Residents of Alexandra and other parts of Region E have asked representatives of the City of Johannesburg to address issues around unemployment, cable theft, service delivery, education and poverty in their respective communities.
These were some of the topical issues raised by residents during the draft Integrated Development Plan (IDP) public participation meeting held on April 20 at Marlboro Community Centre.
The Chief Whip of Council Tyrell Meyers explained that the development plan was a strategic plan developed by the City to ensure that community needs were responded to according to the Constitution, and laws and policies of the City of Johannesburg.
“The purpose is to create an enabling environment for citizens to participate in improving their quality of life. The process concentrates mainly on what the community can do for itself as well, taking into account the limited resources at the City’s disposal and also making maximum use of community strengths.
“It is a process that empowers communities and encourages them to be involved in matters affecting their lives on a daily basis,” Meyer said.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Group Corporate and Shared Services Leah Knott, who led the presentations in the absence of Executive Mayor Mpho Phalatse, emphasised the importance of community participation in the IDP meetings.
“It’s your time to give input into the budget and into various issues such as the tariffs and how we plan the city and run capital projects and maintenance,” said Knott.
It was a full house at the community centre and other residents joined virtually and used the meeting to address many of the issues affecting them in their communities.
Besides the call for more jobs, action on cable theft, service delivery, education matters and poverty levels within the communities, residents also raised what they termed ‘grave concerns on graveyards’ that were being invaded by squatters.
In response to this issue, MMC for Community Development Ronald Harris said it was disheartening to hear that people were now building shelters in graveyards, and vandalising them at the same time. “Within the next week we’ll attend to this issue. Our ancestors deserve much better,” he said.
Referring to the issue of buildings in the city being hijacked Harris said, “We cannot fold our arms and watch good assets going to waste and being hijacked.”
The City encouraged residents to submit their comments on the draft IDP to: Idpinputs@joburg.org.za or idpinputs22@joburg.org.za or idpinputs2022@joburg.org.za
Comments on the draft budget and proposed tariffs can be forwarded in writing to Budgetinputs@joburg.org.za
All comments should reach the City by April 30.
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