The City of Johannesburg’s Integrated Development Plan (IDP) summit in Roodepoort City Hall marked a pivotal moment for community engagement as residents gathered to shape the future of their wards in Region C.
Region C kicked off City IDP summits with the first one on Saturday, 29 March 2025, with over 1 000 residents joining the session virtually via the City’s social media platforms. Annually, the City conducts IDP summits to involve residents in decision-making processes concerning projects and programmes within their communities.
Under the theme “The People’s Plan – Reimagining the City through the Eyes of the Residents”, the summit emphasized community-driven development and active participation in decision-making.
The event began with vibrant interactions between residents and City officials at exhibition stalls, where pressing service delivery issues were discussed, and City offerings were showcased. The hall quickly filled up as residents voiced their concerns, suggestions, and comments on the draft plans and budget allocations.
Present were Executive Mayor Cllr Dada Morero, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Group Corporate and Shared Services Cllr Loyiso Masuku; for Public Safety Cllr Mgcini Tshwaku; for Group Finance Cllr Margaret Arnolds: and Chief Whip of Council Cllr Sethembiso Zungu.
Chairing the summit was the Speaker of Council Cllr Nobuhle Mthembu, who after introducing the city’s leadership, allowed Mayor Morero to make a presentation.
Cllr Morero announced an unavoidable increase in tariffs, reassuring residents that negotiations had kept the rise as minimal as possible. Importantly, he urged financially struggling residents to register as indigents at regional offices, which would grant them access to reduced or exempted service charges under the Expanded Social Package.
“We’re often surprised when people say they can’t afford services, yet the Expanded Social Package has a low number of applicants. We urge anyone struggling to pay to register as indigents and benefit from these provisions,” Mayor Morero said.
Residents voiced long-standing grievances about housing shortages, poor road infrastructure, community safety, and limited economic opportunities. Stormwater drainage remained a critical issue, especially in flood-prone areas.
Nomsa Mkhize from Ward 50 in Doornkop criticised the city’s lack of monitoring and evaluation, highlighting discrepancies between allocated funds and completed work.
Abigail Sibanyoni from Ward 71 in Princess Informal Settlement expressed frustration over decades of underdevelopment, noting that residents still await RDP houses while surrounded by low-cost housing they don’t qualify for.
Concerns about inadequate stormwater drainage and poorly maintained gravel roads in Bramfisherville, Tshepisong, Ebumnandini, and some parts of Roodepoort CBD echoed throughout the hall.
The mayor assured Bramfisherville residents that 8 000 title deeds would soon be issued but urged them not to sell their RDP houses to foreigners.
He also promised that the long-awaited pedestrian bridge in Ward 129, Dobsonville, Thulani and Doornkop, serving at least three wards including scholars, would receive funding in the current financial year.
On allegations of corruption within JMPD and drug-related issues, Cllr Tshwaku encouraged residents to report criminals with photo or video evidence via his WhatsApp number, 082 060 0057.
Closing the summit, Cllr Mthembu thanked attendees for their active participation, committing to rigorous oversight on the issues raised. “As the Legislature, we are responsible for holding the executive accountable and ensuring that these matters are addressed promptly,” she affirmed.
Written by Thembelihle Radebe