MMC for Development Planning, Cllr Belinda Echeozonjoku

Executive Director, Ms Amolemo Mothoagae; and

Our esteemed guests – you, the people that make the Department of Development Planning work.

When we talk about ‘development planning’, the adage that says “Rome was not built in a day” comes to mind. It speaks to a department that’s focused on long-term and sustainable projects that will stand the test of time.

With a history of 28-centuries, Rome stands as one of the oldest and greatest cities in the world, due to the innovation, planning and organisation of people like you in the Department of Development Planning.

In this light, the Department of Development Planning is an integral partner in the Multi-Party Government’s programme of turning the City into a construction site over the next five years, as we build a City that has been neglected for too long.

While we speak about cranes going up across the City, this cannot be done in an uncoordinated or unplanned manner, it requires all stakeholders to come to the table, with an eye not only on the next few years but with an eye on the decades to come.

We must not only address the needs of today, but we must think about what the needs of residents will be 5, 10, 20-years from today.

And even when reach that 20-year mark, is the infrastructure laid down able to fit into the plans that we set for the 20-years after that?

The vision and work of this department is to build a more welcoming, competitive and resilient Johannesburg that is a better city to live, work and play in.

But we must make it easier for people and business to be partners in our programme of turning the Johannesburg into a construction site.

Therefore, it should not take longer than 30-days for building plans to be approved; a consent use application should be finalised within 2.5-months; a rezoning application should be completed in 5.5 months; and township application closed within the same time.

These timeframes are possible, and I have no doubt that the will and expertise exist in the department to do so.

A passion of mine and that of the Multi-Party Government is bringing development back to the Inner City, and we have been working closely with among others, the Johannesburg Development Agency, to see the Inner City Rejuvenation Programme become a living reality.

We want the Inner City to be a safe, clean and vibrant place of economic activity and leisure.

The Inner City must once again take its rightful place as the focal point of Johannesburg, where all ages, races, classes and nationalities, living in harmony gain from the opportunities our City of Gold has to offer.

Johannesburg, by and large, is a City of migrants, where women and men from across the country, continent and the world converge in hope of bettering themselves and the communities they come from. So, whether you come here to live and work, or as a tourist you are welcome.

The people at the coalface of service delivery are the thousands of women and men like you who work for the City, and my job and that of the MMCs is to ensure that you work in a service delivery-focused environment and that you have the right resources  to do your work.

Furthermore, with that in place is the expectation is that you are always professional, and quality customer service is both a philosophy and a practice.

This month, the City will host an Energy Indaba, which will bring all stakeholders together, over two-days, where we will map a future for Johannesburg that no longer relies on Eskom, and that makes use of renewable energies. We cannot rely on one source or one type of energy if we are serious about building a City that will stand for centuries to come. I am therefore, looking forward to the inputs that will be made by the Department Development Planning.

I think this department knows better than most, that building a city requires partnerships, because as government we cannot do this work on our own.

 It is why in May, the City will host a Business Collaborative Conference, where the City and business will form strategic partnerships that will lead to accelerated development and the creation of job opportunities. And again, the Department of Development Planning will have an important role to play at this conference and after the conference.

A lot of the Department’s work is in planning and implementation, but we must also not lose sight of the enforcement work that the department is empowered to do.

Enforcement of the City’s by-laws requires people of integrity, who reject the financial advances of crooked developers and construction companies who seek to cut corners and, in the process, put lives and livelihoods in danger.

The by-laws exist not as a way of keeping the City busy but to ensure a regulated and ordered space. Put another way, by-laws exist to equitably manage the relationship between people and the society and spaces in which we live in.

Before us, we have an opportunity to build a Johannesburg that we, and future generations can be proud of.

This phase of our journey is called the Golden Start:

1. It is the start of developing a City that gets the basics right, where there is clean water and a sanitary environment for every community. We must create and maintain public spaces for all to enjoy.

2. It is the start of developing a safe and secure City through dedicated partnerships, the use of technology, and investment in our safety and security resources. We must be tough on crime and its causes.

3. It is the start of developing a caring City that takes care of vulnerable residents such as the LGBTQIA+ community, women, children and people with disabilities. We will make sure there is improved healthcare, drug recovery process programme, support for homeless residents, food security programmes, and dignified old age homes.

4. It is the start of developing a business-friendly City, by creating an environment for economic growth so that entrepreneurs and businesses can invest and create the jobs that will continue to make Joburg the City of Golden Opportunities. We want to bring jobs and investment to the local economy.

5. It is the start of developing an inclusive City, where every corner of Joburg is place where residents have all the amenities, they need to live a quality life with access to housing and job opportunities.

6. It is the start of developing a well-run City, making Joburg a centre of clean, honest government that puts residents first, spends money wisely and is a pleasure to deal with. As mentioned, we must make quality customer service the gold standard.

7. It is the start of developing a smart City, where we push boundaries by making the most of the talent and innovation available both inside and outside of the government. We must maximise the use of technology to empower residents and to find solutions to Joburg’s most pressing issues.

Next month’s State of the City and the Budget to be tabled in May, will empower all City personnel to fully give effect to the Multi-Party Government’s seven areas of priority.

We should never look back on this era and say ‘we did not do enough’.

We must look back and say, ‘we did our best for the City’s close to 6-million residents.’

Ends

For media queries, please contact:
 
Mabine Seabe
Director: Mayoral Communication
Private Office of the Executive Mayor
084 677 7851

14/03/2022