Residents of Alexandra have asked representatives of the City of Johannesburg to address the challenges of faulty streetlights, dumping, illegal electricity connections, poor service delivery, and poverty in their communities. These were some of the significant issues raised by residents during an Integrated Development Plan (IDP) meeting on Thursday, 18 May 2023, at Marlboro Community Hall. The Speaker of the Council, Cllr Colleen Makhubele, explained that the IDP is a strategic plan developed by the City of Johannesburg to ensure that residents’ needs are being responded to according to the City’s service delivery plan.
“We want to create an enabling environment for residents to participate in improving their quality of life,” said Cllr Makhubele.
Councillor Loyiso Masuku, the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Corporate Shared Services in the City of Johannesburg, who led the presentation in the absence of Executive Mayor, Cllr Kabelo Gwamanda, explained the importance of community participation in the IDP meetings.
“It is important that the community give input into the budget and into various issues such as tariffs and how we plan the city infrastructure development and maintenance,” said Cllr Masuku.
During the discussions session that was facilitated by the Chief Whip of the Council, Cllr Sithembiso Zungu, residents raised frustrations about the poor living conditions particular in Madala and Helen Joseph hostels.
Besides challenges of high level of unemployment, residents raised concerns over defective traffic lights and vandalised graveyard that was invaded by squatters.
Residents also raised concerns about the condition of Vincent Tshabalala Road (formerly known as the London Road). The road is damage and motorists find it difficult to drive there.
In response to the issues, MMC for Development Planning Cllr Eunice Mgcina said the City of Johannesburg will attend to the issues that the community members were raising during the Integrated Development Plan meeting.
“We are also addressing the backlog in paying of the service providers in the City of Johannesburg. We will be responding to these issues that residents are raising here today.”
It was a full house at the community hall and other residents joined the meeting virtually and used the IDP session to address many of the service delivery issues that affecting them in their respective communities. The meeting was also attended by local councillors, ward committee members, and senior officials.
Written by Nkosinathi Nkabinde
19/05/2023