 | MEDIA STATEMENT IN RELATION TO THE ATTACHMENT AND REMOVAL OF THE MAYORAL VEHICLE The Greater Tzaneen Municipality would like to allay fears that there is a crisis in the municipality, it must therefore be stated categorically clear that the municipality is operating efficiently and effectively and continues to deliver services as per its constitutional and legislative mandate. The attachment and subsequent removal of the mayoral vehicle was a result of miscommunication between the municipality, the sheriff and municipality’s legal representative. The matter has since been resolved and all monies owed in connection with the warrant of execution were paid immediately as soon as the matter was brought to the attention of the municipality, however the actual cause of the said miscommunication is being investigated. The municipality is disappointed in the manner in which the Sherriff handled the removal of the mayoral vehicle, firstly by bringing along a journalist with a video camera and secondly by refusing to afford the municipality a mere15 minutes to effect the payment of monies owed as it was their primary demand. We have a strong view that the actions of the Sherriff were orchestrated to embarrass the municipality and its leadership. It is also strange that the Sherriff opted to attach the mayoral vehicle of whose value far surpasses the amount in question. It is also worth noting that the amount of R111694.00 was paid at around 08h50 and the mayoral vehicle was returned within an hour of the payment being effected. The attachment of the mayoral vehicle is completely unrelated to the vehicle itself as the vehicle has already been paid for in full. Also worth noting is that the removal of the vehicle did not any way affect the schedule nor the programme of the mayor. The mayor is currently attending a week long induction with fellow councillors and was not using the vehicle at the time of the incident. We would like to call on all the political parties and other observers to refrain from making statements about the municipality in the media without first verifying their facts. These false statements can only serve as a source of incitement and also spread uncertainty. We also call on all our residents to rally behind the municipality and its newly elected council. These false accusations are only meant to distract the municipality’s leadership from their responsibilities which is the provision of services to communities of Greater Tzaneen. The Mayor and the collective leadership of the municipality is committed to serving the municipality and has the best interest of the residents of municipality which includes creating an atmosphere conducive for economic growth and job creation, enhancing the service delivery mechanism of the municipality and uniting the residents of the municipality towards a common goal which is to build a vibrant economy and the provision of sustainable basic services. For Immediate release ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Issued by: Mr. Ntsako Neville Ndlala Spokesperson & Acting Manager Communications and Marketing Services Office Tel: 015 307 8019 – Fax No: 0867596454 Cell No: 073 076 2125 E-mail Address: neville.ndlala@tzaneen.gov.za read more |
| GTM TO HOST ITS 3rd ANNUAL AGRICULTURAL EXPO The Greater Tzaneen Municipality will host its 3rd annual Agricultural Expo from the 22nd to the 24th of September 2016 at Letaba Showground. The Agri Expo was born out of the Land Reform and Forestry Summit which the municipality hosted in 2013. In 2014 GTM staged its inaugural Agricultural Expo which recorded 1000 attendees and 52 exhibitors over a three day period. The Agri-Expo was coordinated through an events management company in 2014 but in 2015 the municipality coordinated the Agri-Expo internally through an Events Coordinating/Management Committee. In the 2015 Expo the municipality recorded just over 1000 visitors. In the 2015 Agric Expo the municipality hosted an Agri Youth Imbizo which saw 90 learners from 21 local schools and 32 young farmers from 22 agricultural projects participate. At least 150 people among them farmers, aspiring farmers and students attended various workshops as part of the expo in the same year. GTM also hosted a gala dinner attended by about 200 guests and a Mayoral networking breakfast. The Agri- Expo is a platform for stakeholders in the agricultural sector to interact, exchange ideas, transact and copy best practices in the sector. It is also a platform for upcoming farmers and established commercial farmers to interact and learn from each other. The Expo is also used as a marketing vehicle to promote Tzaneen as an agricultural hub in the province. In this year’s three day event the Mayor, Councillor Maripe Mangena will host a charity Golf Day on the 23rd of September at Tzaneen Country Club from 8am, a networking breakfast on the 22nd of September at Hotel@Tzaneen from 8am and Gala dinner also on 22nd of September at Hotel@Tzaneen from 6pm. Also on the 22nd the municipality will host the Agri Youth Imbizo at Letaba Showground Hall B from 8am. GTM will also host workshops on the 22nd and 23rd of September on Agro-processing, global warming, export markets, funding, insurances etc. On the 22nd of September the municipality will take 180 learners from various schools on a tour of ten (10) farms specialising in areas such as processing, livestock farming, crop production, citrus etc. This year Expo is sponsored by the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), Komatie Fruits (Bosveld Sitrus). The Agric -Expo partners are Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA), Greater Tzaneen Economic Development Agency (GTEDA) and the Letaba Herald. The Expo is supported by ZZ2, Department of Education, Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR), Agricultural Research Council (ARC), the Department of Agriculture Fishers and Forestry (DAFF), Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (LDARD), Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET), Mopani District Municipality (MDM) as well as universities and agricultural colleges. For Immediate release ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Issued by: Mr. Ntsako Neville Ndlala Spokesperson & Acting Manager Communications and Marketing Services Office Tel: 015 307 8019 – Fax No: 0867596454 Cell No: 073 076 2125 E-mail Address: neville.ndlala@tzaneen.gov.za read more |
