Internal Newsletter
In the Loop
STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS
Issue No.
26 April 2016
Date: Wed, 04 MAY 2016 Time: 11:00 AM
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www.joburg.org.za CityofJohannesburg
What’s inside:
@ C i t y o f J o b u r g ZA
A taste of Joburg’s own bread
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14
21
Contents
Arts, Sports & Culture
3
Message from the Executive Mayor
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Mlangeni, Bizos received Freedom of Joburg
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2016 SOCA to focus attention on major progress
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Next stage of Freedom Journey has started
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‘Delivering the promised future…’
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Towards better health and safety at work
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Joburg residents keep Ombudsman on his toes
17
Farewell to veterans of City’s roads
7
All roads lead to Joburg…
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2016 Winners of JW Excellence Awards
8
Joburg Bread lands with a healthy flava!
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Health Awards
9
Jozi@Work continues to empower communities
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Joburg in Pictures
10
Better health care now within reach of communities
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Rhythmic beats on Freedom Day
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City’s longest river in line for facelift
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Taking theatre to the people
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Driefontein – where waste water is given new value
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The Ride for Freedom continues
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Point your finger to improve your HEALTH
T
he Freedom Ride celebrates the power of the bicycle to connect communities and cities. First launched in February 2014, the non-competitive event – which also honours the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela – takes place regularly along a route from the Joburg CBD, through Soweto and back to Braamfontein.
Acknowledgements
Cover Credits
Editor: Thomas Thale - thomasth@joburg.org.za
More than 70 Joburg bakers recently completed a training course on how to produce a new kind of bread using flour processed from the mango fruit. The healthy alternative to conventional loaves will be on the shelves from June and community groups will be given opportunities to invest in baking enterprises. An expert on mango flour, Dr. Evelyn Taboada from the Phillipines, was in the City to teach local bakers the finer skills required to produce these tasty and nutrient loaves.
Contributor: Luyanda Lunika - luyandal@joburg.org.za Photography: Enoch Lehung - enochl@joburg.org.za Lesego Montsho - LesegoMon@joburg.org.za
The Ride for Freedom continues
It is a fun, social event that is open to everyone – from those learning to ride to pro-cyclists. Freedom Rides are organised by cycling activists, volunteers and corporate sponsors and participation is free for all. However, participants are encouraged to make donations to the Bicycle Empowerment Centres being established in Johannesburg. Lisa Seftel, the Executive Director: Transport says the City strongly supports the objectives of the Freedom Ride because it focuses attention on alternative modes of transport such as cycling and walking. The routes always pass through some of the City’s rich cultural and historical areas highlighting landmarks and events that are significant – thus contributing to social cohesion and a better understanding of the City’s past, present and future. The organisers believe in the promotion of cycling to create a healthier environment for all through a reduction in greenhouse gases. These objectives also support the City’s programmes to encourage healthier lifestyles through regular physical activities such as cycling.
Follow a typical route: The 35km Ride starts in Jorissen Street in Braamfontein and winds its way westward towards Brixton along a planned bicycle lane. It then follows the Rea Vaya bus route, past the Newclare Cemetery where one of Johannesburg’s struggle icons – and Freeman of the City – Walter Sisulu, is buried. The cyclists then carry on straight into Soweto, passing Orlando Stadium with a brief rest in Vilakazi Street, to take in the historical significance of a precinct where the homes of two Nobel Peace Prize winners – Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu – are located. Participants then continue past the Hector Pieterson Memorial before turning into Klipspruit Valley Road. It returns to the Joburg CBD via the N17, Nasrec Road, Mayfair and Fordsburg, with the Nelson Mandela Bridge as the formal finishing point. On Ride days Rea Vaya allow passengers to take their bikes on buses. The best way to travel to the starting point is along the T1/T2/T3 routes to Library Gardens which is located only a few hundred metres away from the Nelson Mandela Bridge.
Freedom Rides raise funds to set up Bicycle Empowerment Centres and bicycle distribution programmes in lower income areas. The centres are run by trained mechanics – funded by participants in the Rides. The centres operate as retail stores selling second hand, refurbished bicycles, spares and accessories. They also serve as bicycle maintenance and training centres. The first Centre was set up in Orlando following a process of consultation with communities, local transport representatives and cycling organisations. Two local bike activists were selected to undergo training in maintenance and business management skills. April 2016
In the Loop – 23
Message from the Executive Mayor
Arts, Sports & Culture
Contents
Taking theatre to the people
Through theatre productions the performers hope to address issues that are relevant to the lives of their young audiences focusing on themes such as self-confidence, life-skills, social cohesion and awareness about educational and career opportunities.
Message from the Executive Mayor The world of luxury cruise ships on high seas is seldom associated with township life in a big inland city like Johannesburg. But for Mduduzi Mbatha, Refiwe Kubheka, Thato Makume, Katlego Kapa, Thabo Thamae and Phumlani Mbonane, it is official: this is a barrier broken down and contrasting elements have been connected. They have joined some 25 261 other youths in Johannesburg who have been successfully matched to more than half of the 49 000 empowerment opportunities secured by Vulindlel’ eJozi since its launch in June 2015.
City youth programme breaks barriers to opportunities
T
op Joburg theatre productions are now going into \communities with the introduction of a fully-equipped mobile theatre.
The fact that the productions take place on a mobile stage does not have an impact on the professionalism of the performers or the quality of the production.
Some of the productions that, in the past, could only be watched on the large stages of the Johannesburg Theatre will be adapted to delight audiences who come to watch actors and artists perform from the back of a 20-metre truck.
The mobile stage was used with great success during the 2016 New Year’s party in Newtown and was also an attraction at the Rand Easter Show.
