Dec

Internal Newsletter

In the Loop Issue No.

34

December 2016

What’s inside:

Joburg gets into the festive spirit

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Contents

Arts, Sports & Culture

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Message from the Executive Mayor

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Joburg Carnival to explode in splash of colours

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A “second gold rush” to City’s urban core

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Equal pay adjustments on track for implementation

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Festive safety a priority for City

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A first in Africa for City conservationist

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Hands up for #HIV prevention

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Acclaim for City voices

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JCPZ gets its eye in the sky

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Zoo staff receive lion’s share

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#SaveWater for thirsty City

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Improve your finances in the New Year

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It’s party time in the City

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Tuneful tribute to jazz pioneers

Remembering loved ones at the Tree of Light

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Sporting rivalry comes down to the wire

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Sporting rivalry comes down to the wire

Abantu Book Festival lights up Soweto

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t was a case of “so close, but yet so far” for the Joburg City’s sports team who lost the 2016 O R Tambo Games with the narrowest of margins against bitter rivals, Ekurhuleni.

Acknowledgements

Cover Credits

We would like to hear from you…

Editor: Thomas Thale - thomasth@joburg.org.za

As the City prepares to enter 2017 with a major New Year’s carnival the needs of children and vulnerable communities are not forgotten. The speaker, Cllr Vasco da Gama, joined the Joburg Student Council to host a Christmas Party for children at the Soweto Theatre and senior citizens received gifts through an initiative hosted by the Joburg Property Company.

In the Loop continues to grow from strength to strength in reflecting all aspects of the City of Johannesburg and its employees. We value your comments and your feedback on what we publish every month and what you would like to read in your own internal magazine. From the January edition we will publish letters and messages from readers and we invite you to write to us at email thomasth@joburg.org.za.

Contributor: Luyanda Lunika - luyandal@joburg.org.za Lesego Ngobeni - lesegong@joburg.org.za Mongadi Mafata - OupaMa@joburg.org.za Lesego Montsho - LesegoMon@joburg.org.za Photography: Enoch Lehung - enochl@joburg.org.za Leon Kinnear - 1ljkinnear@gmail.com

At the end of the fierce competition across 18 sporting codes the Joburg team had 255 points on the scoreboard but was pipped at the post by their eastern neighbours who accumulated 256 points.

The torch for the hosting city was passed to Johannesburg who will be responsible for the organisation of the 11th O R Tambo Games in 2017.

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Please keep it short and topical – but, by all means, give us your opinion.

Thomas Thale – Editor

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December 2016

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1. Golden boys – the men’s soccer team won the hotlycontested competition.

2. Ball watching – Anton Klabarch and his doubles partner, Solani Mashaba, won bronze in the tennis.

3. Fleet of foot – the ladies netball team bowed out in the final.

4. Trophies galore – Members of Team Joburg display their silverware.

5. Sticky wicket – the action cricket team took away silver.

6. Passing the torch – Joburg will host the 2016 O R Tambo Games.

In the Loop – 19

Contents

Message from the Executive Mayor

Tuneful tribute to jazz pioneers

Message from the Executive Mayor

Arts, Sports & Culture

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efore Miriam Makeba and Letta Mbulu… before Hugh Masekela, Kippie Moeketsi and Jonas Gwangwa formed the Jazz Epistles and took the musical world by storm… before “King Kong – the Musical” blazed its way across Joburg stages… there was the Manhattan Brothers.

In the late 40s and early 50s no group was more popular in South African townships than the Afro-Jazz quartet consisting of four school friends. Their unique acapella sounds blended American ragtime and swing with African choral and Zulu harmonies.

entities, we collectively agreed on the importance of aligning the City’s strategic approach to the mandate Johannesburg voters gave our administration.

Now Joburg audiences can get a taste of the swinging sounds of Soweto in the 50s when the latest acapella sensations, Complete, perform a Tribute to the Manhattan Brothers in December. There are striking similarities between the two groups… Complete was discovered by Masekela and is made up of two brothers, Happy and Bongikosa Motha and two friends, Linda Thobela and Bubele Mgele who met as youngsters while singing together in a church choir.

Key to this is to focus on getting the basics of local government right in terms of the economic and service conditions that will bring about economic growth, job creation and good governance.

The Tribute to the Manhattan Brothers is staged at the Soweto Theatre from 8 to 18 December and bookings have already opened at the theatre’s website.

Clear targets for growth With the City of Joburg being a major contributor to the GDP, we set ourselves a minimum target of five percent economic growth.

The group consisted of Nathan “Dambuza” Mdledle, Joe Mogotsi, Rufus Khoza and Ronnie Sehume and they won their first recording contract as far back as 1933. The Second World War brought a temporary halt to their careers but in the late 40s they were back on stage and wildly popular across South Africa – not only for their musical quality, but also for their influence on fashion and contemporary trends.