| STATEMENT ON THE PURCHASE OF A NEW VEHICLE FOR THE MAYOR The purchase of a new vehicle for the Mayor was necessary for several reasons, first the previous mayor’s vehicle was bought in 2011 and has exceeded 150 000 kilometres and was no longer under motor plan. The vehicle was involved in two separate accidents albeit minor. The vehicle has also suffered numerous mechanical breakdowns costing the municipality in excess of R180 000 as some stage and in a very short period. There was also high cost of hiring a vehicle for the mayor during the periods where the vehicle was involved either in an accident or suffered mechanical breakdown. We have invoices to back this. In actual fact the purchase of the new vehicle will save the municipality money and will be convenient for the mayor. The SALGA handbook allows for the replacement of the mayor’s official vehicle if it has exceeded 150000 km, the mileage on the previous vehicle stood at 173 000km. We also have to purchase an SUV considering the terrain that we operate in, the mayor has to travel to mountainous rural areas to engage communities. He also needs a reliable vehicle for official trips outside the municipality. We have purchased a vehicle that is standard and is used by a majority of mayors, MECs etc. all over the country. It is also misleading and demeaning for the DA to suggest that buying a vehicle for a mayor is wasteful and fruitless. The expenditure might be irregular, but it is far from wasteful or fruitless. The purchase was done above board and through deviation which is legally permissible. The cost of the vehicle does not exceed the amount allowed for the purchase of vehicles for Mayors. When it comes to the purchase of a vehicle for the speaker, as a municipality we are not aware of any recent purchase for the new speaker. We do however have a vehicle which we bought in 2014 to transport the speaker, that vehicle is still in a good condition and available for official use. The mayor, as the first citizen must be transported in a safe reliable vehicle, his safety first as a human being and secondly as Mayor must be prioritised. The mayor will be required to meet people even during turmoil and violent service delivery protests, it is therefore important that he is provided with a reliable safe mode of transportation. With regard to the attachment of assets of the municipality, it must be stated categorically clear that no asset of the Greater Tzaneen Municipality has been attached both movable and immovable assets. We have challenged the court order granted to Expetera and the matter is still before the courts.
For Immediate release _________________________________________________________________________ Issued by: Neville Ndlala Spokesperson 015 307 8019 073 076 2125 neville.ndlala@tzaneen.gov.za read more |
 | Mpumi Mhalanga amongst children at Glenshiel Primary on Mandela Day 2016 read more |
 | RESPONSE TO COMPLAINT RELATING TO ACCOUNTS BILLING
The Greater Tzaneen Municipality has received numerous complaints from residents in relation to their monthly municipal bills. The bulk of the complaints are related to electricity charges and disconnection fees. Residents are reminded that the deadline for payments is the 25th of each month, those who fail to meet the deadline will receive a reminder. Failure to act on the reminder will result in the defaulter receiving a “final request” notice, which is accompanied by a R45.00 fee plus VAT. Action will therefore be required from the accountholder within three days of receiving the “final request” notice. Failure to act within the stipulated timeframe will result in the delivery of a disconnection notice and subsequent disconnection. The disconnection notice is delivered at the same time that the actual disconnection is done. A disconnection fee of R365.00 plus VAT will be billed into the account of the property owner or account holder. The electricity will only be reconnected after payment is made. We have appointed a service provider to do meter reading on behalf of the municipality and they have already started with their work. The readings are collected on a monthly basis and captured onto our financial systems. For accuracy and as proof a photo of the meter at the time when the reading is recorded is taken and uploaded into the account. The hike in electricity bills in most instances in a result of the heat wave which led to residents overusing their air conditioners. The air conditioner consumes more electricity more than most household utilities. Residents who have queries or are not satisfied with their accounts are welcome to lodge their queries with our accounts section in the Finance Department. Residents can visit the municipality and our officers at Credit Control will kindly explain the charges and rectify any errors thereof. read more |
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