The Doornkop community in Thulani Extension 1, Soweto, saw the spotlight from the City of Joburg shinning on them when the Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Cllr Mpho Phalatse, brought the A Re Sebetseng team to clean up the area recently.
Mayor Phalatse said a budget allocation of over R540 million has been set aside for Region C in this financial year. “I am sure that will certainly bring a change in the next five years.”
She was accompanied by Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Environment and Infrastructure Development Cllr Michael Sun, MMC for Health and Social Cllr Ashley Sauls I, MMC for Public Safety Cllr David Tembe, the Chief Whip of Council Cllr Tyrell Meyers and former Speaker of Council Cllr Vasco da Gama.
Community members were asked to work with the City in keeping their areas clean and to stop dumping. The mayor encouraged residents to plant vegetables for their families to curb the hunger and sell to make money.
“Social Development will assist you with seeds to start your gardens for vegetables and community gardens as we do have such programmes in the City,” said Cllr Phalatse.
“Your councillor in this ward 129, Cllr Phumlile Shange, is asking me for a Buy Back Centre in this area where you can recycle your waste, bottles and plastics for money. Do you want a Buy Back Centre? Will you be happy with it? Will you collect the rubbish to sell? As you agree, you will be solving two problems at a time – making the area clean whilst making money,” said Mayor Phalatse. Mayor urged residents to visit city stalls by Social Development, Housing, City Parks, Pikitup, City Power, Joburg Roads Agency and many other departments and entities present, to get city offerings for vulnerable residents in Joburg. MMC Sun encouraged residents to guard against each other to stop the scourge of dumping and vandalising city’s infrastructure. He said Pikitup, the City’s waste management company, had allocated 200 wheelie bins for Thulani Exension 1.
“Let us stand up and do it ourselves and fix our own township. Without us there would be no development in our area,” said Cleo Moyo, a ward committee member in the area.
Written by Thembelihle Radebe
19/09/2022