Countdown on 2016 Local Government Elections

South Africans have less than a few days before they can go to the polls to elect the municipal representatives of their choice in their voting districts.

Come 3 August, all eligible voters will make their way to cast their votes at more than 22 000 voting stations across South Africa.

The Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) said a total of 26 333 353 have registered to vote for the upcoming Local Government Elections.

“The commission has also received over 285 000 applications for special votes. “Of these, approximately 30% are for home visits,” said the IEC.

Ballot papers

The commission said there are a total of 4 649 unique ballot papers for the 2016 Local Government Elections. This comprises 4 392 ward ballot papers, 205 local council Proportional Representation (PR) ballot papers, 8 metro council PR ballot papers, and 44 district council ballot papers.

“Voters in metros will complete two ballot papers and voters in all other municipalities will complete three ballot papers.

“The Electoral Commission is currently printing approximately 73.9 million copies of ballot papers to ensure sufficient ballots for all voters,” it said.

Home Affairs working hours

The Department of Home affairs has also urged all citizens to ensure they have valid identity documents to enable them to vote. The department’s working hours have been extended ahead of the elections across the country.

The new working hours across the country are: 
Saturday, 30 July 2016 – 08h30 to 17h00
Monday, 1 August 2016 – 08h30 to 18h00
Tuesday, 2 August 2016 – 08h30 to 18h00
Wednesday, 3 August 2016 – 07h00 to 19h00

This will allow citizens to collect their green barcoded ID books, smart ID cards or temporary ID certificates.

The total of all uncollected identity documents, according to the department stands at 282 300.

 

Last Week on July 21 ,Meridian Cosmo City initiated a street store COSMO CITY – Scores of residents visited the street store

Lusanda Mtembu (Grade 6 pupil) Maki Mtembu, PA at Meridian Cosmo City and Thando Dubase (Grade 3 pupil) at the street store.
Meridian Cosmo City, an independent school managed by Curro Holdings, initiated a street store to assist the needy.

The store is a rent-free, premises-free, pop-up clothing store for the homeless, found entirely on the street and stocked by donations.

Grade 10 and 11 pupils spent their final day of school holidays celebrating Mandela Day by helping residents to select suitable items. The day began with curious Cosmo City community members gathering at the school grounds.

Original street store co-founder, Kayli Levitan, opened the store and commented that this was the largest street store that she had ever attended – both in turnout and in the number of donations collected.

This charity initiative was part of a life orientation project which pupils spent the past few months planning to coincide with Mandela Day.


It is based on the notion that those in need can shop at the street store for suitable clothing items – at no cost.

“A number of Curro schools collaborated on this project, with Meridian Cosmo City being selected to host the event in order to meet the needs of the greater community. Our pupils have embraced this initiative as a way to give back,” said Judy Wearne, Meridian Cosmo City street store co-ordinator and operational head at Curro Castle Waterfall.

The pre-established street store initiative won favour with pupils as they felt it was a concept that holds the same ethos as that of their school. “It is the perfect initiative to help us celebrate Madiba’s attitude towards charity while respecting fellow community members,” said Shawn Anza, Grade 11 pupil.

“We are thrilled that such an initiative has made its way to Cosmo City. We love that people from so many different backgrounds give back in their own way,” Levitan proudly said.

Details: Meridian Cosmo City, 087 285 4690.

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Open – plan living area
Kitchen
Bedrooms all BIC
Full bathrooms main en-suite, all tilled
Carport plus extra paved parking area
Garden
Fully walled (perimeter)
Prepaid Electricity and Water 

Close to all amenities: Meridian school, Cosmo City Malls, Clinics, Multi-Purpose Sports Centre and easy access to Malibongwe drive

Property Details

Type of Property

House

Erf Size

296 m²

Floor Size

90 m²

Listing Date

21 July 2016

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Rooms

Bedroom

3

Bathroom

2

Reception Rooms

1

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Location

17 St Lucia Street

Contact Number

083 389 3688

011 431 0804

*BOND HOUSE* 3 Bedroom House for Sale in Cosmo City Cosmo City, Randburg

Renovated family home in ext 0!

3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom home with kitchen (and bedrooms) with full cupboards. lounge has sliding doors leading to double automated garage. Ground (297sqm) has been paved with a pretty garden. Burglar bars and doors throughout. Home is walled with electric fence and intercom system from automated gate to mobile numbers (2). Air-conditioning in main bedroom.

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Property Details

Type of Property

House

Erf Size

297 m²

Listing Date

19 July 2016

Contact Number

• 073 599 4858
• 011 783 1334

Bond Costs

R 7 518 p/m

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Interest rate:

10.5%

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Period:

20 years

Chesanyama - Cosmo Mall Promo July 2016

@ Chesanyama (Cosmo Mall)

Come through today or any other day in July 2016 & WIN! R150 Chesanyama vouchers every week! Purchase any of our burgers or specials and stand in line to WIN R150 Chesanyama Vouchers weekly!

