Much achieved in 90 days

Over the three months of the mayor's Accelerated Service Delivery Plan, potholes were filled, storm water drains were unblocked and dump sites were cleared, among others.
UNBLOCKING storm water drains, filling potholes and eradicating illegal dumping topped the list in a feedback report on the work done by municipal-owned entities and utilities during the 90-day mayoral Accelerated Service Delivery Plan.

MMC Ruby MathangMMC for development planning and urban management Ruby Mathang (Photo: Enoch Lehung, City of Johannesburg)The report was tabled before the member of the mayoral committee responsible for development planning and urban management, Ruby Mathang, on Wednesday, 28 September in the Joburg Theatre’s Broadway Auditorium.

Mathang took the opportunity to speak about the Growth and Development Strategy outreach, GDS2040, which he told delegates at the conference had yielded positive results from members of the community and other stakeholders.

“We have received many constructive views from a range of stakeholders since the launch on 2 August. The first week was particularly important to us as we, together with our stakeholders, began to answer the critical question of what constitutes a liveable city.

“One lady described a liveable city as a place that offered her a clean environment, with no visual pollution in the form of posters stuck all over her neighbourhood or graffiti sprayed on private property walls or streets filled with litter."

He said the priority of his portfolio was to ensure a viable urban environment. “Our role is to make this urban area, the City of Johannesburg, a functional and diverse place for all who live in it, creating a world-class African city that appeals to all who chose to live in this beautiful city,” Mathang said, officially opening the flow for feedback.

Feedback
Traffic lights have been fixedTraffic lights have been fixedRegional directors from all seven regions gave their feedback report on the 90-day campaign.

Speaking on the work completed, the head of Region F, Nathi Mthethwa, said the vision of his team was to transform the inner city into a liveable place. A liveable place must be clean, friendly, and free of crime, he explained, and must also provide proper housing, schools and shopping malls for its residents.

“In ensuring that we achieve this goal, we have during the 90-day programme embarked on a clean-up campaign, Let’s Fix It, where we partnered with the JMPD [Joburg metro police department], SAPS [South African Police Service], EMS [emergency management services], Pikitup, Johannesburg City Parks, City Power and the JRA [Johannesburg Roads Agency] to carry out a number of service delivery activities,” said Mthethwa.

During the clean-up, the roads agency patched potholes and unblocked storm water drains, while Pikitup cleared illegal dumping sites, City Power repaired dysfunctional streetlights and the metro police was on the lookout for those illegally dumping waste.

The JMPD had also removed illegal advertising posters and billboards across the City. The inner city was haunted by illegal posters, ranging from advertisements for traditional healers and illegal abortion clinics, to driving and computer schools.

Region F director Nathi MthethwaRegion F director Nathi MthethwaMthethwa said that during the 90-day drive, a significant number of traditional healers who posted their ads on bins, traffic lights and building walls were arrested. “Most of them are foreign nationals without proper documentation.”

Elaborating on other services completed, Mthethwa said storm water drains were unblocked in the inner city and in Cyrildene in preparation for the rainy season. “Our partnership with the JRA really helped in dealing with the blocked drainage system.”

Illegal dumping
Liziwe Ntshinga Makoro, the regional director of Region E, pointed out that educational programmes about illegal dumping helped people understand the dangers associated with illegal dumping.

“We have rolled out the Siyakhona project, which is aimed at promoting healthy living and care for the environment.”

Makoro said Siyakhona had given the community a platform to share ideas on ways of stopping illegal dumping. “We hold community meetings every two months to tackle the issues of illegal dumping.

“Recently, we rolled out a clean-up campaign aimed at encouraging the community to love their surroundings. We cleared refuse along the Jukskei River and other hotspots of illegal dumping in Alexandra."

She said another challenge in Alex was the lack of proper roads. “The JRA has been able to install storm water drainages in some areas [and] this will assist us during rainy days.”

In Marlboro and Sandton, the JRA ublocked a significant number of storm water drains through a project called Letsema. In the same area, City Power repaired dysfunctional street lights and electricity metres.

Clean-up
The director of Region B, Vusi Mavuso, said: “We have achieved a lot. Recently, in Rosebank, we rolled out a clean-up campaign and we have been able to deliver a lot of services. This period has helped us to speed up service delivery.”

Region B director Vusi MavusoRegion B director Vusi MavusoDuring the 90-day programme, a number of illegal billboards were removed in Rosebank and Sandton. People must observe by-laws, Mavuso added, pointing out that the City would continue identifying problems.

New pedestrian walkways were built, faded road markings were repainted and new traffic signage was also installed over the three months.

Mlamleli Belot, the head of Region G, said the biggest project in the region was the construction of storm water drainage along the Street Station precinct. “The area was in a desperate need of a drainage system.”

Region G encompasses Greater Ennerdale, Lenasia, Eldorado Park and Protea areas in the north, and Orange Farm and Weilers Farm (Kanana Park) in the south.

Responding to the feedback, Mathang congratulated all regions for their hard work. “This shows that we have men and women who are serious about urban development and will continue supporting you.

“We have dealt vigorously with the issue of illegal advertising, where we have challenged all those who are in contravention of our by-laws and regulations,” Mathang concluded.