Port Elizabeth: Nelson Mandela Bay Executive Mayor Benson Fihla Hoists Blue Flags For Humewood And Kings Beach

Port Elizabeth, South Africa - Nelson Mandela Bay Executive Mayor Benson Fihla could not hold back his excitement at the official hoisting of Blue Flags for Humewood and Kings Beach at the Beach Office on Thursday (07 November 2013).

"Our hard work has certainly paid off, as we again hoist the Blue Flag for both Humewood and Kings Beach,” said Executive Mayor Fihla. He said he was pleased to announce to the people of the City and the whole world that the two popular beaches have been certified to be safe healthy and adhere to strict environmental management systems.

The two beaches formed part of a number of beaches across the country that were recently given certificates of Blue Flags Status at an event in Durban. Sport and Recreation Portfolio Chairman, Councillor Magopheni attended the event on behalf of the municipality.

The Blue Flag status covers the summer season from November 2013 to April 2014. It includes adherence to four aspects of coastal management. The areas are, sound environmental management, environmental education initiatives and healthy bathing water quality. Safety and security for beach users is also one of the aspects.

The blue flag programme is currently running in a lot of countries all over the world. The two Blue Flag statuses place Nelson Mandela Bay among the best beaches in the world as the Blue Flag award is the most prestigious international award that could be bestowed on the city’s beaches for meeting the highest standards.

The Executive Mayor said hard work by officials clearly showed that the city can achieve great things. "We need to place this City among the best in the world. Our beaches have a potential of attracting tourists that will create more jobs and boost the economy of the City," said the Executive Mayor.

“Today we have a reason to be proud and to celebrate, it was not an easy road to get here but we are here and have received the blue flag status as the municipality,” EDRS standing committee chairperson Councillor Nomamerika Magopeni said.

Councillor Magopheni also said: “As we hoist the blue flag this year , let us all recommit ourselves to safeguard and enjoy the wonderful asset that is Humewood Beach and all our other beaches this coming summer season and beyond.”

Port Elizabeth: Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality donates bowling equipment to Hoza Golden Club in New Brighton

The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality's Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture Directorate donated bowling equipment and playing attire to the Hoza Golden Age Club. The handover was officiated by the Portfolio Chairperson of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Cllr Nonamerika Magopeni. 

The donation was aimed at the advancement of sport development, particularly among the senior citizens of Nelson Mandela Bay.

Speaking during the hand-over ceremony at Cecil Mkapi Hall in New Brighton, Magopeni said that sport was an excellent vehicle for promoting positive role models; for achieving gender equity; and for developing critical life skills among senior citizens in under-resourced communities. 

She added that donations of sport equipment and playing attire to the elderly would give senior citizens the opportunity to participate and compete in provincial and national bowling competitions.

The Hoza Golden Age Club comprises a group of female senior citizens who engage in different activities such as sewing, knitting, beadwork, crocheting and making pillows. They also do motivational talks in schools and old age homes about healthy lifestyles and fitness. 

Bowling constitutes an exciting new and sporty activity for them. The ladies are trained by bowling coach Ronald Anthony Peterson in Gelvandale. “The ladies understand the game and they are enjoying it,but they still need more training to compete with other clubs,” said the coach.

During the hand-over ceremony, the audience was entertained by the gogo’s singing and dancing. They were called one by one to receive their tracksuits. “We are grateful to the good Samaritans; they are encouraging us to be the flowers of the Metro,” said Jumata Majola, a leader of the Club.

"We are happy we could make a difference in the lives of these senior citizens,” said the Director of Sport and Recreation in the Nelson Mandela Municipality, Charmaine Williams.

To some of the ladies, bowling was something totally new. “I was very fortunate to be taught bowling by the coach in the Club. Before that, I did not even know the sport existed! It keeps me very fit. I’m 76, but people say I look 50,” said Getrude Mzizi.

The coach complimented the 68-year-old Sindiswa Sota, affectionately known as Sindy in the Club, for being very competitive and a quick learner. “I am like a young person all over again,” said Cindy.

The ladies sell their beadwork and knitwear to the public, putting up their stalls during pension time. The Club has a warm heart: the skilled hands of the ladies knitted school jerseys for New Brighton learners; donating 50 jerseys to each school in New Brighton to help underprivileged kids.

Port Elizabeth: Local stuntman wows crowds in front of the Boardwalk Hotel

We don’t always realize how amazing Port Elizabeth South Africa is. Here is an exciting video about a local stuntman showing off his skills and strength during a major local event.

I have been around Port Elizabeth for some time and am always up for a chance to see the city and its people. Here is another video!

Unity in sports is the way forward: Minister of Sports and Recreation, Fikile Mbalula

South Africa’s dream to be a winning nation can never be achieved unless the sporting fraternity unites for a common purpose. Minister of Sports and Recreation, Fikile Mbalula said during an Imbizo that was held in Lillian Ngoyi Sports Centre on Thursday (10 October 2013).

Minister Mbalula was addressing sporting federations, Nelson Mandela Bay political leadership and the community. The Imbizo was part of President Jacob Zuma’s Imbizo Week Engagements by cabinet.

The day visit by Minister Mbalula started in Uitenhage Town Hall where the Minister Mbalula, Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Deputy Executive Mayor Chippa Ngolomba and Sport and Recreation Portfolio Chairman Nomamerika Magopheni held a closed session with leaders of sporting federations.

At that session issues of sport transformation, availability sporting facilities and the condition of sports fields were discussed.