This will make the magic of theatre productions more accessible to people who cannot always visit the shows because of costs and the availability of transport, says Xoliswa Nduneni-Ngema the Chief Executive of the Joburg City Theatres. “If the patrons can’t come to the theatre, we are delighted to take the theatre to them.” A large truck – designed by Mercedes Benz and built by Serco – has been converted into a comprehensive mobile theatre, consisting of a fully-equipped stage, 10 metres wide and 5 metres deep, dressing rooms, and professional lighting and sound systems.
Nduneni-Ngema says they are optimistic that the presence of the truck in Joburg communities will contribute to a greater appreciation of the performing arts and lead to a sustained culture of theatre-going. “Many children will have their first experience with the theatre when they interact with performers on the truck. We hope that this will open new horisons and stimulate an interest in all forms of art and lead to a resurgence in visits to theatres, music productions, exhibition and museums,” she says.
Colleagues, Just days ago, the City of Johannesburg’s youth programme, Vulindlel’ eJozi, reached a remarkable milestone whereby the lives of youngsters from Orange Farm will never be the same again. Through a programme that breaks down barriers to the maritime sector a group of six will be starting their careers on luxury cruise ships at the end of April.
Through Vulindlel’ eJozi we are identifying young people from poorer communities who have the potential – but not the means – to empower themselves. The emphasis is on breaking down barriers to various opportunities that include entry-level job placement, online further education and entrepreneurship skills development and incubation. One of the concerning realities of the current economic slowdown is that there are insufficient opportunities for jobs and further studies for the thousands of young people who emerge from high school education every year.
of learning by placing textbooks and course material online. The City’s decision to roll-out high-speed broadband now offers the infrastructure spine on which fibre is connected to libraries and community facilities. At many of these venues young Joburgers can walk into a room filled with computers, register, access a vast library of online course material, interact with teaching lecturers, download literature, and eventually write exams and receive a fully accredited qualification. Through the MOOV centres – the city is breaking down physical barriers to educational opportunities for our local enquiring minds. Value in the youth Closely linked to this is an initiative we have embarked on with the Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator and in partnership with the private sector. The idea is to match the academic qualifications and special skills of young people with job opportunities that are available within companies in our city. Through this programme, we offer the entry-level job training and facilitate placement into jobs with participating companies.
New ways of learning True to our nature as an innovative “city of firsts,” Johannesburg is looking to developmental governance and “out of the box” solutions to address challenges of youth unemployment.
Indeed Johannesburg is a city where the young lead the call for transformation, demanding the opportunity to work, to improve their lives, and become the best of what they can be. We are a city which knows that with just a little help, our youth are not the challenge some perceive them to be, but our greatest asset.
Across the world tertiary education is no longer confined to stuffy lecture halls on brick campuses. The global digital revolution has democratised the world
Cllr. Mpho Parks Tau Executive Mayor
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Quality productions for young audiences The current focus is on productions that appeal to younger audiences. The truck will be parked at high schools and primary schools where actors from the Theatre’s Youth Department will perform on weekends.
22 – April 2016
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In the Loop – 3
Arts, Sports & Culture
Good Governance
Rhythmic beats on Freedom Day
2016 SOCA
to focus attention on major progress
J
ohannesburg’s achievements across the full spectrum of service delivery, investments in infrastructure and innovation and social cohesion will dominate the coming State of the City Address by Executive Mayor Parks Tau. This year’s speech – scheduled for 4 May – will conclude the current term of office of the elected Council and the Mayoral Committee. The coming local government elections will be an opportunity for the citizens of Johannesburg to give a fresh mandate for its elected representatives. Mayor Tau is expected to emphasise the major changes that have come about in Johannesburg under his leadership. When he was first elected the City had a budget of R28.3-billion. In the subsequent five years it has almost doubled – to R52.6-billion – in addition to the R100-billion investment in economic infrastructure announced in 2013. The State of the City Address – SOCA – will provide feedback on the progress made with the City’s major initiatives but, more importantly, set out the Mayor’s vision for the coming year.
More opportunities for job seekers Job creation through training and skills development has been a recurring theme of his first term. It has found tangible expression in programmes such as Jozi@Work and Vulindlel’ eJozi, an innovative partnership between the City, the NGO sector and the private sector to train young people and match their skills with job opportunities in the market.
Opening the door to innovation Mayor Tau is a firm believer in the contribution that innovation and technology can make to change the lives of residents in Africa’s leading City. At the start of his term he launched the roll-out of high-speed broadband as the catalyst to turn Johannesburg into a “smart city.” On the back of this fibre-optic network the City has since introduced free Wi-Fi hotspots, launched Massive Open Online Varsities at libraries and is about to introduce an e-health system at clinics that will revolutionise the quality of health care delivery.
Changing the model of delivery Sustainability has been a recurring theme in Mayor Tau’s previous SOCA speeches. Last year there was the emphasis on projects in the “blue economy” where resources are used – and re-used – to create a virtuous cycle of development. Water scarcity, food insecurity, power cuts and unemployment are all issues that can be addressed through “the clever use of technology and innovation.”
Creating a more united City Johannesburg has been the leading City in South Africa to address issues relating to social cohesion and transforming the spatial legacy of the apartheid system. The Corridors of Freedom is a flagship initiative launched by Mayor Tau to change settlement patterns and re-stitch the City through an emphasis on transit-oriented development. • The 2016 SOCA will enable Joburgers to attend and listen to the Mayor’s address. It will also be broadcast live on local radio and TV stations and residents will be able to follow proceedings at a number of venues across the City.
