IDP Summit: a window into Joburg’s future

01 May 2016

 

After 26 public meetings characterised by robust, honest, frank and no-holds-barred debate, the City of Johannesburg and its stakeholders – including residents, academics and businesspeople – have produced a service-delivery plan for the next five years.

 

The 2016-2021 Integrated Development Plan (IDP) – described by Executive Mayor Councillor Parks Tau as “the People’s Plan” – was consolidated at a Stakeholder Summit at Nasrec Expo Centre, south of Johannesburg, on Saturday April 30.

The plan was a culmination of three weeks of public consultations that started in Ennerdale in Region G on April 2 and wound up in Braamfontein in Region F on April 21. Two of the meetings gave Johannesburg thought leaders and academics and the city’s business community the opportunity to also contribute to the narrative.

The participants represented a cross-section of the Johannesburg population – from a 78-year-old granny living in a cold shack in Alexandra to a highly respected Wits University academic. The inputs were many and varied. They ranged from concerns about unemployment and drug and alcohol abuse to calls for the building of sporting facilities and the provision of housing.

The plan – which the stakeholders said was “a collective tool to transform society and to ensure that socioeconomic transformation was experienced by all” – also came a few days before Mayor Tau delivers the State of the City Address: on Wednesday May 4.

In a declaration read out at the summit, the City reiterated its commitment to putting people at the centre of development.

“We believe... Johannesburg is a world-class African city whose mission is to proactively deliver and create a city environment in 2040 that is resilient, sustainable and liveable. We will achieve this through our medium-term and long-term plans, targeted programmes and services,” read the declaration.

“We will collectively enable support that drives economic growth, optimal management of our natural resources and the environment and we will develop an inclusive society that contributes to the development of a capable and developmental local government."

“We will reduce poverty by implementing our social security intervention programmes that take care of our most deprived and poor households. We shall continue to provide primary healthcare and basic services such as housing, electricity and water.

”Mayor Tau thanked residents for their participation, saying it was important to hear the people’s views and see them take part in shaping their City.

He said the City now needed to ensure that programmes such as Jozi@Work, Vulindlel’eJozi, and Jozi My Beginning were accelerated.

“We have partnered with big companies to help us make a difference in communities. We have created job opportunities for young people. We have partnered with the University of Johannesburg to help young people study online to finish matric and obtain degrees.

“You must remember that the City creates opportunities and you must grab them. Make sure that even your children take advantage of these opportunities. If you look at all local authorities, the City of Johannesburg is the highest spender in service delivery,” he said.