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Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality said Executive Mayor Gary van Niekerk held cordial talks with the local Business Chamber following “exhausting walkabouts in wards 31 and 37 to identify and address service delivery concerns of the residents.”
In a statement following Tuesday’s meeting, the Metro said the aim was to “re-assure this crucial stakeholder grouping that despite the change at the helm of City Hall, the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality remains focused on working hand-in-glove with business to build a prosperous Nelson Mandela Bay.”
“I am here to engage with you and to listen to your concerns as the devastating impact of load shedding is evident in our city. Residents are working short time and must put in overtime, if possible, to equal their pay before the electricity crisis,” Van Niekerk said.
“We need to work with you to ensure that we provide solutions in order for residents to work without too many disruptions due to electricity shortages,” he added.
“I spent the majority of the last two days out of City Hall to address community concerns in Motherwell, Missionvale, Bloemendal and resolved the non-payment of Libhongulethu Bus Service staff, for the last two months, as my commitment is to lead a pro-poor administration.”
“This also includes contributing to a conducive environment for workers to earn their wages without disruptions. We must therefore improve your electricity availability to enable targets to be met and production to be as seamless as possible,” the Executive Mayor said.
NMB Chamber CEO, Denise van Huyssteen, said the chamber welcomed the opportunity to meet the Executive Mayor and to “discuss the issues of concern to business, and more importantly potential solutions to the various economic challenges facing the Metro.”
“We were all aligned on the need to continue to strengthen collaboration between local government and business in order to retain much needed investment and jobs in Nelson Mandela Bay,” she added.
