Residents from different areas in Region C, including Ruimsig Informal Settlement and various plots, complained about the City of Joburg budget and insisted that it isolates them.
The City of Joburg Region C tabled the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) at the Ruimsig Athletics Stadium on the evening of 14 April. The consultation was led by the MMC for transport and regional oversight, Councillor Christine Walters.
IDP provides residents with an opportunity to inspect the proposed budget and comment before the mayor delivers the state of the city address.
According to residents, the City’s budget does not address their challenges, which is mainly housing, crime and sanitation.
Resident Winston Sepeng complained that there was capital allocated to the region but it was not utilised according to the IDP. “You are telling us about millions of rands going to repair substations and Honeydew water infrastructure. What about the underprivileged communities,” he said referring to the MMC’s speech.
He further explained that residents from Tyler Road Informal Settlement were congested in a small area of land while there are plots that could be developed into proper housing.
Walters acknowledged that areas like Little Falls, Wielgehuwel and Ruimsig were developing at a fast pace and this contributed to the traffic congestion in the region.
“Shortage of formal housing is a dire challenge in this region and most of the City’s infrastructures need to be maintained,” she explained.
She further promised residents that she had noted all their problems and she would direct them to the relevant departments including the provincial departments.
“South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) gave me a list of lots of issues. I will send the copies to all the departments in the City,” she continued.
She concluded that she would revisit Ruimsig Informal Settlement to assess the situation and establish what can be done.
Ward 97 Councillor Jaco Engelbrecht explained that housing and displacement of people were serious challenges in his ward. “We will arrange with community, land owners and Sanco in order to get to the bottom of these problems,” he said.
He concluded that the department would be engaged to find out what can be done at this stage to remedy these challenges.
Details: Ward 107 Councillor Jaco Engelbrecht, 082 318 6514; City of Joburg Municipal Public Accounts Committee, 082 651 4424.
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