The Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Cllr Kabelo Gwamanda, spearheaded the Accelerated Service Delivery Programme in Region F, in the Joburg inner city, reaffirming the city’s dedication to driving the Inner City Regeneration initiative.
This comprehensive effort involves collaborative service delivery operations and engagement with key stakeholders in targeted precincts.
Starting at the Hillbrow Recreation Centre, where the city provided shelter during the Covid-19 pandemic, a coordinated effort between the City’s Department of Community Development, JMPD, SAPS, and other stakeholders executed an eviction order on November 14.
The Executive Director of Community Development, Vincent Campbell, presented a detailed account of the proceedings and outlined plans for the centre.
The delegation then proceeded to the Florence building, addressing ongoing violence in the area. Acknowledging the urgency of the matter, measures to combat the issue were discussed. The next stop was the underused public ablution facilities near Constitution Hill, vital for the surrounding community, particularly workers cleaning the area and visitors to the nearby mortuary.
In a stakeholder engagement with the Braamfontein Improvement District, property owners, and business representatives, discussions covered various issues, including safety and infrastructure. Stakeholders highlighted challenges such as a high crime rate, vagrancy, illegal dumping, and building hijacking.
The mayor acknowledged these concerns, emphasizing a commitment to collaboration with the private sector and organizations dedicated to precinct revitalisation.
He expressed appreciation for the commitment shown in revitalising the central business district and pledged additional resources for infrastructure repair and improved service delivery.
Mayor Gwamanda stressed the importance of bylaw enforcement and outlined a strategic collaboration with stakeholders to foster a vibrant, inclusive, and thriving inner city environment.
The delegation formalised a strategic partnership on Mandela Bridge by signing a memorandum of understanding between the city and Jozi my Jozi, an organisation dedicated to rejuvenating the inner city through partnerships with businesses and stakeholders.
Later, the delegation visited Lilian Ngoyi Street to assess progress in repairing and restoring infrastructure following an earlier explosion.
The Accelerated Service Delivery Programme, adopting an integrated approach, addresses hotspots identified by the region, such as infrastructure defects and urban decay challenges, contributing to economic migration.
Irene Mafune, the Regional Director of Citizen Relationship and Urban Management in Region F, emphasised the collaborative nature of the programme, involving city departments and entities in rendering various services to address challenges identified by the region.
Stakeholders’ concerns about the inner city’s state align with the programme’s objective of restoring investor confidence and strengthening partnerships to address these challenges.
City entities, including the Joburg Roads Agency, City Power, Pikitup, Joburg Water, City Parks, and all relevant service delivery departments have been mobilised to address issues such as potholes, road resurfacing, stormwater channel cleaning, streetlight repairs, property inspections for bylaw contraventions, grass cutting, tree pruning, clearing of illegal dumping spots, cleaning of parks and tree pruning, and fixing burst water pipes and leaks.
The comprehensive programme aims to contribute to the overall improvement of the city.
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