“The Manhattan Brothers were equally known for their style and their brash display of opulence. They wore clothes bought from the finest stores; always appearing polished, and in this way dictated the trends for many young, urban African men. Their trendy fashionable outlook was a way of asserting their humanity in the face of the dehumanising social conditions of apartheid” – citation from the Presidency when the group received the Ikhamanga National Order in 2010.

A new Civil Servant in Joburg Colleagues, As we enter the festive season our employees and residents are looking forward to a time to relax with family and friends.

They were the first South African group to make it to US Billboard Charts and helped to launch the careers of other icons such as Miriam Makeba and Masekela. Prohibitions imposed on the group by apartheid legislation restricted their local careers and the quartet eventually left South Africa with the stage production of King Kong to continue their careers in London.

It is just over four months since the municipal elections ushered in our administration and with it, a new dawn for our city.

This was followed by the four day Mayoral Lekgotla attended by MMCs, leadership of the Legislature, both the outgoing and incoming City Managers, heads of departments and chairpersons of the boards.

Stay-at-home Joburgers can enjoy a variety of other entertainment highlights during the December festive period.

At the Joburg Theatre…

The annual pantomime, Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood continues on its extended run till past Christmas Day. Desmond Dube, Bongi Mthombeni and Izak Davel are among the headline players in the brand new production directed by Janice Honeyman.

At the Roodepoort Theatre…

The children’s tale of the Three Little Pigs is brought to life on stage in a fun interactive production that will appeal to the younger set. Former Generations actor, Mandla Gaduka, Marissa Drummond and Ziyanda Yako will appear in the lead roles of “The Big Bad Musical” that plays from 15 to 23 December.

18 – December 2016

After intensive discussions informed by various presentations of departments and

This target will enable us to reverse the crisis of unemployment – estimated at over 800 000 - and related poverty in our City. Since municipal governments do not singularly change the social needs of its people, we need to work closely with business to create work opportunities.

To achieve this, our leadership has started to do away with wasteful, speculative investment programmes - by diverting resources to focus on our core mandate.

The focus will be on incubating small businesses and fast-tracking their development to become employers of our residents.

One key element of this programme will be the development of the Inner City which is to become a construction site for private developers. Its main component will include high rise, low-cost and affordable housing; office space for start-up and young professionals; as well as community projects which beautify the Inner City.

Professional public service To encourage the environment of public confidence in the municipal government and step up investment by the private sector, I have elevated the professionalisation of the

public service. This will also root out corruption and fast track service delivery particularly to the poorest among our community.

The appointment of a seasoned crime fighter to head our anti-corruption initiatives is a clear sign of our commitment to clean administration. Shadrack Sibiya is a fearless man of the law who has, in the past arrested a Mayor, a City Manager, a Chief Operations Officer, a political advisor and their business associates in Mangaung, in the Free State. I call on all employees to work with the forensic unit and provide it with evidence of corruption and maladministration wherever it exists.

Many of our employees are good civil servants and I want to encourage them to come forward with information which will help clean our administration. Do not fear prosecution or victimisation under our administration. We must remember that corruption steals from the poor and it must be rooted out.

Finally, I want to thank everyone linked to the City of Johannesburg for their contributions towards our success so far.

In the coming days, members of all communities, from different religious and cultural sectors, will celebrate days and events that are important to them. While we enjoy the festivities and the holiday break, spare a thought for the families of those who were recently affected by flash floods as well as members of our security and emergency services who will be on duty throughout this period.

I wish you all a safe and festive holiday period and hope you return to work in 2017 with a greater commitment to make Johannesburg work better. If Johannesburg Works, then South Africa Works.

Herman Mashaba Executive Mayor

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In the Loop – 3

Employee News

Good Governance

A “second gold rush” to City’s urban core M

ore than R9-billion has been ploughed into property development in the inner city since the introduction of the Urban Development Zone tax incentive.

Lebo Ramoreboli, Deputy Director: Spatial Economic Development refers to the UDZ tax incentive as “Joburg’s second gold rush” which helps to restore the gloss of the inner city which has been marred by crime and grime.

What is a UDZ? Urban Development Zones were introduced in 2004 to attract inner city renewal projects that will resuscitate Joburg’s urban landscape.

Investors in the inner city receive tax incentives in return for development that contributes to the revival of the urban core. The current set of UDZ tax incentives will come to an end in March 2020.

Who qualifies for a UDZ incentive?

Any tax payer, legal entity – company, close corporation and trust – property owner or independent individual is eligible for the incentive. They can apply for the incentive if they own, purchase or refurbish existing buildings solely for commercial and industrial purposes, including rental or residential units.

Urban Development Zones have been successfully implemented throughout the Johannesburg inner city by mining houses, private developers and commercial and merchant banks.

How does the incentive work?

Ramoreboli says the UDZ tax incentive covers an accelerated depreciation of investment made in either refurbishment of existing property or the construction of new developments within the inner city, over a period of five years. Acquiring a UDZ tax incentive reduces investors’ taxable income and tax burden.

