Egcakini Farmers – Vertical farming Egcakini Farmers, a cooperative comprised of elderly citizens, is proof that innovation is not only for the youth.

This KwaDabeka cooperative is utilising

the innovative vertical planting system to grow vegetables. Sipho Zulu, 56, who leads the group, said this method of planting is ideal for him and elderly people, as they can plant their crops while sitting down. “It removes much of the hard labour of traditional planting methods while achieving the same quality of vegetables. We will forever be grateful to the municipality for exposing us to this innovative system. For elderly people, it is easy to garden without struggle given their age,” he said. To assist them, he said the municipality provided irrigation, fencing, the vertical planting setup, compost as well as technical support.

Zulu and his team have started to grow 4 320 plants, which include lettuce, spinach, carrots, and chillies. This system is ideal for township and informal settlement areas where there is limited access to large tracts of land. Zuma said another advantage of the system is that it takes up less space, is easier to harvest and maintain, and allows for easier pest control, as it is a tunnel. It also works in all seasons, he said. “This agri-innovation technique is gaining momentum. I accommodate 12 agricultural students from a local school who come here every day to do practical learning,” said Zulu.

Business Support, Tourism and Market Unit’s Highlights

The Business Support, Tourism and Markets Unit has seen major successes over the past five years. They have rolled out infrastructure projects that have benefitted the informal economy to the tune of R350 million. These include incubation centres, business hubs, container parks, storage facilities and informal recycling centres.

The training of small business owners remains a priority of the unit.

Entrepreneurs have been trained through the unit’s programmes on capacity building, business management and building, financial literacy, customer care, and hospitality management. There are also ongoing compliance workshops hosted by the unit.

Providing a marketplace for producers and buyers: Durban Fresh Produce Market

The role of the Durban Fresh Produce Market is to facilitate the distribution of fresh produce. Commercial farmers, as well as small and emerging farmers are dependent on the bulk Fresh Produce Market in order to sell their fresh produce. This platform creates business opportunities for big, small and emerging businesses, inclusive of informal traders, from where they can purchase their fresh produce. The bulk market contributes extensively towards both creating and sustaining jobs in the fresh produce sector.

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Our Services

We offer a complete turnkey solution for your business.

FOR A QUOTE CALL: 011 044 2400 EMAIL

Team of highly trained and skilled personnel

nicholas@svsolutions.co.za derick.neethling@svsolutions.co.za

54 | eTHEKWINI 2021

We design, install and maintain all major systems

Visit our website: www.svsolutions.co.za LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/spe cialisedvideosolutions

PR O F I L E | S PEC I A L I S ED V I D EO S OLU TI ONS

Integration by design Specialised Video Solutions (SVS) was established in 2003 as a systems integrator focusing mainly on the casino market.

It has since grown into a full turnkey solutions provider operating in various verticals countrywide.

S

VS has a passion for integration and design, providing bespoke solutions to large corporates and smaller businesses. The company can assist with all phases of a security project – from design concepts and product specification through to equipment procurement, installation, final commissioning and maintenance.

SVS only recommends and installs proprietary branded equipment deemed suitable for the specific application requirements of a project. This ensures that systems perform to the design criteria and objectives in every respect.

SVS services The company’s services include the following: CCTV: Specialising in both high-end, complex systems and simple retail-focused solutions, SVS delivers off-the-shelf or

bespoke systems to suit its customers’ needs. The company also offers the latest in video analytics and integrations – from virtual fence lines to various peoplecounting, facial recognition, metadata classification, vehicle counting and automatic licence plate recognition solutions.

Access control: SVS offers several access control solutions with their complexity and functionality dependent on site requirements. Cost-effective technological solutions are implemented to ensure the best fit for customers. SVS has also prioritised the integration of access control with CCTV and fire detection systems, which results in a vast improvement in operational effectiveness and efficiency while ensuring assets and people are protected.

Fire detection and evacuation: The company has a team of SAQCC-qualified staff that can design, install, commission and maintain all major fire and evacuation systems. The system designs adhere to the relevant SABS standards, in accordance with SANS 10400. Furthermore, SVS provides all the necessary third-party integrations (access control systems, lifts, fire dampers, extractor fans, centralised air-conditioning

systems, etc.) within fire detection systems.

Ideally, both fire detection and evacuation systems are seamlessly integrated into a single platform.

Gas suppression: The company’s qualified staff can design, install, commission and maintain various gas suppression systems.

Gas suppression is designed to protect highvalue equipment from fire and is installed in server rooms, archive rooms, filing rooms and safes. The systems are installed as per the relevant SABS/SANS standard and can be integrated into the building fire detection system.

Public address systems and conferencing: SVS boasts an exceptional in-house design team to accommodate any requirement – from a ceiling speaker PA system for a new retail outlet, to a voice alarm PA system for an industrial complex or background music PA system for a bar, or restaurant. Conference solutions are designed for businesses of all sizes incorporating both video and audio requirements. The company’s solutions work for every kind of user – from executives to receptionists – and can accommodate staff communicating from an office, a conference room or on the go.

