Soweto residents brave the chill to voice concerns at IDP Feedback Session
17 November 2017
Residents of Orlando East, Noordgesig and the surrounding areas used the IDP Feedback session to raise concerns about safety, housing, health, Expanded Social Package registration, EPWP and the free Wi-Fi host spots.
Despite the drop in temperature on the night of Thursday 16 November, community members filled the Orlando Communal Hall to listen to feedback from the City on issues they had raised in April and to make their voices heard.
Led by Cllr Nonhlanhla Sifumba, the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Community Development, the engagement session gave members of the community an opportunity to raise their concerns and to learn about the City’s strategies, outcomes and priorities towards development. Most importantly, the session afforded the community an opportunity to make inputs into the 2018/19 IDP and budget.
MMC Sifumba outlined some of the issues raised in the 2017/18 IDP sessions, which included hostel maintenance, informal settlements, illegal dumping, Youth empowerment, storm water drainage and potholes.
The MMC revealed that the City had fixed more than 120 000 potholes over the past year, upgraded 51 informal settlements and increased Pikitup cleaning services in the informal settlements.
Members of the Community were also informed that the City of Johannesburg would ensure that 60% of its Capital expenditure is spent on the poor. The MMC highlighted projects underway to address issues raised by community members and outlined measures to address the R170 billion infrastructure backlog in the City of Johannesburg.
“The City has committed to doing all it can to deal with the issues raised by the Community. When we say that we are committed to make Joburg more responsive in the delivery of quality services, we really mean that. That is what service with pride is all about,” said MMC Sifumba.
The MMC also outlined measures to address the R170 billion infrastructure backlog in the City of Johannesburg.
She also undertook to take suggestions made by community member about the extension of the EPWP contracts and the allocation of serviced stand for people to build their own house to Council for consideration.
The IDP engagement and feedback sessions are held at various regions to give progress report on the infrastructure developments, repairs and maintenance as well as provide responses to other matters raised by community members on service delivery.
The IDP feedback sessions have taken place in areas like Phefeni, Naledi, Diepkloof, Chiawelo, Pimville, Dobsonville and Orlando East with all Wards in Region D being accommodated.
The IDP is a process through which municipalities prepare a strategic development plan, which extends over a five-year period. It includes the planning, budgeting, resource allocation and decision-making processes within the municipality, as well as the public participation process.