Joburg leader in basic service delivery – report

According to the 2016 South African Cities Network Report released on 22 June, the City of Johannesburg is the leader in providing basic services to its residents.

The report also found that the City has made massive progress in reducing poverty and improving its residents’ livelihoods, but inequality still remains a challenge.

SA Cities Network chief executive officer, Sithole Mbaga said South African municipalities had improved significantly since the demise of apartheid 22 years ago. “We now think that we have reached a point [at which] we can conclude that South African municipalities are resilient, particularly the cities,” he said.

“These cities have managed to achieve their objectives under difficult circumstances. The report has reached the conclusion that these cities are strong.”

The report also revealed that most households now have access to basic services.

Johannesburg residents, in particular, enjoy greater internet connectivity as a result of the massive broadband rollout throughout the city.

The report shows how the City’s economy is also growing, however, unemployment remains a challenge and living in the city is becoming increasingly unaffordable for some. This, however, has not deterred migrants from flocking to Johannesburg, doubling population growth from 2001 to 2011, according to the report.

Johannesburg Executive Mayor Parks Tau said the report was important as it monitored the cities’ challenges, opportunities and emerging trends which had to be considered by management. “The bulk of economic activity in the world happens in our cities.

“Many cities face high levels of migration and urbanisation and, in many ways we need to take advantage of these trends and development, but also confront the complexities that they present.”

Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Deputy Minister Andries Nel said the Global Cities 2030 study predicted that Johannesburg would be the biggest city on the continent by 2030 in terms of the Gross Domestic Product, contributing R2.9 trillion, with Cape Town placed fourth at R1.01 trillion.

Xolile George, chief executive officer of the South African Local Governance Association said, “Local governance has come a long way and one of the key issues that this report exposes is the journey we’ve travelled thus far.

“Looking at [the past] 23 years, there has been a fair share of programmes [that have reformed] local governance to its current state. The cities, in particular, play a critical role in confronting these realities, at the same time harnessing the opportunities for their citizens.”