A
frica Umoja is a pulsating musical celebration of South African song and dance ... from the potent rhythms of tribal music to the intricate steps of gumboot dancing; from the foot stomping jazz of Sophiatown to the pounding energy of Kwaito. The Soweto Theatre will host a single performance of Africa Umoja: The Spirit of Togetherness on Freedom Day – 27 April. Created by local music producers Todd Twala and Thembi Nyandeni, this show is a celebration of dynamic talent, thrilling energy and sensual dancing sweeping across the vibrant South African traditional music landscape. “They dance like demons; sing like angels and drum like musicians possessed…” The Daily Telegraph – London. Africa Umoja not only celebrates South Africa, it elevates the human spirit and sweeps up audiences through the energy generated on stage. “The pulsating musical odyssey leaves you breathless and your heart pumping for more…” – South China Morning Post. The two hour production features a large variety of songs and dances that have been performed in African communities for hundreds of years. It takes audiences on a journey from the Venda Snake Dance and traditional Zulu dancing to the beats of gumboot dancing and the energy of modern Kwaito and street Hip Hop. • The performances on Freedom Day will start at 14h00 and 19h00 and advanced bookings can be done at the Soweto Theatre.
4 – April 2016
Classic melodies performed on Magic Flute Lovers of opera and classical music are in for a treat in May when a local production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute is performed for four shows only. The Magic Flute is the most performed opera in the world for the past 200 years and is considered to be among the best music written by the young Austrian composer. The South African production is a partnership between the Joburg Theatre and MDN Classics. The popular texts will be sung in German but the dialogues have been adapted to a mixture of South African languages to capture the lighthearted side of the opera. The cast will include two German-based South African singers, the tenor, Musa Nkuna, as Tamino and soprano, Caroline Nkwe, as Pamina. Another local favourite, Aubrey Lodewyk, performs the role of Papageno. The production is accompanied by the German Rhine Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of the young conductor, Desar Sulejmani and the award-winning Gauteng Choristers will be the chorus.
In the Loop – 21
Good Governance
Joburg in Pics 1
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“We invite Joburg citizens to use all communication platforms – community meetings, social media, hand-delivered letters, e-mails and telephone calls – to give their input about the future development and advancement of our city.” – Executive Mayor Mpho Parks Tau.
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1. Members of the Johannesburg Junior Council were present at an event where the City joined the Cities Changing Diabetes Initiative, a global campaign. The function was hosted by the MMC for Health and Social Development, Nonceba Molwele and also attended by representatives from the Danish pharmaceutical company, Novo Nordisk. 2. Buyisile Majola from the Joburg Fresh Produce Market, Helen Botes, the CEO of the Joburg Property Company, the City’s Chief Operations Officer, Gerald Dumas and Patricia Telela attended the Annual General Meeting of Municipal-owned Entities. 3. Veteran anti-apartheid activist and civil rights campaigner, Andrew Young, right, recently visited Johannesburg with Kassim Reed, the Mayor of Atlanta. They met with Johannesburg’s Executive Mayor, Cllr Mpho Parks Tau and the Premier of Gauteng, David Makhura.
‘Delivering the promised future…’
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Key excerpts from the 2016-2021 IDP •
The City is committed “to work with citizens to find sustainable ways to meet their social, economic and material needs and improve the quality of their lives.”
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The City will provide “the necessary foundation for the spatial transformation of Johannesburg, as a step towards the establishment of a more inclusive, liveable and sustainable city for all.”
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The City supports an “inclusive, job intensive, resilient and competitive economy that harnesses the potential of citizens…”
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Citizen participation is central to good governance. The City will create innovative mechanisms that enable meaningful citizen participation. “It is through communication that democratic process will be achieved and the developmental agenda be attained.”
4. The City of Johannesburg’s stall at the annual Rand Show attracted thousands of visitors during the recent Easter period – and was also recognised as the third best stall at the annual exhibition. 5. Dr Rafik Bismilla, Executive Director for Health and Karen Brits, the Director for Legal and Compliance were among the officials present at the AGM of Municipal-owned entities. 6. Sihle Magubane was one of the young exhibitors at the recent Joburg Market Day where he spoke with Cllr Ruby Mathang, the MMC for Economic Development and Executive Mayor, Mpho Parks Tau.
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he blueprint of a future Johannesburg is being drafted by stakeholders and communities this month as community consultation takes place on the City’s Integrated Development Plan. This will culminate in a Stakeholder Summit on Saturday 23 April where final changes to the draft document will be discussed before it is submitted to Council for approval. Johannesburg’s Executive Mayor, Cllr Mpho Parks Tau, has called on all communities to actively participate in the development of a document that charts the way forward for the City over the five year period leading up to 2021.
How you can have your say on the IDP: •
“The IDP is a people’s plan – and it should be owned by the people. Through the IDP we are delivering on the promised future by putting people at the centre of development and collaboration between government and communities,” says Mayor Tau.
The Draft IDP 2016-2021 is available on the City’s website – www.joburg.org.za.
•
Copies will also be available at the 24 public meetings being held during April in all seven regions. The 130 wards in the city are clustered according to geographic proximity, overlapping interests and developmental needs.
•
Comments can be sent directly to the Office of the City Manager, for attention: Ms Angelique Matainz – AngeliqueM@joburg.org.za or Mr Sipho Madi – SiphoM@joburg.org.za.
The theme of the IDP is: “Delivering the promised future by putting people at the centre of development.” The comprehensive document translates the objectives of the City’s Growth and Development Strategy – GDS 2040 – into medium-term practical programmes that can be implemented. Among these programmes are: the Corridors of Freedom, Jozi@Work, Vulindlel’ eJozi and initiatives in the ‘blue’ and ‘green’ economies.
20 – April 2016
In the Loop – 5
Employee News
Good Governance
Joburg residents keep Ombudsman on his toes
HEALTH AWARDS
The City of Johannesburg’s Department of Health has honoured the contribution made by employees and teams towards the department’s success.
