This week, we take a look at City of Johannesburg events and news from 23 October to 27 October.
Airbnb announced they will invest millions in Africa to promote and support community-led tourism projects. In Johannesburg, international travellers ended up spending R34,5 billion in the City of Gold last year.
Mashaba said this proves that the City is the economic hub of the country. He welcomed the Airbnb investment as a way to show people that they already have the tools needed to participate in the economy.
“Any initiative that assists the City in accomplishing our goal is welcomed. The African continent needs to create entrepreneurial mindsets in the whole population,” he said.
READ: Airbnb to invest millions in South Africa
The City hosted its first ever entrepreneurship ecosystem symposium in Braamfontein on 23 and 24 October attended by entrepreneurs and like-minded business people who want an open dialogue with the City.
MMC for Economic Development, Leah Knott, said entrepreneurship ecosystems bring together human capital, markets, support, finances, policy, support and other factors to help create the necessary ecosystem to help them grow.
“With unemployment currently at 27,7 per cent and youth unemployment at 38,6 per cent, people need new solutions. Entrepreneurs are key players in this quest,” she said.
READ: Q & A: Economic Development MMC explains symposiums
As transport month draws to a close, the City hosted a Kasi to Kasi challenge, urging teams to only use public transport to get to their different destinations for the day.
Each team had about three hours to complete the challenge. Although most South Africans are accustomed to using various forms of public transport, others experienced for the first time what it is like to travel in a minibus taxi and take the Gautrain for the first time.
MMC for Transport, Nonhlanhla Makhuba, also joined the challenge with her own team.
Every team later briefed the MMC on their experiences, adding to the overall analysis of the public transport network in Joburg.
READ:Seeing Joburg with public transport
After the national crime statistics were released on 24 October, the City of Johannesburg’s Executive Mayor Herman Mashaba said he wants to turn the tide against crime in the city.
Mashaba said crimes like business and residential burglaries and motor vehicle theft decreased in the first quarter of this fiscal year.
Statistics for assault with the intention to cause grievous bodily harm and common assault have, however, increased, he said.
“We have invested in [the appointment of] an additional 1500 Metro police trainees who will be a much-needed resource for our force to ensure that we gradually win the fight against criminals on our streets.”
READ: ‘We are committed to turning the tide against crime in Joburg’
