Community Services and Public Safety
Mr. Asanda Mandlana
Director: Community Services and Public Safety
The Department of Community Services and Public Safety is responsible for ensuring a safe, healthy, and socially cohesive community through integrated service delivery in waste management, public safety, environmental maintenance, disaster preparedness, social services, and youth development programmes.
The department contributes directly to:
• Community wellbeing and environmental health
• Crime prevention and public safety
• Disaster risk reduction
• Social development and community empowerment
• Public infrastructure maintenance
• Youth empowerment and social inclusion
WASTE MANAGEMENT SERVICES
To ensure effective, sustainable and environmentally responsible waste collection, disposal and recycling services within the municipality.
Key Functions
• Residential and commercial waste collection
• Waste transportation and disposal
• Recycling and waste minimisation programmes
• Illegal dumping monitoring and enforcement
• Community awareness on waste separation and environmental health
Operational Units
• Solid Waste Collection
• Recycling and Environmental Education
• Waste Compliance and Enforcement
Responsibilities
• Scheduling and managing refuse collection routes
• Maintaining landfill compliance with environmental regulations
• Promoting recycling and waste reduction initiatives
• Responding to waste-related complaints
• Supporting public cleanliness campaigns
Key Service Outcomes
• Clean residential and commercial areas
• Reduced illegal dumping
• Improved environmental sustainability
• Increased recycling participation.
PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES
To protect residents, enforce municipal by-laws, manage traffic flow, and ensure public security through integrated safety services.
Subsections:
Traffic Management
Responsible for regulating road safety and traffic flow.
Functions
• Traffic law enforcement
• Road safety campaigns
• Speed control and accident management
• School traffic patrols
• Licensing enforcement
Security Services
Provides protection for municipal infrastructure and facilities.
Functions
• Guarding municipal buildings
• Access control
• CCTV monitoring
• Incident reporting
• Risk prevention
Law Enforcement
Ensures compliance with municipal by-laws.
Functions
• By-law enforcement
• Informal trading regulation
• Illegal dumping enforcement
• Public nuisance control
• Animal control enforcement
Driving Licence Testing Centre (DLTC)
Administers driver licensing services.
Functions
• Learner’s licence testing
• Licence renewals
• Vehicle licence transactions
• Internal staff driver competency testing.
Motor Licensing Bureau (MLB)
Manages vehicle registration and licensing services.
Functions
• Vehicle registration
• Licence disc renewal
• Vehicle ownership transfers.
Control Room
Acts as the central communication and coordination hub.
Functions
• Emergency call handling
• Dispatching traffic, law enforcement, and security personnel
• Monitoring CCTV and incident reports
• Coordinating response to safety incidents
Key Service Outcomes
• Improved public safety
• Reduced crime and by-law violations
• Efficient emergency response coordination
PARKS AND GARDENS
To maintain public open spaces, parks, recreational areas, and municipal landscaping to enhance environmental quality and community wellbeing.
Key Functions
• Maintenance of parks and recreational facilities
• Tree planting and maintenance
• Grass cutting and landscaping
• Beautification of public spaces
• Cemetery maintenance
Operational Units
• Parks Maintenance
• Horticulture Services
• Cemeteries Management
• Urban Greening Projects
Key Service Outcomes
• Attractive and safe public spaces
• Environmental sustainability
• Improved community recreation areas
DISASTER MANAGEMENT AND FIRE SERVICES
To prepare for, prevent, and respond to disasters and emergencies, protecting lives, property, and the environment.
Disaster Management
Functions
• Disaster risk assessment
• Disaster preparedness planning
• Emergency coordination
• Community awareness programmes
• Disaster relief support
Responsibilities
• Disaster management planning
• Inter-agency coordination
• Emergency response strategies
• Early warning systems
Fire Services
Functions
• Fire suppression and fire prevention
• Fire safety inspections
• Hazardous material response
• Public fire safety education
Operational Units
• Fire Services
• Disaster Management
• Control Room
Key Service Outcomes
• Rapid emergency response
• Reduced disaster risks
• Enhanced community safety
SOCIAL SERVICES (MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES)
To promote education, culture, heritage preservation, and access to knowledge resources.
Libraries
Functions
• Public access to books and digital resources
• Literacy programmes
• Educational support programmes
• Study facilities
• Community learning initiatives
Museums
Functions
• Heritage preservation
• Cultural exhibitions
• Educational tours
• Community cultural programmes
• Historical research and documentation
Key Service Outcomes
• Increased literacy and education
• Cultural preservation
• Community engagement in heritage
Youth Development and Special Programmes
To empower young people and vulnerable groups through skills development, social programmes, and community empowerment initiatives.
Key Functions
• Youth leadership programmes
• Skills development initiatives
• Youth employment programmes
• Social cohesion projects
• Gender and disability programmes
• Community outreach programmes
Operational Areas
• Youth empowerment initiatives
• Gender equality programmes
• Disability support initiatives
• Social development campaigns
Key Service Outcomes
• Youth empowerment and participation
• Social inclusion
• Reduced social inequality
CROSS-CUTTING FUNCTIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT
Strategic Planning
• Aligning departmental programmes with municipal Integrated Development Plan (IDP)
Community Engagement
• Public participation programmes
• Stakeholder collaboration
Compliance and Governance
• Municipal legislation compliance
• Risk management
• Performance monitoring
VISION
To ensure the delivery of quality service to all our communities in an efficient and effective manner.
Mission
Working towards developing a happy working environment for everyone.
Strategic Priorities:
• Service Excellence through Batho Pele.
• Effective Implementation of the IDP.
• Working towards the Realization of a Clean Audit.
• Leadership and Accountability.
• Transformation.
• Skills Development.
COMMUNITY SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY CONTACT INFORMATION
Vision
Our Vision is to ensure the delivery of quality service to all our communities in an efficient and effective manner.
Mission
Working towards developing a happy working environment for everyone.
Strategic Priorities:
• Service Excellence through Batho Pele.
• Effective Implementation of the IDP.
• Working towards the Realization of a Clean Audit by 2015/16.
• Leadership and Accountability.
• Transformation.
• Skills Development.
The following Section falls under the Community Services and Public Safety Department:
• Traffic & Law Enforcement.
• Waste Management.
• Parks, Gardens and Environment.
• Social Services (Human Settlement, Libraries, Museums, Arts and Culture).
• Disaster Management/Security.
Report Electricity Faults
To report:-
▪︎ Electricity outages
▪︎ Non-functional streetlights
▪︎ Non-collection of refuse
▪︎ Vehicle accidents
▪︎ Disaster caused by floods, fires, snow or fallen trees
To report:-
▪︎ If electricity in your area is the responsibility of Eskom. Please contact them on 0860 0037 566.
▪︎ If electricity in your area is the responsibility of the Msunduzi Municipality. Please contact them on 033 392 5029 / 080 000 1868.
▪︎ Water and sanitation are the responsibility of uMgungundlovu District Municipality. Please contact them on 0800 864 911 or 033 897 6766.
Report Electricity Faults
Electrical faults in uMngeni Local Municipality are handled by uMgungundlovu District Municipality.
Cnr Dicks & Somme Streets, Howick, Kwa-Zulu Natal.