The City of Joburg has earmarked R4 billion over two financial years for a service delivery model which promotes community participation in the development of their areas by awarding contracts to co-operatives and small companies.
The model called Jozi@work focuses on participatory development while eradicating poverty, inequality and unemployment. The model will start in September with a budget of R1 billion for contract work by co-operatives and small companies in and near their areas of location.
Launching the programme at Eastbank hall, city officials Bongani Mabuse and Jack Koseff said the contracts would be awarded for work in energy, waste, greening services, construction and maintenance, road and transport, agriculture and food security, water and sanitation and information and communication technology projects.
The successful applicants would be supervised, and service providers would be trained by an independent and professional support agency to ensure the attainment of quality outputs and transfer of skills so that they can remain as preferred service providers to the city.
Mabuse said those who were contracted would also be able to access loans with a low interest rate to enable them to grow in capacity and business acumen, and to be dependable.
He added that the budget would be accessed through credible proposals which must relate to the city’s plans and needs.
The capacity building and resulting service delivery would also be monitored by committees made up of external professionals to ensure the continued delivery of quality products and services. Mabuse added that measures had been taken in the planning process to curb corruption, which included communities acting as whistle blowers, and the exclusion of non-designated councillors and officials, as well as directing the reporting of suspected corruption to the Mayor’s office.
The programme will be rolled out in three bi-monthly phases.September to October will focus on energy, water, waste, green services, food and agriculture, and construction and maintenance. November to December will be focused on roads and transport, business support and urban management, information communication technology and digital marketing, and apprenticeship programmes.
And from January to February next year, the focus will be on the expansion of the business support and urban management sectors, and capital and maintenance work programmes.
At the end, the model is expected to support 7 000 co-operatives and small companies and should create over 51 000 jobs.
Details: Bongani Mabuse 082 569 0915.
