Internal Newsletter
In the Loop Issue No.
36
February 2017
The M1 Bridge Rehabilitation has been extended. Please plan your journey and consider using public transport.
What’s inside:
Success in push against fraud
4
10
23
Contents
Arts, Sports & Culture
3
Message from the Executive Mayor
13
The “Meeting Place” is a haven for local community
4
Reintegration will lead to savings and better services
14
Sharp city brains rewarded for green innovations
5
Quick wins for Joburg’s top investigators
15
Get up to speed on employee benefits
6
Tender transparency on its way
16
Plan to get City’s call centre in tip-top condition
7
City ready to accelerate improvements in lives of residents
17
How to avoid get-rich-quick schemes
18
Chance for city staff to watch free play on corruption
19
Letters to the Editor
8
9
Revitalised urban cores will attract business and investment Time to turn Joburg’s core into a ‘place of opportunity’
20
Places to park for Jozi couples – and singles – on Valentine’s
Measures to curb the abuse of the City’s fleet vehicles
21
Woza Albert Crusading reporter honoured in hard-hitting play
11
City’s IT landscape to get major overhaul
22
Joburg Open’s legacy lives on
12
Skills training plan electrifies City Power
23
Italian Olympic swimmers camp at Ellis Park
10
Acknowledgements
Cover Credits
Editor: Thomas Thale - thomasth@joburg.org.za
Executive Mayor, Herman Mashaba, has announced far-reaching steps to curb fraud and eliminate corruption in Johannesburg.
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 Ntombi Shilubane - shilubanentombi@gmail.com Photography: Enoch Lehung - enochl@joburg.org.za
The Group Forensics Unit established by him has cracked down on multiple cases of fraud and illegal activities while new rules were introduced to ensure open and transparent tender and procurement systems.
We would like to hear from you… 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. In this edition we publish the first letters from readers and we invite you to write to us at email thomasth@joburg.org.za.
Italian Olympic swimmers camp at Ellis Park
B
y the time you read this, a full squad of Olympic swimmers from Italy would have made the Ellis Park pool their base for a period of 23 days. This is not the first time Italians use the City’s pool to fine-tune their training. They also landed in Jozi in 2011 and had a ball. The Italian swimmers choose Ellis Park because they need to do training at high altitude in some period of every season. At an altitude of more than 1 753 metres above sea level Johannesburg is a favourite training spot for athletes in many sporting codes who want to improve their endurance. “When our athletes are not part of the Italian Swimming Federation’s training camp – normally in the USA or in Spain – we prefer to come to South Africa,” says their coach Carlo Chelli. On why the Italians love Joburg as their camp, Chelli says they can’t seem to get enough of the City and South Africa. “We’re here for many reasons. South Africa is full of history and a desire to change. South Africa is full of positive energy and Joburg is more than a place for a training camp… it is an incredible City, where we are always treated very well.”
Five of the swimmers who will be practicing their breaststrokes in the Ellis Park pool participated at the recent Rio Olympics. While the Italians work on their strokes and endurance, they also promised to set aside some time for coaching. “I remember always with pleasure the swimming lessons with the disabled athletes and with the guys from the Soweto Lifesaving Club,” says Chelli.
Welcome in Jozi water Joyce Jiyane Region F’s Acting Assistant Director for Sport and Recreation says the City is thrilled to host the Italians. “We are excited and honoured that the Italians have chosen our swimming pool for their camp and we are glad to host them,” says Jiyane. The Italians started splashing about at the Ellis Park Pool at the end of January and will be training in morning and afternoon sessions until the third week of February. So, if you find yourself around the Ellis Park Pool precinct, just pop in and say to the Italian squad “benvenuto”, which is Italian for welcome.
Please keep it short and topical – but, by all means, give us your opinion. Thomas Thale – Editor
February 2017
In the Loop – 23
Message from the Executive Mayor
Arts, Sports & Culture
Contents
Message from the Executive Mayor They placed their trust in a coalition of parties, led by the Democratic Alliance, to change the way we are running the city and to introduce new policies and programmes that can unleash the potential of Johannesburg and its citizens.
Mr Keith Pelley, CEO of the PGA European Tour.
Joburg Open’s legacy lives on F
or Bongi Mokaba, the City’s Director of Events, the legacy of the decade old Joburg Open is having made the sport easily accessible to golfers from previously marginalised communities and showcasing top-notch golf. “The Joburg Open has stood its ground as one of the premier tournaments on the continent and is comparable with the best. With more sponsors we can do more to grow the tournament to unprecedented levels,” Mokaba says. The internationally recognised golf showpiece has a prize purse totalling €1, 3-million euros – about R18.8 million. Participants will tee off for the four day tournament at its traditional venue for the past decade, the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club on 23 February. The Royal is renowned for being among the most prestigious golf venues in Africa. The Joburg Open is the only tournament in the world to be played simultaneously on two courses – the East and West Courses. Mokaba talks passionately about her vision to grow the tournament in leaps and bounds. “The future of the Joburg Open looks promising. I would like to see us having the world’s top-ranked players playing in the Joburg Open. My task is to make the Joburg Open the best tournament in the country and I’ll retire happily having accomplished that,” she says. The Joburg Open sets the tone for the rest of the 2017 season and is a co-sanctioned Order of Merit event on the PGA European Tour and Sunshine Tour. It is sponsored by the City of Joburg and corporates such as automobile giant Audi, the Hilton hotel, EOH and Primedia Outdoor.
22 – February 2017
On the 23rd of February, we will be presenting our adjustment budget to Council. This is an opportunity for us to put in place our own Strategic Vision, ensuring that we enhance and speed up service delivery to all our residents and fulfil the mandate given to us by the electorate.
2016 winner, Hayden Porteous, will defend his title.
Opportunities for young players Mokaba says the international event’s legacy will always be the development and inclusion of prospective young golfers. Each year, the City provides a platform to nurture and mentor selected young players, who get to participate in the tournament alongside professional golfers from across the world. This year, more than 50 youngsters from Alexandra between the ages of 12 and 19 will benefit from the development clinics, through which the City develops underprivileged golfers and debunks stereotypes about the sport being elitist. Through the development programmes and coaching clinics the City hopes youngsters from previously disadvantaged communities are exposed to various career opportunities available in golf.
