Over the last two-months, the City of Johannesburg – its Administration, Council and Executive – have embarked on an intense and meaningful stakeholder engagement programme to pull together partners who are essential to giving life to our vision of building a City of Golden Opportunities.
These engagements have contributed to the State of the City Address, which successfully took place last month; and will contribute to the soon to be finalised Budget and Integrated Development Plan. The Budget Speech, which gives effect to the State of the Address will be delivered on 25 May 2022.
It has been an exciting and busy time for the 9-partner Multi-Party Government, which has had to hit the ground running, because the patience of our 6-million residents has worn thin.
The people of Alexandra like many across the City are looking for hope, change and opportunities, and we could not wait for a new financial year to roll-out a programme of action.
Our programme of action or Mayoral Priorities are not too dissimilar to the aim of We Love Alexandra.
The We Love Alexander Project aims to do four things, to build this 110-year-old community:
1. Cleaning and beautification of Alexandra Township
2. Embarking on community upliftment projects
3. Facilitating business investment and economic development
4. Reducing crime to improve economic opportunities.
Ladies and gentlemen,
There is clear alignment with the work that the Multi-Party Government is going to do here in Alexandra and Joburg at large And as part of fulfilling our vision of building Joburg as a city of golden opportunities, which is vibrant, safe, and resilient, where local government delivers a quality life for every resident, the City, its Departments and Entities have adopted 7 Mayoral Priorities:
1. A city that gets the basics right
This is about in keeping the lights on; making sure that clean water comes from the taps; roads and stormwater infrastructure is in optimal condition; through A Re Sebtseng, which we launched last week that residents take care and ownership of their communities; we look after the environment through climate change reliance and environmental protection programmes.
2. A safe and secure city
Safety and security, regardless of who you are or where you stay is vital. We want our residents, especially women and children to feel and be safe when they walk the streets and visit the City’s open and green spaces. Fire and medical services must be responsive and alert. Through operation Buya Mthetho, we are deliberate about upholding and restoring the rule law by enforcing and policing the City’s by-laws.
3. A caring city
This is about better access to health services; ensuring that residents receive quality service at our clinics through proper staffing and resource availability; fighting drug abuse by ensuring we have adequate drug treatment centres; addressing homelessness; and fostering social cohesion; and access to early childhood and skills development programmes. Furthermore, the support and uplifting of marginalised communities such as women, youth, people with disabilities and LGBTQIA+
4. A business-friendly city
We cannot meaningfully commit to tackling unemployment and growing the economy without the business community. This also includes the informal sector, which we have given a boost and certainty by passing the Informal Trade Policy; we need to attract investment, both local and foreign to dedicate more money to capital projects; we must work towards supporting SMMEs. We must cut red-tape so that it is easier and cheaper to do business. We must also talk about attracting tourism to historically rich communities like Alexandra.
5. An inclusive city
As the Multi-Party Government, we are addressing among other things, spatial inequality. The less privileged in our City must not be relegated to its fringes but must be close to opportunities whether social or economic. This priority also speaks to the development of the Alexandra and the Inner City. Housing and transport must be safe, reliable, and affordable, especially for the poor and missing middle.
6. A well-run city
A good government is responsive to the needs of the people it serves. It is committed, accountable, and responds promptly and effectively to the concerns of residents. This requires an efficient administration, but also respect for the rule of law. In order to achieve this, the City’s administration is prioritizing transparency and accountability, and is committed to an anti-corruption agenda. The City aims on running a functional administration that is not corrupt, optimising City resources, increasing productivity and focusing on service delivery, and extend to include a greater focus on customer service and public participation.
7. A smart city
Lastly, The objective of this priority is to enable Johannesburg to adopt more innovative approaches in service delivery to better connect the Municipality to its residents. A smart city approach uses integrated technology, digitisation, and innovation to expand infrastructure; make data-based decisions, build greater efficiencies and to future-proof the City against unpredictable and unprecedented social, economic, or environmental changes.
Esteemed guests,
Regardless of where you live in the City, there must be a sense that there are deliberate programmes are being rolled out so that every corner of our City is one of golden opportunities. Alexandra must and will become a community of golden opportunities.
In the 2022/23 financial year, the Multi-Party Government will invest over R481-million in capital projects for Region E, and that number will grow to over R721-million in the 2023/24 financial year.
The Region is big, but most of that investment will go into Alexandra. In the 2022/23 financial year:
• R20-million for flooding alleviation and intervention in the Far East Bank
• R10-million for the refurbishment of the upgrading and refurbishment of the Helen Joseph’s Women’s Hostel
• R10-million for the redevelopment of the Madala Hostel
• R5-million for the replacement of sewer mains
• R5-million for the ‘Be Safe Centre’
• R121-million for various BRT projects across Alexandra
We are working to change the face and culture of Alexandra. No longer will this community be used an example of poverty and crime, but rather it will stand as a symbol of development and safety.
This will not be achieved by with only the government but only when we pull together our resources – whether its knowledge, networks, or money.
I applaud Ubaba Twala, and the men and women who have committed themselves to seeing Alexandra take its rightful place as a vibrant, safe, caring, inclusive and economically actively community.
You have a friend and partner in the City of Joburg that will not play the kind of politics that only remembers you when it is time to vote.
We will stand by your side, until we can proudly say “mission accomplished!”
I thank you!
For media queries, please contact:
Mabine Seabe
Director: Mayoral Communication
Private Office of the Executive Mayor
E-mail: mabines@joburg.org.za
23/05/2022
