The City of Joburg (CoJ) held an Integrated Development Plan (IDP) feedback and consultation meeting at Bertha Solomon in Jeppestown last Tuesday.
The meeting covered five wards from Region F, namely wards 57, 61, 65, 118 and 123.
Also read: Have your say on new rates
The purpose of the meeting was to outline the CoJ’s development strategies and priorities, give feedback on issues raised during the constituency consultation in April, provide an update on the progress of the 2017/18 IDP and budget, report on the implementation of the region’s community based planning (CBP) projects, and obtain input on the 2018/19 IDP and budget.
MMC for development and planning, Clr Richard Ngobeni, shared the city’s nine priorities, which are: to promote economic development and attract investment towards achieving five per cent economic growth; to ensure pro-poor development; to enhance service delivery; to improve public safety; to create a transparent city that fights corruption; to create a city that responds to the needs of the citizens; to ensure financial sustainability; to encourage innovation and efficiency; and to preserve resources.
Ngobeni said the city faces a number of challenges.
Also read: Plans afoot to tackle hijacked buildings
“There is a housing backlog that still needs to be addressed. There is also the high unemployment rate and high rate of poverty caused by corruption and sabotage of the administration.
“That is why over 2 000 cases of corruption are being investigated. We need to address the problems before we can bring solutions.”
Ngobeni said challenges such as unemployment are not the government’s problem alone.
“The private sector will have to come on board to help address the issue.”
Residents expressed various concerns at the meeting and said the city needs to prioritise matters.
“Housing is a major issue in Jeppestown and Malvern,” a resident said. “We have people who been living in informal settlements for more than 10 years after being promised houses and they are still waiting. JMPD is harassing hawkers who are trying to make a living but fail to address bylaw issues that really matter.”
Ngobeni said as the city they are aware of the challenges facing residents and are trying to address them.
“We need to understand that all these challenges will be addressed over time,” he said. “We don’t have enough budget in one year to solve all the problems we have. We have to channel the budget where it is needed urgently, and that means looking at what needs to be done first.”
At the same time, Ngobeni said there are also notable goals that the city has achieved.
“These are visible service delivery like the clean-up programme, A Re Sebetseng, street and traffic light repairs, more than 120 000 fixed potholes over the past year, and centralised grass cutting.
“These are signs of working towards better service delivery,” Ngobeni said.
“The city has improved service delivery to the poor, such as upgrading 51 informal settlements, increased allocation to Pikitup to increase cleaning services in informal settlements, and extended hours at clinics and public libraries in poor communities.”
Another achievement, he said, is the approval for the building of a multi-purpose centre in Ward 118.
The budget for the project is R41-million.
Ngobeni said it is important for residents to attend IDP meetings, because this is where they can voice their issues.
“IDP meetings offer residents an opportunity to be part of the project to build a Johannesburg that works.”
For more news and interesting articles, like Bedfordview and Edenvale NEWS on Facebook or follow us on Twitter
