The gathering hosted at the Germiston Council Chambers, was to share the city’s plans for 2016/17 and the city’s five-year plans.
Some of the top issues the mayor spoke on included the issues of housing, fighting fraud and corruption, 10-point plan to grow the economy and create jobs, city’s expenditure, health, taxi ranks and illegal dumping.
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He also spoke on plans of increasing the bursary scheme and Wi-Fi hotspots, and heading a Service Delivery Friday campaign.
Masina started off by saying: “We are not apologetic about improving the living conditions of our people in informal settlements, nor are we apologetic about the roll-out of 100 000 housing units and 59 000 serviced stands to deal with the housing backlog.
“We also remain resolute to revive our economy hence we are introducing a 10-point plan to boost the economy and create jobs.
“Special attention in this regard will therefore, be paid to reviving our manufacturing sector, implementing the township economy strategy and the roll-out of the Aerotropolis master plan.”
In address of cutting costs in the municipality, he added by saying they shall be conducting an analysis of their cost drivers such as cutting on overseas trips, personnel costs, catering, fleet management costs, telephone and electricity bills.
“Already plans are at foot to fit 800 municipal vehicles with electronic fuel devices.
“As a city we have further resolved to significantly increase our revenue collection, so that we have the necessary resources to upscale service delivery,” he says.
The city also aims at launching an e-Verification system to make the indigent application more efficient and to root out corruption and fraud in housing. Masina shared that work will start to verify the 1996 waiting list.
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On addressing matters of health Masina says: “As health of our people comes first, the city shall be increasing the number of 24 hour clinics by an additional three more facilities from eight to 11 by the first quarter of next year.
“Three more will further be added in the 2017/2018 financial year to make it 15 in total.
“And in an attempt to restore dignity of our people, we shall be rolling out 30 additional toilets at Central Hostel and 22 in Langaville.”
Touching on the issue of water supply and sewer problems including the Etwatwa and Tsakane areas among others, he said to preserve water a total of 1 700 old and leaking water meters will be replaced.
While for the convenience of commuters and motorists new taxi ranks including one in Bluegum View will be open soon.
Furthermore the city will be extending its financial assistance for higher education, increasing their bursary scheme from R10-million to R100-million to give full scholarships to deserving students.
The Service Delivery Friday campaign, will also take place every Friday between 7am and 9am.
“Every Friday I will lead a team of all MMCs and the administration led by the acting city manager to visit communities with the aim of responding to their service delivery complaints on the spot.
“And with us there will be a technical team who can respond to issues as and when they are spotted,” he says.
The first stop for this campaign will be in Winnie Mandela, Duduza, Clayville, and Tswelopele.