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W
hen Johannesburg’s first Ombudsman, Advocate S’duduzo Gumede, walked into his office in Houghton for the first time in July 2015 to officially start his new job as an independent arbiter of disputes involving residents and the City’s administration, he knew it was not going to be a walk in the park. And it wasn’t. Considering that the City has 10 departments and 15 entities, and a population of more than four million people, the Office of the Ombudsman already had its work cut out for it. Adv. Gumede and his staff of 13 had to hit the ground running. And they did. More than six months after its establishment, the Office of the Ombudsman has received more than 1 500 inquiries from disgruntled Johannesburg residents and business people. There is a process to be observed in filing a complaint in that supporting documentation must be complete before a case is opened. It is equally important for the complainants to show that they have given the City an adequate opportunity to address the matter before they escalate it to the office of the Ombudsman. Adv. Gumede explains that his office is one of last instance in a chain of dispute resolution platforms available.
Adv. Gumede says his office has, on occasion, handled up to 400 inquiries a month and not all result in actual cases being opened. Of the cases that have been opened, 433 concern billing queries, 36 relate to property valuations and rates, 12 to development planning, nine to water and sanitation and the balance to other services.
6 – April 2016
1. Ms Sara Dass and Dr M Santana received the Executive Director’s Special Award.
“We also plan to visit all the City’s seven regions as part of our outreach program so that the Office is accessible to as many people as possible,” says Adv. Gumede.
2. The Allied Category Individual Award was presented to Ashwyn Bingham by Ms Jabu Rakosa, the Director Health Systems Development and Ms Mogeru Morewane, the Chief Director: Joburg Health District.
Residents and businesses can contact the Office of the Ombudsman by calling 087 980 0058 or 010 288 2800; through email at info@joburgombudsman.org.za, the website: www.joburgombudsman.org.za or by visiting the office at Wilds View 2, Isle of Houghton, 36 Boundary Road, Houghton Estate.
3. Godfrey Masindi was the winner in the Individual Category (Managers / Operations Managers) and received his award from Jabu Rakosa and Mogeru Morewane.
The Ombudsman says there were some delays in resolving cases and attributes this to the fact that the office is not yet fully capacitated both in terms of people and systems.
Of the 1 500 inquiries about 600 matured into actual cases opened with the office and of that 600 about 96 have been resolved. Announcing Adv. Gumede’s appointment in April 2015, Johannesburg’s Executive Mayor Cllr Parks Tau said the “the City seeks to ensure that customers and citizens feel acknowl edged through a customer care approach that puts people first and the Office of Ombudsman has to hold everyone in the City’s administration accountable.
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The office is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm. It is closed on weekends and public holidays.
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4. The Slovoville Clinic was named as the winner of the Ideal Clinic Award. Ms Mabel Ngcobo received the award on behalf of the winning team.
In the Loop – 19
Good Governance
Employee News
2016
WINNERS OF JW EXCELLENCE AWARDS
Top-performers at Johannesburg Water were recently recognised for their achievements at a function hosted by the MD, Mr Lungile Dhlamini. Tumelo Motsoane was named – Best Finance Employee; Reginah Modika was honoured as Best HR and CS Employee; the award for Best Employee in Capex went to Babalo Somamzi; Lerato Phosiwa was recognised as top achiever in IT and Collen Ngobeni was named as a top performer and Azwindini Runaru received an award on behalf of the networks team.
All roads lead to Joburg…
J
ohannesburg is increasingly becoming a beacon of excellence and a model of good governance for local authorities across the world – looking towards the City for best practices and experience. Over the past 18 months Joburg has hosted a growing number of delegations from other cities in Africa and other continents who want to learn from initiatives and exchange knowledge on matters where similar developmental issues are being tackled. Nobantu Lesia, the Deputy Director: Knowledge Exchange and Learning says “the City’s good stories have been sustained over the years, despite the socio-economic challenges.” Many of the achievements in the field of governance, revenue management, governance and the maintenance of respectable credit ratings have created interest in other cities that want to replicate Joburg’s policies and strategies. In this regard she points to the words of City Manager, Trevor Fowler, who says Joburg “has been globally crowned and recognised as the City of Achievements and Firsts.” New models of service delivery such as Jozi@Work, the roll-out of high-speed broadband, youth-focused job creation programmes and investments in the “blue and green economy” – have placed Johannesburg at the leading edge of innovation. We have become a model for other cities that are studying our strategies and benchmarking their own progress against what is happening in Joburg, says Lesia.
Top Ten Recent Visitors to Johannesburg
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A delegation from local government in Sweden showed in an interest in the steps taken by Johannesburg to rebuild infrastructure and attract investments into the inner city.
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The Egyptian Government followed up on the Joburg 2040 Growth and Development Strategy and the broad process of consultation with communities and stakeholders that preceded the adoption of the GDS.
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The capital city of Ethiopia – Addis Ababa – visited Johannesburg in February to have a closer look at governance structures and stakeholder participation in decision-making. The system of regional administration linked to core service delivery departments may serve as a model for its own future governance.
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An influential group of women who occupy political and civic leadership positions in Texas sent a delegation to Joburg to share experiences and learn from the City’s own progress to a position where women make up 50% of the Mayoral Committee and a growing percentage of senior management posts.
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Emerging local municipalities in South Africa – including Nelson Mandela Bay, Buffalo City, Sedibeng and Amathole – are benefiting from Joburg’s experience in fleet management, supply chain regulations and internal financial controls.
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Jozi@Work, the innovative co-production programme through which citizens partner with the City to deliver services in their own communities, has piqued the interest of local government leaders in the Netherlands.
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The United Nations Public Administration Network is interacting with the City on issues relating to the sharing of knowledge, best practices and effective public administration.
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A Canadian delegation spent time in Johannesburg to learn more about efforts to address the impact of climate change and the role of urban planning and infrastructure development within a big city environment.
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The Maluti A Phofung Municipality in the Eastern Free State is looking at Johannesburg’s experience in integrated waste management and its strategic position as a freight logistics hub.
