Mogale City Local Municipality’s Executive Mayor Councillor Tyrone Gray recently delivered the multi-party coalition’s first State of the City address.
On Wednesday, June 15 the Mayor was joined at the Centenary Hall by councillors, business leaders, industry members, the MCLM Speaker Jaqueline Pannal, Council Whip Jade Miller, and the Premier of Gauteng, David Makura.
He opened proceedings by saying they were committed to prioritising and enhancing service delivery, improving the lives of the residents, and addressing the development backlogs of the beautiful city.
Gray said they have been charged with the mandate to address the needs of the communities and create a conductive environment, adding they acknowledge that as local government they have been mandated to:
• Provide a democratic and accountable government
• Ensure the provision of services to communities in a sustainable manner
• Promote social and economic development
• Promote a safe and healthy environment
• Encourage the involvement of local communities and civic organisations in the matters of local government
One of the challenges remains unemployment, particularly among young South Africans aged between 15 and 34 accounting for more than 70% of the total number of unemployed persons.
He said that as their mandate is to provide basic services they first have to get the basics right, like providing clean water and a hygienic environment; developing electricity infrastructure; and creating safe and secure public spaces.
Clean water
• The refurbishment of the Percy Steward Wastewater Treatment plant started on January 13, 2022 and eight units of major plant process equipment have been refurbished.
• Electrification from Eskom at the Magaliesburg Wastewater Treatment plant was started on March 24, 2022. This plant was completed three years back but due to electricity challenges it could not be utilised.
• Water pipeline infrastructure construction of 12km has started on January 14, 2022 to improve water supply to Sekata, Tarlton and Kromdraai. Two ground water boreholes have been drilled at Sekata.
• Water supply interruptions at the Thutolifa Primary School are also being fixed. This project started on March 5, 2022.
• Since March 24, 2022 the waste water teams who were accompanied by police have removed three major illegal connections made by zama zamas.
• Matsilapad and Tarlton household connections started in April 2022 and 2 000 households have yard connections.
Environmental planning coordination and climate change
Climate change programmes that have been implemented in Mogale City so far include:
• Water harvesting (Jojo tanks at local schools)
• Urban greening and beatification (tree planting and parks)
• Permaculture and community food gardens
• Manufacturing of hot bags
• Alien plants eradication
• Solar geysers
• Retrofitting
• Electrical motion sensors
In addition, environmental awareness campaigns are conducted regularly and focus on aspects such as:
• Taking care of the environment, for example keeping it clean, planting trees, and keeping the wetlands clean
• Participating in annual environmental days celebrations
• Participating in clean-up campaigns
Integrated waste management
• Weekly waste collection is undertaken continuously. The service has also been expanded to Mindalore’s new housing development and the Cradle Ridge Estate.
• MCLM is implementing the street-sweeping programme which focuses on main streets.
• Fifteen informal settlements are serviced with skip bins.
• The Magaliesburg Transfer and Sorting Facility development has been completed and is now operational. An estimated 110 500 tons of waste are being diverted to be recycled.
• Separation at source is also promoted through supporting the waste pickers that are operating within MCLM.
Biodiversity management
• Grass-cutting spares are being delivered for the first time in seven years, which will enable artisans to repair grass-cutting equipment and allow more grass to be cut.
• Coronation Park: Ablution facility and road network were upgraded; entrance construction was finalised; the construction of new offices are 70% complete; two sites have are being implemented with play equipment; and a new animal farm, new workshop and two new ablution facilities are being constructed; and the refurbishment of the nursery is still underway and is expected to be completed in the 2022/ 23 financial year.
• The Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD) donated a park in Lewisham that was handed over to the community.
• Department of Environment, Fisheries and Forestry (DEFF) through the Kagiso Greening Initiative is in the process of developing a park for the community of Chief Mogale.
• Sterkfontein Cemetery: Ablution facilities have been successfully upgraded.