Where are Joburg’s UDZs located?

What is the future of UDZs? The UDZ tax incentive will continue to bring much needed upgrades and revitalisation in the inner city, which will lead to job creation and massive spurts of growth and wealth for investors.

Ramoreboli believes UDZs not only address basic service delivery shortfalls but also enhance the City’s investment climate.

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Improve your finances in

The conversion of offices in Braamfontein into student accommodation and other property developments like high-rise office buildings, hotels and residential tenements are some of the investments spurred on by the UDZ tax incentive.

4 – December 2016

0707 Don’t overlook the small stuff

the New Year 06

Feeling like none of these goals would help you do any better with your cash? Here are some additional money resolutions you can consider if you feel happy and confident Save more in your current financial situation: money • Track your net worth quarterly and avoid trying The first step is so you can see your progress. to keep up with building a (better) • Boost your emergency fund. the Joneses budget •Try cutting an expense you Try going for a weekend, a week, or a haven’t considered before.

A budget allows you to Go three months’ without month without making discretionary track money movements. You it before evaluating purchases. Yes, you can still pay your bills, can Google fancy budget whether you really buy groceries, and put gas in your car -- but templates or try an need it or if you no shopping or spending on unnecessary Excel spreadsheet. can save that items. Perhaps in January, you can say money instead. “no money spent on meals out” and hone your cooking skills at home instead. In Max out one February, cut out spending on alcohol. In March, retirement account put a spending ban on clothes or shoes.

If your friend buys a new car, it does Shore up your retirement not mean you have to do funding and consider so too. opening a tax-free savings account.

Joburg’s UDZ covers around 1.8 hectares of land, stretching from Bellevue/Yeoville in the northeast to the M2 freeway in the south. Some of the major UDZ investors in the inner city include commercial banks such as Absa, FNB and Standard Bank, mining houses such as Anglo-Gold Ashanti, Anglo American Corporation and BHP Billiton and City Property.

What are some of the Joburg success stories?

n a couple of weeks, we’ll be celebrating the New Year. Get a head-start on the rest by making and sticking to resolutions to improve your finances.

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Earn more money

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Yes, this is a goal you can set and achieve because you do have control over your income.

Start paying off debt If you’re in debt, this means adding up every last cent that you owe. This can be painful, but it’s necessary to understand what the picture of your personal finances really looks like.

Stop spending on more stuff you don’t really need Stop spending your hard-earned money on things you don’t really need and avoid suffering from buyer’s remorse

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In the Loop – 17

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Good Governance

Employee News

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utstanding employees of Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo were handsomely rewarded for their commitment and dedication at an awards ceremony held at the Soweto Theatre.

Wendell Africa, who works in the Marketing Department at the Metro Centre in Braamfontein, smiled all the way to the bank after scooping R10 000 for his commitment to Customer Service Management.

A total of R60 000 in prize money was shared among all the nine winners at the “Achievers under the African Sky Awards.”

Other winners were Albert Shaku, James Mphahlele, Alpheus Moomela and Siphamandla Zayi (Sportspersons of the Year), Albert Elija Thema (Driver of the Year), Mlungisi Gcaba (Best Machine Operator of the Year) and Andre Laubscher (Centre of Excellence).

Walking away with the lion’s share was Johannesburg Zoo animal attendant, Thoko Masina, with the top prize of R15 000 as Employee of the Year.

“I’m truly overjoyed. This award means a lot to me. My work is motivated by my love for animals,” says Masina, who joined the Animal Welfare Unit in 1999.

Festive safety a priority for City W

ith the festive season upon us, the City encourages staff members and residents to be cautious on roads, in swimming pools and with fireworks as they celebrate the end of year.

Speaking at the function the MMC for Community Development, Cllr Nonhlanhla Sifumba said the awards were “a fitting tribute to the willingness and sheer hard work of the staff members”.

They JMPD will, again adopt a zero tolerance approach to crime this holiday period and has put plans in place to ensure revellers in Joburg have a hassle free time of rest and relaxation, says the MMC for Public Safety, Michael Sun.

Zoo staff receive lion’s share 1

Joburgers should expect the JMPD to clamp down on reckless behaviour on the City’s roads through roadblocks designed to prevent road fatalities and enforce city by-laws.

Careful with fireworks The Johannesburg Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says fireworks frighten and distress animals and appeal to people to desist from lighting them up near their pets.

The City has strict by-laws which govern the use of fireworks: • No person under the age of 16 is allowed to handle or use fireworks, unless under adult supervision • Lighting fireworks in any place near animals is a criminal offence • Fireworks may not be used within 500 metres of any petrol station, inside any building or at any public place • Fireworks may only be set off between 19h00 and 22h00 • Pets must be kept safely indoors with dimmed lights and closed curtains when lighting up fireworks

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Any acts of animal cruelty can be reported to the JSPCA at 011 681 3600.