10 18 – April 2016
The City of Kampala in Uganda has just completed a second visit to Johannesburg to gain a greater understanding about sources of municipal revenue, roads and infrastructure as well as traffic management. In the Loop – 7
Employee News
Blue Economy
Joburg Bread lands with a healthy flava! T
he first Joburg bread, with a distinctive fruity taste, will become available to consumers in the next few weeks. Baked with flour processed from the mango fruit the new bread will offer Joburgers a tasty, affordable and healthy alternative to current loaves and again see the City lead in the fields of innovation and food security. Wandile Zwane, the Executive Head: Social Development, says more than 70 bakers in the City have just completed a five-day training course on the technical aspects of using mango flour as a baking ingredient. Ten sites have been identified to kick start the commercialisation of the project. Among these are the Orange Farm Skills Centre, Orlando Welfare Centre, Bertrams Skills Centre, and Tshepisong. Six will be pop ups located in Diepsloot, Lord Khanyile, Poortjie, Yeoville, Orange Grove and Yetta Nathan in Mzimhlophe.
The City plans to commercialise 30 bakeries by June, with bread sold at affordable prices to local consumers, feeding schemes, schools and spaza shop owners. Most Joburgers consume bread on a regular basis and the City wants to offer a healthy alternative while also creating opportunities
8 – April 2016
Farewell to veterans of City’s roads
for entrepreneurs. Groups with strong community participation such as stokvels, burial societies, NGOs and spazas will be given options to invest in baking enterprises.
Investment with a social impact
“We are talking about investment with a philanthropic twist – to maximise the social impact of the project,” says Zwane. “Investors must be willing to forgo expectations of quick profits in anticipation of substantial returns in the future.” The new bakeries will pay back loans over a 10 year period at no interest as well as a monthly fee for rent and raw materials. During the initial stages the flour will be imported from the manufacturers who are scientific innovators based in the Philippines, but plans are already in place to use home grown mangoes and set up a local processing facility which will process and generate the flour locally.
Nothing but fruit…
The mango flour concept is the brainchild of Dr Evelyn Taboada, Dean of the College of Engineering at the University of San Carlos in the Philippines – an institution which believes in using engineering to solve day-to-day problems. Through a special process the nutrient parts of the fruit are grounded and turned into flour for baking and other purposes. Joburg Bread is one of the six Blue Economy projects adopted by the City under the leadership of the Executive Mayor Mpho Parks Tau.
T
wo of the City’s longest-serving employees who experienced the transformation of Johannesburg over a period of more than four decades are now on the brink of retirement. Both men are looking back on their long years of service with gratitude for the opportunities given to them by the City – and with sage advice for their colleagues who remain behind. Brand Samson Hlongo was recruited to the City’s Road Department from his job at the Penge Mine in Limpopo in 1972. He started work as a grass cutter but was subsequently transferred to the Housing Department where he worked for the past number of years. “Perseverance is the key to success,” is Hlongo’s motto when he recalls his time at the City. During the course of his work he acquired vast technical knowledge and experience in road construction and one of his career highlights has been the building of the bridge crossing the N1 at Beyers Naude Drive – then known as D F Malan.
Valued and respected colleague The highways and byways of Johannesburg also featured prominently in the career of Alpheus Magongoa who spent a large period of his life at the City as a messenger and driver. In 2005 he was deployed to the Citizen Relationship and Urban Management Department – CRUM – in Region E where he was responsible for courier services and the transportation of employees.
“The City is an easy working environment and has transparent processes in place when dealing with its employees,” says Magongoa when reflecting on his 43 year career. His intricate knowledge of the City and his vast experience of all aspects of administration have helped to make him a highly respected employee and a valued colleague. Among the biggest changes he experienced was the relationship between management and employees and the creation of a culture of mutual respect. “I urge employees to speak out if they are feeling oppressed by their bosses,” he says. But, at the same time the employer should be able to take disciplinary action in the case of transgressions.
Respect and fairness are required “Fairness should be preached … and implemented,” is Magongoa’s opinion. Mutual respect and a willingness to work hard have also been guidelines for Hlongo during his years of service. His colleagues describe him as “an honest and reliable person who does not hold grudges and are always happy.” Magongoa is looking forward to retirement and to spend more quality time with his wife of 40 years and his family of five children. He is very proud of the fact that he has been able to build a decent home and send all his children to school on the salary he earned at the City. His parting advice to other employees is to manage their finances and to start saving money from the day they start working. In the Loop – 17
Jozi@Work
Employee News
Towards better health and safety at work To create awareness about the “hidden dangers” the City will join the global community this year by observing the World Day for Safety and Health at Work on 28 April. This is an international event that is supported by the International Labour Organisation with a 2016 theme of: Workplace Stress – A Collective Challenge. With the focus this year on stress they will step-up their awareness campaigns as well as the regular physical inspections conducted at offices within core departments and regional facilities.
WORKPLACE
STRESS
The Occupational Health Clinic on the 2nd Floor in Braamfontein is fully equipped to handle the minor injuries that might occur during the normal working day and qualified nurses are available to attend to employees. The objective is also to have at least one staff member on each floor in a building that is fully-trained in First Aid procedures.
Helpful hints to reduce stress
ACOLLECTIVE
CHALLENGE
W ORLD DAY FOR SAFETY AND HEALTH AT WORK 28 APRIL 2016
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ccupational health deals with all aspects of health and safety in the work place with a strong focus on the primary prevention of hazards. It is a multidisciplinary field of health care to enable individuals to work in ways that cause the least harm to their health. Stress in the workplace is one of the most underestimated conditions affecting the health of employees and have impacts on productivity and the quality of service delivery, says Ntombikayise Sithole, the Director: Safety, Health and Environment. Certain stress can be prevented or mitigated by making small adjustments to the workplace environment – changes which can turn a tired and disgruntled employee into a productive and creative colleague. “Our aim is to help create a workplace environment that is conducive to the highest standard of service delivery in the City, she says. Employees often associate work place safety only with the physical dangers associated with working on a construction site or coming into contact with hazardous material. “We tend to take ordinary office environments for granted,” explains Sithole. “You spend the whole day at a desk or behind a computer and don’t understand why you feel so exhausted in the evening. And you also don’t appreciate how minor adjustments to your work place settings can lead to major benefits for your physical and mental health.”
