Ballito
The DOCRRA Finance Subcommittee have just completed their analysis of the KDM 2023 Annual Report in preparation for the upcoming Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) meetings, where DOCRRA will be attending as a registered stakeholder and raising our concerns.
We understand your frustration over the planned electricity interruption at the end of this week, as it affects everyone in a big way! However, for once, this interruption is actually for our good, in the long term.
The 2024 National and Provincial Election is fast approaching – are you ready to have your say?
Although the exact date has not been announced yet, the upcoming 2024 elections will be upon us before we know it – and time is running out to register if you haven’t done so already. Predicted to be set between May and August of 2024, once the election date is announced, registration will CLOSE which is why registering now is more important than ever.
As the year draws to a close, and the pace of work and life slow down, we take time to reflect on the growth and achievement that has occurred over the past twelve months.
The Dolphin Coast Residents and Ratepayers Association (DOCRRA), and the leadership from the civic structure in Ward 8, are delighted to announce that we are collaborating to address ongoing concerns from the residents.
The Dolphin Coast Residents and Ratepayers Association (DOCRRA), and the leadership from the civic structure in Ward 8, are delighted to announce that we are collaborating to address ongoing concerns from the residents.
International Food Week started on Monday the 16th October 2023 and prompted DOCCRA to take stock of its Dolphin Cost Outreach (DCO) program.
Although still primarily a nutritious home cooked soup program, the initiative has expanded substantially.
The KDM Council has approved a debt relief scheme for ratepayers who have accumulated arrears in their rates and services accounts. The scheme provides relief from administration and interest charges accumulating of the outstanding debt.
Following the record attendance of our AGM last month, DOCRRA wishes to thank the Dolphin Coast community for their interest and support of our mission. It was wonderful to see the Pavilion Room at Simbithi Country Club so packed that there was standing room only.
DOCRRA remains well led, DOCRRA is in excellent hands, DOCRRA goes from strength to strength.
Following a detailed study by various members of the DOCRRA committee, we have provided questions, suggestions and observations to KDM.
Following the surprise addition to some 600 households’ KDM bills this month, DOCRRA initiated research into why these households have been allocated a double, backdated charge for refuse removal.
Following the surprise addition to some 600 households’ KDM bills this month, DOCRRA initiated research into why these households have been allocated a double, backdated charge for refuse removal.
Following the surprise addition to some 600 households’ KDM bills this month, DOCRRA initiated research into why these households have been allocated a double, backdated charge for refuse removal.
The continuing effects of load shedding on traffic and congestion, particularly at the large intersections in Ballito, have been an ongoing concern and priority item for the DOCRRA team. The team has had numerous meetings with KDM Metro to discuss pointsmen solutions.
On Thursday, 23 February, DOCRRA Co-Chairman and Finance Subcommittee Chairman, Brian Botes, attended the second meeting of the KDM Council for 2023. At this meeting, the Mayor presented the adjusted budget for 2022/23 which contains updated projections on both income and expenditure for the current financial year.
As was done previously, DOCRRA will group their comments under the Good, Bad and Ugly categories. Read further.
On Thursday, 26 January, the mid-term financial report was tabled before the KwaDukuza Council and subsequently analysed by DOCRRA Vice Chairman and Finance Subcommittee Chairman, Brian Botes.
The Dolphin Coast has again proven itself one of the top coastal destinations in South Africa this festive season thanks to the hard work, planning and diligence of the KwaDukuza Municipality (KDM), SAPS, various private security companies and civil society organisations.
DOCRRA is pleased to be able to provide feedback to the community from our quarterly meeting with the executives at the KwaDukuza Municipality (KDM). The meeting took place on 17 November 2022, as scheduled, and was attended by a delegation of DOCRRA executive committee members as well as the executive directors of nearly all business units, the Speaker, the Municipal Manager and other leadership members.
KwaDukuza Municipality has not responded to the legal letter submitted by DOCRRA, on the nonprocedural sale of Butterfly Park at Townsend Park. To make your voice heard.
Take action now – Save Townsend Park.
As the festive season approaches, and the Dolphin Coast sees an influx of tourists and visitors, there comes the risk of an uptick in criminal activity.
While we are extremely grateful for the extra spenders boosting our local economy, the festive season is challenging for us locals, right? It may be a good time to go and explore the many inland and less popular attractions we have. We are spoilt for choice.
Here are some tips.
