By Heinz de Boer

Within City Hall, Durban's 200 councillors, the mayor and city manager had gathered to discuss critical municipal matters.

But that did not stop a delegation of stubborn metro police officers from trying to fine almost each of the city's councillors, who had parked along pavements and public walkways.

There was a minor stand-off between the police officers and a group of irate councillors, who hastily abandoned their agendas and rushed to the front of City Hall where police had gathered.

Poised with their fine books, the officers came in for a verbal barrage from the gathered city officials, who wasted no time in contacting Metro Police head Eugene Nzama for relief.

Initially unwilling to listen to pleas of City Hall security staff who, arms raised, rushed toward them, red-faced police were soon ordered to stand down and instead concentrate their efforts on nearby taxis.

Councillors could not, however, escape Speaker James Nxumalo, who grilled the elected officials for gorging on free snacks rather than taking their seats by the 10am start.

Among the most noteworthy items debated and ultimately adopted on the agenda, was the R150 million uShaka Marine Park bail out, and a collective R126 million allocation for new electricity substations, to be built in the Randles Road and Springfield regions.

But it was uShaka which again dominated the debate.

Simply speaking, council has authorised its treasury department to pay off uShaka's loan debt in return for "an equivalent amount of equity".

Council also approved a R19 million annual grant to the SA Association of Marine Biological Research.

Although initially opposed to the bail out, the DA supported the bail out plan but said it would rather see the entire park being purchased by a private investor in future.

• This article was originally published on page 5 of Daily News on August 31, 2007