There’s a quote attributed to Mark Twain that states “Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated”.
To borrow from him, I can state with full confidence that reports of the collapse of the Joburg Multi-Party Government are greatly exaggerated!
The group of women and men who lead the Executive of Joburg – the Members of the Mayoral Committee – are at work every day, including weekends, ensuring that services are delivered to all parts of our vast City.
The political fights, which we have been drawn into, and you have witnessed, have not affected the delivery of services. Equally, with your continued support, we will not allow political parties that are only interested in looting the City to gain access to the resources of the City, that are meant for the delivery of services to you.
As you can see today, the City is in your community, and on the ground, in full force ensuring that the lights stay on, water flows from the taps, roads are maintained, and that our communities are safe and clean.
We are also aware that we sometimes have blind spots, so the Department and Entity helpdesks are also here for you to lodge complaints but also for you to engage with the City and the work we do with and for you.
Some of the services available here today, include the Department of Economic Development’s mobile Opportunity Centre; the Group Forensic and Investigation Services, the Department of Social Development, where you can enquire and access programmes like the Extended Social Package; the Joburg Mobile Library is here; the Revenue Shared Services Centre; and one of the City’s Mobile Health Clinic, to name but a few.
Programme Director,
Today is about accelerating the delivery of services, resolving backlogs and hearing from you, the residents, what more we should be doing.
Programme Director,
Our A Re Sebesteng operation here today and over the coming weeks will be attending to potholes and other road infrastructure, under the leadership of the MMC for Transport, Cllr Funzi Ngobeni.
Our Environmental Health Inspectors from the Department of Health, led by the MMC for Health and Social Development, Cllr Ahley Suals I, will be going to shops and eateries in the Region, ensuring that the goods you purchase are fit for human consumption and use.
The Augmented Field Service, under the leadership of the MMC for Group Corporate and Shared Services, Cllr Leah Knott, will make sure that the work we do today is maintained, and that any outstanding issues are logged and attended to.
Under the leadership of the MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services, Cllr Michael Sun, Pikitup will be working to clear illegal dumping spots and ensuring that you live in a clean community, but we need you to play your part by not littering and reporting illegal dumping to the City.
Safety is a concern to us all, regardless of race or location, so I am happy that the MMC for Public Safety, Cllr David Tembe, is here today to ensure that your safety needs are taken care of.
Regional Director,
In this financial year, the Joburg Multi-Party Government will be making a capital investment of over R540-million (R 543,945,550) in the 2022/23 financial year. And because this Multi-Party Government will still be in office during the 2024/25 financial year, I can state that this investment will grow to over R600-million (R610,954,000).
Some of the earmarked projects include the tarring of gravel roads; several housing projects; upgrading of the Pikitup depot; a new water reservoir; a new multipurpose centre in Matholesville; bulk infrastructure services by City Power; and health facilities to name a handful of the projects.
This is a government at work.
This is government that cares.
This a government repairing and rebuilding your community and the City with and for you.
Not only must residents feel like Joburg is changing. It must also be visible to us all that Joburg is changing.
MMCs,
We have faced some head winds, but we are making great progress, as outlined in Thursday’s Golden Report, which we will be unpacking further over the coming weeks.
The Multi-Party Government has regrouped and reorganised. Therefore, I can say, with the utmost sincerity, that we are stronger than ever, and as the Bible reminds us, “no weapons formed against us shall ever prosper”.
Residents of Region C,
I would like to thank you for your support, which drives us to do even more.
In closing,
On Wednesday, 28 September 2022, as pronounced by the Acting City Manager, the 8th Extra-Ordinary Sitting of Council will convene to elect a Speaker of Council who will come from the Multi-Party Coalition. This will ensure the stability of the City’s legislature.
We would appreciate your positive thoughts and prayers as we head towards that day, and on the day itself.
A Re Sebetseng! Let’s work together in repair and rebuild of Joburg!
Ke a leboga. Baie dankie. Thank you and God bless.
ENDS.
For media queries, please contact:
Mabine Seabe
Private Office of The Executive Mayor
Director: Mayoral Communication
084 677 7851
16/09/2022
