APRIL 2013Municipality Munisipaliteit uMasipala

(Please can you make insert of people picture with their homes? Will explain in email)

If you have space issues with council news, you can leave out the following stories. In order of priority of being dropped:

1. Laptops to Emzini

2. Councillor Williams

3. Coastal clean-up (no picture)

Please give full details of your concern in writing by emailing knysna@knysna.gov.za or send a letter to the Municipal Manager

P.O. Box 21, Knysna, 6570.

ISSUE 411 24 April 2013Page 4 THE EDGE

Knysna Executive Mayor Georlene Wolmarans with Grant in Aid beneficiary Wilf Jonckheere on behalf of Masithandane.

The first year review of the third generation Knysna Integrated Development Planning (IDP) is currently underway, and includes public participation meetings in all ten wards in the Knysna municipal area.Knysna Municipal Manager Lauren Waring said the IDP, which was finalised last year and planned for a five-year period from 2012 to 2017, identified and prioritised needs and projects in each ward. “Every year from now onwards, the IDP will be reviewed to determine the status of the identified projects for the previous year and whether the remaining projects are still relevant and priority. As wards and circumstances are dynamic, new projects may be identified that require more urgent attention than the ones previously identified.”Waring said that residents should realise that the IDP process was linked to the municipality's budget and that capital and operational projects on the IDP were much more likely to become a reality on the ground. “This is why communities should get involved. They should come to meetings prepared with a list of the projects they consider essential to their neighbourhoods' development and list them in the order they would want to see them happen. These needs can then be considered and possibly placed on the IDP projects list.“It is also important that people realise that, for a variety of reasons, not all projects will make it onto the IDP projects list. However, there are other ways to meet some of these needs council's annual ward allocations have this past year assisted communities exactly where the IDP could not.”IDP public participation meetings have been taking place since 15 April. Details for the remaining ward meetings are:

Date

Wed 24 April

Thurs 25 April

Thurs 25 April

Mon 29 April

Tues 30 April

Thurs 2 May

Time

6pm

2pm

6pm

7pm

5pm

2pm

7pm

Ward

5

9

10

2

Councillor

Ms Magda Williams

Ms Michelle Wasserman

Mr Richard Dawson

Ms Louise Hart

Venue

Rheenendal Community HallBuffalo Bay Church Hall

Brenton Hall

Cearn Hall Leisure Island

Council Chambers Clyde Street

Sedgefield Community HallKaratara Community Hall

Areas included in ward

Rheenendal, Eastford, Old Phantom Pass, Bibbyshoek,

Buffalo Bay

Belvidere, Brenton-on-sea, Lake Brenton

Sunridge (Swarthout Street, Alexander Street, Katrina Street and Heatherdale), Pezula, Sparrebosch, The Heads, Hunters Home, Leisure Isle, Thesen Island

Town Central, Knysna Heights, Paradise, High Street, Graham Street, Thesen Hill, Unity Street, Lower Old Place, Bokmakierie Street, Heron Street

Central Sedgefield

Karatara

Many years ago, a small municipal building was used for the laying out of bodies at the Karatara cemetery. In more recent years the practice has changed and the little building had stood empty and unused. Local resident, Mr Zeelie, thought the disused building could be converted into toilets for funeral-goers as no such facilities were available at the cemetery, and he approached Ward 2 councillor Louise Hart with his idea. His timing was perfect as Councillor Hart's ward had just received its ward allocation money.“The project is the perfect example of how the community and the municipality can work together for the advancement of our town and its people. It was wonderful to be involved in a solution that was practical, sustainable and relevant,” said Councillor Hart. Knysna Executive Mayor Georlene Wolmarans officially opened the new toilets at the Karatara cemetery earlier this month. With her is Ward 2 councillor Louise Hart (right) and Ward 1 councillor Irene Grootboom. Picture: Desmond Scholtz

The Knysna Munic ipal i ty appointed Mr Carl Mattheus as Manager Administration. He fills the position previously held by Mr Johan Roux, who retired at the end of last year.Municipal manager Lauren Waring said the municipality was privileged to gain the expertise of Mr Mattheus who has more than three decades of local governance experience. “I am confident that his knowledge will enhance the functioning of our organisation.”Born and raised in Krugersdorp, Mr Mattheus gained his tertiary qualifications at the University of Pretoria and UNISA. His 33-year career, in eight different municipalities, includes more than 18 years at Senior Management level. Before his appointment at the Knysna Municipality, he was the Director Corporate Services at Bitou.

Some wheelchair-bound residents in Karatara have been given more freedom of movement following the building of wheelchair ramps at their homes. Until recently these disabled residents were effectively prisoners in their own homes, as they could not manoeuvre their wheelchairs down the steep stairs of their houses and required the assistance of others to leave their homes. A portion of Knysna Municipality Ward 2 allocation funds have paid for the ramps. Ward 2 Councillor Louise Hart recently visited the homes of these beneficiaries, Mr Pierre Landman (insert below) and Mr Lwayipi Sam (insert left), better known as Oom Sam. Pictured with Councillor Hart in photograph below: Mr Landman's caregiver Eva Wildeman.

Knysna Main Library has temporarily movedThe Knysna Main Library has settled into their temporary premises in Woodmill Walk Centre in Long Street, after their move last month. The well-lit and spacious premises, which once held the Edgars retail store, will house the main library for about ten months while R5-million worth of extensions and upgrades are being made to the Main Street building. The contact telephone numbers for the Main Library in Woodmill Walk are 044 302 6308 and 044 302 3212.

Freedom Day festivitiesCelebrate Freedom Day with the Knysna Municipality on 27 April at the Hornlee Sports Fields from 12pm to 3pm. Join in the fun and festivities which includes live entertainment, drama and poetry, a parade, food stalls and traders, and more. Contact the office of the executive mayor for more information.

View your municipal account online. The municipality has upgraded its online municipal account viewing facility to offer improved access to ratepayers' municipal accounts. This facility will have great benefit for persons who own or manage more than one property, as they can now be linked to the same account login. To access the online account facility, click on the 'Account Login' tab on the Knysna Municipality website

and click 'Register' if you are new to the system. Provide your cellphone number and your ID number to register.

www.knysna.gov.za