RABIES WARNING   Please ensure that all domestic animals under your care are immunised against Rabies as there are reportings of an outbreak of Rabies in the Empangeni area.  Residents are requested to please take their domestic animals to the SPCA or the local veterinarians for immunisation against this disease.  For further details contact Zilindile Masango at 035-9075676.   Please take note: animals that are behaving strangely must not be approached by the general public.  All dog bite incidents must be reported to the Ngwelezane Hospital or to the local Municipal Clinic.

AIR POLLUTION AND CONTROL TO HAVE NEW CHAMPION   Mr Fred Phillips has served the erstwhile Richards Bay Municipality and subsequently the uMhlathuze Municipality for a number of years as the Director of Community Services and Health.  The Council wishes to express its appreciation to Mr Phillips for the many years of service in this regard.   It was recently agreed between the municipality and Mr Phillips that his talents will in future be used in a different capacity. In view of Mr Phillips’ qualifications relating to chemical engineering he has been requested to head up the section dealing with air pollution. The Council has been unable to find a suitable person to deal with the important issue of air pollution and the control thereof. Mr Phillips is therefore transferred to the position of Special Advisor on Air Pollution and Air Pollution Control with effect from 1 September 2008. In this regard Mr Phillips will ensure that the day-to-day activities of the municipality as it relates to clean air and the limitation of pollutants in our atmosphere is attended to. Mr Phillips’ brief is extended to build and expand this function in order to ensure that the Council moves nearer to its goal of ISO certification.   Businesses and industries operating within the uMhlathuze Municipality area are requested to give Mr Phillips their full cooperation as sustainable development in our area is dependent on the proper control of the atmospheric pollutants that affect us.

UPDATING OF VENDORS DATABASE   Council is in the process of updating its Vendors database.  It is therefore a requirement that all venders who wish to be included in the database are to complete a new Vendors application form ASAP.  The application form may be downloaded from Council's website at www.richemp.org.za (click here for a direct link to Application Form ).   Hard copies of the application form may be obtained from Council’s offices, situated in Richards Bay, Empangeni, eSikhaleni, Ngwelezane, Vulindlela and eNseleni.    Completed documentation is to be either delivered to:  the Stores and Procurement Section, situated at the end of Beta Straal, Alton, Richards Bay  or posted to:  Private Bag X1004, Richards Bay, 3900   before 31 August 2008.

INVITATION TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE uMHLATHUZE TRANSPORT AND TAXI LIAISON FORUM Invitations are hereby invited from interested parties to serve on the above committee.   Nominations of persons/organisations are to be forwarded to the Municipal Manager, Private Bag X1004, Richards Bay, 3900 before 16:00 on 31 August 2008.

MANDLAZINI - PLANNED POWER OUTAGE  The community of Mandlazini is soon to benefit from an upgraded electrical network.  To effect the neccessary upgrading the power supply to Mandlazini shall be cut, with the first cut being on Tuesday, 26 August 2008 from 08:00 - 16:00.  Any inconvenience is regretted but is seen as a necessary upgrade to provide an improved electricity supply to the community. For any queries in this regard, please contact either Pat Wilké (0359075378) or Kobus Herbst (0359075384).

APPEAL FORMS AGAINST VALUATION ROLL The forms to be used should owners wish to appeal against the valuation roll are available for downloading by clicking on the relevant link below: Appeal Form A - DMS 491282 (Residential / Sectional Title Units) Appeal Form B - DMS 491723 (Businesses, Industrial, schools, etc) Appeal Form C - DMS 491736 (Agricultural Holdings)

POWER OUTAGES ENVISAGED TO UPGRADE ELECTRICITY NETWORK FOR CITY The uMhlathuze Municipality is currently constructing a new high voltage substation named Neptune, within the Port of Richards Bay.  The new Neptune substation is being constructed to reinforce the entire electricity network for the city as a whole and will ultimately provide the future electricity needs of the Port. In order to connect this new substation onto the existing network, it is necessary to isolate an entire portion of the high voltage backbone system to undertake the connection in a safe manner. The implications are that the entire areas of Meerensee, Mzingazi, Small Craft Harbour and a portion of the Port, which is supplied by Carina substation located near Small Craft Harbour, will be without electricity once a week for a full day spread over 4 weeks. Full particulars of the times that the power outages will occur are available by clicking here.

SMALL CONTRACTORS TO CHECK NOTICE BOARDS Small contractors are advised that all municipal work under R200 000,00 is advertised on the notice boards at the stores and procurement offices at the end of Betastraal in Alton as well as at the Civic Centre in Richards Bay.  For more information contact (035)9075771.

CITY INTRODUCES ELECTRONIC COMPLAINTS SYSTEM Residents are now able to register street light complaints electronically by calling 035-9075566 or via email to streetlights@richemp.org.za.   The number and email address records the complaints 24 hours a day.

NEW CREDIT CONTROL POLICY A new credit control policy will come into effect from 1 August 2007 and may be viewed by clicking here.

Load shedding information (note there will be no load shedding with effect from 1 May 2008)

24 HOUR PREPAYMENT VENDORS AVAILABLE FOR RESIDENTS The following 24hr prepayment electricity vending outlets are available to all residents: Richards Bay Engen Garage (24 hrs) .......Veldenvlei Shell Garage (24 hrs) .........Bullion Boulevard Empangeni Shell Garage (24 hrs)..........Rex Henderson Street In addition to the 24hr prepayment service, residents can also make use of third party prepayment options at the following venues: Meerensee Spar ..................................LAC Centre Pick ‘n Pay ........................Meerensee Mall Richards Bay Boxer ................................Taxi City, Bullion Boulevard PA Moodley........................Shop 4, Brackenham Supermarket, 14-16 Daisy Leaf Essenwood Spar ................43 Essenwood Way, Arboretum Lakeside Spar ....................Lakeside Mall Pick ‘n Pay ........................Boardwalk Shopping Centre, CBD Shoprite Checkers..............Checkers Centre, CBD Nseleni T.S. Supermarket ..............Nseleni Empangeni Boxer ...............................45 Maxwell Street Boxer ...............................4 Weightman Avenue Pick ‘n Pay .......................Biyela Street Shoprite Checkers..............Sanlam Centre Central Park Spar (Andrews) ..............Central Park  Ngwelezane Mary Liza Supermarket ......Shop a905, Ngwelezane Shopping Centre Esikhawini Intokozo Supermarket........ Lot H1835, Esikhawini Pixies Takeaway ...............H Section Phelindaba Tavern / takeaway ... J Section   Please note that your Pre Payment card must be programmed at the Civic Centre in order to purchase tokens at the above outlets.   Internet vending Customers can purchase electricity on the Internet site www.ipay.co.za where payment is secured by credit card.  The numbers will appear on your computer screen, which can be written down or printed. Customer requirements: • Internet access • A Debit/Credit card with your bank.   Cell phone Vending Customers can purchase electricity on their cell phone after a once off registeration on the Internet site www.ipay.co.za.  The token is delivered via SMS to the registered customer. Customer requirements: • Your own cell phone • A Debit/Credit card with your bank