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pic 1. Thoko Masina was named as Employee of Year at an awards function attended by Bulumko Nelana, the Managing Director of Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo and the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development, MMC Nonhlanhla Sifumba. pic 2. Sportspersons of the Year were congratulated

by Mr Bulumko Nelana and MMC Nonhlanhla Sifumba.

They are Alpheus Moomela, Albert Shaku, James Mphahlele and Siphomandla Zayi. pic 3. Andre Laubscher was recognised for his contribution to the Centre of Excellence from MD Bulumko Nelana and MMC Nonhlanhla Sifumba. pic 4. Winner Driver of the Year – Albert Elija Thema congratulated by MD Bulumko Nelana and MMC Nonhlanhla Sifumba. pic 5. The Citizen’s Award went to Wendell Africa and he was joined on stage by MD Bulumko Nelana and MMC Nonhlanhla Sifumba. pic 6. Winner Machine Operator of the Year – Mlungisi Gcaba, congratulated by MD Bulumko Nelana and MMC Nonhlanhla Sifumba.

2016 – December2016 2016 – September

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Careful on the road

Careful around water

The JMPD will breathe harder down the necks of criminals, using tougher tactics and a dual crime-fighting strategy in partnership with the South African Police Service.

The City’s Emergency Management Services warn residents and staff members to take safety precautions and keep a watchful eye on their children around swimming pools to prevent avoidable deaths.

JMPD spokesperson Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar says motorists should observe all rules of the road this festive season.

• Swimming pools should be covered by approved nets at all times • Never leave children unattended in or around pools • Only swim in a public pool if there’s a lifeguard on duty • Never run on the edge of a swimming pool or push people in • Take family members for swimming lessons and learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and • Remember, even adults can drown... don’t go into the swimming pool alone.

They should refrain from speeding because this contributes to casualties on the road. Motorists should not overtake on solid white lines or when they don’t have a clear view of what’s ahead.

According to Minnaar all types of crime will be targeted in the joint strategy, including bag snatching, felony crimes, smash-and-grab attacks, pickpocketing, cellphone theft, indecent assault, robbery and hijackings.

He says the JMPD will stage massive law enforcement operations across the city from the start of the festive season until the end of January 2017.

Inthe theLoop Loop –– 55 In

Employee News

Good Governance

Hands up for #HIV prevention

TK making work FUN

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or most of us, work starts with a capital B for boring, but for the City’s award-winning Digital Manager, Tumelo “TK” Komape, it’s definitely a capital F for FUN. As the global community commemorates World AIDS Day in December, a call is made for decisive action to end the epidemic by 2030. The annual commemoration of this lifestyle disease is used the world over to call for greater collaboration and increased investment in AIDS research and HIV treatment.

This year’s global theme is “Hands up for #HIV prevention”.

“The City has trained volunteers to reach out to marginalised groups in particular to heighten awareness around the disease and to emphasise the fact that counselling, prevention and treatment programmes are available to them at City clinics,” MMC Phalatse says.

South Africa still has the highest HIV infection rate in the world yet its people talk very little about the pandemic and peer education is by far the strongest instrument to spread awareness.

“Our main objective is to educate all people on how to prevent new HIV infections and to provide information on how to get tested and improve linkages to treatment,” she says.

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According to the 2016 UNAIDS Report on the global AIDS epidemic, South Africa alone has nearly 3.4 million people on HIV treatment, more than any other country in the world.

etting tested for HIV/AIDS helps to demystify the stigma surrounding the pandemic and enables you to plan better for the future.

These are the sentiments of Health and Social Development MMC Dr Mpho Phalatse, who is encouraging all City employees to get tested for HIV and know their status.

“It is important for all of us to know our HIV status and to act responsibly no matter the outcome. If HIV negative, choose to remain negative; if positive, stay healthy and enrol for treatment,” says MMC Phalatse.

MMC Phalatse believes that knowing your HIV status will put you in a better position to make informed decisions about your daily life, including your physical condition and nutrition.

In its quest to deter additional infections, the City offers preventative care and support to young women and vulnerable communities infected and affected by the disease.

More HIV-positive people are living longer because of easy access to antiretroviral treatment. Research into HIV treatment has increased, so has the number of people on antiretroviral therapy.

The City encourages all its employees to get tested and know their status so they can plan better for their future and that of their children and community.

HIV/AIDS affects us all.

AIDS in Numbers:

7 000 000

19.2 %

6 700 000

4 000 000

240 000 180 000 2 100 000

Number of people living with HIV in South Africa.

Adults aged 15 to 49 prevalence rate.

Adults aged 15 and over living with HIV.

Women aged 15 and over living with HIV.

Children aged 0 to 14 living with HIV.

6 – December 2016

Deaths due to AIDS.

Orphans aged 0 to 17 due to AIDS

For the former cattle herder from Early Dawn Farm in Limpopo who used to wake up at the crack of dawn every morning to fetch water from the river, hard work is no biggie.