• Kagiso Cemetery: The resurfacing overlay of the existing roads has been completed.
• Westhaven Cemetery: The upgrading of this cemetery is underway. It serves Munsieville and the nearby suburbs of Krugersdorp.
• The Krugersdorp Game Reserve (KGR) has managed to house different biological assets of MCLM.
Electricity
• Mogale City’s average annual electricity losses are less than 11,5%. Although continuous maintenance is being done on the high-voltage bulk electricity network, the Mayor said the municipality still has a huge backlog on major maintenance.
• Mogale City operates and maintains about 90 000 streetlights which covers an area of about 1 342 square kilometres in all 39 wards. The turnaround time on street light maintenance is improving and over 625 service delivery requests have been received with only 45 outstanding.
Capital projects
• Currently 92% of households, including informal settlements in Mogale City have metered electricity supply. This is due to the electrification project at Soul City informal settlement. Eskom is also busy with electrification projects in other areas.
• Spruit Substation upgrade – The purpose is to upgrade and refurbish this substation. It intends to unlock economic development in Krugersdorp West and the Krugersdorp CBD. Sixteen community members have been hired, ten by subcontractors. Four have secured long-term employment and the project is scheduled to be completed by end October 2022.
Public Spaces
The following programme, among others, was implemented between January and May 2022:
• Water Safety Programme called ‘Love life’ to make sure children are safe around water. A total of 160 children took part in the programme.
Heritage, arts museum and culture
The following programmes were presented:
• Know Your Museum Orientation Programme
• The Mzansi Maskandi Music Workshop was hosted with Ngwane Records and Entertainment Company
• Mogale City Maskandi Festival, hosted with Ngwane Records and Entertainment
• A solo visual art exhibition for Zenon Rozycki
• The department implemented the following programmes in the libraries and reached 70 661 children through its library programmes.
1. Born to Read
2. Story Telling
3. Spelling Bee
4. Read-a-thon and Science Olympiad
5. Public Speaking
• Maintenance and refurbishment was done to libraries to the value of R5 373 673
Roads and public transport system
Roads and Transport Service Delivery Outputs 2021/2022:
• Roads and Storm water Maintenance:
1. 3 400 potholes repaired
2. 75 storm water outlets cleaned
3. 7 storm water outlets repaired
4. 1 202 storm water catch pits cleaned
5. 2 storm water manholes repaired
6. 85,7km of gravel roads graded
7. 1,7km of gravel roads maintained
• About 12,5km arterial roads rehabilitated and resurfaced, and storm water upgrades
• Storm water improvements included resolving the flooding issue at Chamdor Subway
• Finalisation and approval of the Roads Master Plan commenced with the 1st Phase Storm water Master Plan
• Windsor Road had collapsed due to illegal mining activities. The department established relationships with local businesses and collaborated with them to repair and resurface the road
• Bartlett Road repairs have commenced
Crime and its causes
• Public Safety has embarked on a number programmes between January and May 2022:
1. 939 roadblocks
2. 10 816 citations issued
• Operation Okae Molao:
1. 31 operations conducted between January and May.
Economic stimulation projects with MCLM:
• Munsieville Incubation Centre – The centre focuses on the SMMEs in the construction and engineering services sector. The centre employs ten staff members. Currently the centre services 53 on-boarded SMMEs. The SMMEs have created 76 jobs from January 2022 to date.
• Tarlton Agripark – Operational with 30 tunnels, two boreholes and state-of-the-art irrigation system. The ten tunnels are operated by a local cooperative, the 20 tunnels are operated by two local entrepreneurs, and 30 jobs were created in the Agripark. The park will be expanded and the construction of 20 new tunnels, a bladder reservoir, a borehole, ablution facilities, office block and cold room is in progress. To date 22 jobs were created during construction, and this will increase as the construction progresses.
