An imbizos kicked off in Alexandra on Tuesday, 18 March 2025, organised by Region E’s Citizen Relationship and Urban Management (CRUM) to address pressing concerns around by-law enforcement and service delivery.
Ward 105 Councillor Tefo Raphadu highlighted the frustrations of residents, who feel their complaints often go unanswered. “The community keeps reporting issues, yet they don’t see action. Many reference numbers have been logged with the City, but there’s little to no follow-up.”
The imbizo serves as a platform to strengthen collaboration between the City of Johannesburg and residents. Raphadu emphasised the need to first educate the community on by-laws while fostering a cooperative approach to addressing issues.
“This meeting is about joining hands with the community. We want to ensure residents understand the by-laws and gain their buy-in when it comes to reporting issues effectively. This will help us create time and space to address the challenges they’re raising.”
One of the major concerns raised is the proliferation of illegal structures in Alexandra. Raphadu said unauthorised construction is happening almost every hour, exacerbating existing service delivery challenges.
“People are continuously building and violating by-laws. The migration crisis in the inner city is spilling over into Alex, with people moving from the inner city and setting up illegal structures wherever they can find space,” he explained.
He expressed hope that the issues raised at the imbizo would be addressed and that residents would see tangible solutions. If these concerns are attended to, it will be highly appreciated by the community.”
Community leaders and organisations also weighed in on related issues, particularly crime and illegal electricity connections.
Moeketsi Tshawuke from the Alex Movers & Shakers NPO pointed to the role of young people in cable theft and tampering with electricity meters. “Youth involvement in cable theft and illegal electricity connections is a serious issue, and we need urgent intervention.”
Ward 116 Councillor and Chair of Chairs in the City of Johannesburg Cllr Vhonani Adolphus Marema urged residents to report illegal connections and work with the municipality to find sustainable service delivery solutions.
“The City is working closely with City Power and Joburg Water to strengthen enforcement and hold those involved in illegal connections accountable. However, we also acknowledge the need to provide communities with proper access to essential services,” said Marema.
The imbizo was facilitated by the City of Johannesburg’s Environmental and Infrastructure Services Department, Joburg Water, City Power and Pikitup. It marks an important step in engaging with residents and addressing service delivery challenges through a collaborative, solution-driven approach.
Written by Zingiswa Mndayi