Over the years, the City has increased the number of grandstands to accommodate more spectators, grown the tournament in popularity, invited top-class golf talent and added a few more sponsorship deals, all of which contributed to tournament’s success. Ticket prices for the tournament are kept low so everyone can attend. Single tickets are R50 while seasonal tickets will cost you 150. Tickets are available at the gate or through TicketPros.co.za. Pensioners and children under the age of 16 can get in for free. The tournament will be broadcast on SuperSport 1 on all four days.
The renewal of Joburg’s administration is well under way Colleagues,
The citizens of Johannesburg want a new and fresh approach on how our great city is being governed. When they voted last year they not only turned away from the policies and stagnant approaches of the previous 10 years, they also turned towards a programme of action that can turn this city into the economic engine room of the region, attract investment and generate revenue that can be used for service delivery.
I have committed the administration to renewal in the City and I think all colleagues and observers will recognise and agree that this revitalisation has already started and is producing results. I want to highlight some of the changes that have already taken place which indicate how far we have come within a very short space of time.
• Renewal in the way in which we combat corruption. Our new anticorruption unit is acting with impact and speed to move against employees who commit fraud and their accomplices in syndicates on the outside. Most of the people who work in the City follow the rules and welcome our efforts to act swiftly and decisively against those who tarnish our reputation.
• Renewal in the way in which we manage the City’s finances. The report of the Auditor General for the previous financial year has laid bare many examples of maladministration and irregular expenditure. I have already instructed a Compliance Unit to scrutinise all supply chain management contracts and we made major changes to the tender system to promote transparency.
• Renewal in the structures of the City. The current model of municipalowned entities is wasteful, cumbersome and outdated. I started a process that will lead to the reintegration of these entities back into the city and to create a model that is accountable and improves service delivery. I have given firm assurances that no ordinary workers at these entities will lose their jobs through the restructuring. The internal renewals will have an impact on perceptions about the City among residents, civil society, the business community and potential investors. Once there is confidence in the vision and political will of the leadership, citizens would be more willing to pay for quality services, businesses will expand their activities and create more jobs and companies will look at Johannesburg as the preferred destination for their investments in the region. Colleagues, My call on you is to support our efforts to turn Johannesburg around. Join the battle against fraud and corruption. Commit yourselves to the highest standards of financial administration in the knowledge that you are working with the public’s money. Recognise the opportunities that will arise from the restructuring of our governance model. Let us seize the opportunity to renew Johannesburg into the model city on the continent of Africa.
Herman Mashaba Executive Mayor
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In the Loop – 3
Arts, Sports & Culture
Good Governance
Woza Albert, an award-winning political satire play that imagines the second coming of Christ in apartheid South Africa is set to capture audiences at Soweto Theatre from February 8th to February 22nd 2017.
Reintegration will lead to savings and better services T
Written by Percy Mtwa, Mbongeni Ngema, and Barney Simon in 1981, Woza Albert! has won over 20 prestigious awards worldwide. It is also a school set-work in the South African GDE school curriculum. The theatre piece is a great tool for audience development while assisting schools with their school curriculum.
he reintegration of Johannesburg’s entities back into the city’s fold can be completed within an 18 to 24 month period and the new structure will contribute to faster and more efficient service delivery.
The City will also launch a thorough process of public consultation. “Each and every step will be conducted with the best interests of our residents as the key consideration,” says Mayor Mashaba.
The process will result in entities such as City Power, Metrobus, Pikitup and the Johannesburg Roads Agency returning to the core municipal administration. Joburg Water, the Metro Trading Company and the Johannesburg Development Agency are among the other entities likely to be affected.
This decision to reintegrate entities is proven best practice. The trend country-wide amongst metro municipalities has been to bring these entities within the City structures.
Bheki Mkhwane and Hamilton Dhlamini play the roles of various black South Africans - a vendor, barber, domestic worker, manual labourer and soldier - receiving the news that Christ (Morena) has arrived in South Africa, where a Calvinist white elite imposes apartheid.
Executive Mayor Cllr Herman Mashaba reassured City officials that no one will lose their job during the reintegration process. “We will be extremely sensitive to the issue of employment. There must not be job losses in this process,” he says.
The existing governance model of entities is cumbersome and inefficient and unable to meet the service delivery challenges inherited by the new administration. The council report projects that dismantling boards can lead to savings of up to R18-million in salaries for non-executive members. This money will be redirected to improve service delivery and infrastructure.
The play still resonates with audiences in the new South Africa, where people are still desperate for a better life despite their political freedom. The parts played by Bheki and Hamilton show off their skills in acting, mime, singing and dance. They also create images using a few words and actions.
“It is about bringing the existing workforce and management of the entities into the city structures and improving service delivery to our residents.”
“To turn around high levels of unemployment and improve the quality of service delivery requires a government that is willing to make bold decisions,” says Mayor Mashaba.
The decision by the Johannesburg Council to approve a process that will lead to reintegration endorses Mayor Mashaba’s commitment to run a responsive government and create a professional public service.
“I have no doubt in my mind that this is what we need to do to correct the sluggish and non-responsive nature of our service delivery in our City.”
The play attacks the pass laws that prevented black people from moving freely at the time. The production uses the metaphor of Morena (Jesus) to show what would happen if he came back to South Africa during apartheid. Performances are Tuesdays at 11h00, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 15h00, Fridays at 11h00 and 20h00, Saturdays at 20h00 and Sundays at 15h00.
Task teams to drive process The report approved by Council spells out in detail the process to be followed, which includes the formation of administrative and political task teams. Feasibility studies will be conducted to assess the impact of integration and advise on the best model of management to ensure seamless transition.
Tickets are from R70.00 and are available by visiting www.sowetotheatre.com or calling 0861 670 670, as well as through Webtickets. For group bookings of 10 or more, please contact the theatre directly on 011 930 7461/2/3. Special pension discounts are available.
