“City of Joburg doesn’t have money”
Former COJ Mayor, Parks Tau, has previously alleged that the COJ is bankrupt however the DA has vehemently denied these claims.
Ward 14 councillor, Makapane Mokwena, hosted a public meeting last Sunday in Protea Glen Ext 4 in an effort to keep residents abreast of the developments in the ward.
One of the residents’ biggest concerns was the park in the area which has gone undeveloped for over 20 years according to residents.
Mokwena noted that R2 million had been allocated for the development of the park in the previous financial year, however, the development has been minimal.
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“We had a meeting with City Parks to discuss this park, they told us that R3 million had been allocated for it and the [City of Johannesburg] took R1 million, which left R2 million. We were told that this R2 million would be implemented by June this year. When we had a meeting with them in June this year they told us there was no money,” Mokwena said.
Former COJ Mayor, Parks Tau, has previously alleged that the COJ is bankrupt however the DA has vehemently denied these claims.
“The comments are nothing more than the ANC’s attempt at reviving Parks Tau’s political career from the ashes,” said mayoral committee member for finance Rabelani Dagada in an interview with The Citizen.
Resident, Palesa Mabunda, felt that the City needed to devise a strategy to ensure that the park is used in a fruitful manner once it is developed.
“Who is going to take care of the after service, how is the community going to benefit from the park? Because the park will be used by the youth to use drugs, we need to find a constructive way to use it that will benefit the community,” Mabunda said.
Amongst the other issues plaguing the community was the persistent issue of illegal dumping. Residents complained that other community members dump their rubbish in open spaces near their homes despite Pikitup providing a weekly service to residents.
Residents further requested that the councillor engage taxi associations operating in the area to move the taxi rank to the park as it will become more accessible to residents in that location and will alleviate the problems it brings at its current location such as public drinking near the Universal Church of The Kingdom of God.
Mokwena also announced that he has been engaging the Department of Sports and Recreation in constructing a new sports ground in the area which Pikitup has cleaned and made available for immediate use while the other structures are being built.
Councillor Mokwena was elected into office in earlier this year in March following the passing of the previous Ward 14 councillor, Jabu Khanyi.
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