Executive Mayor Clr Herman Mashaba’s inaugural speech focused on the poor, cleaning up Joburg and putting on the brakes on bicycle lanes.
“Today marks my 22nd day in office for my administration. Thank you for placing your trust in me to lead our city.
“It is a position I do not take for granted and the new DA-led administration is already working tirelessly to bring about the change desired by the people of Joburg,” Clr Mashaba said.
“It is a mandate we dare not fail to deliver on because if Johannesburg works, South Africa works,” said Clr Mashaba.
Clr Mashaba asked residents of Joburg to be patient because they are trying to rebuild the city after years of decay.
“We are not a ‘World Class African City’ while the people do not have basic services. Positive actions achieve positive results. It is time to rebuild our city,” he said.
He said the DA has a vision and plan for the city where everyone is employed and has proper accommodation.
“No one can deny that the biggest challenge facing our city is the soaring unemployment confronting over 800 000 of our people.
“Almost one in three of our residents is without work – the youths of our city being the biggest casualties of this epidemic,” he said.
Job creation will be the number one priority of the new DA-led administration
He said the new administration will run a responsive and pro-poor government and that the city’s budget will be directed to poor communities.
“It is important to understand that our city can be business-friendly and pro-poor at the same time – in fact, the two must go hand in hand if we wish to succeed in creating a city of golden opportunities,” said Clr Mashaba.
As the CoJ has a major problem of hijacked and abandoned buildings, while there are also a number of informal settlements, the city will be looking at low-cost housing for them.
“We will facilitate the revamping of empty and hijacked buildings by the private sector. The City of Johannesburg owns many buildings that will be audited and identified to provide low-cost housing and affordable commercial spaces for small businesses and shops to reverse the Inner City’s decline and bring business and people back into the Inner City,” said Clr Mashaba.
“With filth being a major concern, Pikitup will double its shifts to address the issue. Last week’s removal of the MD of Pikitup, the focus will now turn to stabilising and strengthening this entity so as to ensure that it fulfils its mandate of keeping our city a clean and healthy environment for all,” he said.
“The normal 135 weekly refuse collection rounds have been restored at all 12 depots as well as street sweeping and litter picking around our city.
“The priority must now be to make Pikitup a city entity that makes our streets and communities clean again.
“There is a massive backlog in clearing waste at the 2 080 illegal dumping sites spread out across our city. In conjunction with the JMPD, we will begin a process of by-law enforcement at these illegal dumping sites.
“Ongoing refuse removal in dense areas, including informal settlements, will be stepped up with 35 co-operatives and 1 498 community members under the Jozi@work programme,” said Clr Mashaba.
He added that he is concern about the millions of people who are stuck in a cycle of poverty.
He has laid eight complaints with the South African Human Rights Commission over the past six months which they agreed to investigate.
These settlements included KwaMai-Mai. “I did not lay a complaint to play politics. It was out of my deep concern for the plight of our people who deserve better after 22 years into our new democracy. I hope that the Human Rights Commission is able to expedite these investigations.
“However, we are now the government in this city and the responsibility lies with us to uplift these communities and ensure that their dignity is restored.
“Over the coming weeks I intend visiting these eight communities with government officials to determine how we can go about restoring the dignity of those living under such deplorable conditions,” said Clr Mashaba.
He further said the severe shortage of quality houses will be addressed.
“Within 60 days a report will be produced on the number of completed houses built by our city and the province – but not yet allocated or handed over to beneficiaries.
“It is unacceptable that there are houses that have been built but remain unoccupied when many of our residents live without acceptable accommodation.
“We will ensure that thousands of title deeds are given to people so that they have the dignity of a proper home which can be passed on to their children,” said Clr Mashaba.
He said in the next two weeks they will be distributing 2 000 title deeds.
Clr Mashaba described himself as not a politician but a successful businessman.
“I believe this is what qualifies me to run the economic engine room of the country. I am a businessman who has never compromised on the quality of the services and products my businesses have offered.
“I will bring my brand of job creation to Joburg and I want to get our City working again. I started my business career at the age of 22,” said Clr Mashaba.