What the reintegration of entities will achieve: • Speeding up decision-making in the City • Cutting out complicated governance structures that hinder service delivery • Creating a professional public service • Shortening the turnaround time in dealing with interruptions to service delivery • Saving the City up to R18-million a year on salaries for
Crusading reporter honoured in hard-hitting play
The House of Truth
is a collection of writings by celebrated journalist Can Themba. Together with other hard-hitting reporters such as Es’kia Mphahlele, Lewis Nkosi and Bloke Modisane at Drum magazine he helped to expose the horrors of apartheid in the face of severe censorship and oppression. Themba was born in Marabastad in 1924 and studied for a degree in English at the University of Fort Hare where he was a contemporary of South African leaders such as Robert Sobukwe and Mangosuthu Buthelezi as well as presidents Robert Mugabe and Kenneth Kaunda. Venerable actor, Sello Maake ka Ncube performs the role of Can Themba in a stage version of The House of Truth that can be seen at the Soweto Theatre until 19 February. Written by Siphiwo Mahala and directed by Vanessa Cooke, the bio-play opened at the Market Theatre earlier this year and received rave reviews from the critics. • Can Themba died in exile in Swaziland in 1967 at the age of only 43. His writings were banned for more than a decade by the apartheid government. His memory lives on in The House of Truth.
4 – February 2017
In the Loop – 21
Good Governance
Employee News
Places to park for Jozi couples – and singles – on Valentine’s
Quick wins for Joburg’s top investigators
C
ontrary to popular belief singleville and baeville residents have something in common. With Level Two water restrictions in place Joburgers must respond to the immense weight of Valentine’s Day expectations during this dry season.
Part of his task is to strengthen the Group Forensics Investigation team and he started with the process to recruit senior staff for these specialised positions. The unit is conducting awareness campaigns among employees and putting in place the necessary case management processes to ensure that reports of crime are investigated and feedback is given to the complainants.
As Valentine’s consultants, we sincerely believe people should love you for who you are and not what you can afford. Here are a few inexpensive places that cater to Joburg residents on Valentine’s Day.
• The Roof Top Salsa is more tailored for Joburg lovebirds. You and yours can learn to be synchronized by dancing to the Salsa, Kizomba and Bachata with some of the best dancers in Jozi. The venue is located at 268 Fox Street; in the Maboneng Precinct Johannesburg and more information is available at http://www.rooftopsalsa.com • Johannesburg Zoo is not only a romantic hub but also a place for family and friends to enjoy a day out in nature. The entrance fee is R80 for adults and R50 for children. Singles can take their nieces and nephews to learn about wild animals. For more info go to www.jhbzoo.org.za • The Bioscope is in downtown Joburg where independent films are shown, and is suitable for singles and couples. The cinema also has delicious food and drinks. If you want to do something really special for your significant other, the cinema can get rented out to offer some romantic privacy. In the Loop wishes all Joburgers a Happy Valentine’s Day. 2016 2020 – September – February 2017
Most of the City’s employees perform their duties with diligence and according to the rules and legislation. But there are also those who are corrupt and want to bypass the system. They will be probed, arrested and prosecuted.
General Sibiya says he is bolstered by the strong support he receives from Mayor Mashaba. From the start the mandate was perfectly clear. He must investigate without fear or favour and not hesitate to act against anybody, regardless of position or affiliation.
The common notion of Valentine’s Day is fancy expensive dinners and outings with someone significant, which can be limiting after paying off January’s debts.
• Braamfontein Spruit Trail in Emmarentia is best walked in groups of five plus people, which is perfect for a group of friends. Walks take about one to four hours depending on your energy levels and stamina. The trail also accommodates energetic mountain bikers or runners as well as adventurous and active individuals. For more information go to www.footprint.co.za
“Corruption is corruption,” is General Sibiya’s approach to his role as the top forensic investigator in the City. It can be as small as R3 000 received as a payoff to bypass procedures or millions siphoned off by syndicates through tender fraud… the Investigation Unit will follow the leads and arrest the perpetrators.
Vital backing from top management
We, your friendly Valentine’s Day consultants, graduated cum laude at the University of Google have heard your anxious cries: How to survive Valentine’s Day as a single person or as a plus one…?
• Joburg City Parks has 25 walking trails in Gauteng that cater for couples and singles. It allows the hitched and unhitched to wander around the tranquil pathways filled with indigenous plants, trees and flowers. The Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens has a 3.5 km hiking trail up to the Witpoortjie Waterfall. http://www.sanbi.org/garden/walter-sisulu
All these cases will be processed through the judicial system in the coming months.
S
“ peed and impact” have been the driving forces behind General Shadrack Sibiya’s career as one of South Africa’s top criminal investigators. As a young policeman, as an intrepid detective, as a leader of teams that probed the wrongdoings of powerful and connected syndicates, and as provincial head of the elite Scorpions unit and its successor, the Scorpions.
In the next months he intends to give special attention to the issue of illegal occupation of buildings in the inner city. The first meeting of a stakeholder forum to address this issue has already been held. Joburgers can be assured that these cases will be investigated
speedily and with impact.
The criminals and the corrupt officials could be sure of two things when Shadrack Sibiya was assigned to their cases… he would investigate with speed and act to achieve maximum impact. This has now also become the motto of the Group Forensics Investigation Unit established by Executive Mayor, Herman Mashaba, to probe cases of fraud and corruption across the City’s administration and to bring the perpetrators to justice. In the first three months since his appointment in November, General Sibiya and his investigating team have made a powerful impact on the City, acting against cases of corruption by arresting crooked officials. “You can hear the noise out there,” he says about the quick breakthroughs they have made and the positive reaction from the citizens of Johannesburg.
•
Close on 1 000 fraudulent transactions to the value of R14.7-million uncovered at licencing stations, revealing the existence of criminal syndicates working with officials on the inside;
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More than a
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A senior manager in the property evaluation unit appearing in court on charges of embezzling
100 JMPD officials arrested for alleged illegal activities – with more to follow; R40-million. Inthe theLoop Loop –– 55 In
Employee News
Good Governance
Letters to the Editor
The team from “In the Loop” definitely deserves a gold medal for rendering a superb job. You know how to uplift the spirits of Joburg employees by ensuring that no achievements and employee successes go unnoticed. You publish stories that are relevant and that employees can relate to.
