FEATURES and NEWSPage 2 18 February – 3 March 2011

ABOUT USThe eZasegagasini Metro is theofficial eThekwini Municipalitypublication through whichratepayers and residents areinformed of news andperspectives in greater Durban.It is a forum for readers’ viewsand is published fortnightly on aFriday, with 400 000 copiesdistributed. To contact us:eZasegagasini Metro, PO Box5588, Durban, 4000 Newsroom: 031 311 4813/14/15/16 Fax: 031 332 8051Reception: 031 311 4827nselem@durban.gov.za

Editor: Ntsiki MagwazaNews Editor: Mandla NseleContent co-ordinator: MackMakhathiniSub-editors: Matthew Hattingh,Alan CooperWriters: Nondu Ngcongo,Romita Hanuman, ThembaKhumalo, Sane Shandu,Themba Nyathikazi, SohanaSingh, Khaya Sengani, GuguMdlalose, S’celo Khuzwayo,Zibuse Ndlovu, Jabulani Msweli,Vuyolwethu Gwala, Priah DassPhotographer: Jessie SinghTranslations: ThembaNyathikazi, Zibuse Ndlovu, MackMakhathini, Themba Khumalo,Nondu Ngcongo, S’celoKhuzwayoGraphics: Amith Sewparsad,Zama Zwane, Zakhe Ntshingila

STAFFO

nce every fiveyears Councillorsare elected by thepeople they aremeant to serve. In

South Africa most peoplevote for a party as well as aWard Councillor to representtheir interests at local level.

In a metropolitanmunicipal election, eachvoter receives a ballot paperfor their ward with the namesof the ward candidates. Theperson receiving most votesin a ward will win that seat.

Ward candidates may standas representatives of partiesor as independents.

Each voter will also receivea ballot paper where they canvote for a political party. Thisis the proportionalrepresentation ballot (PR).The parties will then be givenseats according to thepercentage of votes theyreceived in the metropolitanarea as a whole.

Each party has a list ofcandidates and the PRCouncillors are drawn fromthis list.

Metro councils may also setup sub-councils to servedifferent parts of theirmunicipality. Sub-councilsare not elected directly byvoters.

Existing councillors areallocated to serve on eachsub-council.

Here’s what a few youngeThekwini residents feel

about the process...Dale Kinloch (23)Glenmore

Voting is important becauseeveryone should have a sayon who runs the country,because that is whatdemocracy is all about.

Which is why I am voting inthe elections. I feel that thosewho do not vote should notcomplain.

Lyndi Wolhutter (23)Musgrave

It is very important to vote,especially for young people.

If we look at history, thelikes of Hitler used youngpeople to change the courseof history.

We are where we are todaybecause of young people’scontribution so we too cancontribute to change. I’mvoting in the upcoming localgovernment election becauseit is a positive thing to do

Bona Ndlovu (21)Inanda Newtown A

A lot of opportunities havebeen opened for youngpeople all of this is because ofdemocracy.

To protect that democracywe have to vote. So to mevoting is important, it isabout exercising my right andshowing that I’m part ofSouth Africa.

As young people we shouldmake use of this opportunityto elect leaders who we

believe are going to look afterthe interest of young people.

Thami ‘EXT’ Mlanduli (26)Umlazi (Inanda FM Hip-staticDJ)

I have already checked mystatus on the voters’ roll andfound that my name is there.

Voting is about voicing ouropinion as young people. It isabout protecting my rightand continuing with thestruggle. We need to continuewhere the youth of 1976started. In this day and agewe are in a different struggle,that of ensuring that youngpeople are employed afterfinishing their studies frominstitutions of highereducation.

Sonneyboy Makhanya (27)KwaMashu

We have seen a lot ofchanges and all of that isbecause people voted. So yes,

voting is important. Voting is a right that we

need to protect at all cost asyoung people and to do so weneed to vote. For us to seeservice delivery and to be ledby capable people we have tovote.

A lot of young people diedso that today we could be freeto make our choices andvoice our concerns and theonly way to do that is to vote.

Joel Burton (22)Overport

As a journalist I think votingis important, however I willnot vote for personal reasons.But I think people shouldvote.

Ayesha Imandin (19) Morningside

Yes it is very importantbecause it determines ourfuture, not only our future,but also that of our children.

We have to vote so we canprotect our rights and have avoice as to who governs ourcountry. Young people haveto vote to ensure the countryhas a better future.

Zamile Thala (28)Scottburgh

Most of the time we findourselves complaining andcriticising the Government,but we never asked ourselveswhy.

By voting I excise my rightas a young South African toelect a person whom I believeand trust will act in theinterest of the people.

