2014 Splash Festival Programme released: count down to the biggest beach festival in SA

It is a matter of hours before the start of the three day 2014 Nelson Mandela Bay Splash Festival. The Festival popularly known as the biggest beach festival in South Africa will be held at the Hobie Beach from 18 to 20 April, 2014.

This year's Splash Festival is bigger and better with a number of additions to the programme to accommodate more beach games and family entertainment. Music will remain at the centre of this year's Splash Festival with Pop idols Winner, Musa being the main act for the opening tomorrow, April 18.

Our own Kwaito Artists who have since moved to Gauteng after being signed by a major recording company, Sdudla noMathousand will also entertain the crowds on Saturday. This due has always drawn huge crowds whenever it performs in Nelson Mandela Bay, predominantly youth.

Another major attraction on Saturday will be a spectacular fireworks display that will be done at the peer in Hobie Beach. The Sunday programme will change the gear to a much more mature and laid back feel with the combination of Gospel and Jazz on the menu. Tomorrow's programme starts at 16h00.

Pop Idol Musa could not hold back his excitement when we talked to him about coming to Nelson Mandela Bay. "I am extremely overwhelmed. I have never been to the Eastern Cape and knowing that I’m performing for my Xhosa speaking people makes me very proud. I promise an evening of good soulful music".

Walmer Township born Sdudla said coming back has a special feeling. "These are people who made us to be what we are today; we cannot thank them enough. We just have to give our best, it is really exciting to come back home and entertain people. Remember this is where it all started," said Sdudla. 

The municipality is warning the residents who will be attending the Splash Festival that any illegal activity during this weekend will not be tolerated. Traffic officers, Police and municipality security officers will be out there to monitor and deal with any situation of criminality and lawlessness. There will be zero tolerance on drinking and driving.

Below is the full programme of the 2014 Splash Festival for your reference.

President Jacob Zuma visiting Nelson Mandela Bay next week

President Jacob Zuma will on Tuesday 15 April 2014 undertake an outcomes-based monitoring programme to the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality under the hallmark of ‘Siyahlola’ Presidential Monitoring visit.

The Presidential Monitoring programme provides an opportunity for government to assess progress in service delivery at coalface through the enhancement of sustainable interventions and social partnerships.

The President will lead a delegation of 12 Minister accompanied by Premier, MEC’s and members of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Mayoral Committee.

The visit will be characterized by direct and unmediated engagements with the following fraternities:

a) Intergovernmental structures,

b) Social Partners,

c) Community engagement session in Nangoza Jebe Hall, New Brighton.

Media will be afforded an opportunity to interact with the delegation at Nangoza Jebe Hall.

Joy as New Brighton community inherit early childhood facility and a refurbished school

It is all joy for the community of New Brighton as Honourable MEC Thandiswa Marawu will bestow and officiate transfer of Stephen Mazungula Primary school and refurbished Kama school in New Brighton on the 09 April 2014.

Kama Primary School, built in 1924, is one of the oldest schools in New Brighton. The Department of Roads and Public Works painted the main block outside walls, office block and roofs, donated a prefab and fixed broken toilets.

The two schools were implemented by the Department of Roads and Public Works on behalf of the Department of Education.

The child care facilities at Stephen Mazungula will have outside play facility, swings and sand pit. This will result in the child motor skills being well developed with the use of these facilities. The sand pit will allow a child to draw pictures in sand while others will build a model. Children learn more when they have fun with activities outside the playing ground. Co-ordination will be much better and developed.

The construction of the new child facilities has created a conducive environment for learning and teaching. Learners will no longer be cramped in small houses used as schools, practitioners are now able to display their work on the walls and attend to learners as individuals as required by the curriculum. A safe environment for the little ones have been created as there are lockup gates, own toilets and playgrounds.

The project commenced from the beginning of previous year and completed on the 31st January 2014.The amount of the contract was for R7 233 498.08 for a contract period of 8 months. Twenty Five (25) jobs have been created.

“The country is judged by how it treats its children. As providers of infrastructure for client departments like Education we are happy to provide such facility that will benefit the parents and children of these communities. Our Government is really a caring Government” said the MEC.

Deputy Executive Mayor, Thando Ngcolomba, calls on parents to encourage their children to visit libraries

Young creative minds were put to the test when the Nelson Mandela Bay Main Library hosted a number of children from Ward 5 and surrounding areas for a beadwork and story reading session. 

The session forms part of the school holiday libraries programme the Municipality is running in all the libraries across the city in attempt to keep children occupied, and to encourage reading and visiting libraries and participating in library activities and projects.

The aim was also to create an awareness among parents and children that there are other activities that the library is involved in that can benefit the children and teach them skills out of the formal library book reading programmes. 

Deputy Executive Mayor, Thando Ngcolomba, who is also political custodian for the programme, called on parents to bring their children to the libraries during the school holidays. The Deputy Mayor said that the libraries holiday programme was an important programme on the municipal calender. 

"By embarking on programmes like this we are planting a seed for the future. We have to teach our children to be friends of the library. They need to enjoy books, learn how to read with understanding at a young age and also attain other skills that they can use to sustain themselves in the future," stated Deputy Mayor Ngcolomba. 

He added: "These programmes will be on the Municipality's priority list. Empowering children is building a solid foundation for future generations and a better Nelson Mandela Bay".

More activities will be hosted in different libraries across the city until the end of the school holidays. Parents can visit the municipal website for a more detailed programme, with dates of the activities happening. 

Nyandeni Local Municipality logo - probably the ugliest ever!

Nyandeni Local Municipality, a small local authority in the OR Tambo District, probably has the ugliest and most uncreative logo of all municipalities in the Eastern Cape or in the entire South Africa.

It boggles the mind of the viewer. Did the municipality actually pay someone to do this logo or was it quickly scribbled over a council meeting break? Or did they outsource the job to someone or any agency – of which I am sure this could qualify as fruitless expenditure?

No doubt, the logo shows the hand behind it never knew what they were doing.

Perhaps this particular council could forgo muffins, sandwiches and coffee over one council meeting and use the saved monies to hire a professional graphic designer or illustrator.

NB: the two women carrying firewood need to go! Tells me either there is no electricity in the municipal area or they refuse to move forward.