Tender transparency on its way
A special thanks to Mongadi Mafata for publishing a beautiful story regarding my award and to Enoch Lehung for the beautiful photographs. Big thumbs up to In the Loop and well done for a great job!
T
he Johannesburg Council passed a landmark amendment to the Supply Chain Management Policy (SCM), finally opening the way for a transparent tender procurement system. In an historic first, Joburg residents will now be able to attend the tender adjudication hearings and have first-hand experience on how they are awarded. This will lift the lid as for decades, decisions regarding the tender procurement process have been shrouded in secrecy. Council’s SCM policy decision is expected to boost service delivery and instil confidence among residents in the administration of the City. As from February, the Tender Adjudication Committee will admit members of the public directly into their proceedings. These meetings take place at a crucial stage at which submissions are assessed and adjudicated on their merits and the tender is awarded to the applicant best suited for the job. Details about the first such sitting will be publicised on the City of Johannesburg’s notice boards and website – http://www.joburg.org.za/
6 – February 2017
Citizens play active role Executive Mayor Cllr Herman Mashaba welcomes the decision and urges residents to play their part in holding the City’s administrators accountable. “I encourage members of the public to seize this opportunity and become active participants in the good governance practices now embraced by the City. “For my administration, this is yet another step towards bringing an end to acts of corruption, fraud and maladministration which have plagued the City and hindered economic development and job creation for years,” says Mayor Mashaba. The SCM decision also finally brings the City’s tender processing system in line with the spirit of Section 217 of the Constitution which requires that the procurement of goods or services by government must be in “…accordance with a system which is fair, equitable, transparent, competitive and cost-effective”.
Hannah Kirkwood – Executive Secretary, Transport Finance.
I would like to commend you and your team for the informative and well-designed In the Loop magazine. For the past three months I have been a regular reader of the Loop and I must say, it is very informative and quite a light read. I would suggest that you consider including an article or two where you specifically reach out to the community by engaging with them and affording them a platform to write a short article on a topic of their choice. I also find the City’s social media engagement quite funny – appealing but still delivering the intended messages. Please consider to also put two to three tweets or Facebook posts from your social platforms to add some humour to the newsletter. Portia Seemise, Digital Media
• In November 2016 In the Loop published a report on Hannah receiving the award for Professional of the Year from Office Professionals of South Africa.
Dear Hannah
Dear Portia
We are humbled by your accolades and will strive to do even more to uphold the brand of In the Loop and of the City. We are here as an outlet for employees to express their views but also to inspire confidence in the City.
Thanks for the confidence you have in us and for your proposal. The City is indeed doing well on social media.
People like you make Joburg great.
We’ll talk to the social media team to explore the possibility of a regular feature from our social media engagements.
Editor
Editor
In the Loop – 19
Good Governance
Employee News
Chance for city staff to watch free play on corruption
City ready to accelerate improvements in lives of residents In his report, the Auditor General once more gave the City an Unqualified Audit Opinion at Group leveI. Four city entities received clean audits during the financial year – JOSHCO, the Johannesburg Property Company, Joburg Theatres and the Johannesburg Development Agency – but this is down from six the previous year.
A
rtistic creativity and the theatre are being used to create a greater awareness about fraud and corruption among Joburg employees. Throughout February City officials will be able to see a free production of the highly acclaimed play by Zakes Mda, The Mother of All Eating, at all three city-managed theatres, Soweto, Roodepoort and the Joburg Theatre.
The Auditor General raises concerns about the effectiveness of internal audit functions and inadequate monitoring to ensure the municipality complies with legislation. In his reaction to the AG’s findings Mayor Mashaba says they are indicative of the need for “a competent, trustworthy and professional public service that puts the interests of our residents first”.
The two-man satirical play is set in Lesotho in the 1980s and exposes the greed, the destructive mind-sets and the tragic effects of corruption. The aim is to bring home important messages about corruption and fraud within society that will resonate with Executive Mayor Herman Mashaba’s vigorous campaign to stamp out these harmful practices in the City. Makhaola Siyanda Ndebele, the artistic manager of the Joburg Theatre and director of the play says the production is an attempt to talk openly about corruption that is prevalent worldwide and that Joburg officials are also exposed to on a daily basis.
Zakes Mda is an acclaimed playwright and prolific author who received an honorary doctorate from the University of Cape Town for his contribution to world literature. “The Mother of All Eating” was first performed in Lesotho in 1992 and subsequently also staged in other Southern African countries and Europe. In 2012 it formed part of the Arts Alive International Festival in Johannesburg and has just concluded a very successful run at The Market Theatre. “It is important to tell locally relevant stories that will resonate with audiences and show how corruption hinders investments in the country and affects the lives of ordinary citizens,” says Ndebele. The primary roles are portrayed by well-known stage and screen actor, Mpho Osei-Tutu and the playwright and director, Pusetso Thibedi. They are both graduates of the University of the Witwatersrand.
Joburg Theatre – from Tuesday 7 to Friday 10 February.
www.joburgtheatre.com Roodepoort Theatre –from Tuesday 14 to Friday 17 February.
www.roodepoorttheatre.com Soweto Theatre – from Tuesday 21 to Friday 24 February.
www.sowetotheatre.com
18 – February 2017
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Joburg employees are encouraged to attend the productions at any of the theatres. All shows start at 15h00 and entrance is free, but prior bookings are required.
Mayor Mashaba thanks the outgoing City Manager, Trevor Fowler, who assisted in managing the transition in a professional manner. In his statement in the Report Fowler expressed appreciation for the support received from the outgoing and incoming Mayors and leadership in Council.
J
ohannesburg continues to face many challenges that will be addressed by the newly elected leadership who received its five year mandate from City voters in 2016. In his foreword to the Integrated Annual Report for 2015/2016 Executive Mayor, Herman Mashaba, says “the city has excelled in certain areas but is still faced with many challenges.” The Report represents the baseline against which the new administration will measure improvements in the lives of residents of the City. Mayor Mashaba singles out the collection of revenue that will be required to fund the mandate of delivering change. The City is close to its prescribed debt ceiling and additional revenue will also be raised through improvements in efficiencies. Massive capital investment is required to address the R170-billion backlog in infrastructure required to enable a growing economy. Moreover the pace of service delivery remains far below the expectation of communities.