For more information or a quote, call +27 (0)11 044 2400 or email nicholas@svsolutions.co.za or derick.neethling@svsolutions.co.za.

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E THEKW I NI • GRE E N IN G

Engen has heeded the South Durban community’s call for assistance to help create safe spaces that are environmentally friendly.

Partnering to green South Durban

I

n partnership with eThekwini Parks and local community representatives, Engen officially launched the Greening Project that will help green mutually agreed-on areas close to the Engen Refinery in the Bluff.

The September 2021 launch was attended

by Cllr Diana Hoorzuk, former deputy mayor of eThekwini Municipality, members of the eThekwini Parks Department, and Sharin Rajman of the Engen Community Stakeholder Forum, as well as Engen executive committee members Sykry Hassim, Shirley Moroka-Mosia and Fiona Gumede.

“Being both national Heritage and Arbour Month, September is an opportune time for South Africans to plant indigenous trees as a practical and symbolic gesture of sustainable environmental management for the benefit of all,” commented Sykry Hassim, general manager of the Engen Refinery.

The following four spaces have been earmarked for ‘greening’ in Wentworth and Merebank:

• Austerville Drive (including the post office) • Austerville Community Hall • Lylapur Park, Merebank • Raj Mahal Natraj Park.

The initiative will see an initial 350 spekboom trees and 120 fever trees being planted, as well as the installation of communal seating, which has Engen very excited. “We hope tree planting will help improve the quality of life of our neighbouring community, while the 14 eco-lunch benches will provide comfortable rest and relaxation spaces for folk of the area.

“The main street in Austerville is a corridor to public transport, the hospital, post office and other amenities for many community members, especially the aged and people with disabilities,” added Hassim.

Hassim said established parks in Merebank opposite the community shopping centre and Lylapur Park, which is in the middle of a residential area, were also strategically selected.

“These are located close to residential areas and public transport, while also providing rest areas for residents during their shopping, commuting and exercise routines.

“It is Engen’s firm hope that this greening project marks continued sustainable cocreation with local authorities and communities to create further opportunities that enhance the lives of local communities.”

As a company, Engen supports the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is reinforced by this collaborative greening initiative, which primarily demonstrates a focus on SDG 13: Climate Action and SDG 15: Life on Land.

I NDE X TO ADVE RT IS E RS 4

Almex Transport Solutions

42

Key Truck & Car Pinetown

AM Consulting Engineers

21

Kulula Trade 23 t/a Specialised Video Solutions

54

BC Industrial & Engineering Supplies

20

MS Naidoo t/a Powertrans Sales & Services

50

Much Asphalt

38

Delta Property Fund DevTech Civils

32 & IFC 8

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories

46 & OBC

34

Shamla Pather Attorneys

29 & IBC

18

Temi Construction

Durban University of Technology

14

ERO Africa Investec Bank Limited

56 | eTHEKWINI 2021

10 & 17

The Law Comes First We are committed to equitable business practices and the ethical practice of law.

Honest & Open Communication We are accountable to you and to each other.

Committed to Excellence We are dedicated to providing quality legal advice and service to our clients in a professional and efficient manner.

Our Expertise Shamla Pather and her team are experienced in these fields of law and they are able to offer professional, sound legal services utilising the latest advances in research, management, technology and communication.

Commercial Law Civil Litigation Family Law Insurance Law

Communication is Key Our team is driven on excellence and passion for the law. We make the law work for you – let’s discuss your matter today. +27 (0)31 003 8971

Labour Law Property Law Medical Law

reception@lawspa.co.za www.lawspa.co.za

Shipping/Maritime Law

SEL-3350 AUTOMATION CONTROLLER

Hardened, versatile automation controller for computing and embedded applications Alarm and operational status LED indicators

LED lamp test button Hard disk drive activity LED

DisplayPort monitor connection technology

Four programmable bicolour LEDs

Ethernet port link status and network LEDs

Serial port Transmit and Receive LEDs

16 built-in RJ45 EIA-232 ports

Hard disk drive activity LED

Front heat sink and no fans or moving parts

Four high-speed Gigabit Ethernet ports with the following configuration options:

Two front-panel USB 3.1 ports

Front Gigabit Ethernet port

Two SSDs

Configurable digital/ analog input

Form C alarm contact output

Built-in power supply connections

Four RJ45 ports Two RJ45 and two small formfactor pluggable (SFP) ports Four SFP ports

• Configurable with various OS options, such as SEL Real-Time Automation Controller (RTAC) functionality, the Blueframe™ application platform, and third-party options, including Linux and Microsoft Windows.

• Increases system reliability with high-quality single-level cell (SLC) SSDs and error-correcting code (ECC) memory.

• Ensures reliable operation in the harshest environments with a broad operating temperature range from –40° to +85°C (–40° to +185°F).

• Provides confidence and lowers the overall cost of ownership with a standard 10-year, no-questions-asked warranty.

Making Electric Power Safer, More Reliable, and More Economical

+27 (0)12 664 5930 www.selinc.com info@selinc.com Building 11, Oxford Office Park, 3 Bauhinia Str, Highveld TechnoPark, Centurion