Plans are tabled at Soca
JOHANNESBURG – The City is planning to conclude electrification of nine informal settlements.
City of Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba delivered his State of the City Address (Soca) on 30 April at the Council Chamber.
Mashaba tabled achievements from previous years and plans for the various sectors of service delivery going forward.
Housing
With a housing backlog of 300 000 units in the city, Mashaba revealed that in February this year, council had adopted the Inclusionary Housing Policy which requires developers to dedicate 30 per cent of new residential units to affordable housing.
Mashaba said their strategy was to involve a combination of RDP housing, social housing, informal settlement upgrading and partnerships with the private sector. In the past two years, Mashaba said the City had provided 6 261 units, and 4 000 sites and service stands would be delivered this year.
In March, the City launched the first site and service project in Zandspruit which has been commissioned to deliver 701 fully serviced stands. Furthermore, 6 659 title deeds have been handed over by the multi-party government since coming into office.
Informal settlements
Mashaba announced that the budget for electrifying informal settlements had increased from R260 million to a budget of R750 million in the next three years. He added that the electrification of nine informal settlements, Meriting, Alexandra, Rugby Club, Tsepisong, Matholesville, Heavenly Valley, Rabie Ridge, Princess and Kliptown which covers 6 500 households is reaching its conclusion. Furthermore, he said 151 million litres of water had been provided in stationary tanks, 57 000 VIP toilets and 7 178 chemical toilets were delivered to informal settlements.
Health
According to Mashaba, last year, the number of undocumented foreigners who accessed health care in the 66 City-owned clinics has more than doubled to 83 000 compared to previous years. He said the City had extended the operating hours of 22 clinics, and four more would be opened by the end of the year.
He added that the City had opened five substance abuse clinics in Elderado Park, Tladi, Alexandra, Randburg and Joubert Park.
City Power
Mashaba said by the end of the current financial year, the City would have completed refurbishment of Roosevelt, Sebenza, Wilropark, Nancefield, Heriotdale, Mondeor, Mulbarton, Pennyville and Waterval sub stations. “In the 2019/20 financial year, City Power’s focus will shift to the replacement of high and medium power lines across the city using aluminium instead of copper to reduce cable theft,” he said.
Joburg Water
With 45 000 water leaks and burst pipes at the beginning of his tenure, Mashaba said they were projecting leaks to decrease to 10 000 in this financial year. He said the replacement of sewer pipelines had exceeded the annual target.
Joburg Roads Agency
Mashaba said in the next three financial years, the City would invest R1.2 billion for road surfacing, rehabilitation and reconstruction. He said nearly 70km of gravel roads had been tarred.
PikitUp
According to Mashaba, 1 544 people were employed as part of the current insourcing project.
Related articles:
Joburg mayor Herman Mashaba committed to revalitise the city’s economy
