THERE were 10 resolutions taken by Joburg mayor Clr Herman Mashaba, MMCs, City Manager Trevor Fowler, executives responsible for departments and municipal-owned entities.
These resolutions were taken from the beginning of September. One of them will be the investigation of possibility of keeping clinics open for extended hours.
Clr Mashaba said the sessions were necessary to help the new political leadership understand what is required to speed up service delivery to residents.
On behalf of the City’s political and administrative leadership, Clr Mashaba released a 10-point plan to kick-start Joburg’s revival. This includes:
1. A recognition by all present (political and administrative leadership) of the political arrangement/coalition imposed by the electorate in Joburg. This is necessary to help us move forward with speed and be responsible to the electorate’s wishes.
2. Joburg must run a responsive and pro-poor government. This City can be business friendly and pro-poor at the same time.
3. Plans and policies must be aligned for the City to work towards achieving a five per cent economic growth rate. While this is an ambitious target, given that the country’s own economic growth rate is projected at 0.6 per cent by the Reserve Bank, the City appreciates the fact that if we do not achieve this, unemployment will remain high, the youth will still be out of school and out of jobs at the end of this term. Joburg must be the engine of the country’s economic growth. This can’t happen at the current growth rate. Achieving this five per cent jump requires both government and the business sector to join hands, understanding that it is absolutely critical to achieve five per cent GDP growth because failing to kick-start the Joburg economy has dire implications beyond Joburg’s own borders.
4. Create a professional public service that serves Joburg residents with pride. Residents deserve a City which serves them with the highest standards delivered by a civil service that is dedicated and proud.
5. Ensure that corruption is public enemy number one in Joburg. Corruption steals from the poor and should be nipped in the bud. Investigations must be conducted into alleged fraud or corruption and the administration will work closely with law enforcement authorities to see to it that nobody is above the law.
6. Revive the inner city to bring people and business back into the inner city.
7. Complete the official housing waiting list and get it signed off by the mayor in three months. Unlike before, it will be publicly available at government offices and to communities to ensure that it is transparent.
8. Produce within two months a report on the number of completed houses built by the 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 residents live without acceptable accommodation.
9. Fast-track the handover of title deeds – to ordinary residents, churches and businesses.
10. Use one of the clinics as a pilot project to investigate possibilities of availing health facilities to residents for extended hours.
Clr Mashaba said their plans must be bold and ambitious. The implementation must match that boldness. Joburg residents have waited for far too long for decent provision of services. “We can’t make them wait any longer,” he said.
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