Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Herman Mashaba reaffirmed that dire challenges in Zandspruit informal settlement could not be changed overnight, but were the City’s priority.
Mashaba was talking to residents during the Johannesburg Roads Agency’s (JRA) clean-up campaign on 14 October. He said that he would work closely with Ward 114 councillor, Victor Mafinya to ensure that service delivery in the area was accelerated.
He said the settlement was the first place he visited during the election campaign after he was named the mayoral candidate for the City. “My campaign started here. I am glad that I am back here because I was touched by the appalling conditions of our people,” he said.
He pleaded with the residents to work with the council to accelerate service delivery. He said that before, he knew that there were many challenges in informal settlements, but did not realise the extent of the dire living conditions. “It is unacceptable for our people to live in conditions that we call informal settlements. As the government, we need to treat this matter as urgent,” he explained.
Mashaba indicated that the City’s officials were committed to working with people and follow what the government wanted for residents. “I know the challenge of Zandspruit, I cannot solve it overnight. I wish I had the power to change it but it is our priority,” he assured.
He said during the election campaign he had promised three aspects that he would tackle immediately when he took over office. “First one is to create jobs for you. The government cannot employ people but our responsibility is to create an enabling environment to allow the private sector to employ our people,” he told residents.
He said he promised to fight the scourge of corruption and all officials from the City had pledged that corruption was Enemy Number One.
“We are working to find land that belongs to the City and fast-track it to give our people stands with title deeds. We want to give you dignity,” he said.
Mashaba concluded by saying that he was committed to running a responsible government which does not steal money from its people. “Come 2021, we want you to see that we have made a difference in your lives,” he concluded.
