Latest news with #BabalwaLobishe
The Herald
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald
Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Babalwa Lobishe pulls mayoral committee members into line with gag order
Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Babalwa Lobishe has issued a gag order on members of her mayoral committee, instructing that all media inquiries go through her office as the 'official spokesperson' of the municipality. In the correspondence sent to all members of the mayoral committee on Monday, Lobishe told them she had taken the decision to ensure there was no contradictory messaging going to the media and public. 'As mayco, we each play a pivotal role in advancing the collective vision and strategic priorities of the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality. 'In line with this collective leadership, it's important that our communication to the public, media and stakeholders reflects one clear, united and consistent message. 'In my capacity as executive mayor and in accordance with established governance protocols, [I] serve as the chief spokesperson of the municipality,' Lobishe wrote in the letter. The ANC governs in the coalition with the EFF, DOP, UDM, NA, AIC, PAC and AIM. Lobishe said as the spokesperson of the city, she was responsible for safeguarding the institutional voice of the council and ensuring that the metro's public communication was accurate, co-ordinated and aligned with their shared agenda. 'To this end, we are implementing a streamlined communication and media management process that will [ensure] all official media engagements, press briefings and public statements issued on behalf of the municipality are centralised through the office of the executive mayor,' she said. According to Lobishe, the process was intended to ensure message coherence across all mayoral committee portfolios, prevent mixed or contradictory messaging in the public domain and enhance public trust and confidence through clear, co-ordinated leadership communication. Moving forward, Lobishe said all media briefings and interviews had to be approved and co-ordinated through her office. She wrote that media statements, including from mayoral committee members, had to be submitted to her office for review and alignment before release and inquiries received directly by MMCs should be redirected to the office of the mayor for a co-ordinated response. Lobishe said public engagements with a media presence must be communicated in advance to her office to ensure alignment and support. DOP president Ruphus Mphahlele said as a party with its own mandate, they would not be told what to do. 'That partisan mayor is not well upstairs," Mphahlele said . 'We did not agree on this, let alone being told about it. 'Unfortunately for her, we won't be dictated to on what to do or say. 'As members of the government of local unity we come from different parties which have their own mandates given to its councillors. 'It's not going to happen, we don't take instructions from her," Mphahlele said. NA president Gary van Niekerk said mayco members were not happy with the decision. 'The general feeling from other members is that the matter should've been discussed in the government of local unity (GLU) first which it wasn't. 'I have called for calm and requested that we discuss this further in the GLU and we are meeting tomorrow morning [Tuesday] for this purpose." AIC councillor Thsonono Buyeye declined to comment saying the matter was still being discussed internally. UDM councillor Luxolo Namette said it was strange for Lobishe to take the decision unilaterally without consulting members of the GLU. 'As a party we feel as though the mayor is trying to kill the identity of the individual parties represented in the GLU. 'We are not an extension of the ANC and therefore we should be consulted before such decisions are taken. 'Members have called for a GLU meeting but there's no confirmation yet if it will actually convene," Namette said. The Herald
Daily Maverick
18-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Maverick
Nelson Mandela Bay seesaws on rates as council battles to pass 2025/26 budget
The Nelson Mandela Bay Council will, again, try to pass the budget on Wednesday and while smaller increases in tariffs for water and sanitation were promised by mayor Babalwa Lobishe last Thursday, it wasn't included in the draft budget. However, by 5pm on Tuesday, a circular indicating that there were conditions to the reduced water and sanitation rates arrived with councillors. The Nelson Mandela Bay metro's council will again try on Wednesday to approve the budget for the 2025/26 financial year. Last Thursday, during the council meeting, Mayor Babalwa Lobishe promised a 0.5% reduction in the proposed increases for water and sewage. But in the draft budget received by councillors on Tuesday, it looked like the increase was again set at 5.5% and not at the promised 5%. But last Thursday night, a circular was signed by Nosipho Xhego, the executive director of corporate services in the metro, stating that the proposed reduced increase can only be put into operation if councillors agreed to scrap the city's scarce skills allowance and also agree to an overtime policy based on regulated thresholds. The circular states that the municipality currently does not have an overtime policy, and also pays more than the regulated thresholds, and implementing these could save R22-million in the current financial year. Other increases remain unchanged, including an increase in property rates by 5%. The proposed increase in electricity prices stands at 12.8%, which is 0.6% higher than the Eskom price. The electricity department is running at a loss of more than a billion and is spending more money on buying electricity than what it makes selling it – because of theft and meter tampering. Allowing this increase, however, is not a decision that can be taken by council though, as it falls within the mandate of the National Energy Regulator. In 2022, the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber successfully applied for an order from the Eastern Cape Division of the High Court in Gqeberha, indicating that Nersa must link price increases to a cost of supply and also was not allowed to pass on municipal inefficiencies to the consumer. Werner Senekal from the Democratic Alliance, the official opposition in the metro, said the budget's projections were off and it was based on a 76% collection rate while the average collection rate is 72%. He added that the Integrated Development Plan, setting out ward-based priorities and the budget, also was not in lockstep. By law, the budget must be passed by 1 July, otherwise the metro's council can be dissolved. In the latest circular sent on Tuesday afternoon, officials admitted that there must be better planning and also mechanisms in place to include ward councillors in decision-making around ward budgets. The money allocated to ward budgets in the revised budget, in comparison to last week, has increased by just over R44-million and, in comparison to the first draft budget in April, has increased by R452-million. Ward 1 and 2 in the metro, both in need of critical electrical infrastructure work, both received R4.8-million and R2-million more in their capital budgets. Ward 16, which includes a large section of the metro's manufacturing industry, received a R14-million boost in the new budget.