Since joining the City in 2012, first as a contractor before wowing the powers that be and given a full-time job, TK has tried to change the image of civil service into a fun, engaging and responsive picture for most residents of Joburg and others beyond the City’s boundaries.

Despite being acutely under-resourced, TK and his one-person team comprising Ntombi Blaai, has been able to grow the City’s Twitter account from a paltry 4 000 followers to a current 370 000 raving fans who can’t get enough of TK’s wicked sense of humour.

City Power’s Managing Director, Sicelo Xulu received another industry recognition for his leadership and contribution to the management of public entities.

The South African Institute of Electrical Engineers recently honoured him with the President’s Award to acknowledge his outstanding contribution to the South Africa Spectrum of Local Government Electricity Utilities.

The award highlights the positive contribution Xulu has made in stabilising the financials of City Power and increasing its revenue during his tenure. This is the second major award Xulu, who is the past president of the Association of Municipal Electricity Utilities, has received within months.

He was also named as the African Utility Executive of the Year in 2015.

Never boring “When I started the job, I had to make a decision fast. Do I tweet boring, govern-speak and dry messages that get no retweets or do I push the envelope and engage with Joburg residents in a customer-centric, humorous and responsive way?

“I chose the latter and I have been fortunate in that even when I overstep the mark, my manager, Thomas Thale, has been kind enough to take the blows on my behalf. And since taking over the City’s Twitter account, I only had to remove a tweet twice, which is not bad considering that every day we send over 100 tweets, ” says the jazzaholic TK. TK has the ability to latch on to popular social media hashtags to communicate the City’s message.

One of the tweets TK posted on the City’s Twitter account that elicited a lot of response on social media was: “#savewater bath or shower in groups”.

The only time TK does not respond to a tweet is when he’s sleeping, which is rare as he is known to engage with the Twitterati at 1am on a weekday. His hard work has not gone unnoticed. The “Social Media Ninja”was announced as the winner of the inaugural South African Communications Forum ICT Achievers Awards’ Future ICT Leader.

In the Loop – 15

Safety

Employee News

Acclaim for City voices

JCPZ gets its eye in the sky

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oburg’s top communicators are being recognised by their peers for the contributions they are making to build the image of Africa’s leading City.

Seasoned spokesperson, Gabu Tugwana, has been honoured by human rights organisations for his contribution to the liberation struggle and the emergence of a free and independent media in the country.

The man responsible for Joburg’s trending popularity on social media, TK Komape, received an award for his ability to keep City employees and residents in touch with events on a day-to-day basis.

Together, these two communicators are part of the team that serve as the voices of the City as they interact with citizens and employees.

Better way to protect animals “The drones join some of the technologically advanced resources we’re employing to fulfil our mandate of taking care of the City’s environmental assets in a cost effective and efficient way,” says Nelana.

Bra G lauded for fighting for freedom

Alan Buff, head of the JPCZ Green Academy responsible for training and innovation, says the drones could not have come at a better time.

Gabu Tugwana, who was recently appointed spokesperson to the Executive Mayor, Cllr Herman Mashaba, has been lauded for his contribution to the liberation struggle.

The Institute for the Advancement of Journalism, the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation and the Canadian Embassy handed Bra G, as he’s affectionately known at the Metro Centre, a certificate for: “His role as a journalist who took a stand against apartheid leading up to Black Wednesday, 19 October 1977.”

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ohannesburg City Parks and Zoo is unleashing cutting edge drone technology to protect the City’s assets, including tracking the movement of animals.

The citation on the certificate further states: “Your stance has contributed to our freedom.”

“Black Wednesday” refers to 19 October 1977 – the date on which the apartheid government cracked down on its opponents by detaining scores of activists and shutting down its most vocal media critic, The World.

Bra G, who has been working for the City for 13 years in the Group Communication Department, moved in the Soweto Students Representative Council’s circles and was able to get first-hand account of the plans of action by the protesting pupils before and after 1976.

This enabled him to write informed news reports for the Rand Daily Mail in the seventies through his interaction with student leaders such as Tsietsi Mashinini and Khotso Seatlholo, resulting in his detention on a number of times.

No regrets Bra G does not regret his role in the struggle for liberation. “I wouldn’t change my life even if it means spending another 100 days in solitary confinement again.”

To ensure his sanity, Bra G read the Bible, the only literature allowed in his small cell, from cover to cover twice during his days in solitary confinement in 1977.

14 – December 2016/January 2017

It recently took ownership of two drones – unmanned aerial vehicles – that will be used to survey parks, the Zoo and nature reserves under its management. This will save the City money, contribute to safety and introduce technology to manage vital assets.

In the past, JCPZ used to rely on expensive chartered helicopters to conduct routine surveys.

Bra G went on to work for The World and Weekend World and took over as editor in chief of the New Nation when the late Zwelakhe Sisulu joined the SABC in the 1990s.

Asked about making the transition from an ANC-led administration to DA-run City, Bra G says it has not been difficult. “As a civil servant, it was not difficult because the purpose has remained the same, which is to continue to be of service to the residents of the City of Joburg.

