Jozi@Work a massive success, IDP imbizo told
22-04-2015
City of Joburg’s Region A is to roll out several capital projects over the next few months as part of the “final push” to consolidate the gains and successes it achieved over the past four years of the current mayoral term, which ends next year.
The new projects were outlined by Regional Director Abigail Ndlovu during an Integrated Development Planning (IDP) meeting at the Midrand Fire Station earlier this week.
Dozens of residents turned up at the meeting to give their views on the 2015-2016 draft Budget and IDP.
The interactive community-based public meeting was part of a series of “community conversations” held across the city ahead of the IDP Stakeholder Summit at Wembley Stadium in Turffontein on Saturday.
In her address, Ndlovu said residents in Region A, which she said was characterised by “bustling development”, would soon begin to witness the massive rollout of the following capital projects:
l The resurfacing of Nanyuki Road from Sunninghill Hospital to Malindi Road;
l The rehabilitation of George Road;
l The establishment of food gardens, with shade netting and equipment, in wards 77, 78, 79, 92, 95 and 112 at a cost of slightly more than R2 million over the next three financial years;
l The resurfacing and stabilising of gravel roads in Kanana;
l The completion of the tarring of Bulelwa Makomane Street and the tarring of Phakwe and Xinimbela streets in Mayibuye at a total cost of R220 000;
l The tarring of a section of Jamie Uys Street in Vorna Valley and Harry Galaun Road in Halfway Gardens to the tune of R220 000; and
l The development of a four-hectare vegetable garden in Diepsloot. The project will include a concrete fence, ablution facilities, tunnels, a nursery and a storage facility.
On last year’s achievements, Ndlovu said Jozi@Work, the City’s R1 billion empowerment and job-creation initiative, was one of the region’s most “visible accomplishments”, with five work packages having been awarded in the first two months of this year.
The work packages included grave digging and funeral ushering services, construction of ablution facilities for people with disabilities, upgrading and maintenance of the Rabie Ridge Stadium and the renovation and maintenance of the Diepsloot Community Hall.
Other accomplishments included the energising of street lights in Paulshof; installation of eight mass lighting systems along Solidarity Street in Diepsloot; sewer line upgrades in Ivory Park, Rabie Ridge and Kaalfontein at a cost of R5 million; the tarring of roads by the Johannesburg Roads Agency to the tune of about R1 million.
Residents at the meeting applauded the City for enabling them to comment on and make inputs to the draft 2015-2016 Budget and IDP. They also encouraged it to continue developing and improving the region.
Issues of concern included the rapid development of the area without adequate basic infrastructure, illegal taxi and vendor operators, poor road conditions and illegal dumping.