Ndlambe on a winning streak
Ndlambe Municipality recently received two awards for being among the top Eastern Cape municipalities in their respective categories and showing that the municipality is working hard to improve its services throughout the area.
On November 1, Ndlambe was awarded second place in the Eastern Cape’s Greenest Municipality Awards.
Each year, the Eastern Cape department of economic development, environmental affairs and tourism (Dedeat) runs a competition for the greenest municipality title.
The first round of the assessment took place at the end of September, where local municipalities within each of the six district municipalities competed to represent their district in the provincial awards.
Ndlambe’s community protection services directorate was assessed by a panel of Dedeat officials and was entered into the finals within the Sarah Baartman District Municipality jurisdiction.
During mid-October, a delegation from Dedeat assessed the municipality again, with site inspections taking place throughout Ndlambe, looking at the physical condition of residential, business and industrial zones, recreational facilities, institutions, public open spaces, beachfronts and tourist attractions and taxi ranks.
Waste management was another component of the evaluation, with the delegation visiting landfill sites. Included in the assessment were clean and green initiatives, budgetary support, green procurement, climate change, awareness and education, and monitoring and enforcement.
Ndlambe won R300,000 for being first runner-up in the Eastern Cape.
A business plan relating to waste management needs to be forwarded to Dedeat and, on approval, the funds will be given to the municipality in line with the business plan.
“This is an achievement that all should embrace and is an excellent marketing opportunity for our area, also known as the Heart of the Sunshine Coast. “It was a team effort by all involved and we appeal to businesses and the community to help Ndlambe Municipality by giving support and assistance in promoting our environment,” community protection services deputy director Fanie Fouche said. Ndlambe also won the Govan Mbeki award for the best human settlements upgrading project for its work on the 595 homes it erected at Ekuphumleni township in Kenton-on-Sea. Infrastructure portfolio councillor Thembani Mazana said the award was won, not for building houses but for creating a sustainable human settlement. “Building houses is not the same as creating a human settlement,” Mazana said.
“Human settlements need water, sewerage, electrical connections, roads, as well as churches, shops, schools and play areas. That is what Ndlambe Municipality is building.
“Politicians hear the people demand houses and they want to deliver, but the non-political administration of the municipality want to build homes and complete human settlements. Obviously there will be a clash of ideas, but human settlements are the way to go, and we have proven that by winning the Govan Mbeki award.”
The project will now be judged in the national best human settlements upgrading awards.
Human settlements are the way to go, and we have proven that by winning the award