“My job as a communicator is to demystify information for residents so that they are empowered to make better decisions about how the City functions and how they can play a role in ensuring that we continue to build a “Johannesburg that Works” so that “South Africa Works.”

The JCPZ oversees over 2 000 parks, 35 cemeteries and three crematoria. Managing Director Bulumko Nelana, who recently took delivery of the drones, says they will be among the tools JCPZ will deploy to accelerate delivery and use resources efficiently.

“Now that we have the drones, we will be able to track our animals in the zoo and nature reserves instead of sending someone on foot. Also if there is a sick animal, we can get the drone close enough to enable a vet to do a basic assessment of what medical assistance is required.”

The new JCPZ drones have their work cut out for them.

They will be deployed to do tree surveys, monitor safety and maintenance requirements in parks, check fences around parks and cemeteries, monitor invasive alien vegetation and, in case of fires, to view their extent.

Buff says learning to fly the drones required a lot of practice and so far, two people had been trained.

Nelana says drones will not be taking over workers’ jobs.

“Like all things technological, the drones will make life a lot easier for us but they won’t replace humans. JCPZ will still require human intervention to manage thousands of parks and scores of cemeteries the City has entrusted in our care.”

And no, JCPZ won’t be using the drones for better-angled selfies…

The two drones – which cost R24 000 and R32 000 respectively – will become the JCPZ’s eyes in the sky. They will be used, among others, to survey parks, the zoo and nature reserves under its management.

“The drones will certainly prove to be good investment for the City. They will allow JCPZ to halt manual surveys and afford us the opportunity to conduct them faster and more efficiently.’

In the Loop – 7

Employee News

Environment

#SaveWater for thirsty City W

ater restrictions in Joburg remain in place – despite the recent good rains that fell in the city and the expectations for more good showers in the coming weeks.

consumption. However, Rand Water has restricted supply to all the metros in its distribution area by 15% and these targets can only be met when all consumers take active steps to save water.

Cllr Anthony Still, the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Environment and Infrastructure Services, says many residents have responded well to the calls from the City to reduce their

Level 2 water restrictions remain in place – including no watering of gardens between 06h00 in the morning and 18h00 in the afternoon.

A first in Africa for City conservationist He also presented papers at the first WUP congress in Portugal in 2015 and earlier this year at the meeting of the global body in Cape Town.

Maphorogo says the accreditation enables him to participate at international level in discussions on the management of parks and public open spaces and allows him to present academic papers at international conferences.

He was put through a rigorous adjudication process, which recommended that he be awarded the certification of professional conservationist. His research for his MSc-degree has won numerous awards, which stood him in good stead when considered for the WUP accreditation.

A dozen tips to save precious water

The World Urban Parks Association was established in 2013. It developed a Certified Parks Professional system to recognise the work of environmental conservationists throughout the globe, particularly professionals in countries where no national or state certification system is available.

In the home…

In the yard or garden…

1. Check faucets and pipes for leaks. A small drip from a worn faucet washer can waste as much as 60 litres of water a day.

7 Water your garden in the morning or late afternoon when it is cooler. Only hose pipes and buckets may be used – and no sprinkler systems while the current restrictions are in place.

2. Adjust your daily washing habits. Don’t keep the water running while you brush your teeth. Rinse your razor in the in the sink rather than under a running tap.

3. Shower… don’t bath. The average bath uses 160 litres of water. A ten minute shower, using a low-flow shower head can reduce this to about 90 litres.

4. Take care when flushing. A single toilet flush can send some 20 litres of usable water down the drain.

Convert to a dual flush toilet and check your toilet for leaks. And, please, don’t use your toilet as an ash tray or waste basket to flush down facial tissues.

5. Load up the washing machine and dish washer before you switch them on. It is far more economical to use automatic machines with one full load, rather than several smaller cycles.

6. Don’t keep the tap open while you rinse dishes or clean vegetables. If you have a double basin, fill one with soapy water and one with rinse water.

8 Don’t run the hose while washing your car. Switch to buckets and pails of soapy water. A single car wash with a hosepipe can use as much as 500 litres of water.

9 Use a broom, not a hose, to clean your driveway or sidewalk.

1 Plant indigenous trees and plants that require less watering and get rid of the weeds in your garden that soak up so much water.

1 Cover swimming pools to avoid evaporation during hot days and throughout the winter season.

1 Invest in a JoJo tank to collect rain water that can be used for domestic and household purposes. Depending on the size of the tank it can also ensure water security to your home when there are pipe bursts or disruptions to supply in your area.

The World Parks Academy encourages certification by national associations. Where countries don’t have the capacity, the World Parks Academy provides a national version of Certified Parks Professionals awards.

O

ne of Joburg’s leading experts on conservation has become the first African to be recognised by a global ecological entity which promotes the development of parks and green lungs.