Entity CoJ Group CITY POWER JOBURG WATER PIKITUP JOSHCO JCT JCPZ JRA JPC JDA METROBUS JOBURG MARKET MTC
2011/12 Clean Qualified Qualified Unqualified Clean Unqualified Qualified Unqualified Unqualified Unqualified Unqualified Clean
2012/13 Qualified Unqualified Unqualified Unqualified Clean Unqualified Unqualified Unqualified Unqualified Unqualified Unqualified Clean
The new City Manager, Dr Ndivhoniswani Lukhwareni, is described by the Executive Mayor as “a seasoned local government administrator” who will drive Johannesburg’s new strategic priorities over the next five years.
In his foreword Mayor Mashaba highlights some of the priority areas for the new administration:
• addressing the R170-billion infrastructure backlog with the cooperation of the private sector; • regenerating the inner city through partnerships with developers and investors; • eliminating billing problems, improving customer satisfaction and increasing revenue collection; • rooting out corruption and running a professional administration; • strengthening the rule of law in the City by increasing the number of JMPD officers and introducing municipal courts to address by-law infringements. 2013/14 Unqualified Unqualified Unqualified Unqualified Clean Clean Unqualified Clean Unqualified Unqualified Unqualified Clean
2014/15 Unqualified Unqualified Unqualified Clean Clean Clean Unqualified Clean Clean Clean Unqualified Unqualified
2015/16 Unqualified Unqualified Unqualified Unqualified Clean Clean Unqualified Unqualified Clean Clean Unqualified Unqualified Unqualified
In the Loop – 7
Employee News
Economic Development
Revitalised urban cores will attract business and investment Entire city will gain
But it is not only ‘downtown Joburg’ that will benefit from this approach. Other urban cores such as Soweto, Randburg and Roodepoort must also flourish and established manufacturing nodes that have been in decline in recent years – such as Marlboro and Alexandra – will benefit from investments in roads, bulk services, waste removal and a reliable power network. MMC Peetz says her priority in the current term of office is “to fix what we have” rather than starting “grand new projects.” Vital industrial nodes in the City such as Kya Sands, Marlboro, Roodepoort and Linbro Park can be revitalised and brought to optimum capacity through the establishment of a business-friendly environment.
Cllr Sharon Peetz, the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Economic Development.
With regards to youth unemployment – which stands at more than 30% in Johannesburg – MMC Peetz says the City wants to work with the private sector and skills education training authorities (Setas) to create opportunities for artisan training. This will not only create jobs but also benefit businesses that will have access to skilled artisans in scarce technical job categories.
Broadband will grow access to opportunities
E
xisting businesses in Johannesburg and potential investors are looking for an urban environment within which they can grow, create jobs and contribute to the City achieving it economic growth target of 5%. Cllr Sharon Peetz, the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Economic Development says a growing number of investors want to establish their businesses in Johannesburg but are hesitant because of concerns about urban decay, crime and grime. “Our task is to create an ‘enabling environment’ within which the private sector can flourish and, in partnership with the City, create jobs and economic opportunities.” This is the reason why the revival of the inner city features so prominently in Executive Mayor, Herman Mashaba, 10-point plan that sets out the priorities of the newly elected leadership. The city will, increasingly, look towards the private sector to take over existing buildings in the CBD and to combine their businesses with low-cost and affordable housing, skills hubs and retail premises.
8 – February 2017
Future economic growth, enterprise development and job creation in Joburg will hinge on the availability of affordable and reliable broadband infrastructure. There is more than 1.3 kilometre of City broadband infrastructure already in place – but less than 1.5% of this is being put to productive use, says the MMC for Economic Development, Cllr Sharon Peetz. The intention is to offer this fibre infrastructure to the major service providers and enable them to roll out their services to homes and businesses. This will also provide the City with an additional source of revenue. There is a massive appetite for uncapped digital products across Joburg – from Sandton to Soweto, she says. The availability of broadband will enable Joburgers to access education opportunities, open new businesses and create much-needed jobs. MMC Peetz says the intended new broadband entity within Johannesburg will combine all information technology, digital and free Wi-Fi services into a consolidated unit to eliminate duplication and ensure the best utilisation of financial and human resources.
How to avoid get-rich-quick schemes O
ne of the reasons many of us fall for get-rich-quick schemes doing the rounds in Joburg, South Africa and the rest of world is that we want an instant solution out of our debt quicksand. It’s only in the movies and with shady investments that people accumulate wealth in a matter of weeks or months. There is no quick fix out of the debt trap. There is no way to create money out of air and the only way to become wealthy is through hard work and sensible saving over time, marrying into wealth or inheriting a sizeable estate. South Africans have fallen prey to several get-rich-quick schemes such as pyramid schemes, Ponzi scams and now binary option and forex trading.
Tips for Identifying Scams: • Be suspicious of any scheme that offers an above market return on your investments, regardless of what form this return takes, for example cash, interest, income or capital gains; • A Ponzi scheme invites investors to invest R1 000 with the promise of a R2 000 return in six months. This represents an annual return of 200%, which is impossible in any formal investment. • If you invest R1 000 in a top share portfolio, it would only grow to around R1 100 over six months. A promise of 50%, 100% or more over a few months is way over the industry average and therefore unrealistic. • No return is ever guaranteed in the world of investments and even the most modest of investments carry some risk. • Steer clear of schemes that are based on unclear or vague business and investment models. • Avoid investment schemes that rely on you bringing in more participants in order to generate a return. A legitimate investment tool will not require a consumer to bring in more investors. • Steer clear of investment schemes that frequently encourage you to increase the size of your investment. • If it’s too good to be true, it usually is. Any investment that offers a ‘guaranteed’ high rate of return should be treated with suspicion. Your best protection when making an investment is to transact with a reputable financial institution with assistance from a licensed financial adviser, financial planner or insurance broker.
In the Loop – 17
Inner City Regeneration
Employee News
Plan to get City’s call centre in tip-top condition He met with management and staff to listen to the issues that might hinder them from offering the best service to the ratepayers. He is giving the Proton House and all other call centres in the City the necessary priority attention to improve working conditions. “As a public service organisation which provides essential services to our residents, all our customer interface units need to be housed in environments which ensure optimal performance by our staff. “I have shared my concerns with senior management in Group Finance. Something has to be done. These offices need to be improved drastically,” says MMC Dagada.