As published on social media on 18 November, DOCRRA has met and consulted within our executive committee, as well as with Mr. Jonathan De Wet of De Wet, Leitch, Hands Inc, who has very generously provided his services to the community.
DOCRRA plans to challenge both the validity of the advertisement placed in the North Coast Courier on 11 November 2022 which proposed the sale of a portion of Townsend Park (ERF 517), as well as the resolutions taken by the KwaDukuza Council in February 2019, namely that a portion of the Park be sold to the Zululand Islamic Society and that it be sold for a market value of R3.6 million.
UPDATE, 21 November 2022:
Since the publication of this blog, DOCRRA have consulted with our legal team. Click here for more information..
We have good news to share this September and hope that it will set the tone for improved service delivery moving forward. The DOCRRA team have been out and about to monitor the status of road maintenance, verges and streetlights.
On Friday, 5 August DOCRRA, as a part of the KZN Alliance of Ratepayers Associations, attended an online webinar given by the National Treasury on municipal budgeting.
As part of our continued efforts in relationship-building with key players in our Dolphin Coast area, DOCRRA has been in communication with the senior manager of the Auditor General (AG) who is responsible for both the KwaDukuza and iLembe district municipality audits. The AG is obliged to investigate all matters reported to him/her and respond on such matters.
On 17 August 2022, a delegation of five DOCRRA executive committee members attended a site visit to the Hazelmere Dam; being one of the first organisations to be invited to do so. Representatives from the Department of Water and Sanitation for KZN, Umgeni Water and Groupfive (the project engineers) were all present, as well as the ward councillor for Mahlabathini and the head of site management, Mr. Ernest Ndlovu.
As announced at our 2022 AGM, DOCRRA had secured a dedicated quarterly meeting with the KwaDukuza Municipality to discuss issues and concerns of Dolphin Coast residents and ratepayers.
The team of 5 DOCRRA executive committee members, who attended the KwaDukuza Council meeting on 28 July, were shocked and saddened to witness the chaos and eventual abandonment of the meeting.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING FY 2021-2022
THURSDAY 21 JULY 2022 @ 18H00
TO BE HELD AT SIMBITHI COUNTRY CLUB: THE PAVILION ROOM
The Dolphin Coast and Greater KwaDukuza Community are standing up shoulder to shoulder against the conduct of our KwaDukuza Municipality (KDM).
Despite a legal requirement, as well as platform commitments, the executive of KDM are not engaging and participating with the representative organisations of the community.
There is no better time for you to get involved in active citizenship than NOW!
Ward Committees for Kwadukuza are in the process of being elected and we urge our Dolphin Coast community members to attend and participate in these meetings. This is your chance to have a say in how we are governed!
In just a few days, South Africa will begin its fourth post-democracy census and its first ever digital census, which was postponed from October 2021 due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
DOCRRA would like to wish all our members, partners, and affiliates, a very happy 2022 and is looking forward to another year of working together.
Read about all this, and the DOCRRA activities so far this year, in our current newsletter
As reported in the media, our water service provider Siza Water eventually lost their protracted and multi-facetted court battle when the Constitutional Court considered the appeal on their earlier ruling. The issue is the unilateral increase of over 40% on the water tariff from Umgeni Water and the Ilembe Municipality to Siza a few years ago.
Unfortunately, the KwaDukuza Municipality (KDM) have largely failed to fulfill their obligations and follow prescribed protocol in managing objections to property re-valuations.
Two weeks ago our neighbourhood watches, security companies, and a small army of volunteers got organised and protected the Dolphin Coast community and businesses in an incredible show of unity and strength. But along with an “iron fist”, our community has an incredible heart of compassion for those in need.
The KwaDukuza Municipality (KDM), iLembe District Municipality, KZN COGTA, Greater Ballito Operations Centre (GBOC), iLembe Chamber of Commerce and Ballito UIP held a meeting on Monday, 19 July 2021.
How did the Dolphin Coast successfully come through this week in history?
We are calling upon the community to continue in the spirit of cooperation as we face the challenges ahead. It is now our turn to contribute.
The Docrra committee believes there is a constructive way to influence the proposed rates, taxes and tariff increases suggested by KDM. As the recognised representative
ACTION BY DOCRRA RE: THE DRAFT BUDGET 2020/2021 As announced in the North Coast Courier this week, (https://northcoastcourier.co.za/153151/kdms-draft-budget-will-add-further-burden-on-residents/), the Dolphin Coast Residents and Ratepayers Association