16 – April 2016
Ergonomics is the science of how people work in their environment. It defines how work place design can maximise productivity and minimise fatigue and discomfort. The International Labour Organisation has published a list of checkpoints for employers and employees to improve their work space. Among these are:
• At your work station or desk, address the working height at elbow level or just below it.
• Allow workers to alternate standing and sitting at work.
• Ensure you have access to adjustable chairs with a backrest.
Jo zi@ Wo rk co n tin u es to e mpowe r com muni t i e s M
ore than 1 100 co-operatives and community-based enterprises have been awarded work packages since the introduction of the Jozi@Work initiative. Launched in September 2014 by Executive Mayor, Mpho Parks Tau, Jozi@Work is a co-production programme in which citizens partner with the City to deliver municipal services in their own neighbourhoods. The unprecedented programme is inspiring hope in Johannesburg townships where a culture of entrepreneurship has come alive and socio-economic transformation is in action – with more than 6 000 jobs created. Mayor Tau describes Jozi@Work as an ideal catalyst for socio-economic transformation in Johannesburg. “The programme is enabling co-operatives and other communitybased micro-entities to partner with the City in the delivery of municipal services,” says Mayor Tau. "In the past, residents of Johannesburg were passive recipients of goods and services provided by the City. Through Jozi@Work, they are now able to take charge of the delivery of services in their neighbourhoods, creating work opportunities and banishing poverty to the margins.”
Jozi@Work in Numbers:
2 013
– the number of new co-operatives registered;
1 083
– the number of community-based businesses registered;
1 100
– co-ops or enterprises that have received work packages;
6 000+
– the number of small businesses that can participate in the programme;
R3billion
– the value of work packages set aside for the current financial year.
• Increase the use of daylight and offer an outside view
• Light up corridors, staircases and ramps where people may work or walk.
• Interact regularly with your colleagues and solve day-to-day work problems by involving groups of workers.
• Take the opportunity to stretch and walk during continuous precision work to increase productivity and reduce fatigue.
In the Loop – 9
Employee News Human and Social Development
Service Delivery
Better health care now within reach of communities T
he opening of two new clinics before the end of 2016 will significantly improve the quality of health care delivery to communities who are in need of comprehensive services. The Ennerdale Ext 8 Clinic in Ward 5 has just been completed and will be opened at the end of April. Patients and visitors will then be able to visit a fully-staffed, brand new, facility with a reception area and 18 consulting rooms. Construction is also well-underway at the Westbury Clinic in Ward 69. When completed – in the second half of the year – it should be able to accommodate up to 7 000 visits per month. The MMC for Health and Social Development, Nonceba Molwele, says the construction of the two new clinics demonstrates the City’s commitment to make health services more accessible to all communities and residents.
Trained professionals to serve patients Ten professional nurses will be assigned to consult with patients and they will be supported by administrative staff and health assistants. Medical doctors will be at the clinics at scheduled times but nursing professionals are able to treat most regular ailments or injuries and refer patients to hospitals for advanced care. Regular patients will also be able to collect their medicine from the clinic. Some of the consulting rooms will be used to provide counselling on HIV-Aids while visiting social workers and psychologists will use the facility to offer specialised support services to community members.
Next stage of
Freedom Journey has started
Freedom Month 2016 holds a special significance as it marks the start of a yet another chapter in our City’s democratic tradition. The date for the third local government elections has just been announced. On August 3 the voters of the City will go to the polls to elect representatives in each of the 135 wards in the City, with the same number of councillors to come through the process of proportional representation. When Joburgers look back on the past 15 years of democratic local government they can say without fear of contradiction that the City is a much better place to live in. The progress envisaged since the celebration of our first Freedom Day in the mid-90s has become a reality for the majority of our citizens. In Johannesburg we have witnessed the rapid expansion in delivery of basic services – with more than 90% of residents having access to water, power and sanitation. Gravel roads were tarred, new bridges and storm water systems were constructed, housing projects were rolled out and the City has embarked on a ten year programme to invest some R100-billion into economic and social infrastructure. In recent years the City has increasingly turned its attention to initiatives that will enable citizens to benefit from the hard won freedoms that previous generations have made such profound sacrifices for.
The many education and outreach programmes that the Health Department conduct on issues such as healthy
Through the Corridors of Freedom we are transforming the urban landscape, bringing people closer to opportunities, creating a more united, integrated and cohesive city. Through Jozi@Work we are turning traditional models of social delivery upside down, transforming our residents into partners with the city rather than passive recipients of services.
The massive roll-out of broadband infrastructure is opening doors for people into the modern, global world in which access to information is as much a fundamental freedom as the right to basic services, expression and life.
Making an impact on health status “Through the services we offer at both the clinics we will make an impact on the health status of Joburgers and contribute to their quality of life,” she says. The Ennerdale Clinic in Extension 8 replaces the old facility that consisted of a prefabricated container. The population in Region G has grown in recent years and the old facility could no longer meet the expanding health care needs of the community. Jabu Rakosa, the Director: District Health Systems Development, says the clinics will provide a comprehensive range of primary health care services, including ante-natal advice, support for young mothers and babies, chronic conditions, screening for TB and other communicable diseases and vaccination.
