Author: Grocott's Mail Contributors

Makana Municipality is a hive of activity, with road construction projects taking place simultaneously in Joza and in the CBD. Makana LM is happy that this important work is underway and would like to appeal to residents to be patient while work is being done on these roads. Construction on the Ncame Street project is coming along nicely with most of the old tar road already removed. Makana Municipality conducted a sod-turning ceremony to mark the start of the upgrade of Ncame Street in Joza on 12 April 2021.  The project will also focus on upgrading the storm water system…

By HELEN HOLLEMAN “I want to show you a big water leak,” said Masixole Gagayi. We drove from his house north of Extension 6 towards the Mayfield sewage works and walked up a hill to an astonishing sight: clear, fresh water pouring out of four holes in a huge concrete, bunker-like structure. In eThembeni informal settlement, where Masixole lives, the only water comes from standpipes in the streets. “Can we build a windmill?” he asked. Tempting thought, but reporting it to the Municipality was top priority. The concrete ‘bunker’ – a large valve chamber for managing the supply – forms…

In light of the protest action and large-scale looting seen across certain parts of the country over the last few days, the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) appeals to road users to help mitigate risks at toll plazas and to refrain from paying with cash, where possible. While the situation seems to have been brought under control with the deployment of additional military resources to restore and maintain public order, SANRAL is aware of the risks associated with toll plazas potentially carrying large sums of cash.  “To this end, we appeal to road users to make use…

Eight local leaders speak out against the violence and destruction in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. Stay calm and be vigilant Like most South Africans, I have been deeply disturbed by the destruction that is happening in other parts of the country. At the end of the day, a lot of people are going to lose their jobs. They are not going to be able to get food for their families. I understand that the start of the problem was what has happened to the former president of the country, it seems to me that now criminals have taken over.  I’m glad…

By Godfrey Motsa CEO at MTN South Africa   In the face of overwhelming adversity and strife, it is a natural human emotion to withdraw from the crisis. Last night, as my executive team and I at MTN ended yet another crisis update, a wave of despondency hit me, and I said out loud, to no one in particular, “I have no more words.” But that doesn’t help, does it? It doesn’t help to have no words. It doesn’t help to remain quiet, to focus only on what matters to my family and the business I happen to run. As I write this,…

STATEMENT BY EASTERN CAPE PREMIER LUBABALO OSCAR MABUYANE ON VIOLENT PROTESTS GRIPPING GAUTENG AND KZN, 13 JULY 2021 Peace loving and law-abiding citizens of the Eastern Cape, we have seen messages of a campaign trying to mobilise you to do what is happening in our two sister provinces of Gauteng and KZN. We want to assure you that law enforcement agencies are investigating the origins of those messages to arrest the ringleaders of that campaign. We also urge you to report to law enforcement authorities any attempts to fuel violent protests in their communities. We commend the ordinary people of our province for refusing to emulate, in our province,…

Due to the unrest in the country, that has been escalating over the past few days, the Cash In Transit  (CIT) industry has informed South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) that they will not be providing any cash delivery services to the SASSA cash pay points until further notice. This is to ensure the safety of the SASSA beneficiaries as well as theirs. Beneficiaries are urged to remain calm and await communication as to when the payment at pay points will resume. SASSA beneficiaries are reminded that their cards can be used to purchase goods or receive cash from merchants…

The Electoral Commission has postponed the voter registration weekend by two weeks in the light of the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic currently sweeping the country. At a special meeting on Wednesday 7 July, the Commission resolved to reschedule the voter registration weekend from 17-18 July to the weekend of 31 July-1 August. The decision was made following a review of the current conditions including rate of infections and hospitalisations over the past seven days and its impact on preparations for the registration weekend. The Commission also considered concerns raised by political parties through the National Party Liaison Committee…

By SANEWS Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe, this morning announced that the price of both grades of petrol will increase on Wednesday 7 July. The price of petrol 93 (ULP and LRP) will increase by 29 cents per litre and the price of 95 (ULP and LRP) will increase by 26 cents per litre, while the price of diesel (0.05% sulphur) will increase by 42 cents per litre and the price of diesel  (0.005% sulphur) will increase by 41 cents per litre. The price of illuminating paraffin (wholesale) will increase by 36 cents per litre, while the Single…

Makana Local Municipality has acted proactively, working in partnership with its stakeholders to respond to issues affecting the winter initiation season.  Makana LM and its stakeholders in the Makana Local Initiation Forum have been actively involved in the planning and preparation stages of the Winter Initiation Season, up until the monitoring stages. When the President made the latest pronouncement regarding the Initiation season we were already complying with Covid-19 protocols. The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma designated under section 3 and 27(2) of the Disaster Management Act, 2002 (Act No. 57 of 2002),…