Ekurhuleni mayor delivers State of the City Address in KwaThema
Ekurhuleni mayor, Mzwandile Masina, delivered his State of the City Address outlining the City’s plans for service delivery on Tuesday.
KwaThema – Over 2 000 residents of all ages from the City filled the KwaThema Stadium to receive the mayor’s plans.
In his speech, Masina says the City has recorded the highest unemployment rate at 33 per cent in the province.
“This is due to an increased number of active work seekers.
“We were able to create 98 000 new jobs in the past year, but we are experiencing job losses as a result of factory closure and a general decline in industrial activities,” he says.
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Masina says through the increased bursary fund from R10-million to R100-m, they were able to increase the intake into tertiary education.
“We have been able to assist 1 757 students in the 2017/18 budget.
“We have also resolved to award an additional 500 new bursaries to academically deserving students out of the 2 802 bursary applicants that met the qualifying criteria.
“We will continue to make bursaries available for first-year students.
“We aim to stretch the bursary fund to R250-m by the time we leave office,” he says.
Masina says the City has launched three of the six Mega Projects working together with Provincial Government in Leeuwpoort with a capacity of 19 453 units, John Dube with 10 265 and Daggafontein with 17 180 units.
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“These projects will help us meet the 100 000 housing units target.
“The number of informal settlements has since been increased from five to 20, which have been provided with electricity.
“The city has budgeted an amount of R30-m for the refurbishment of rental stock which includes flats and hostels.
“We have plans to build 12 more clinics with modern facilities over the medium term.
“In this financial year, we plan to add five more clinics in the 24 hour and 12 hours service plan,” he says.
Masina says the city’s collection was 92.1 per cent in the last financial year and the two-quarters of 2017/18 it was 93.34 per cent.
“This is made possible by the residents who continue to pay for their services.
“We invite those who cannot afford to register as indigent.
“R3.5-m was spent on social security package which benefits 110 000 households.
“We are providing 100KW of electricity, 9KL of water and other basic services, including the indigent.
Masina says in an effort to fight corruption and fraud within the city, they have suspended seven senior officials.
“We are calling on municipal employees to focus on their work responsibilities and not be involved in politics.
“We will not tolerate any form of corruption or mal-administration,” he says.
“We are now in the employment phase which must assist the city to contribute to employment, investment and transformation.
“Our approach is to maximise capabilities in manufacturing, aviation and aerospace, logistics and transportation industries to drive competitiveness, radical socio-economic development and transformation,” he says.
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