10 – April 2016
Every democracy has its own challenges – and South Africa has, in recent months, not been immune to the turbulence associated with free societies and independent voices. But the problems of democracy can best be solved through the democratic system itself – more engagement with communities, more opportunities to express opinions, more mobilisation around issues that affect our lives and our future.
lifestyles, nutrition, substance abuse and teenage pregnancies will be conducted from the clinics, says Rakosa. The City has decided that all new clinics should have access to the fibre optic broadband network to enable patients to benefit from the new electronic health record system.
In Johannesburg the City has taken the lead through its engagement with communities on the content of the Integrated Development Plan. This is a process that will culminate during this Freedom Month in the Stakeholder Summit and, eventually in the State of the City Address and new Budget.
• The new Westbury Clinic will provide health services to residents in Ward 69 which include suburbs such as Auckland Park, Brixton, Crosby, Cottesloe, Richmond, Westdene and Westbury Ext2.
Cllr Chris Vondo, the MMC for Community Development.
T
As we retrace our footsteps over the past two decades we must be proud of what we have achieved… but also understand that the road ahead remains long and arduous. In the coming months Joburgers will embark on the next steps along this journey.
he celebration of Freedom Month offers citizens of Johannesburg an opportunity to pause, to look back on the journey our City has taken to build a society that is free from the vestiges of apartheid, discrimination and marginalisation.
In the Loop – 15
Human and Social Development
Environment
T
he Braamfontein Spruit – the longest river in Johannesburg – will undergo a substantial rehabilitation, following interventions by the Johannesburg Roads Agency. The JRA, responsible for road and storm water infrastructure in the City, has commissioned a study on the state of the Spruit and the steps required to improve the natural habitat and surrounding infrastructure. Mpho Kau, the Acting Managing Director of the JRA says the City shares the concerns of residents about the environmental degradation along the Braamfontein Spruit and the implications for safety and public health.
Mlangeni, Bizos received Freedom of Joburg T
wo of South Africa’s struggle icons – ANC veteran and Rivonia trialist, Andrew Mlangeni and esteemed human rights lawyer George Bizos – have received the Freedom of Johannesburg. The City of Johannesburg conferred the award – the highest and most prestigious honour it can give to an individual or group – on the anti-apartheid activists at a special ceremony to recognise their contribution to the creation of South Africa’s democracy. “Leaders like Andrew Mlangeni and George Bizos represent values enshrined in the Bill of Rights; values that should be upheld by all citizens of South Africa irrespective of their religion, race, gender, age and political party’” says Shirlyn Serobatse, the City’s Deputy Director of Councillor Affairs and Support Services. “There are many lessons that can be drawn from the lives of these leaders, lessons that empower, inspire and build integrity.” Leader of the people Mlangeni was born on 6 June 1925 and began his political career in 1951 when he joined the ANC Youth League after being subjected to worker exploitation in several industries and factories. As a member of the ANC since 1954 he was a branch delegate in Kliptown during the Congress of the People. He was one of the first to be sent for military training outside the country in 1961. On his return in 1963, Mlangeni was arrested for recruiting and training cadres, found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment on Robben Island. Mlangeni was married to Johanna Junny, who died in 2001.
Mr Kau says the JRA is aware that urbanisation in close vicinity to the Spruit has had an impact on safety and water quality. This concentrates the run-off which increases the energy of the stream, causing an unstable stream. Global warming and associated changes in weather patterns have caused more sporadic rainfall patterns. This contributes to the loss of valuable top soil and the flushing of urban pollutants and debris which blocks the drainage network and causes additional safety concerns. The JRA is responsible for the construction and maintenance of Johannesburg’s road and storm water network and the safety of road users, including pedestrians, is one of its major priorities.
City’s longest river in line for facelift
Respected jurist Bizos was born in Kirani, Greece, in 1928 but settled in Johannesburg with his father as war refugees from World War II in 1941. He later enrolled for a law degree at the University of Witwatersrand. He was subsequently admitted to the Johannesburg Bar, where he served as an advocate until 1990, after which he worked as a counsel to 40 lawyers at the Legal Resources Centre and the Constitutional Litigation Unit. During his legal career he represented many high-profile political trialists and activists, including Walter Sisulu and Nelson Mandela in the Rivonia Trial. Bizos also appeared at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission as a representative of the families of activists killed during the struggle, including the families of Steve Bantu Biko, Chris Hani, and the “Cradock Four.” In 1999, then President Mandela conferred the Order of Meritorious Services Class II award on Bizos. He continues to live in Johannesburg with his wife, Arethe, and three sons.
The Freedom of the City award has over the past 20 years been bestowed on struggle icons such as Walter Sisulu, former President Nelson Mandela, Ahmed Kathrada, Sophie de Bruyn, and posthumously to Joe Slovo, Dr Beyers Naude, Lillian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph and Rahima Moosa.
Rapid urbanisation close to the banks has had a choking effect on the river, deprived it of its natural flow path and reduced its capacity. This often result in the Spruit overflowing its banks, especially after heavy downpours, causing damage to properties and safety hazards for people who are using roads and low-lying bridges in the vicinity. “The study will, no doubt, lead to far-reaching recommendations and actions by the JRA to restore the habitat and the measures required to combat future erosion and degradation,” he says.
A firm of consulting engineers has been appointed to conduct the study and come up with recommendations. The study will take into account various environmental considerations to identify the sources of the problem and propose actions the JRA can take to restore the habitat and introduce further safety measures. The City will then convene public consultation meetings where residents will have opportunities to submit additional environmental concerns before the rehabilitation of the river can start. Kau says the JRA has identified the rehabilitation of the Braamfontein Spruit as a priority project and is confident that the experience gained during the study and the subsequent interventions will serve as an example for future action in other river catchment areas experiencing similar challenges.
