Latest news with #ZweliDlamini
The Citizen
a day ago
- The Citizen
7 months later, stolen municipal TLB still missing
It's almost seven months since a municipal-owned tractor-loader-backhoe (TLB) was stolen, but this much-needed piece of heavy machinery is still nowhere to be found. The theft was reported to the police, and two municipal officials were arrested and charged with theft. Despite the arrest of the pair, no further details about the circumstances of the theft and the machine's whereabouts have been released. According to City of Ekurhuleni spokesperson Zweli Dlamini, authorities are still trying to track down the TLB, stolen in December last year, from the city's depot in Brakpan. He said the two officials were released on bail and remain suspended pending the investigation. Background The Heidelberg Nigel Heraut previously reported that information gathered suggested that the driver of the TLB was instructed by his superiors to drive it from Brakpan to a private construction site in Vosloorus for work. The people he was assigned to do the work for reportedly told him that they hired the TLB from his superiors, and this immediately raised a red flag. The driver made further enquiries and even engaged his superiors, and eventually discovered that the work he was assigned to do had nothing to do with his official duties. The driver decided to stop working and left the site after his superiors had reportedly arranged that the TLB would be taken to the nearby municipal offices for safekeeping. But, thereafter, it went missing. Speaking during the arrest of the officials, MMC for Roads and Transport Management Andile Mngwevu, said: 'We are going to pull all stops to ensure that the missing machinery is recovered and all those involved in this act of criminality are brought to book.' ALSO READ: 2 City of Ekurhuleni employees arrested for theft At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
3 days ago
- The Citizen
EMPD arrests two for drug offences in Tsakani
EMPD arrests two for drug offences in Tsakani Tsakani – The EMPD Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) apprehended two men in separate incidents for drug-related offences in Tsakani on July 9. According to Zweli Dlamini, the CoE spokesperson, officers on patrol witnessed the deal take place and pounced on a 43-year-old man. 'He was arrested and charged with dealing in drugs. The officers confiscated the illicit substances, estimated to have a street value of R400. 'In a separate incident, officers followed up on information about a drug peddler operating at the Tsakane Shopping Centre. On arrival, they caught the 26-year-old man with an illicit substance with an estimated street value of R200,' explained Dlamini. 'His stash was seized, and he was charged with possession of drugs.' Both suspects were detained at the Tsakane Police Station and will soon appear in the Tsakane Magistrate's Court. ALSO READ: EMPD nabs man in Tsakani for skipping court after firearm charge ALSO READ: Suspect caught with 4.4kg of dagga in Tsakani following police tip-off At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
10-07-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
What Ekurhuleni residents need to know about new electricity tariffs
The electricity tariff structure is regulated by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA), requiring municipalities to review tariffs annually and conduct a Cost of Supply (CoS) study every five years. 'The latest tariff adjustments are in line with these requirements and reflect the findings of Ekurhuleni's most recent CoS study,' said CoE spokesperson Zweli Dlamini. Two main tariff options for residents For residential customers, the City offers two main tariff structures: 1. Tariff A: Inclined Block Tariff (IBT) This is split into two categories: Category A1 (Approved Indigent and Deemed Indigent Households): Best suited for low-consumption households. Customers receive 50kWh of free basic electricity (FBE) per month . No basic monthly charge applies. Category A2 (Non-Indigent, Low Consumption Customers): Does not include free basic electricity. A basic monthly charge will apply for the 2025/26 financial year: Single-phase supply: R109.78 per month Three-phase supply: R203.89 per month The City explained that this basic charge assists in recovering the costs of distributing electricity, maintaining infrastructure, and ensuring ongoing repairs. 2. Tariff B: Residential This option is suitable for medium to high consumption households and has been in place since 2018. It also includes a monthly basic charge: Single-phase supply: R109.78 per month Three-phase supply: R203.89 per month Residents encouraged to apply for indigent support Customers can choose the tariff option that best suits their consumption patterns but are required to remain on the selected tariff for a minimum of 12 months before switching. The City urged qualifying residents to apply for the indigent social package to benefit from subsidies and free basic electricity under Category A1. Keeping increases reasonable while ensuring reliability 'In setting tariffs for the new financial year, the City considered all factors within its control and aimed to keep increases reasonable and affordable while ensuring a continued and reliable electricity supply to residents.' 'We remain committed to transparency, regulatory compliance, and serving the best interests of our community,' said Dlamini. For further details on the City's electricity tariffs, residents are encouraged to visit the City of Ekurhuleni's official website or contact their nearest customer care centre.
