28-03-2013: Time to say your say, Joburg residents
The City of Johannesburg is embarking on an extensive process of consultation during which residents and stakeholders will be able to influence the city’s budget and development priorities for the coming year.
This process will culminate in the annual State of the City Address to be delivered by the Executive Mayor, Clr Mpho Parks Tau, in early May. The Executive Mayor’s speech will provide the framework and determine the direction of the city for the 2013/2014 financial year.
The consultation is preceding the State of the City Address by the Executive Mayor which will be followed by the City’s Budget Day.
City’s leadership will be engaging and listening to all the voices in the City, consider input from communities and stakeholders to incorporate into a future vision.
A similar approach worked well in 2011 during the drafting of the City’s long-term strategy – the 2040 Growth and Development Strategy. The consultation process was comprehensive and spread city-wide.
Many who attended said they had a real sense of ownership about the content and this provided them with a greater understanding about what the City intended to achieve.
While the 2040 GDS sets out the long-term for Johannesburg over a 30 year period, the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) maps out immediate priorities and required actions for the next five years.
During the month of April the Executive Mayor, the Speaker of Council, senior city leadership and elected councillors will hold a series of engagements in all seven regions to discuss the content of the IDP with residents and stakeholders.
“This is an opportunity for the people of Johannesburg to have a direct say in determining priorities within their own wards and living areas,” says Connie Bapela, Speaker of the City. “Through this process, we are strengthening citizen-participation in the decision-making process.”
The City is committed to improve lives of residents by engaging and listening to what residents say. It is out of such discussions the City has been able to provide up to 10kilo litres of free water and up to 150kilo watt/hour of free electricity, as well as provide meaningful concessions to pensioners through property rebates and give relieve community benefits to the poor, the infirm and unemployed who register for such service.
Meanwhile, Mayor Tau is to deliver the State of the City Address and debate of his address takes place the next day in May within the first two weeks of May. This will be followed by the tabling of the 2013/14 Budget Speech by the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Finance, Clr Geoff Makhubo also in May.
Ends
Released by:
Gabu Tugwana
Communication Director
Office of the Executive Mayor
City of Johannesburg
Phone: 011 407 7162
Fax: 011 339 1531
Cell: 082 4955 673
Email: gabut@joburg.org.za