• Swaneville Agripark – The municipality in partnership with Harmony Gold has established a Swaneville Agripark. The following infrastructure was constructed and the Agripark is operational. During the construction of infrastructure eight SMMEs were subcontracted and about 40 local jobs were created. To date 15 community members were appointed to operate the farm.
• Mechanisation programme – The programme support farmers with agricultural-related mechanised equipment. It helps to increase farm-worker productivity and can lead to food security and job creation. For the period July 2021 to date, 22 farmers have been assisted and 98 hectares of land cultivated.
• Building Development Management – From July 2021 to April 2022, the Building Development Division has approved 866 building plan applications with a total area of 171 530 and a value of R866 962 100. During this period 322 building projects were completed to the value of R 622 737 500. Also 5 902 inspections were conducted to curb illegal buildings.
Sustainable housing
Housing backlogs continue to be the biggest challenge in local government across the country. So far, we have managed to do the following:
• Munsieville Ext 9 project commenced, two contractors have been appointed and are building 161 and 70 houses respectively. The houses are to be handed over within this financial year.
• Brickvale housing development will see a total of 6 000 houses. Bulk infrastructure has been completed and construction of the water reservoir will commence once procurement processes have been finalised. The Brickvale contractors are now back on site.
• Leratong City mixed housing development – A contractor has been appointed for construction of the bulk water and sewer lines as well as phase 1 water reservoir, and is anticipated to be completed in July 2023.
• Kagiso Ext 13 – A contractor has been appointed to complete the outstanding 50 housing units that are at different stages of construction and completion date is anticipated for August 2022.
• Upgrade of informal settlement programme – Engagement has taken place with the Gauteng Partnership Fund and HAD to provide sanitation, water and electricity. Settlements on land that is not developable will be relocated to well-located and suitable land. This is an ongoing programme.
• Drs Motlana and Sefularo Rural Housing Development. The DHS have been approached to provide additional funding to finalise bulk infrastructure after which top-structure construction may commence.
Good health and social cohesion
• 125 725 people benefited from the municipal HIV/AIDS management programme between January and May 2022.
• Civil Society Forums that were established and advocate for the reduction of STIs, TB, gender equality and other related pandemics are the Men sector on GBV, Sex Work sector and LGBTIQ.
• Advocacy programmes – STI, TB, Imbizos, condom week and the door to door campaign. 32 200 people were reached through these programmes, 2 855 households visited, 28 026 condoms distributed and 11 590 units of educational material distributed to the community.
Social development programme
• 7 546 people were reached through grant in aids. The programme assisted students to the amount of R361 065.76. NGOs and individuals were also assisted to the value of R723 105.70. The division continues to assist the needy with indigent, pauper burials and free grave sites.
Indigent management
• 1 830 indigent households were registered.
“Reporting to stakeholders in a transparent and public manner is fundamental for all organs of state committed to sustainability. We need to create confidential municipal whistle-blowers lines that will assist in rooting out corruption, and ensure MPAC hearings are open to the public so as to ensure accountability,” said Gray.
100 Days in office programme
• Back to School campaign – 50 pairs of school shoes were donated from the Office of the Mayor since January.
• Annual Business Indaba – The mayor met with different business owners to forge partnerships.
• Different raids were conducted during December 2021 to ensure compliance by the residents and business communities.
• The fibre installation project was launched and is underway. This will stimulate local employment. According to the investors, Munsieville is the next nodal development for fibre.
Water connections and fixing pipes
• Tankers were released from the Chamdor yard. The delay was due to security protocols. They were filling up and taken to various sites that need water.
• Infrastructure upgrade was identified due to older valves that weren’t adequately sealing to start the reticulation.
• The teams are working tirelessly to get the water reticulation system back on line.
Achievements
• Reconning water in different areas and fixing burst pipes.
• Mayor’s cleaning campaign called Cleaning Beke le Beke included cleaning of Bob van Reenen Stadium.
• Reopening the Chamdor Training Centre.
Mayor Gray ended his speech by saying, “If serving others is beneath you then leadership is beyond you”.