Emmanuel Maphorogo, the Regional Manager in Region G responsible for parks and public open spaces was recently accredited as a professional conservationist by the World Urban Parks Association (WUP).

“I am the first on the continent of Africa to be certified in terms of a partnership between the WUP and the Institute of Environment and Recreation Management ,” he says.

The World Urban Parks Association is a leading international organisation which promotes the protection and enhancement of vibrant urban parks, open spaces and recreational spaces.

The Institute of Environment and Recreation Management (IERM) has a partnership with the WUP and through this partnership, professionals are certified based on their participation on world parks issues, academic qualifications, experience and expertise in the field of horticulture.

Maphorogo believes he’s been recognised for his academic work on transcontinental park management, global management approaches and standard-based multidisciplinary issues.

He is currently studying for a PhD in Environmental Management and looks forward to using his accreditation to contribute positively to his work in environmental conservation and to enhancing the profession in general.

“I participated on this world stage by writing articles during the International Federation of Park and Recreation Administration congress (IFPRA),” he says.

Joburg Water can be informed about water leaks or pipe bursts in an area through the website, https://www.johannesburgwater.co.za/report/ or or on the Twitter handle

8 – December 2016

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/johannesburgwater

@jhbwater.

In the Loop – 13

Service Delivery

Human and Social Development

Equal pay adjustments on track for implementation G

ood progress is being made with the implementation of salary adjustments and designations following an agreement with the City and union representatives.

At the end of December, employees in band A and B working for the city and its entities, excluding Pikitup, will receive parity adjustments backdated to 1 July 2016 in line with the agreement reached with unions last December.

Discussions on how the new dispensation will be implemented at levels C and D are continuing, says the MMC for Corporate and Shared Services, Dr Valencia Ntombi Khumalo.

The implementation is based on an agreement between the City and the SA Municipal Workers Union – Samwu – reached in April. The agreement contained the following principles: • a single salary scale; • a common job grading system (TASK); • salary progression based on tenure and job performance.

Subsequent to the agreement the City has started to implement the agreement in a phased manner.

The process for Pikitup employees at bands A and B has been completed.

Individual employees who will benefit from the new dispensation will soon receive letters indicating how they will be affected by the changes in salary scales and designations. These changes are in line with the agreement facilitated by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration in April.

The agreement sees the City move away from the current system based only on three levels of ‘Minimum, Medium and Maximum’ to a common job evaluation system of TASK which is generally applicable to Local Government undertakings.

It’s party time in the City M

There is now also a common salary key scale across the city and its entities. All employees will now be placed on a salary notch on the new pay scale based on their length of service and performance.

ore than 100 children will be treated like kings and queens when the Office of the Speaker and the Johannesburg Student Council throw them a Christmas party at the Soweto Theatre in early December.

The intention is to ensure that over time, the City achieves salary parity, meaning that there’ll be internal consistency in pay scales across the city and its entities.

Some 120 children will sit back and enjoy a matinee show of the Manhattan Brothers before tucking into a sumptuous lunch.

The cherries on top are the surprise gifts that have been specially packed by the 80-member strong Joburg Student Council.

The principles and framework for a new remuneration philosophy for salary bands C and D has not yet been complete.

Festivities are scheduled to kick off at 11h00 and run until 15h00.

The Speaker’s party comes hot on the heels of two thrown by the Joburg Property Company for nursery school children and senior citizens.

“The City is committed to conclude the benchmarking exercise for bands C and D as soon as possible and implement the changes in terms of the agreed settlement,” says MMC Khumalo. Employees will be kept informed about the progress made.

As a token of thanking elderly residents of the City for their role in shaping society, the JPC put on a five-star entertainment at the Tornado Park Retirement Village in Roodepoort.

Sixty senior citizens tucked into exquisite delicacies before receiving Christmas goodies that included a face towel, a bar of soap and sugar-free chocolate.

After entertaining the City’s senior citizens, the JPC will descend on Riverlea at the Little People’s Pre-school to spread some festive cheer for about 115 children there. JPC staff collected money or bought each of the children gifts which include a toothbrush, toothpaste and a toy. The children are expected to have time of their lives at the “surprise” party.

Remembering loved ones at the Tree of Light A

n enduring partnership between Joburg City Parks and Zoo, the Wits Hospice and The Star newspaper continues to grow from strength to strength in the form of the Tree of Light.

Each year the Tree of Light is switched on at the Zoo to show support for people who are suffering from terminal illnesses and to remember those loved ones who have passed on.

Through the generosity of Joburg residents over the years, thousands of rands have been raised to fund activities of the Hospice. The funds ensure that hope, comfort and support are provided to patients and families on the journey of a life-limiting illness. Last year, R600 000 was raised. The target for this year is R1-million.

There is always room on the tree for you to add your remembrance globe in celebration of a loved one who has gone before us, at only R100.

Light bulbs can be bought by individuals or companies to remember a loved one or to send a message of love and goodwill over the festive season. They cost R100 for individuals and R350 for companies.

