Durban – The City announced on Monday that grass cutting and verge maintenance in eThekwini is set to improve following the allocation of R63 million to the Parks Recreation and Culture Unit (PRC).
Municipal spokesperson Lindiwe Khuzwayo said the funds would be used to procure critical equipment such as heavy-duty tractors, trucks, bakkies, and other equipment.
“A total R8.1 million of the funding will be allocated via the Safer Cities budget to augment the PRC budget as approved at the full council meeting held on 15 June 2023. This infusion of funds will supplement the unit’s existing budget for acquiring 28 heavy-duty tractors, 20 trucks, 53 bakkies, and other necessary equipment,” she said.
According to the City, the deployed equipment will be utilised throughout the Municipality to improve the maintenance of cemeteries, parks, pool areas, sports fields, and other operational zones.
In addition Khuzwayo said the council also received a report regarding salary and wage increases for eThekwini employees during the 2023/2024 financial year, effective from 01 July 2023 to 30 June 2024.
“This increase aligns with the agreement reached by Salga, two municipal employees’ unions, and the salary and wage collective agreement dated 15 September 2021,” said Khuzwayo.
The council also approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Warwick Zero Waste Project led by Durban University of Technology; Urban Future Centre; Ground Work; and Asiye eTafuleni.
“The three-year MOU will be a partnership involving the Business Support, Markets, Tourism and Agribusiness; Parks, Recreation and Culture Unit; and the Cleansing and Solid Waste Units for the purpose of creating a zero-waste to landfill case study, focusing on the informal markets in Durban's Warwick Junction, and with the goal of creating an easy to replicate zero waste to landfill case study for large informal markets commonly found in Africa,” said Khuzwayo.