He will also engage with other departments and entities such as the Johannesburg Property Company (JPC) and Group and Shared Services to ensure the City moves with speed to create an environment that is conducive to excellent service delivery.
Cllr Rabelani Dagada, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Finance.
T
he City aims to be a responsive government to both residents and staff, says the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Finance Cllr Rabelani Dagada. His comments follow Executive Mayor Herman Mashaba’s visit to the Jozi Connect’s Proton House in Roodepoort, where he found malfunctioning lifts. Mayor Mashaba described the state of the building, which houses 240 City officials, as deplorable and called for action. MMC Dagada says he has personally visited the City’s call centres including the one at Proton House. “Part of my visit was to get a first-hand experience at the offices where I listened to queries from customers and inspected the infrastructure.”
“We will come up with a concrete plan from our consultations with stakeholders. I am fully aware of the budget constraints that we are operating under, but also confident that we can make savings in certain areas and provide for the renovations and improvements.
Time to turn Joburg’s core into a ‘place of opportunity’
Tenants stop paying rent Growing number of tenants deemed illegal Incentives for tenants and landlords to overcrowd to make rents more affordable Exorbitant rentals per square meter Termination of services by landlords or city
”Bad buildings” and problematic properties are major concerns in the inner city and hamper efforts to turn Johannesburg’s heart into “a place of opportunity.” The City’s vision is to create a safe and clean urban environment that will encourage business to come back to the inner city and offer an attractive destination for investment. At the same time the City needs to address the demand for affordable housing within the urban core especially for unemployed and poor Joburgers. Surveys show that there are more than 47 000 households within the CBD who earn less than R3 200 per month. Previous attempts at inner city regeneration have not been able to address the plight of the poor because rental rates for properties are unaffordable. This resulted in a “vicious property cycle” that resulted in illegal occupation of properties, the collapse of infrastructure, urban decay, crime and grime. Declining standards in building maintenance have a direct impact on the surrounding urban environment, on decisions by businesses to maintain or expand their presence and on the quality of life of residents and visitors to the City.
Tenants make illegal connections leading to health and safety concerns Collapse of operational structures such as lifts or sewer pumps
Executive Mayor Herman Mashaba’s administration is determined to turn this situation around and to create a
“virtuous property cycle.”
Conditions to create a “virtuous property cycle” • High levels of employment which enable tenants to pay rent. • Sound urban management • A capacity to enforce compliance to standards by landlords, the city and courts • Tenants buy into the system of regular rent and service charge payments
However, MMC Dagada says he is also concerned about the status of the contract between the owners of the building and JPC. “Through our engagement with JPC we will identify the best solution.”
• High levels of building maintenance • Landlords can achieve market-related rentals
He further assured City officials that the call centres will start to look differently within the next 18 months.
“Many of our residents have their first interactions with the City through these call centres. Our staff members spend most of their time in these offices and it is, therefore, a priority that the facilities are renovated to promote the work done by our team of high-performing call centre agents,” says MMC Dagada.
Features of a “vicious property cycle”
The Florence, Hillbrow, City of Johannesburg.
Within the Joburg urban core there is a large number of properties that can be described as “bad buildings.” They range from former flats that have been turned into high-rise informal settlements to commercial properties or warehouses where people have moved in. Occupants of such buildings live in awful squalor, have no access to basic services and are often at the mercy of criminals. Slumlords charge exorbitant rentals and use strong-arm tactics to extort payment from tenants. The City intends to follow a multi-pronged approach to address these issues. On the one hand it will work with law-enforcement and prosecutors to crack down on slumlords and unsafe building conditions.
Vannin Court, Hillbrow. Photograph: Jeremy Kuper.
16 – February 2017
On the other hand it will work together with the private sector to turn “bad buildings” around and to encourage investments in affordable housing within the inner city. This will require long-term confidence in the future of the CBD from property developers. In the Loop – 9
Resource Preservation
Employee News
Measures to curb the abuse of the City’s fleet vehicles Staff members who get a locomotion allowance may not request to be transported. All departments must monitor such requests. Requests for transportation should be forwarded at least three days in advance to the despatch department to allow for proper allocation of the driver and vehicle. “All employees and citizens are urged to report suspected abuse of the City’s fleet to the anti-corruption hotline: 0800 203 712,” says Dr. Ramroop.
Dr Shaun Ramroop, Group Head: SHELA & FCM.
Top 3 abuses of City vehicles
he City has updated its fleet management programme for all employees who use official vehicles for work purposes, in a bid to combat the abuse of the system.
1. Employees using the City’s vehicles for shopping purposes; picking up children from school and other private errands; 2. Employees using the City’s vans to transport household furniture; 3. Employees using the City’s vehicles over weekends when they are not authorised to do so;
This follows the reported abuses of City vehicles, with employees reportedly driving to unauthorised locations and conducting unofficial, personal business using the City’s fleet.
Highlights of fleet policy
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The new programme is designed to reduce the municipality’s insurance liability through proactive fleet management and compliance according to the Group Head: Safety, Health, Environment, Logistics and Administration (SHELA) and Fleet Compliance and Management (FCM), Dr. Shaun Ramroop. “All City departments and entities use vehicles for their daily operations in order to ensure effective and efficient service delivery,” he says. However, there has been a surge in the number of complaints about employees who allegedly abuse the City’s fleet and Dr. Ramroop is calling for circumspection. The abuse of the City’s fleet affects the city’s ability to service its citizens, in that the vehicles are not used for their intended purposes such as fixing potholes, refuse removal, cleaning of road verges and traffic management. Such misuse of the City’s fleet equates to fraud and corruption according to the Group Head. If employees are found to be abusing and misusing the City’s fleet they must be prepared for the necessary consequence management that could follow, he warns. “If you are allocated a City’s vehicle, you obviously have parameters within which you’re allowed to travel and you are urged to operate within these parameters”. The City’s vehicles have tracking devices, which can provide information as to where the vehicle is, driver behaviour on the roads and the speed in which the vehicle is being driven. “SHELA & FCM within Group Corporate and Shared Services has an oversight role pertaining to all City vehicles,” he says. To manage the City’s fleet and to comply with the transport policy, all requests for transport must be made in writing via email, according to the City’s fleet management programme. 10 – February 2017
• Municipal vehicles may only be used for authorised Council business; • An employee driving a City vehicle must properly complete the logbook after each trip; • Council vehicles may not to be taken home except with the written permission of the relevant Executive Director; • Only municipal employees on official duty and workrelated passengers may be ferried in Council vehicles; • Employees driving council vehicles may not do so whilst inebriated; For any further information or guidance on the City’s fleet policies please contact: Ms. Anita Van der Walt Ph: 011 4077145 Email: AnitavdW@joburg.org.za
Get up to speed on employee benefits T
he City and its Entities hire new employees every month in an effort to boost service delivery and shore up the administration.
