15 September 2020 - www.tametimes.co.za
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Undertakers are planning to shut down the collection of human remains Undertakers are threatening to go on strike, saying all members of 17 black funeral associations and forums would be non-operational in all provinces from today. According to the co-ordinator of the Unification Task Team, Peter Matlatle, the association has given notice to the National Health Department that its members will embark on a national strike starting from today that will affect all hospitals across the country after failing
to reach an agreement on the outsourcing of mortuary facilities owned by black funeral undertakers to be recognised and legalised amid the Covid-19 lockdown. The Health Department says while it will not allow non-compliance to legislation in the funeral undertaking sector, it is open to continue talks with undertakers who are set to down tools. “We will not allow non-compliance to legislation in this sensitive area. The Department of Health is willing
to continue with talks with the funeral parlour sector to come to an amicable solution,” said the Health Department in a statement on Sunday. According to the department, two virtual meetings were arranged in August and one physical meeting at the beginning of September. These meetings were as a result of an open letter by the National Funeral Practitioners of Association of South
Africa. This is the only association that wrote to the department. Following the meetings, the department emphasised that all funeral undertakers and mortuary premises used in connection with the preparation, storage and preservation of human remains must be in possession of a valid certificate of competence issued by the relevant local authority. “Environmental health practitioners are and will continue to conduct inspections at all funeral undertakers’ premises in the country to check compliance with the regulations. Legal action will be taken against owners of premises found to be in contravention. “Family members are urged to check the legitimacy of the undertakers and agents being utilised for overall management of the burial of their loved ones to ensure proper tracking and tracing, and that the handling of the remains is done with dignity and within the law,” said the department. On any issues relating to the management of human remains and for advice to ensure compliance with the regulations, the department urged the public to contact environmental health practitioners in district and metropolitan municipalities for assistance. “We further call upon members of the public to report any illegal operations to ensure the public can be protected from potential risks and the spread of communicable diseases as a result of poor management of human remains,” said the department.
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15 September 2020
ANC Infighting Blamed For Halted Ekurhuleni Water Project A group of residents in Langaville near Tsakane has stopped a R56.8 million water leaks project meant to benefit 15,000 houses in Tsakane, Langaville and Gelukdal, part of the City of Ekurhuleni’s “war on leaks”. The group says it will not allow the project to continue unless community members are given jobs. They also question the criteria used in the tender award won by Makhado Management. For the past four weeks, the contractor has been blocked by the community from entering Extension 4. Metro police have been patrolling, but residents say they will fight the police if they try to defend any “outsiders”. The City says the project is to reduce water wastage by fixing leaks on private properties and ensuring that all properties have functional water meters. According to the City, the project also “seeks to upskill local [business] and labourers, who are appointed and trained by the main contractor to conduct the actual domestic plumbing work”. “The number of the local subcontractors that were to be appointed for Phase 3 was 15. Once the project is complete, it is envisaged that the community of Tsakane will have access to local plumbers that have the skills to conduct quality work in their homes,” the City said in a statement. The City’s media liaison office said that the the contracts were advertised at the Tsakane Customer Care Centre and “shared through Council’s ward structures”. But community c o m m i t t e e representative Bheki Ngobeni said, “Our councillor did not even inform the branch executive committee in our area that the project plans had been finalised. We were surprised to see many people from other wards knocking on our doors during this Covid era, saying they want to check our premises for leakages … We were waiting to submit our CVs and project proposals. No one told us where and how to go about it.” Resident Freddy Malongwe said he has a certificate to work in plumbing but was not given a chance to submit a proposal. Resident Abongile Gxara warned that “if any unknown faces enter this community to repair our toilets, taps and sewers, hell will break loose. It makes no sense for strangers to be employed in the project while us community members are jobless.” “Our community has never been given a chance to get jobs in any of the projects. Millions are being syphoned [off] while cheap labourers from other wards are being employed and cheap material is used to fix our homes. The same
contractor is used every time, which makes us think that someone in the council is benefitting somehow,” said Gxara. Meanwhile, many residents are disappointed by the halt to the project. “We were hoping that everything would be fixed by now. Now that the project is on hold it means we must suffer a while longer,” said Bontlenyana Sauhatse. She has a leaking tap and toilet, and her yard stinks from the seepage. Ward 81 Councillor Makhosazana Glorious Gwayana (ANC) said, “The community is suffering because of these silly fights … I have been receiving calls from people … They want their toilets fixed.” She said metro police called in to monitor the
situation were chased out of the area. Gwayana said the people stopping the project are fellow ANC members with a political objective. “This is an example of party hooliganism whereby members of a political party want to benefit from all projects alone without giving other members of the community a chance. If they are employed in the project the job continues, if they are not employed, they fight. “The people who are fighting me are not ordinary members of the community but are the ANC branch leadership. They have a political agenda. We are going to provincial elections next year and they are trying to score points for
themselves. They expect me to serve them as the ANC because l am from ANC. That is not possible, as a councillor l serve the whole community, not just ANC. The problem is that they are politicising the matter and unfortunately l cannot give them what they want, and l cannot call a big meeting because of Covid-19 regulations,” said Gwayana. She said the project must benefit all the voting districts, with 15 people hired for each. Gwayana said the matter had been escalated to the Mayco Member for water and sanitation. The City of Ekurhuleni said it is aware of the stoppage and seeking legal advice.
