Cosmo City residents give officials an IDP shopping list

14 April 2016

 

Residents of Cosmo City have pleaded with the City of Johannesburg to provide the community with recreation and sporting facilities to keep young people away from mischief, crime and drug abuse and contribute to their personal development.

 

The plea was made during a 2016-2021 Integrated Development Plan (IDP) meeting at the Cosmo City Multipurpose Centre on Tuesday night. Former professional soccer player and Cosmo City resident Mike Ntombela was one of those who called for the provision of the facilities.

“Engaging in sporting activities has a positive effect on the lives of the youth. But support for such youths is important and providing facilities for sporting activities is a necessary part of this support,” Ntombela said.

His view was supported by other residents, some of whom said there were a number of vacant spaces in the area that could be developed for such purposes. David Mkhari appealed to City officials to save young people from drugs.

“We need a soccer field with artificial grass and floodlights. We also need the pitch to have goalposts for both soccer and rugby,” Mkhari said.

This seemed to dovetail with Region C Director Mlamleli Belot’s presentation. Belot said the majority of the region’s population was between the ages of 20 and 39.

“Over and above the challenges of illegal dumping and illegal electricity connections, sanitation, land tenure, traffic congestion and public lighting, there is a backlog in community development and inadequate health facilities,” said Belot.

He added, however, that the City was addressing these challenges.

“New developments are in the pipeline. These include the construction of a drug rehabilitation centre to help deal with the abuse of drugs, especially nyaope.

“A new residential development is under way in Malibongwe Ridge to address the proliferation of informal settlements. The Cosmo City Fire Station and a transport facility in Roodepoort are also being constructed,” he said.

The illegal occupation of land earmarked for residential development was raised by residents as another issue of major concern. Victor Mphela asked the City to ensure that such land was protected, especially around Zandspruit, where various attempts to create illegal structures were thwarted. Other residents said though a fire station was a welcome development, the City should rather prioritise the building of clinics.

“I’ve lived in Cosmo City since 2012 and we still don’t have a clinic. We’ve to walk a long distance to the temporary clinic in Section 4,” said Thato Mosito.