Hundreds of Region F residents descended on the Brixton Multipurpose Centre to attend the regions Integrated Development Plan (IDP) meeting last night, 12 April 2022.
The Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Cllr Mpho Phalatse, presented the draft IDP, outlining the city’s greatest challenges and strategic direction including outcomes and priorities towards development.
She also spoke about the operating and capital budgets and projects currently being implemented in the region. She was accompanied by her executive committee, who responded to residents’ questions following her presentation.
“Looking at the capital budget for the regions over the next three years, Region F has the highest capital budget in the whole city.
“This budget will be used to attend to some main regional issues that emerged from the CBP sessions and other major projects including the construction of the new Turffontein Clinic, upgrading of John Ware substation in Fordsburg and more.
“The IDP is a contract between the residents and the City and you can use this to monitor how we are using this budget and hold us accountable,” said Mayor Phalatse.
Many residents raised service delivery issues such as high levels of crimes, unemployment, homelessness, lack of housing, lack of maintenance at old age homes, illegal electricity connections, hijacking of buildings, lack of security at recreation centres, and clinics being too small.
Ward 65 resident Bafana Buthelezi said: “Since moving into George Koch 15 years ago, there has never been any project and service delivery is non-existent, there are no street light, crime is very high, potholes are everywhere and water is flowing down the streets.”
He pleaded with the City to formalise informal settlements as this can help reduce illegal connections and the flooding.
The MMC for Health & Social Development, Cllr Ashley Sauls I, acknowledged that some clinics in the inner city have a challenge of space and there are plans to refurbished and increase space in these clinics. The department has also made a formal request for retirement homes to be moved from Housing and be the responsibility of Health and Social Development.
Cllr David Tembe, who is the MMC for Public Safety, told residents that 1 800 JMPD officers have been deployed to the inner city under Operation Buya Mthetho and have been tasked with block patrol to prevent crime, enforce municipal by-laws and traffic regulations.
The teams are working to bring back the rule of law to the inner city, Cllr Tembe said.
Written by Dudu Lushaba
13/04/2022