The Integrated Development Plan (IDP) summit meeting held at the Roodepoort Town Hall recently was once again marred by disruptions and violence.
The summit meeting was well attended, and according to one of the residents, Gill Stewart, it was good to see the community attend this meeting in such big numbers. “Although there were a few interruptions, the community did not stand for this, and was adamant the meeting should continue,” she said.
According to the City of Johannesburg’s (CoJ) Executive Mayor, councillor Herman Mashaba, a small group of about 40 people had to be removed from the hall after failing to adhere to numerous requests to take their seats and allow for the session to continue. “Their removal was met by rapturous applause by the community filling the hall and the meeting was then able to proceed without issue. Residents continued to share their frustrations of dealing with the CoJ over many years,” Mashaba said.
To see video of the event click here
Local Government is required to compile an IDP – which is a five-year plan – to determine the developmental needs of communities within the city. This means that it represents a social contract between the City and residents – aiming to respond to the needs of communities and the protection of their rights.
Mashaba added that the community gave the CoJ a mandate to bring about change, and that is exactly what they are aiming for with this IDP, based on nine identified priorities:
• Promoting economic development and attracting investment in order to achieve a five per cent economic growth rate and reduce unemployment
• Ensuring pro-poor development that addresses spatial and income inequality and provides meaningful redress
• Creating a culture of enhanced service delivery with pride
• Creating a sense of security through improved public safety
• Creating an honest and transparent city that fights corruption
• Creating a city that responds to the needs of citizens, customers and businesses
• Enhancing the CoJ’s financial sustainability
• Encouraging innovation and efficiency through the Smart City programme
• Preserving the City’s resources for future generations
The majority of the IDP meetings (regional as well as the summits) were met with spats of violence and disruptions, with the meeting held in Midrand ending with some bloodshed. “It is extremely disappointing that events unfolded in this manner, however we cannot allow a small group of individuals to rob the rest of the community of their right to engage with their government. We welcome constructive engagement, including dissenting voices. Listening to differing views is essential in ensuring that the final IDP truly represents all residents of Johannesburg,” said Mashaba.
A number of members of the African National Congress, the ANC Youth League and the South African National Civic Organisation in Zone 5 were not happy with how proceedings went at the Roodepoort meeting. “It is with dismay that we have noted the brutal attack on community members by officers of the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department and the police, and we strongly condemn these actions. We want to have it on record that the community of Region C was not consulted on the CoJ IDP and budget, as required by the Municipal Finance Management Act, and therefore we do not recognise the session that continued after the removal of certain community members,” the organisations said in a press statement.
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