Most importantly, I will bechoosing the person who willbe responsible for the futureof this country. Voting did notcome easily: many lost theirlives so that we could be freeto air our views, so we shouldvote to continue the struggle.

khumalotk@durban.gov.za

Voting: why it’s importantWith South Africa gearing up for itsthird local government elections,Themba Khumalo took to thestreets to find out what votingmeans to young people of Durban

Dale Kinloch

Lyndi Wolhutter Thami Mlanduli Joel Burton Zamile Thala

Bona Ndlovu Sonneyboy Makhanya Ayesha Imandin

SAMKELO MTSHALI

THE Health Unit has vowedto clamp down onrestaurants and pubs that donot adhere to smoking lawsafter several complaints fromthe public.

The Acting Head ofEnvironmental Services, Siva

Chetty, said the Health Unithad a duty to protect thehealth of communities interms of the TobaccoProducts ControlAmendment Act, 1999.

“The Health Unit monitorspremises on an ongoingbasis to ensure the Act is fullyimplemented.

“It states that an employer,owner, licensee, lessee orperson in control of a publicplace may provide adesignated smoking areathat does not exceed 25% ofthe floor area of that publicplace,” Chetty said.

Environmental HealthServices Manager Renuka

Lutchminayaran said a teamincluding officials from theHealth Unit, Town PlanningEnforcement Unit, BusinessLicence Department, Fireand Emergency Services andMetro Police regularly visitedrestaurants, pubs andnightclubs to ensure theycomplied with the Act and

the requirements laid downby the relevant departments.

In a recent case, theEnvironmental HealthDepartment served notice ona premises due to a breach ofthe Tobacco Act andresponded to three noise-related complaints.

mtshalisam@durban.gov.za

Pubs, restaurants to feel heat over smoking laws

THEMBA KHUMALO

Are you registered to vote? To check where you are

registered to vote:• Call the Independent

Electoral Commission (IEC)on 0800 118 000 from 8am to5pm;

• SMS your ID number to32810 or

• Visit www.elections.org.za

How to register to vote To vote in elections, you

must register as a voter. Youonly have to register once,unless you move or yourvoting district changes. To beable to register you must:

• Be a South African citizen;• Be at least 16 years old;

and• Have a green, bar-coded

identity document.

When can you register?You can register at any time,

but to vote in a specificelection, you must registerbefore the election date isproclaimed by the President.

The voters’ roll for a specificelection closes at 5pm on theday of proclamation.

Contact your MunicipalElectoral Office, at 75 DrLangalibalele Dube (Winder)Street, or call 031 334 9600,for details.

Where can I register?Register during the

registration weekend, on 5and 6 March, at the votingstation in your district.

Use the IEC’s online votingstation finder to get a map ofyour voting station.

You can also register at yourlocal Municipal Electoral

Office during office hours.

What must I bring?You need to register in

person. Bring your:• South African, green, bar-

coded ID book; or • Valid Temporary Identity

Certificate if you don’t havean ID book

Registration: step by step1 Go to the voting station or

Municipal Electoral Office.2 Fill in an Application for

Registration as a Voter form.3 Your ID book is scanned.4 A bar-coded sticker is

pasted in your ID book.• For more information on

registering to vote andelection related queries, visityour nearest Sizakala Centre.

khumalotk@durban.gov.zaSource: www.elections.org.za

Voter registration: all you need to knowWAY TO GO:Directions tothe voterregistrationcentre atOhlange –the placewhere NelsonMandela casthis vote in thecountry’s firstdemocraticelections in1994

Picture:THEMBA

KHUMALO

METRO REPORTER

DON’T be alarmed if you seemen storming the City Hallamid the apparent rattle ofgunfire from tomorrow untilThursday. Tensions within theMunicipality have not in factescalated into armed conflict– it’s all make-believe for afeature film that’s being shotin Durban.

At the time of going to pressfinal approval was stillpending from Municipalofficials, but according to thefilmmakers, the City Hall willbe filmed as an “opulent”hotel in Delhi, India, which is“hijacked” by a terroristgroup and a hostage dramaensues. “Special forces arethen called in to assist infreeing the hostages.”

Filming will mostly takeplace at night, but for thewhole period there will belimited access to the front ofthe City Hall and ChurchWalk will be closed.

The sound effects from thegunfire (blanks will be used)are expected to a reach about145 decibels and the City Hallwill be lit by lighting rigs, butthese will not shine directlyinto oncoming traffic.

The filming will require thereservation of much nearbyparking space and sections ofAnton Lembede and DrPixley kaSeme streets will beclosed from time to time anddiverted. This will mainlyhappen in the evenings, thefilmmakers said.

For more details, contactthe Durban Film Office at031 311 4243.

Brace fordrama atCity Hall