on their Contract of Employment provision. The Performance Management System Policy allows employees to qualify for a maximum of five working days as a non-cash benefit.
In their excitement to sign the Offer Letters, many employees do not familiarise themselves with the benefits they stand to accrue.
The City also makes 100 bursaries available to residents of the surroundings areas.
According to the Group Head: Group Human Capital Management, Imran Zardad the City offers.
In addition, you can apply for financial assistance through the Subsidised Education Scheme to further your studies part-time at recognised CoJ-accredited institutions of higher learning.
Annual Leave 24 working days of Annual Leave for a 5 day worker and 27 working days for a 6 day worker. Compulsory Annual Leave is valid for a period of 18 months.
Sick Leave A collective 80 working days of Sick Leave over a three-year cycle. You may not take more than 30 working days Sick Leave within your first year of employment. If you are absent from work for more than 2 working days you must submit Sick Certificates from a registered doctor.
Maternity and Adoption Leave Depending on your contract of employment, you may be entitled to 5 months paid Maternity and Adoption Leave if you are adopting kids younger than three months. To qualify, you must have been in the City’s employ for at least one year.
The only condition is that the studies must be aligned to your work / profession. You can’t study theology and expect the City to pay towards your studies while you are employed as an accountant.
In a nutshell……the benefits of working for the City of Joburg • • • • • • • • • • •
Life cover (24 hours) Pension Medical Aid Housing Allowance Car Allowance (in applicable instances) Annual Leave Sick Leave Study Leave Performance Management System Leave Bursaries Skills Development
Family Responsibility Leave If your new born, spouse or life partner is sick, you can apply for paid Family Responsibility Leave of up to five days. The same applies to a death in the family {spouse / life partner, child, parent, adoptive parent, grandparent, adopted child, grandchild, sibling or parents-in-law.} To qualify, you need to have been in the City’s employ for at least 4 months and submit the relevant proof i.e. a Birth, Sick or Death Certificate.
This generous leave makes the City stand out compared to corporate companies whose annual leave averages a paltry 15 days a year. Following Agreements reached between SALGA and Unions, you are also entitled to the South African Local Government Bargaining Council Accredited Medical Aid, which is subsidised 60% by the employer with a cap amount. You can choose between these Medical Aids: Bonitas, Samwumed, Key Health, LA Health (administered by Discovery) and Hosmed. (Permanent and other employee categories get an Annual Service Bonus which is equivalent to a 13th cheque, depending In the Loop – 15
Green City
Human and Social Development Smart City
Sharp city brains rewarded for green innovations F
ood from crickets, a waterless toilet, a bicycle share system and a device that uses the energy from a truck’s braking system to power the vehicle… These are among the brightest ideas submitted by participants in Johannesburg’s Green City Start-up competition which is designed to spark innovation, create jobs and contribute to a cleaner environment.
MMC Sharon Peetz congratulates the winner of the Green City Start-up Challenge.
Manage your power and save on costs
The Green Challenge Fund is a partnership between the City, the University of Johannesburg and its technology incubator, Resolution Circle. More than 185 entries were received and the eight finalists each received R250 000 to develop prototypes of their ideas.
Chilufya Lombe and Warren Gray met while studying mechanical engineering and then decided to start their own business focusing on the energy sector. The company they founded, Solid Insight, is a software business which offers cloud-based technology solutions to manage resources in buildings, accurately and in real time.
Cllr Sharon Peetz, the MMC for Economic Development, says “every idea has an impact on the world.” The entries received were “inspirational,” and the initiative should be seen as one of the key achievements of the City.
Making the announcement that the company has won the R400 000 second prize in the 2016 Green City Start-up Challenge, MMC Sharon Peetz, said the technology has the potential to “impact positively on the world.”
R1-million prize for clean air device
Joburg support helps inventor to make breakthrough
After successful careers in the corporate world, Andre Reyneke and Norman Grant decided to strike out on their own and to use their accumulated skills and knowledge to contribute towards a greener world and to create jobs.
A young inventor and entrepreneur who got his first break in business from Joburg’s Green City Start-up challenge is now ready to conquer both local and international markets.
Their innovative technology that reduces carbon gas emissions from large trucks was recognised by the City of Johannesburg and their technology company, Miser, won the R1-million first prize in the Green City Start-up Challenge. Their bright idea is to recover the kinetic energy that is normally lost when a heavy vehicle slows down or when the brakes are applied. This energy is then stored and used at an optimal time to power the vehicle.
Mr Richard Nene, Project Manager.
Energy saving is a hot topic in Johannesburg and two young entrepreneurs have come up with a solution for households to keep tabs on their power consumption.
Paseka Lesolang caught the eyes of the judges during the 2016 competition and walked away with the R1-million first prize for his unique water-saving innovation. Toilets are the biggest water guzzlers in homes and Lesolang’s device can cut water consumption by up to 70%. His enterprise has been inundated with orders from provincial government departments and municipalities and he was invited to attend the United Nations’ climate change conference in Morocco together with inventors from across the world.
Tests have shown that the device will reduce vehicle emissions by up to 60%. It is an ideal solution for fleet owners who will be able to cover the costs of installations within a year through the savings they achieve.
