Residents can now submit building plans at the Metro Link office in Braamfontein following its reopening this week.
Operations at the Building Development Management (BDM) directorate resumed recently following a partial shutdown of walk-in services during the lockdown.
Complementary services from the Land Use Development Management (LUDM) and Corporate Geo-Informatics (CGIS) directorates are also in full swing.
“We sought alternatives to re-open all walk-in services under Alert Level 3 of the Covid-19 national lockdown,” says Lawrence Khoza, the MMC for Development Planning.
Khoza says having the department’s services up and running in Alert Level 3 and beyond is a priority for the City.
“The City is committed to resuming normal development application processes to near-normal operational capacity in Level 3 and subsequent levels,” he says.
The MMC says his department has explored avenues of doing business in compliance with the Covid-19 social distancing regulations. Online submissions will continue to take place after the LUDM and BDM directorates followed the CGIS communication channels and created email addresses that will be used by the public for the submission of applications.
“The department is currently liaising with the Johannesburg Property Company for the necessary alterations to the Metro Link building to ensure compliance to the Covid-19 safety measures. This includes the installation of Perspex screens at the Metro Link and the open-plan offices at the Metro Centre,” he explains.
Khoza says a GCIS Information Officer will man the Property Information desk at the Metro Link and will be supported by the electronic Property Information Service (e-mail: cgisfax@joburg.org.za), operated by other Information Officers on the 8th floor of the Metro Centre.
“The Public Information counter, which used to operate from the 8th floor, will be replaced by the Link Property Information Desk until the situation has normalised,” he emphasises.
Services on the 8th floor of the Metro Centre have also resumed.
The Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Environment and Infrastructure Services, Mpho Moerane is in self-isolation following an encounter with a colleague who tested positive for Covid-19.
Moerane says he took the step as a precautionary measure. “As per protocol, I have tested and am waiting for the results,” he adds.
The MMC says his office continues to serve the City in his absence as he has not had any physical contact with them.
This is not the time to panic, says Moerane.
“As essential services workers, we need to soldier on to ensure that the lights stay on, water flows to residents’ taps and the City is kept clean.”
He’s urged residents of the City to maintain Covid-19 protocols.
“Wash your hands regularly, practice social distancing and wear necessary personal protective equipment to curb the spread of the virus,” Moerane explains.