12 – December 2016

To buy a bulb, you can visit the Tree of Light website, www.hospicewits.co.za or phone 011 483 9100.

In the Loop – 9

Human and Social Development

Human and Social Development

Joburg Carnival to explode in splash of colours W

ith a bit of patience, more creativity and kasi flavour, the Joburg Carnival will soon rival the famous street festival of Rio de Janeiro.

The Joburg Carnival, which brings the curtain down on the year that was and helps usher in the start of a new one, has become a tradition that celebrates the diversity of cultures and traditions in the City.

Events Director, Bongi Mokaba, says this year’s Joburg Carnival will fuse the old and new.

Abantu Book Festival lights up Soweto B

ooklovers are in for a treat as Soweto hosts the inaugural Abantu Book Festival, which boasts leading South African writers and poets.

The festival will run from December 6 to December 10. It is a first of its kind and magnitude, not just in terms of location but to celebrate the work of black writers and connect them with their readers.

Organised under the theme – Our Stories – the festival celebrates African stories through written and spoken word, visual arts, music and film. It will explore the ways in which our stories are told, and how these inform, or are informed by, our ways of being.

The Soweto Theatre (Jabulani) and Eyethu Lifestyle Centre (Mofolo) are the main venues for hands-on workshops, film screenings, panel discussions, intimate conversations by writers and performing artists.

Day Eyethu Lifestyle Centre (08-10 Dec, 09:00 - 16:00)

Night Soweto Theatre (08-10 Dec, 17:30 - 21:30)

The lineup includes Angela Makholwa, Bheki Peterson, Bongani Madondo, Bontle Senne, Chika Unigwe, Dikeledi Deekay Sibanda, Duduzile Zamantungwa Mabaso, Don Mattera, Elinor Sisulu, Eusebius McKaiser, Florence Masebe, Fred Khumalo, Gcina Mhlope, HJ Golakai, James Murua, Khadija Patel, Khaya Dlanga, Khosi Xaba, Koleka Putuma, Lebo Mashile, Lesego Rampolokeng, Lidudumalingani Mqombothi, Malaika wa Azania, Mongane Wally Serote, Natalia Molebatsi, Ndumiso Ngcobo, Niq Mhlongo, NoViolet Bulawayo, Nozizwe Jele, Percy Mabandu, Phillippa Yaa De Villiers, Pumla Dineo Gqola, Redi Tlhabi, Rehana Rossouw, Sabata-mpho Mokae, Sihle Khumalo, Siphiwe Mpye, Siphiwo Mahala, Thabiso Mahlape, Thandiswa Mazwai, Thato Magano, Unathi Kondile, Unathi Magubeni, Vangi Gantsho, Xolisa Guzula, Yewande Omotoso, Zukiswa Wanner, and others still to be confirmed.

“The creative team has the opportunity to depict living heritage, and come up with fresh ideas that will celebrate Africa and its heritage. We also fuse some of the carnival elements within the New Year’s Eve concert.

“The City wants people to identify that the carnival and New Year’s Eve concert is actually derived from one organisation,” says Mokaba.

This year’s Joburg Carnival on December 31 will kick off in the inner city and ends in Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown.

The theme for the 2016 Carnival is ‘living heritage,’ with an objective to encourage social cohesion.

Best of different cultures on show With a population slightly above four million, Joburg has always been a city of migrants and makes for a diverse population of people from different backgrounds. The Joburg Carnival is the ideal platform for people to integrate and explore each other’s cultures.

“In this line-up we find depth and variety,” says Panashe Chigumadzi, the festival’s curator and award-winning author of Sweet Medicine.

The carnival not only involves professional artists, but it also includes Joburg residents that have formed cultural groups.

“Some of our authors have been telling stories for as long as others have been alive, while others have just begun but are bringing incredible innovations to the art. Together with our storytellers, we’ll be looking black to the future.”

Many of these residents have been hard at work perfecting their routines and art at the City’s numerous recreational centres.

Soweto Theatre General Manager Nomsa Mazwai says the festival fitted perfectly with their plans to make the venue a people’s centre.

“Books are our window into the world and we jumped at the opportunity of being involved in this historic festival, which we see growing in leaps and bounds. The only way to liberate ourselves from mental slavery is through reading,” says Mazwai.

• African Flavour Books will have popular African and diaspora titles on sale at the venues throughout the festival.

Participants from countries outside South Africa will also get a chance to showcase their traditional attire and dance moves. The experience will inform and educate Joburgers on how Jozi is the melting pot of cultures.

Carnival watchers can expect an explosion of vibrant colours, costumes and props on New Year’s Eve. The parade moves from Hillbrow through the streets of Braamfontein, across the Mandela Bridge and into Newtown.

A dance-inducing concert awaits participants and Joburg residents once the Carnival procession reaches Mary Fitzgerald Square, where various artists will entertain the crowd as they party into the early hours of 2017.

Make sure you diarise the date.

10 – December 2016

In the Loop – 11