The City of Joburg’s Region C had IDP meeting on Saturday in the City Town Hall in Roodepoort.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Public Safety Cllr Mally Mokoena made a citywide presentation followed by Phindile Lakaje, who made a regional presentation on behalf of the Regional Director, Mlamleli Bellot who could not attend.
“The region has started with 120 days as per the mayoral city-wide project and continue with the high impact service delivery operations such as law enforcement, outreach programmes where the region form partnerships with different stakeholders such as schools, youth programmes, informal traders etc,” said Lakaje.
Regional stakeholders represented wards such as ward 44, 49, 50, 70, 71, 83, 84, 89,100, 114, 127, 129, 134. The stakeholders raised lots of concerns, which were mainly housing allocation with title deeds, requests for clinics, illegal water and power connections, crime, the inclusion of residents to work in the projects happening in their areas and for SMMEs to get pieces of the pie in these projects.
“We have vagrants around CR Swart Avenue in ward 83 for some time now and we need JMPD to intervene. Again, as residents in the area, we see projects going on but we are not invited or informed,” said Lungile Mokwala.
In ward 100, Nomsa Nkosi pleaded with the City to build them a clinic which they have been waiting for, for over 16 years. She also mentioned the crime being rife and increasing by the day as their ward gets affected by illegal power connections resulting in very dark nights causing crime.
In Zandspruit Ward 114, Tebogo Manyela on behalf of the community asked for a community hall. They have an issue with the incompletion of electrified stands. The wait has been over a year now. “JRA has left one of the main roads unfinished for a long time as well. We feel the development is coming very slow to us,” he said.
A City Power representative mentioned wards like 134 where the network has been vandalised and the cables were stolen. He said they have started working underground now as they always work forward and backwards as cables get stolen now and again. Matholesville electricity is overloaded with illegal connections happening and the community is using electricity excessively over and above.
In closing, MMC Mokoena assured residents that the City has intentions in addressing housing delivery with title deeds in informal settlements. Issue of public amenities is also included.
“On SMME’s, on behalf of the City I want to encourage all skilled residents, especially youth to form co-operatives so that they can be able to access business in the City,” said Cllr Mokoena.
The mayor in his State of the City Address mentioned that he has established a youth directorate to be housed in his office so as to address youth developmental issues.
People can also go to Opportunity Centres situated in all City Regions where they provide walk-in assistance, i.e. being supported to acquire business requirements.
“I am also informed by the Regional Commander here that through their outreach programme, a session/ educational programme has been scheduled to train informal traders on by-laws so they are aware of areas allowed for trading so as to prevent their stock getting confiscated for violation of by-laws,” said Cllr Mokoena.
Region C was the last on the list of the City’s Regions IDP sessions. The last day for IDP comments was also on Saturday 8 May 2021 at midnight.