Cosmo Repos soared to more than 190 houses during recession

Cosmo City of Tenants

The investigation into the repossession of houses in Cosmo City has uncovered a massive 188 houses that were said to have been unceremoniously repossessed and auctioned at the Krugersdorp’s Sheriff. The turmoil that was happening in the economy was never considered by the banks and the human aspect was seemingly disregarded in the manner these repossessions were being conducted. This is in sharp contrast with what the banks say about how they use/see repossessions as the last resort. In earlier reports this paper reported that all four banks say repossession is the last resort after all avenues to assist their distressed clients have been exhausted. In the many instances of the 188 house repos discovered so far, (tip of the iceberg) it appears houses were fast tracked to the Sheriff’s office for auction apparently to a few well connected bidders styled “Investors”. Some such investors are said to own up to 30 or sixty houses each, fast turning Cosmo City into a place of tenants.

The complaints coming out of the investigation are being compiled for further investigation. One old lady (in her 60s) had her house repossessed without her being fully aware that her house was being taken away from her. She even eventually went to the auction to try and buy her house back only to be told that her house had been sold the night before. The old lady’s belongings were eventually thrown in to the street in a humiliating eviction. In other cases, due to varying circumstances, victims would be paying amounts less than the prescribed instalments but still would lose their homes. In the other cases, seemingly the majority, victims would be refused to make payment arrangements but instead were asked to either pay the whole 3 months arrears or an increased instalment for them to serve their homes from being repossessed. We have also heard complaints of files being reconstructed after not being found in the courts registry, and complaints of court documents/writs which signed off homes to auctions without officials (judges) even seeing the victims.

In a recent article written by the African News Agency, the secretary general of the SACP Blade Nzimande raised his organisation’s concerns about house repossessions saying “It was estimated that around 10 000 homes a year were being repossessed by the banks. This level of eviction can only be comparable to apartheid-era group areas removals. The homes are then sold at auction, very often at a fraction of their market value. The worst case scenario involved a house sold at R10, and a house taken away for nothing but corruption involving the concoction of title deeds; the owner was dispossessed and jailed for a while. All this is inhuman,” Nzimande said at the launch of the SACP’s Red October campaign.
“The SACP would raise with the National Treasury the whole processes relating to bank repossession of people’s houses with a view to instituting an investigation. The SACP is calling for corrective regulatory and legislative steps to build a humane system of handling these matters in a way that puts people first.” Nzimande concluded by saying the “The SACP would also ask Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng to institute an investigation into the whole process of authorisation of house repossessions.
Cosmo City, as a case in point, has raised this matter with various institutions, including the Department of Justice. The investigation will soon be handed over to experts. We are worried by the silence from the Sheriffs’ Board who did not bother to respond to critical questions since February this. A new Sheriffs’ board of directors was appointed in March this year by the Minister of Justice Michael Masuta. “In line with the Department of Justice’s commitment to transform the sheriff’s industry, Minister Michael Masutha has appointed 11 members to serve on the newly constituted South African Board of Sheriffs.

In terms of the Sheriffs Act (Act 90 of 1986), the Minister is responsible for the appointment of sheriffs, as well as the appointment of the chairperson of the board. “The board comprises six male and five female members from various provinces in the country,” Department spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga said then.

There is one major question which we asked the Sheriff and she refused to answer “ How many Cosmo houses were sold in execution at that office” to date we have not received an answer. The institions which should be shedding light to this matter are shutting their doors as if they are hiding something – that is what makes want to see whats inside.

Cosmo City Housing

The appointed government has been able to make such a difference in Cosmo City: The City of Joburg, The British Council, eBucks, Accor, Grant Park, Helen Suzman, House & Home, Mavromac, Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy, Riso Africa, South African Breweries, Studio Bela, Noam Perski and Nashua Mobile, as well as many individual sponsors.

To date 34000 have been planted for 20000 residents of this mixed housing settlement. There are good relations with this community and is welcomed by them.

Covering an area of 1150 hectares, Cosmo City is being built on large wetlands with two pristine perennial spruits that run through the site. With several dolomite outcrops, the area is home to a large variety of indigenous tree species (17 in all) and 41 flora species. The area further includes vast highveld grasslands -some of the most threatened biomes on the planet- densely populated by a wide selection of bird life. 

It is thus vital to protect this environment and for residents to be aware of the importance of this. Beneficiaries have already begun renovating their homes while major construction activities are taking place and the area needs to be greened. Thanks to all who are making a difference in this community.