Stop izinyoka - MMC Vondo's plea at IDP meeting

18 April 2016

 

The City of Johannesburg’s Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development, Councillor Chris Vondo, has urged Soweto residents to stop engaging in unlawful acts, including illegal electricity connections and attacking the homes of councillors.

 

“People must act responsibly,” MMC Vondo told an Integrated Development Planning (IDP) meeting at the Protea South Hall in Region D late last week. “All the wards are allocated a budget and have to follow norms and standards.”

The council has approved the draft 2016-2021 IDP document for public consultation. The draft is being presented to Johannesburg residents for comment in 17 communities over a three-week period – up to Thursday April 21. The IDP meetings will culminate in a broader stakeholder summit on Saturday April 23 at a venue still to be announced.

The plan outlines how the City will spend R28-billion over the next three financial years to enhance the quality of life of residents. He said the meeting was aimed at shaping the future of Johannesburg but added that it was not possible for the City build a clinic or hall in each and every ward.

The MMC singled out youth development as one of the major priority issues for the City, as stated by Executive Mayor Councillor Parks Tau in his State of the City Address in May 2015. Residents’ concerns aired at the meeting ranged from the lack of sports facilities, libraries, clinics, halls and street lighting to nepotism in the allocation of tenders and Jozi@Work packages, poor service at clinics and suppliers not being paid within the 30-day prescribed period.
Regional Director Pat Lephunya called on residents to abide by the City’s by-laws. He said a youth development programme was in place.

“A road resurfacing programme and a storm water master plan have been completed and R480-million has been budgeted for this purpose,” he said.

He said projects to promote non-motorised transport and develop walkways and landscaping along Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) routes had commenced.