The Herald
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Herald
TVET college students to help resuscitate metro's ailing vehicle fleet
Aspiring mechanical engineers from Kariega's Eastcape Midlands TVET College have already been given their first major task — repairing Nelson Mandela Bay's vehicle fleet. On Tuesday, the college launched a partnership with the municipality in which 14 third-year mechanical engineering students will help fix some of the city's vehicles sitting broken down in the four depots. The launch was attended by mayor Babalwa Lobishe. Eastcape Midlands TVET College's director for partnerships and linkages, Lindithemba Sdeba, said they had come up with the concept of tackling societal problems through TVET-driven solutions. 'We once fixed beds at Uitenhage Provincial Hospital, and had a similar programme with the department of correctional services at St Albans Prison where we fixed cars and sewing machines. 'Today, we handed over 14 students who will be going to the four depots looking at cars that can be fixed, what the quick fixes are and run diagnostic tests and see who can help in giving parts needed. 'Our goal is to help the municipality speed up service delivery and we feel we can assist if we can quickly [fix] these vehicles.' Sdeba said the municipality's fleet department was under siege, with only two mechanics employed in the entire metro. 'The programme will run as long as there is a need.' A recent report looking into the city's fleet management raised serious concerns about its services, with the report alleging that vehicles were deliberately damaged for the municipality to spend millions on the leasing of vehicles. The Herald
Daily Maverick
04-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Maverick
Nelson Mandela Bay faces electricity crisis: proposed 12.8% tariff hike sparks controversy
Citing spiralling non-technical electricity losses, the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality's application for a 12.8% electricity tariff increase has revealed that the metro's electricity department will not generate any revenue or surpluses this year. However, there is some relief for old-age homes and residents of housing estates and residential complexes. 'The phenomenon of increasing electricity bulk purchases and spiralling decreases in electricity sales has reached unprecedented levels, to the point where the electricity service has become unable to generate its own revenue or any surpluses as per the historical model for this service,' the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality stated in its application to the National Energy Regulator of SA (Nersa) for an increase of 12.8% across the board for all categories of electricity users. The metro's non-revenue electricity losses for the financial year that ended in March 2025 stood at R1.049-billion, caused by factors including meter tampering and illegal connections. The draft budget for the metro, which was noted last week by the city council and was scheduled to be debated on Thursday, 5 June, also stated that the electricity department would have to be subsidised by municipal rates to remain viable. Opposition parties said the electricity department would bankrupt the city if a successful turnaround plan were not implemented. Earlier this year, the metro's executive mayor, Babalwa Lobishe, tried unsuccessfully to have R449.8-million relating to 30 tenders in the electricity department written off without the matter being investigated by the Municipal Public Accounts Committee. Nersa has, this year, decided to make all the municipal applications for electricity price increases public and has asked that the public send their comments. 'Nersa requires that all municipalities calculate their electricity tariffs based on the costs incurred in supplying customers,' said Nersa spokesperson Charles Hlabela. This is a legal requirement in line with a high court ruling obtained by the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber. 'This requirement will be enforced to all municipalities for their 2025/26 electricity tariffs. Should the municipality fail to comply with this requirement, it will face a risk of having its tariffs not approved,' said Hlabela. He said Nersa valued input from all stakeholders and would consider written submissions alongside a thorough analysis of each application. Further issues were also touched on by the metro in its application. In its motivation for the electricity tariff increase, the municipality stated: 'The business of the Electricity and Energy Directorate is continuously plagued by a scourge in electricity theft, tampering and illegal connections as well as tariffs which were historically not cost reflective.' The metro, which derives R7.5-billion a year from electricity sales, said two main factors had led to the increase: Eskom bulk purchases had been increased by 12.74%; and Municipal salaries had been increased by 7.75% in line with the collective bargaining agreement. The metro said it was gearing up to implement an advanced metering infrastructure programme to reduce energy losses, improve revenue protection and enhance operational control. Some relief It offered some relief for residents of residential complexes and old-age homes, who had been incorrectly billed under the industrial and commercial bulk supply tariff, 'despite the actual end-user being classified as a residential customer in the NMBM Consolidated Billing System. 