Masina delivers Soca
Soca is held annually in light of what the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) has achieved during the financial year and what they plan on achieving in the next financial year.
Executive mayor Clr Mzwandile Masina took to the podium on March 27 at the council chambers in Germiston to deliver the State of the City Address (Soca).
This year’s Soca was themed building a local economy that grows in the hands of the people.
Masina said: “This is in recognition of the fact that sustainable economic development can only be achieved when the economy is in the hands of the people – for an economy that thrusts the people to the edge of the periphery is an economy that is incapable of bringing about genuine transformation.”
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These are a few points raised pertaining to Benoni.
• The Aqua Leap programme is aimed to address the water infrastructure failures and the water capacity constraints caused by the unmatched growth demand in the metro, which affects Benoni and other areas, including Germiston, Brakpan, Springs, Edenvale, Kempton Park and Tembisa.
As a result, the metro has embarked on building 29 reservoirs from 2018/19 to 2021 with a storage capacity of 550 megalitres of water.
• Waste disposal sites in Benoni, Bedfordview, Weltevrede, Boksburg, Edenvale, Esselen Park, Germiston, Kempton Park and Nigel were upgraded. As of March 2019, the metro started a campaign aimed at eradicating all illegal dumping hot spot areas in all wards.
• The Bunny Park will be completed by the end of June 2019.
• Chief Albert Luthuli Extension Six, Clayville, Tsakane Extension 22 will benefit from the construction programmes as more units will be built in the area. This construction programme, called Mega Projects, aims to also benefit John Dube, Daggafontein and Leeuwpoort with a combined total yield of 50 571 units.
• The hostels and flats in Daveyton, KwaThema and Karachi Court have been refurbished during the period under review. To date 6 047 title deeds have been issued to beneficiaries and they aim to double the number in the next financial year.
Masina then touched on the growing crime rates that have become a serious challenge impacting negatively on the sense of safety of the residents and local businesses.
The main crimes in Ekurhuleni include hijacking, robberies and business robberies.
He mentioned they have come up with a target response that has already yielded results.
The EMPD has 1 597 operational members and over 800 traffic wardens, they conduct point duty in areas with schools and assist with visible policing and the enforcement of by-laws.
The metro has procured seven armoured troop carriers (nyalas), these will be delivered by the end of June.
These vehicles are particularly important because they are highly advanced, second-generation nyalas and are the first of its kind in the metro.
“In delivering this Soca, we are restating our commitment to building a local economy that grows in the hands of the people.
“We invite all of you to join us in ensuring we provide a better life for all.
“A life of hope, prosperity and above all, dignity,” he concluded.
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