TimesLIVE
08-07-2025
- Business
- TimesLIVE
Why Nigel taxi operators are shunning their new R17m rank in Duduza
The taxi rank built for R17m by the City of Ekurhuleni in Duduza has not been used since its opening three months ago because local operators say they were not consulted about its construction. At the same time, residents say they do not see the need for the facility as they have other urgent needs, such as shopping and banking services. However, the municipality rejects the claims, saying residents and the local taxi association were informed. Also, the rank had been on the city's integrated development plan (IDP) for Duduza for some time due to the pressing transport needs of the community. The city opened the Bluegum View taxi rank in April, but the millions spent on it seem to have been in vain as taxi operators continue to use an unofficial rank in the township's Section 15. While municipal spokesperson Zweli Dlamini said the city was surprised at the taxi drivers not using the rank, the SA National Taxi Council (Santaco) said the associations in the area were not consulted about it. 'No-one consulted us, despite it being common cause that we are consulted on such [projects] as stakeholders, often as [an] intermediary between the city and taxi associations,' said Santaco's Ekurhuleni regional secretary, Zwelibanzi Mnisi. Dlamini said the rank was built in response to the need in the area, which was established through the IDP process. 'There is no way that the municipality would have built it without having consulted,' he said. 'We handed over the taxi rank to the taxi operators that are supposed to use it, and it's fully functional. If there are people who have to explain why they are not using it, it has to be the taxi operators. 'When we handed it over, everyone was excited. We are as surprised as you regarding the taxi rank not being used because there were consultations right through from the plenary phases to handover.' However, the Duduza residents who spoke to Sowetan on condition of anonymity said they were not consulted. 'We just woke up one day, and there was construction happening, and later a handover,' one resident said. 'To be honest, I don't think a taxi rank is what Duduza needs. We need shops and banks, like your Shoprite and Pep, where most people shop. We travel almost 10km to Nigel town for these services.' Another resident said the taxi rank was not close to where people lived, and that was why the operators choose to use the old, informal rank. 'The taxi operators fear they might lose business if they go to the new rank as it means the commuters might be lost to Tsakane operators as the new Bluegum View rank is not central to where people are. 'There is also infighting and a lack of good relations among the associations operating in the area,' the resident said. Tsakane is a neighbouring township to Duduza and the two are separated only by a road. No-one from the Nigel Taxi Association was available to comment . MMC for transport in Ekurhuleni Andile Mngwevu said when the taxi rank was officially opened, he handed it to the Nigel taxi association. According to Mngwevu, everything was in order and the city had given the taxis three weeks to relocate from the intersection they are illegally operating from to the new structure. However, not even the Nigel taxi association is using the rank. 'They have never come to me with any issue of why they are no longer moving because the last time we discussed it with them, we agreed that they are moving.' He said the association's U-turn regarding using the rank shows that they are dishonest. 'We've been contacting each other for a year. So it means we're engaging dishonest people. The association is dishonest, it took me a year to engage with them,' he said. While residents said they were not consulted about the rank, Ward 87 councillor Simon Hlophe whose constituency includes Duduza, said that was not true. He said the community was consulted on the establishment of the taxi rank but that its location has long been a sticking point for taxi operators. 'When the idea of a taxi rank was first raised, both the community and operators had proposed that it be built in Extension 15, even before the Sasol garage existed. However, by the time the city had a budget available, Sasol was built and the land next to it is where the taxi rank currently stands,' said Hlophe. 'The current site was previously used as a sports ground, which added to concerns. But more significantly, the association feared that abandoning Extension 15 would open the door for operators from Tsakane and Brakpan to encroach on the route, leading to possible illegal operations and conflict.' He added that the Nigel Taxi Association now appears to be divided on whether to use the newly established rank.
The Citizen
05-07-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
New electricity tariff structure explained for Ekurhuleni residents
The electricity tariff structure is regulated by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA), requiring municipalities to review tariffs annually and conduct a Cost of Supply (CoS) study every five years. 'The latest tariff adjustments are in line with these requirements and reflect the findings of Ekurhuleni's most recent CoS study,' said CoE spokesperson Zweli Dlamini. Two main tariff options for residents For residential customers, the City offers two main tariff structures: 1. Tariff A: Inclined Block Tariff (IBT) This is split into two categories: Category A1 (Approved Indigent and Deemed Indigent Households): Best suited for low-consumption households. Customers receive 50kWh of free basic electricity (FBE) per month . No basic monthly charge applies. Category A2 (Non-Indigent, Low Consumption Customers): Does not include free basic electricity. A basic monthly charge will apply for the 2025/26 financial year: Single-phase supply: R109.78 per month Three-phase supply: R203.89 per month The City explained that this basic charge assists in recovering the costs of distributing electricity, maintaining infrastructure, and ensuring ongoing repairs. 2. Tariff B: Residential This option is suitable for medium to high consumption households and has been in place since 2018. It also includes a monthly basic charge: Single-phase supply: R109.78 per month Three-phase supply: R203.89 per month Residents encouraged to apply for indigent support Customers can choose the tariff option that best suits their consumption patterns but are required to remain on the selected tariff for a minimum of 12 months before switching. The City urged qualifying residents to apply for the indigent social package to benefit from subsidies and free basic electricity under Category A1. Keeping increases reasonable while ensuring reliability 'In setting tariffs for the new financial year, the City considered all factors within its control and aimed to keep increases reasonable and affordable while ensuring a continued and reliable electricity supply to residents.' 'We remain committed to transparency, regulatory compliance, and serving the best interests of our community,' said Dlamini. For further details on the City's electricity tariffs, residents are encouraged to visit the City of Ekurhuleni's official website or contact their nearest customer care centre.
