As South Africa slowly returns to the new normal, a new kind of risk enabled by the work from home phenomenon is gaining momentum. Cybercrimes are reportedly on the rise in South Africa. The MBDAConversations explored the wonder of navigating the dangers of the digital space on the 4th Webinar on the 23rd of November.

The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s Public Health in collaboration with the Mandela Bay Development Agency held a Food Safety Training for 60 Hawkers at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on the 18th of November.

After the much Covid-19 devasted impairment to the hospitality industry, Exclusive Hospitality in collaboration with the Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA) and the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) held a network session on giving retrenched hospitality staff a second chance at the Tramways Building on the 9th of November.

Ashraf Adam previously served as Deputy Chairperson of the Municipal Demarcation Board and is currently CEO of the Mandela Bay Development Agency. He also serves as a Board member of the SA Cities Network.

From an historical perspective, the outcome of this week’s local government elections is unsurprising because it follows a pattern prevalent in all post-liberation countries. The parties of liberation tend to behave and perform much like South Africa’s has - start with egalitarian promise and end with self-serving elites. In this respect, the decline and growth of political formations offering various forms of Nirvana was to be expected. These too, follow established historical patterns. In other parts of the world, the consequences of decline in electoral support have led to states of emergency, coups, counter coups, and dictatorships. South Africa’s constitutional system, enabled by active and effective civil society institutions, offers protection from such a fate.

The Central Special Ratings Area (SRA) in partnership with the Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA) is encouraging all Central occupants to seize control of the infesting waste management problem in the vicinity. Resources have been dedicated to establishing an effective waste management system, which include a devoted team of law enforcing marshals, two electric Tuks Tuks, and an inclusive education drive that will persuade Central residents, landlords and businesses to put rubbish where it belongs.