The Speaker of Council in the City of Johannesburg, Cllr Vasco da Gama, on Saturday addressed scores of Soweto residents who came in their numbers to get feedback on the issues they raised in the November 2018 regional IDP also to make their input in the present draft 2019/20 IDP at the Communal Hall at Orlando East, Soweto.
The wards represented were ward 25, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 36, 37, 39, 40, 42, 43 and 45.
Member of the Mayoral Committee Cllr Nonhlanhla Sifumba, who was the acting mayor, presented an overview of how the multi-party government was addressing the challenges facing the City.
“The theme of the 2019/20 is on ‘Advancing Diphetogo’ as we work to accelerate delivery of change to you, the residents of Johannesburg,” said Cllr Sifumba, who was accompanied by MMC for Safety Cllr Michael Sun, MMC for Health and Social Development Cllr Mpho Phalatse, MMC for Development and Planning Cllr Reuben Masango, Chief Whip Cllr Kevin Wax and Regional Director Salome Mogotsi.
Cllr Sifumba gave hope to the residents when she mentioned that three opportunity centres have been opened in the City, with a further three to be opened in the next financial year, one of which will be in Soweto.
“The intention of opportunity centres is to give skills like plumbing, electric to residents with more focus to the youth,” said Cllr Sifumba, who was met with applause and ululations.
She also mentioned the launch of the 154 properties to the private sector for mixed-use development including affordable housing and student accommodation. These buildings were hi-jacked and were a home for undocumented people who were living in unhuman conditions.
Because of the overcrowding, even Pikitup cannot cope to keep the City clean.
“Together we need to reclaim our City to its former glory. I remember vividly how clean the City was when I was young, going with my late granny to town,” she said.
Illegal dumping remains a big issue in most Soweto wards. When open spaces are cleaned, the next day residents use the space to dump. The other cause is overcrowded houses where tenants and the landlord use one bin.
Cllr Sifumba urged people to consider having two or even three bins per house although the other bins will come at a cost. She encouraged residents to recycle cardboxes and plastics. Nomsa Nkosi of Ward 26 in Pimville, Soweto, said people want to pay rates but with unemployment rising and high tariff increases, it will become impossible to pay. “Five hundred rand prepaid electricity does not even last two weeks.”
Cllr Sifumba reminded the community that the budget is allocated according to the needs and not the wants. With the limited budget, the City decided to upgrade and revamp some of the community facilities in order to spend money where there is a need and there is none existing.
She pleaded with the people of Soweto to “remember Rome was not build in three years”.