'This also comes as a direct result of numerous complaints received from this cohort of customers who deemed the current tariffs unfair, as they were being treated in the same way as businesses due to the tariff structure.' The application acknowledged that 'preventative maintenance and innovative switching methods can be game changers, ensuring that the system can handle fluctuating demand while reducing unexpected failures. 'A proactive approach could also lead to efficiencies in resource allocation as preventative maintenance often costs less than reactive repairs.' However, the application continued, 'It is unfortunately not possible to increase the Repairs & Maintenance Funding Allocation to the desired level.' The metro promised to do so within the next three years. It said there was no 'growing interest' from private generators or businesses looking to take advantage of wheeling arrangements. 'Illegal connections, tampering with metering equipment, infrastructure vandalism and access to properties are the dominant challenges faced in some of the electrification areas. Customer education, awareness interventions, audits and replacement of illegal connections with legal connections continue to receive special attention. 'The influx of people migrating to the metro and the associated need for accommodation result most of the time in the illegal construction of informal housing, contributing to the Electrification Programme complexity,' said the metro in its application. DM
The Herald
30-05-2025
- Business
- The Herald
Nelson Mandela Bay metro sticks with plan for 12.8% electricity hike
The Nelson Mandela Bay municipality is moving forward with plans to increase the electricity price by more than 12%, starting on July 1. The council noted the 2025/2026 budget and the integrated development plan on Thursday. They will meet on Thursday next week to adopt it. Capital budget and asset management senior director Nomphelo Scott stood in for Jackson Ngcelwane as acting CFO. According to proposals, electricity is expected to increase by 12.8% and refuse collection by 6%. If approved, property rates will go up by 5%. Water and sanitation are expected to increase by 5.5%. The total budget is R21.58bn, which is made up of the R2.9bn for the capital budget and R19.47bn for the operational budget. Councillors expressed concerns that meeting agendas were being delivered late. Some only received copies on the day of the meeting. 'It is important to note that the financial position of the electricity service is under immense pressure due to the extent of electricity losses, which significantly affects the sustainability of the municipality,' the report says. 'This is supported by the fact that the budget for electricity bulk purchases exceeds the total electricity service charges budget. 'This means the electricity service, which is a trading service, is operating at a substantial deficit, requiring support from property rates.' About 71% of revenue for the city comes from rates and services. This amounts to R13.93bn. Tabling the budget, mayor Babalwa Lobishe said they had embarked on an IDP and budget consultative process for three weeks. She said the budget was brought to the council for noting. 'We note with disappointment the fact that the agendas were delivered late, but we wish councillors could pardon us, but we have been ready since last week.' DA councillor Rano Kayser said he wanted to establish whether Ngcelwane was present. 'How do we expect a credible budget if every second week we have a new acting CFO?' he said. Kayser said a decision was taken in the last council meeting that councillors must be consulted when dealing with the IDP and ward-based budget, but this did not happen. 'I wrote to the acting city manager [Ted Pillay] a while ago requesting a meeting, but he didn't respond, and these are the issues I wanted to raise with him. 'In some wards, such as 35, the IDP didn't even take place, I was there. 'How do we accept this budget if officials didn't turn up to IDP meetings and ward councillors were not consulted. 'The directorates that are supposed to be implementing have no idea what's contained in the ward-based budget.' Kayser said it was not the first time they were sidelined from the budget. 'The acting city manager must tell us what he did from April 1 until today to ensure the budget is ready.' The Herald