The Braamfontein Spruit is the most important waterway in Johannesburg, originating in Parktown, and, eventually, joining the Jukskei River, which is a tributary of the Limpopo River system. Within the City it runs through suburbs such as Greenside, Hurlingham, Sandton and Paulshof. It forms part of an important catchment area in the City and some of the major parkland areas, recreational spots and hiking trials in Johannesburg are located close to its banks.
14 – April 2016
In the Loop – 11
Smart City
Resource Resilience
Driefontein – where waste water is given new value N
estled in the foothills of the Magaliesberg Mountain Range is a sprawling facility that serves as a vital link in the chain of environmental health and quality delivery of basic services in Johannesburg. The Driefontein Waste Water Treatment works is one of six sewage plants managed by Johannesburg Water. When residents of Joburg wash their hands, brush their teeth or flush their toilets the dirty water enters into the City’s waste water system and eventually ends up at one of the six treatment facilities. Driefontein is one of the smallest plants – yet it plays in an integral role in the broader cycle to treat waste water, purify it to internationally acceptable standards and, then, release it back into the environment. 34-million litres a day The plant near Muldersdrift takes sewage from parts of Randburg, northern Roodepoort and parts of Mogale City, filters it through a several-stage treatment process and discharges the treated effluent into the Crocodile River that, eventually, feeds into the Hartbeespoort Dam. Jacqui Ngwenya, the Works Manager at Driefontein says currently 34 megalitres of water enters the facility each day – that is 34 million litres, or the equivalent of about 13 Olympic-sized swimming pools. In a water-scarce country these volumes of water needs to be recycled and treated to quality levels that comply with the effluent standards set by the Department of Water and Sanitation. Johannesburg Water has pioneered biological processes for the treatment of sewage with minimal use of chemicals to contain cost and reduce the impact on the environment. Critical to the environment The sewage water enters the treatment plant at the ‘head of works’ where all non-bio-degradable materials are removed. These include plastic bags or objects that might have been flushed down the system. One of the objectives of Johannesburg Water is to communicate with residents to discard only toilet paper into the waste water lines because other materials clog the flow of water and are expensive to remove. During the treatment process the non-biodegradable material are extracted and subsequently disposed of at a dedicated landfill site. The sludge produced through various treatment processes is solar dried, composted and eventually given away to Johannesburg Water customers. During the sludge digestion process, biogas is produced and will, in future be fed into a biogas plant that converts it into energy and, eventually provide about one third of Driefontein’s power needs. During the final stage of the liquid stream treatment a chemical disinfectant is added to disinfect the effluent from E.coli bacteria before the water is discharged into the Crocodile River.
12 – April 2016
Waste water treatment facilities such as Driefontein are integral to the environmental management processes in a big city such as Johannesburg. One of the defining features of Driefontein is how it manages to co-exist next to human activities taking place in its immediate proximity. Muldersdrift is well-known for its many small holdings where plant nurseries, horse riding schools and small-scale farming are located.
With a BSc-degree from the University of Durban Westville – today known as UKZN – Jacqui Ngwenya joined Johannesburg Water some 18 years ago. She worked as an analyst at Cydna Laboratories one of the labs owned by JW, later appointed process manager at the Driefontein Waste Water Works, the facility she manages today. Most of the processes at the plant have been computerised and sensors within the system detect anomalies that might have an impact on the 24/7 operations at the Works. The water that leaves the plant complies with the stringent effluent standards set by the Department of Water Affairs and Sanitation and Johannesburg Water has received numerous Blue Drop and Green Drop Awards for the quality of its drinking water and effluent.
Point your finger to improve your HEALTH A
single touch of a finger will now unlock the health care records of a patient in Joburg and lead to better quality of treatment and medical advice at clinics in the City.
The days of paper files gathering dust in bulky cabinets are over. The era of eHealth in the “smart city” of Johannesburg has started.
The introduction of an electronic health system using biometrics will revolutionise the health status of the people of Joburg through:
“We are using technology to leapfrog into the future,” says the MMC for Health and Social Development, Nonceba Molwele, about the biometric system that will be introduced at 15 clinics in Soweto this month – and then be rolled out to all 81 primary health care facilities across the City.
• • • •
‘One person One health record,’ which can be accessed at any health facility using the System; Improved clinical management of patients’ medical conditions since the “complete” medical record is always available; Improved clinical management – more patient contact time; moving from paper to digital; appropriate and timely medical tests; and Reduced waiting times since the health record can be accessed through a biometric system, and loss of patient files is eliminated.
MMC Molwele appeals to Joburgers to treat and safeguard the new electronic equipment and fibre infrastructure at clinics “as their own property. This is a major investment in the health of all our residents and we call on them to protect the infrastructure against vandalism and theft,” she says.
Nine things to know about e-health records:
1 The unique fingerprint of the patient will unlock the records. Doctors and nurses will have access to the patient’s complete records, medical history, treatments and list of medicines that have been prescribed in the past.
2 The system will follow a patient from cradle – when ante-natal treatment and advice for pregnant women start – to an advanced age.
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Strict security measures and electronic firewalls will prevent unauthorised access and ensure patient confidentiality.
The records from all clinics will be linked to a central database – enabling patients to visit any facility at a convenient opportunity. In future the system will also be linked with provincial hospitals.
Patients who require followup visits and further treatment will receive SMS messages that their appointments are due or reminders to take chronic medications.
Nurses and community health workers will be able to monitor patients and follow up on the health status of people who missed appointment or did not collect their medicines.
Nurses and health professionals are currently being trained in basic computer skills and the specific requirements to enter the health details and manage the records.
The system can be rolled out because of the City’s investment in high-speed fibre optic broadband. All clinics in Johannesburg will eventually be linked to the network and the core database.
A successful pilot programme was run at the Slovoville Clinic – and the City is now ready to go paperless at all facilities in Soweto, says the Executive Director Health: Dr Refik Bismilla.
In the Loop – 13