The Member of the Mayoral Committee for Environment and Infrastructure Services in the City of Johannesburg, Cllr Michael Sun, led the A Re Sebetseng serving delivery campaign in Jeppestown on Friday 24 June.
Cllr Sun delivered the keynote address on behalf of the Executive Mayor, Cllr Mpho Phalatse. He was accompanied by MMC for Development Planning Cllr Belinda Echeozonjoku, MMC for Group Corporate & Shares Services Cllr Leah Knott, MMC for Economic Development Cllr Nkuli Mbundu and MMC for Public Safety Cllr David Tembe. They were joined by ward councillors Cllr Themba Mkhize and Cllr Nkosikhona Khanyile.
“Throughout our everyday lives at Pikitup we are teaching our children about separation at source this is to ensure that we reduce the level of refuse that ends up on our landfill sites. The city is fast running out of landfills sites. The small things we do will make sure that our city is clean,” said Cllr Sun
“It is no mistake that we are in in Region F, the decay of the city is well documented and quite an embarrassing blight on our city, which we are working to transform into a City of Golden opportunities. It is up to all of us to play our part in changing the look of the inner city and in protecting our city and our environment,” said Cllr Sun.
The operation focused on wards 61 and 65 and the teams from various entities and departments moved from block to block addressing service delivery challenges. Entities removed illegal dumping sites, disconnected illegal electricity connections and resurfaced of roads. Other interventions included skoffeling, reinstatements, repair of leaking water pipes and valves, inspection of shops, unblocking of drains and more.
Some of the areas visited include Jeppe and George Koch hostels, Kwa Mai Mai informal settlement and the surrounds. Other activities include the provision of healthcare, fire safety education, by-law enforcement, public education and awareness programmes and 1 000 food parcels were distributed to indigent families at Jeppe hostel, Bertha Solomon Multipurpose Centre and Kwa Mai Mai.
More resurfacing, patching of potholes was done along Berea Road and Durban Street. Repairs and maintenance was done in Jules Street between Lamoen and Princess streets. Compliance inspections were also conducted at illegal scrap metal dealers and illegal early childhood centres.
MMC Mbundu said: “The inner city no longer belongs to us, it has been invaded and it is our responsibility to take it back. Our part is to work and create policies and enforce by-laws to ensure that we regulate the space. The inner city is our crown jewel, if we lose the inner city, we lose South Africa. We need to work as a teams to bring cleanliness and renewal in these neighbourhoods.”
A Re Sebetseng encourages communities and residents to take care of their environment through an integrated services delivery approach where the City’s entities and departments join forces to render various services.
Written by Dudu Lushaba
24/06/2022