Teboho Seabelo
There were many successes in development in Kwatsaduza and the surrounding area mentioned in the State of the City Address, which the Mayor of Ekurhuleni, Clr Mondli Gungubele, touched on in his speech in Tsakane on Wednesday.
Some of these accomplishments over a period of five years in office included:
- Township Economy Revitalisation is one of the key areas of focus for the administration of the city.
Clr Gungubele said projects that have put them on the pedestal include the development of five new township economic hubs in Etwatwa, Vosloorus, Duduza and KwaThema – at a cost of R90-million per annum.
- He added that in August 2015 he was privileged to attend the 11th international FabLab Forum in Boston, USA, at the invitation of the Fab Foundation wherein a pledge to become a self-sustaining innovative city within the next 40 years was made.
As one of the 450 International FabLab Network members, they have established three FabLabs – in Thokoza, Tembisa and Tsakane – and another two are geared for Vosloorus and Duduza.
- Full title and ownership of land was given to 124 758 people through the establishment of 112 residential townships and a further 32 544 households have received title deeds. Projects undertaken to date include Etwatwa Extension 35, Alra Park, Eden Park West and Extension One, Magagula Heights and Moleleki Extension One.
- In pursuit of a prosperous Ekurhuleni, as of June this year all historically disadvantaged areas will have fire stations – the last to be opened being the KwaThema Fire Station. Since 2011, new fire stations have been built in Tsakane and Zonkezizwe, and disaster management satellite offices in Kempton Park and Tsakane.
- Clr Gungubele said that they are aware that some of the communities are still in need of proper taxi ranks, especially during inclement weather.
In response to this, taxi ranks in Daveyton, Leralla, Ramaphosa and Palm Ridge have been built and opened with three more to come in Bluegumview, Phutaditshaba and Vosloorus.
- The city further continues to care for the aged, hence the introduction of gym equipment at the Duduza, Tsakane, KwaThema and Daveyton day care centres, and the Tembisa old age home.
- In the area of Early Childhood Development (ECD), they continue to train ECD practitioners to enhance the quality of the service rendered to children.
As a result, three new ECD centres are being built to benefit 380 children in Vosloorus, Tsakane and Eden Park.
- Wattville, Tsakane, KwaThema, Katlehong, Vosloorus and Geluksdal stadiums have been upgraded, turning them into multi-disciplinary facilities where communities can play different sporting codes.
- In the course of instilling civic pride and bringing back the dignity of our people, last month the city embarked on a project to improve the aesthetics of entrances at some of townships and come September, the entrances of Vosloorus, Duduza, Katlehong, Thokoza, KwaThema and Tsakane will boast, among other features, new signage, flower gardens, paving and park furniture.
“My heartfelt gratitude goes to the people of Ekurhuleni for continuously supporting our programmes and ensuring that we remain on track as we pursue the quest for a better life for all as your positive attitude towards government programmes has, over the years, enabled us to do that which you elected us to do.
“Gratitude must also go to the members of this house, the councillors whose voices represent the multitudes of our people – mainly the voiceless. Working together has always been great fun, and thank you for being there for the people of our beloved city.
“Special thanks are accorded to the business community, NGOs, youth structures and other stakeholders for making themselves available and vocal when it comes to the socio-economic issues of the city,” he said.
