City earmarks budget for infrastructure development
JOBURG - MULTI-MILLION rand investment in economic and social infrastructure to drive Johannesburg’s future growth and development were announced in the City of Johannesburg's 2015/2016 Budget on 26 May.
Housing, roads, security and the upgrading of ageing infrastructure all received significant slices from the record R52-billion budget delivered by the Member of Mayoral Committee for Finance, Geoffrey Makhubo.
The City’s Corridors of Freedom programme, to stimulate development along priority corridors, will be a catalyst to attract private sector investment and increase the delivery of bulk infrastructure.
The Rea Vaya transport system will double the number of passenger trips per day by the end of 2016, making public transport a viable option for commuters.
The first of Metrobus’ new dual-fuel green fleet will be delivered in June, and the remaining 150 buses will be introduced over the next 18 months. Some of the existing fleet will also be converted to run on both gas and diesel.
Makhubo said mixed development in Lufhereng and Fleurhof – one of the largest integrated housing programmes in the country – will offer communities various residential options, including RDP housing, social rental and affordable bonded housing.
Bulk infrastructure, including roads and stormwater systems, was being delivered in areas such as Kliptown, Diepsloot, Braamfischerville, Orange Farm, Rabie Ridge and Eldorado Park.
In the past year the City has resurfaced 623km of existing tarred roads – a 700 percent increase over the previous period – and a further 2 277km of gravel roads were graded.
The upgrading of roads such as Coleraine Drive in Bryanston, 1st Avenue in Houghton and Harry Galaun Road in Midrand has brought positive changes to many communities across the city, he said.
New community and recreation centres will be built in Drieziek, Kaalfontein, Phiri, Diepsloot and Orlando Ekhaya. Access to such facilities, he said, will ensure young people “are engaged in activities that will broaden their horizons and expose them to the possibilities of a better tomorrow”.
Makhubo announced that R210-million had been allocated towards the Integrated Operational Centre which would improve public safety and Johannesburg’s ability to respond to disasters.
A state-of-the-art analytics centre would add to the existing CCTV network. In areas where CCTV was already operational, there had been a 37 percent decline in assaults and a 27 percent reduction in robberie
