Although the end of the year is approaching, the City of Johannesburg shows no sign of slowing down.
Although it is not the end of the month yet, we take a look at the latest news from your municipality:
The ANC will, once again, apply for a motion of no confidence in Executive Mayor Herman Mashaba and Speaker of Council Vasco Da Gama because of the City’s apparent financial ruin and the lack of oversight and accountability for the recently announced infrastructure crisis.
City Power has launched a pilot project to reduce the turnaround time for unplanned interruptions. The initiative seeks to convert City Power trucks and quantum vehicles into mobile warehouses and panel vans, in which materials will be kept for maintenance. If the one-month pilot project yields positive results, City Power will convert removal vehicles into mobile warehouses.
A story of angry churchgoers in Hillbrow who attacked and disarmed a Metro police officer made national headlines. The officer, Siphiwe Sebati, was taken to hospital after the attack. When he attempted to confiscate an illegally parked car outside the church with the help of another officer members of the congregation decided to attack them. Not even a warning shot deterred them. A video recording of the incident went viral on social media, prompting authorities to condemn the attack. Sebati has since been discharged from hospital and arrests were made.
After the City increased its monthly income threshold for the Expanded Social Package (ESP), more residents can now apply for indigent benefits. The package income threshold increased from R5 308.20 to R5 578.91 on 1 November, in line with the consumer price index.
A new and dangerous practice has reared its head within the City of Johannesburg: the mining for valuables and precious metals inside sewer lines. People are apparently gaining access to sewer lines and causing blockages in the system by obstructing the flow of sewage and then sifting for valuables like jewellery.
The ANC chief whip in Joburg, Solly Mogase, has opened a fraud case against Sharon Peetz, the former MMC for Economic Development who was fired. This, in spite of the fact that a case had already been opened at Honeydew Police Station earlier this year. Peetz was fired as MMC after allegations that she falsified proof of payment documents as eviidence that she paid for a family member to accompany her on an official trip to Spain.
