Protea South residents give City a long IDP shopping list
06 April 2017
Water and electricity cuts; termination of the Jozi@Work programme; leaking sewer and water pipes; potholes; and the lack of housing, proper roads and transport system, street lighting, recreational parks, swimming pools and libraries featured prominently in a Region D Integrated Development Plan (IDP) public participation meeting at the Protea South Multipurpose Centre in Soweto on Wednesday April 5.
Residents also raised concerns about the “inefficient” Siyasizana Extended Special Programme, crime and grime, unemployment, abuse of alcohol and illegal dumping.
Region D includes townships such as Protea North, Protea South, Protea Glen, Chiawelo, Naledi, Tladi, Molapo, Zola, Dobsonville, Meadowlands, Pimville, Diepkloof, Orlando East and Orlando West. It covers over 180sq/km of the land surface and consists of more than 400 000 households.
More than 500 residents packed the hall to contribute to the City’s 2017-2018 IDP document, which will be consolidated and finalised at a stakeholder summit on April 25 ahead of the 2017-2018 Budget presentation by Member of the Mayoral Committee for Finance Cllr Rabelani Dagada in May.
The meeting was attended by, among others, Region D oversight Member of the Mayoral Committee Cllr Nonhlanhla Sifumba and Regional Director Pat Sephunya.
Cllr Sifumba, who also serves as MMC for Community Development, told residents that Executive Mayor Cllr Herman Mashaba’s 10-point plan for Johannesburg – which includes growing the economy by 5% and reducing unemployment by at least 6% – was “clear and attainable”.
“We will grow the economy and create jobs. We will enhance the quality of life by improving service delivery and take care of the environment. We will advance the development of the poor. We will build and promote a caring, safe and secure communities. We commit to be an honest, responsive and productive administration,” she said.
Protea Glen Ward Councillor George Mahlangu appealed to the City to help cut tall grass in open spaces as they had becomes breeding grounds for criminals.
One resident asked the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) to be consistent in its granting of permission to close off streets when families conduct funerals, weddings or parties.
A JMPD representative said the department would always allow streets to be closed off when requested to do so during funerals.
“A funeral is an emergency and is unplanned for. Weddings and parties are something you can plan for. We don’t allow streets and roads to be closed to the public for that. There are parks, halls and other venues for that. You cannot expect streets and roads to be closed off to the public just to hold a birthday party for a one-year-old child,” he said.
Lephunya said the City took the concerns raised at the meeting seriously.