It was followed by an Imbizo session at Lillian Ngoyi Sport Centre in Kwazakhele Township where the leadership had an interactive session with the members of different clubs, sporting codes and general community.

During the interactive session issues of issues of lack of facilities were raised. The Minister and the municipal leadership was also asked to assist sporting federations in mobilising funding.

Minister Mbalula said the visit was not the first and not the last in the Nelson Mandela Bay.

“It is crucial for us to commit ourselves in making sure that sports development in the metro works. The success of the Nelson Mandela Bay will translate to the success of the Eastern Cape as a whole,” said Minister Mbalula.

He said all the efforts that the leadership might do will not work if the sporting community does not unite.

“We need you to unite for government to be able to assist. Sustainable solutions can only be done when we all unite for a common purpose. This is very important for the future of our children who have dreams of becoming world champions one day,” said Minister Mbalula.

The minister said the school sport was another key aspect that needs to be strengthened. “For us to excel we need to do these things right from the start,” he said.

Deputy Executive Mayor Ngcolomba said the visit by the Minister was good for the development of sport in the City.

“We are a City that aspires to be in the map as a City that produces World Champions. The interactions with the Ministry as the political leadership and Nelson Mandela Bay sporting fraternity is a step towards the right direction,” said Deputy Executive Mayor Ngcolomba.

Trading entity verifies government vehicle fleet

The Eastern Cape Provincial Government Fleet Trading Entity in collaboration with Fleet Managers from different provincial departments is currently verifying all government vehicles throughout the province.

The objective of this exercise is to verify existence of the fleet leased to all Provincial Government departments. The entity will also verify the condition of each vehicle. Utilization charged by the entity is based on the kilometers travelled hence the teams will also verify speedometer readings on these vehicles.

The exercise started on 01 October 2013 and is expected to be finished on 11 October 2013. All Provincial Departments are urged to avail vehicles in all verification sites. In order not to hamper service delivery, the Entity has identified Emergency Medical Resource Services (EMRS) offices as verification sites. 

As from the 1^st of February 2012, the Eastern Cape Department of Transport took over the management of the provincial fleet function. A new Trading Entity was established within the department with its own bank account.

The government Garage in East London is the “HUB” of the Entity where all the purchasing, preparing and dispatching of the vehicles is done, while Port Elizabeth and Mthatha act as secondary bases for the entity servicing these two districts. Queenstown, Alliwal North and Mt Ayliff have satellite offices based at the Department of Transport offices to service other departments.

Below is a list of verification sites per district:

District	Sites
Alfred Nzo	Qumbu Soc. Dev.
	Mt Ayliff – DoT offices/Sports field
	EMRS- Mt Ayliff
	Maluti Colleague
	Mt Fletcher – Elundini LSA
	Mt Frere Traffic Station
Amathole	DOT KWT
	EMRS – East London
	Fort Beaufort Training College
	East London Government Garage
	Butterworth College
	Idutywa - Department of Roads & Public Works
Joe Gqabi	Aliwal North - SASSA parking
	Sterkspruit – Bensonvale College
Chris Hani	Komani Hospital
	Queenstown EMRS
	Cradock Traffic Station
	Engcobo Sports field
OR Tambo	Umtata Government Garage
	Umtata - EMRS
	Port St Johns Traffic Station
	Lusikisiki Training College
	Bizana Traffic Station
Cacadu	PE Government Garage
	Humansdorp - EMRS
	EMRS - PE
	Graff - Reinet- Department of Roads & Public Works
	Grahamstown - EMRS
	PE Government Garage
	Port Alfred

President Zuma to celebrate World Teachers Day by re-opening school in Mbizana

President Jacob Zuma will mark World Teachers Day at Redoubt, Mbizana in the Eastern Cape on Saturday, 5 October, where he will open and hand over Ethridge Junior Secondary School to the community.

The school has been built by Anglo American Platinum as part of compliance with the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act’s Social and Labour Plan. The project was facilitated by the Department of Mineral Resources.

Ethridge Junior Secondary School was identified as one of the projects that would contribute towards rural development in one of the labour sending areas in the Eastern Cape. 

Though this project was part of the Social and Labour Plan commitments of Anglo American Platinum and commissioned in November 2011, it has been fast-tracked as part of the efforts to implement the commitments entered into by government and social partners in the High Level Dialogue on the Economy convened and Chaired by President Zuma on October 17, 2012, also known as the Presidential Package for mining towns.

The provision of the school directly responds to commitments in the Presidential Package for the development of a new partnership between social partners for the development of sustainable human settlements in mining towns, labour sending areas and all communities.

The total expenditure of the project is R 45 732 773. 84. The school has state of the art facilities including:

·          18 Class rooms;

·          Sports Ground;

·          Computer Laboratory;

·          Science Laboratory; and

·          Library

·        A Lilliput Sewer Treatment Plant which processes sewerage and releases grey water for irrigation;

·          A borehole and chlorination providing the learners with potable water;

·          A community hall will be constructed as part of the Phase 2 of the project.

Ethridge JSS was established in the nineteenth century by the Anglican Church missionaries. The school had become dilapidated with old infrastructure and a lack of adequate equipment to provide a good enabling learning environment. The newly constructed school will cater for 1000 pupils from Grade R to Grade 9.

The school will be handed over to the Eastern Cape Provincial Government and the community by the President.

Extra Short Documentary Project shot entirely on cellphone

Watch this extra short, 1 minute documentary filmed entirely on a Samsung Omnia Pro B7330 at the Creative Market in Port Elizabeth. No bounds to filmmaking...