2011-02-08: Service delivery targeted

Shopping malls are being blitzed by the City, which is going all out to tell people about the services it delivers and career opportunities in the municipality.

FIRST-HAND information about City services is available at malls through Joburg’s shopping centre service delivery campaign.

Residents Residents get to know all about services offered by the City during the mall campaignsThe most recent was held at Dobsonville Mall on Saturday, 5 February, the second day this year. The first campaign day in 2011 took place at the Diepsloot Mall on 8 January.

The service delivery campaigns began in 2010, and are held to teach residents what City services are available, and how to access.

Present at Dobsonville were representatives from a number of City departments and municipal-owned entities, among them Johannesburg Water, Johannesburg Roads Agency, City Power, emergency management services, metro police, department of health, libraries and regional stakeholder relations officials from regions A and C.

Representatives shared information on the services provided by their departments and advised members of the community on better ways of using municipal services.

The City’s director of marketing, Lorraine Mokgobi, said since the campaign started last year there had been significant progress.

“The response has been great, judging from the results we are getting. For example, we used to get a lot of reports from the Diepsloot area about children drowning in wells [but] since the EMS’s engagement with local communities about keeping children safe and measures that can be taken to prevent children from drowning, we have noticed a decrease in the number of these cases.”

The JMPD desk is kept busyThe JMPD stand is one of the most popularMokgobi pointed out that in most communities where they had taken the campaign, people did not have information about some City services. “Most people are not aware about how to access necessary services and which department to approach when seeking assistance.”

City spokesperson, Thembelihle Radebe, said the campaign concentrated on drowning, environmental health, fires, illegal connections, water saving and road safety.

It had visited nine shopping malls in 2010 and was expected to visit five more this year.

People could also get tips on saving electricity. Consumers were given information on where to go and what number to call if they had an enquiry relating to electricity or water services.

Possible career opportunities in the municipality were also promoted.

Goodwill Shivuri, representing emergency management services, said most young people were not aware that the municipality offered training courses in paramedics and fire fighting. He explained how to apply for these courses, to young people who came to the campaign stalls, and said interested people could visit municipal offices for more information.