City’s IT landscape to get major overhaul T
he Information Technology landscape of the City of Joburg will be undergoing significant changes in the next 36 months, which will benefit employees and residents. The City will be rolling out over the next three years a group-wide SAP upgrade that seeks to transform revenue collection, payroll, ICT and reporting. “This is certainly not a ‘big bang approach’ and during the implementation process we will endeavour not to interrupt operations. The end product will be an almost 98% paperless environment in the City,” says Project Manager Richard Nene. Once the implementation is successfully rolled out throughout the City, the manual filling of leave forms will be done away with. The upgrade will include the installation of a biometric system that will be linked to payroll to monitor employees clocking in and knocking off times. Even Council will benefit from the implementation process as it moves towards a paperless environment. Nene says no longer will trees be cut to produce paper for Council minutes and agendas.
We’re in for a lot of exciting and efficiency-promoting changes in the next 1068 days.
Single entry point into billing system For City of Joburg residents, there’ll be synergies between Joburg Water, Pikitup and Billing, ensuring a seamless approach to bill generation. “The major advantage of the SAP upgrading we’re undertaking as the City is that there will be sharing of information across City departments and entities. We’ll be operating from a single platform, which will result in optimum revenue collection and management,” says Nene.
“It means colleagues won’t be pulling out their hairs trying to figure out who was the last person who used the leave book. Everything will be automated, leading to efficiency and accuracy,” says Nene.
“From Mayoral Committees to Council, minutes will be automated. There will no longer be piles of documents printed because we’ll have a document management system and councillors can draw whatever document they want at a touch of a button.”
The company intends to create at least 150 jobs in the near future and contribute greatly to cleaner air and a healthier environment.
Past winner, Paseka Lesolang, is making waves in business.
14 – February 2017
In the Loop – 11
Human and Social Development
Human and Social Development
Skills training plan electrifies City Power
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ince joining the City Power-Treasury Graduate Training Programme, 34-year old Daphney Raphunga has been able to put her brother through varsity. She also has the prospect of getting full-time employment at City Power when she and three of her fellow graduates complete the programme in December 2017.
Cllr Nonhlanhla Sifumba, the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development says the newly launched park will help keep young children mentally and physically fit.
The Kingston Frost Park – a stone’s throw away from Auckland Park – is a sprawling 3, 4 hectares oasis in Joburg’s Region B. Residents in the area and students from the University of Johannesburg often come here to unwind and relax.
The Johannesburg suburb of Brixton, located on its western edges, has a rich plethora of historical heritage. Some houses in the neighbourhood have been declared and preserved as provincial heritage sites.
Refurbishments to the value of R3-million were recently completed and the park now offers:
Brixton has traditionally been a working class suburb, but experienced an influx of professionals in recent years. The area's low property prices, heritage-filled streets and the panoramic views from Brixton Ridge have attracted new residents to the area.
nine park benches
Tranquil spot for visitors
three solar lights
The park was originally named after the suburb of Brixton but was renamed Kingston Frost Park in 1939 to honour a then Johannesburg city councillor, AC Kingston Frost.
five-a-side soccer fields
Buoyed by the success of a 2015 initiative, City Power successfully applied for a further R7.7-million training grant from National Treasury and the electricity transmission division of the City of Johannesburg selected 24 candidates from over 200 applications for the second three-year skills development programme.
paved walkways
City Power’s Technical Training Manager, Any Musson, says the on-the-job training will benefit students with required experience and address the issue of shortages of work-ready skills in the country. It will also benefit the City as the utility responds quicker to service disruption, leading to improved performance efficiencies.
The skyline is dominated by the imposing Sentech Tower, built in 1962 to provide a signal for radio and television broadcasting across the country. Brixton also features one of the largest cemeteries in Johannesburg, overlooking the local police station.
The tranquillity of the park is highlighted by the sound of birdsong, calming visitors’ minds. Overarching branches provide an extensive shade, attracting adults and children alike.
revamped ablution and security facilities
With its natural energy and freshness, Kingston Frost Park is seen as a beacon of calmness for the well-established suburb of Brixton. Locals have dubbed their favourite hangout spot – the Meeting Place.
The “Meeting Place” is a haven for local community
For Moshoma and her four fellow programme participants, this initiative could not have come at a better time.
“The response we received from the advertisement was overwhelming. Almost 200 qualified engineers came to our Head Office in Johannesburg to apply. It was disheartening to see how many of our young people are sitting at home with degrees, unable to find work. Unfortunately we could only take 24 learners in this cycle.
“You don’t know the frustration that one goes through. First you struggle to get in-service training so that you can finally qualify and graduate. And then you get employers who expect you to have experience on graduation,” says Moshoma.
“There are not enough professional engineers in the country. We need other energy utilities to join the cause by also providing on-the-job training,” says Xulu.
“This programme is not only a job opportunity for previously unemployed graduates but also elevates learners’ existing qualifications. The successful implementation of this programme may encourage National Treasury to give us more funding for a larger intake next year,” says Xulu.
February 2017 2012– –September 2016
Entering the park visitors are immediately greeted by a lofty beacon, which commemorates the lives of people who died in World War I.
play equipment for kids
Former Vaal University of Technology roommates Kgaogelo Moshoma (27) and Siphosethu Yengwa (26) who have been in the trenches with Raphunga and Tebatso Netshiozwi (27) were guinea pigs when City Power and National Treasury embarked on the Skills Development programme two years ago.
City Power’s Managing Director Sicelo Xulu, who rose through the ranks in industry, has adopted the programme as his pet project.
City Parks and Zoo, the custodians of Joburg’s open spaces says its role is to create high quality public spaces, with an emphasis on safety and security as well as solid infrastructure.
an outdoor gym
“City Power is a very good company. We have been exposed to so many different aspects of the industry and you can’t get that experience anywhere,” says Raphunga.
City Power hired the 24 unemployed graduates with the intention to turn them into certified engineers, technologists and technicians in the next three years. The utility has partnered with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) for accreditation purposes.
ith its green trees, open lawns and outdoor sports facilities the spacious Kingston Frost Park in Brixton is a favourite haunt of local residents and visitors alike.
Xulu says if all goes well, more graduates will be recruited in subsequent years to tackle the national skills crisis.
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