The 2016 municipal elections were called by some, as historic and by others, like City of Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba, a great achievement on our young democracy.
On the first of December Mashaba marked the Democratic Alliance-led administration’s first 100 days in the City. After the elections, the African National Congress had for the first time since 1994 lost their hold on the reigns of South Africa’s economic hub.
In his 45 minute speech, Mashaba said the new administration has already begun work on improving the City’s economic growth by enhancing revenue collection, rejuvenating the inner city and eradicating poor governing, especially within the City’s 180 informal settlements.
Mashaba slammed the previous administration, saying that corruption is not a strong enough term for what was taking place in the City.
“It was outright, shameless, looting.”
The previous administration’s budget and Integrated Development Plan (IDP) has already been approved and therefore inherited by Mashaba.
“We now have to operate with this budget and IDP for the remaining 10 months of the financial year,” he said.
Only at the end of February next year will amendments be allowed by the Auditor General on the budget, barring they are not substantial.
Mashaba highlighted his ten-point-plan, developed with the current budget and IDP in mind.
But what has Mashaba already achieved?
- The cleaning shifts of Pikitup in the inner city have been doubled including a night shift to serve the businesses operating at night
- Metro police have invested a presence in the inner city to manage traffic flows, enforce bylaws and provide visible policing
- As of 21 November, seven SMME hubs have been established
- A specialist K9 Narcotics Tactical Unit was unveiled
- The City’s Early Childhood Development Programme was launched
- Former Gauteng Hawks Head, Shadrack Sibiya, was appointed as the City’s head of internal investigations unit
- A housing list with 79 000 people, some who registered as far back as 1996, have been compiled and will be audited
- 2000 title deeds were distributed
- A pilot project for extending clinic hours was initiated at the Princess Clinic in Roodepoort
What else is in place?
– At the next council meeting in December, there will be a vote on an amendment to the Supply Chain Management Policy that will start the very first open tender system
– Reviewing said the policy will break tenders into smaller parts to the benefit of small businesses, a key point in the mayor’s focus
– By the end of December, a diagnostics exercise will be concluded focusing on the four elements within the billing namely: reviewing the indigents list, improving the property valuation process, improve revenue collection and improving the resolving of billing queries.
– Regarding the inner city rejuvenation as a key priority
– A team of human rights lawyers will assist the City in reclaiming the inner city from what Mashaba calls slum lords
– Support small and medium-sized business to growth
– Establishing an investment fast tracking team
– Reviewing all City bylaws, especially bylaws that influence the economic development decision-making process
– Roll out free wifi network across the City
– Repositioning the City’s image as a tourism destination.
For Mashaba’s full speech, CLICK HERE
