This week the first opportunity centre was opened in Joburg and more ‘corrupt officials’ have been given the boot. Let’s see what else happened…
The City of Johannesburg has finally publicly commented on the legal battle with the former ombudsman, Advocate Sdu Gumede, revealing a possibly grim future for the entire office of the ombudsman.
In a response to questions sent to the mayor’s office by the Randburg Sun, the City said the work of the office will be reviewed, specifically in the coming Institutional Review.
The City said that presently, the office of the ombudsman does not address the needs of residents.
READ: City responds to Joburg ombud case
After they were found to be involved in the so-called illegal dumping of fees, 11 City licensing testing centre employees have been dismissed.
They were found guilty of fraud, corruption, dishonesty and breached sections 13 and 25 of the National Road Traffic Act, 1996 [93 of 1996] as well as the City’s standard licensing procedures after an internal disciplinary hearing
READ:11 ‘corrupt’ Joburg licensing officials dismissed
In this week’s question in Councillor’s Corner, a weekly platform for residents to voice their concerns or questions for ward councillors to respond to, the question about cutting down municipal trees was put to Ward 99 councillor, Nicole van Dyk.
Van Dyk said that any resident may cut down their trees, provided they follow the correct procedure. Read more on this procedure.
READ: Councillor’s Corner: Cutting down trees
Finally, the first of 14 opportunity centres, which are essentially revamped models based on the traditional business hub, opened its doors to aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners across the city.
These centres, in partnership with companies like Absa, Discovery, Smart Procurement and Gen Africa, will aim to be a single point of entry for SMMEs.
These business owners will get help to register their companies and Sars-related functions.
They will have access to funding, markets, economic infrastructure and information to grow their businesses and get assistance with the completion of tender and other application documents.
READ: New Opportunity Centres set to empower Joburg’s entrepreneurs and unemployed youth