15 September 2020
Simmer & Jack Landfill Burns While ANC Ekurhuleni Leadership Fiddles
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Ekurhuleni is dismayed at the latest environmental disaster to strike the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE). A Massive fire broke out in the Simmer & Jack Landfill site in Primrose Germiston on Tuesday 8 September. Landfill fires are of particular concern owing to its degree of difficulty in extinguishing the flames as well as the residue and noxious smog it gives off. The exact cause of this incident still needs to be determined, but the terrain conditions did indicate that the surface area was dry, it was warmer and the working surface was not being compacted as per operating standards recently. It has come to the DA’s attention that the operating contractor has not been paid by the CoE since June, which is shocking and unacceptable. This lead to the breakdown of the site contractor vehicles, which are needed to optimally run the site and to compact the working surface of the landfill. One of the recommended methods from industry experience in fighting a landfill fire is to smother it with layers of covering soil. This option was not immediately available owing to the
working vehicles unavailability, caused by the cash flow restriction. The DA has no confidence that the MMC of Environmental Resources and Waste Management, Cllr. Khosi Mabaso and the Head of Department, Mrs. Faith Mabindisa have the best interest of the Department, City or its residents at heart. This is just the latest in a string of failures under their leadership, which includes the negligence of appointing grasscutting contractors between July 2019 and June 2020. Grass cutting is still not taking place in the majority of the City’s parks and open spaces, which further exacerbates the pollution levels in the City’s dams and wetlands. Furthermore, the CoE is in contravention of environmental air quality legislation and the DA will leave no stone unturned to have this matter investigated and the perpetrators taken to task. This crisis is also not taken as seriously as it should be when HOD Mabindisa’s response to Councillor’s queries is, “the Department has been requested by the MMC to address Councillors through the office of the MMC”. Therefore, meaning that Councillors may no longer get answers to queries directly from officials but through a carefully spin-doctored response from the ANC political office. The DA applauds the Primrose Fire Department for its quick response, but more specialised resources will be needed in haste. DA Ward Councillor, Wendy Morgan, in whose area the landfill site is has escalated her concerns to the City Manager’s Office, and “ we will be closely monitoring the response.” By Cllr Tiaan Kotzé – Member of Environmental Resource & Waste Management Oversight Committee in City of Ekurhuleni
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15 September 2020
Alberton sensei reaching new heights Sensei Laurent Gaston-Bellegarde, head instructor of the Cobras Shotokan Karate club in Alberton, was recently selected to be one of seven independent members of the International Coaches Commission as selected by the Executive Committee of the World Union of Karate-Do Federations (WUKF). WUKF is one of the largest karate federations in the world. Sensei Laurent has 25 years of teaching experience and has earned a 6th Dan Black Belt. He also obtained 9 World Championship medals and has extensive experience in International Coaching, from 8 different Junior and Senior World
Championship events. Sensei Laurent is extremely proud of this selection and he is looking forward to adding his positive contribution to the WUKF Coaches commission. The Cobras Shotokan karate club, established in Alberton in 1996, under the leadership of these instructors continues to go from strength to strength. Operating under strict COVID-19 protocols, the club is back to training and now operating from their new venue, ASCOT MEWS, 19 Heidelberg Ave, Newmarket AH, Alberton. The club looks forward to continuing with their high standards of karate and to welcoming any new members, from 5
years and older. The Cobras Shotokan Karate club train on Monday & Wednesday evenings 17:30 – 18:30 (Beginner classes) and 18:30-19:30
(Advanced Classes). For more information, please contact Sensei Laurent 082 494 2704 or Sensei Nicholas 082 302 8637.