Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ), the greening entity that oversees the management of parks, street trees, conservation, cemeteries and the Zoo in the City of Joburg obtained its first clean audit since its establishment in 2001 for the 2016/17 financial year. For the past 14 years the entity has been receiving unqualified opinions.
This is a major achievement for JCPZ, which has simultaneously experienced an increase in its portfolio in line with rapid urbanization; the decrease in its employee numbers due to natural attrition; and an ever-increasing demand for developed, safe, clean and well managed open public spaces, including burial sites.
I am quite pleased and wish to congratulate JCPZ. The clean audit is testimony that JCPZ is committed to clean governance. It is against the priorities that have been set by the current administration that I find this achievement laudable. It shows that there are people within the City entities who are committed to the current priorities of this government.
The current administration in the City of Johannesburg has made it a priority to serve with pride, and to offer the people of Joburg professional service. The current administration has also promised the residents of Joburg a clean government.
Securing a clean audit in a fast paced metropolis like Joburg, on the backdrop of managing inclement weather-related challenges; safety and security demands; unemployment, a compelling need for community-based jobs and ad hoc requirements for veterinary medical services at the Joburg Zoo – is testimony to an entity that is highly committed to accountability and good governance.
The scope of the Auditor-General’s work on public entities focusses on three areas, namely, the state of finances, performance against targets, and compliance with rules and regulations. It is against these measurements that JCPZ was found to be in compliance.
Highlights noted in the Auditor General’s report included: The,
• Reinstatement of the Joburg Zoo’s accreditation to the Pan-African Association of Zoos and Aquaria (PAAZAB);
• Completion of Phase 6 of the Olifantsvlei Cemetery to provide 800 000 new burial sites in the City;
• Completion of the construction of a multi-level parkade at the Joburg Zoo to bolster Zoo visitor numbers and to address illegal parking around the Zoo;
• Completion of the new wing at the Zoo’s Veterinarian Hospital to strengthen animal welfare;
• Development of the 6 new multi-functional parks to nurture healthy minds and bodies;
• Creation of 2 265 community-based jobs to address poverty and unemployment;
• Generation of R93.5m in revenue to augment the subsidy provided by the City;
• Benefitting 63 106 beneficiaries through environmental education and awareness;
• Achieving 96% on its service delivery key performance indicators; and
• Recording 448 769 visitors from gate-takings at the Joburg Zoo.
I wish to thank the Board of Directors, Executives of JCPZ, Management, and all the men and women in green, khaki, and blue for continuing to serve the residents with pride. More thanks should be given to the residents, our park champions, our nature reserve champions, and all the businesses, security companies, the Residential Associations, and the many individuals who generously donated their time, services and goods to the animals and parks.
This achievement is also in part due to the many service providers that provide quality services to JCPZ to enable it to fulfil its horticulture and conservation mandates.
I am determined that under my leadership JCPZ will continue to achieve a clean audit for the current financial year and many more years to come. I will also ensure that the entity puts in place all monitoring mechanisms to ensure that employees comply with stringent internal control and management processes through exercising my oversight over JCPZ’s operations.
Issued by
Councillor Nonhlanhla Sifumba
The Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development
City of Johannesburg
For media enquiries, please contact:
Jenny Moodley
Spokesperson: Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo
T: 011 712-6615/082 8030 748
E: jmoodley@jhbcityparks.com
www.jhbcityparks.com
