Internal Newsletter
In the Loop Issue No.
29 July 2016
What’s inside:
5 years of achievements
8
15
23
Contents
Arts, Sports & Culture
3
Message from the Executive Mayor
13
67 minutes devoted to service in honour of Madiba
4
A bird’s eye view of a City over 5 years
14
Time for businesswomen to make their mark
5
The numbers tell the story…
15
Horses and riders combine into effective JMPD unit
6
City’s new investment and tourism company to drive growth and job creation
16
New unit to crack down on vandals and thieves
17
Joburg stalwarts bid farewell to Council
18
City streamlines contract management services
19
Snapped: Jozi at Work
20
Joburg in pics
21
Make way for new talent on Joburg stages
Accord to link Africa’s and Asia’s top commercial hubs
22
Walk the talk – what are you walking for?
Benefits from Blue Economy start to flow
23
Wheels are turning for big cycle event
7
Joburg ready to go to the polls
8
Joburg leads in the delivery of basic services
9 10 11
12
Wheels are turning for big cycle event
City gears up for shopping extravaganza Complex adds vibrancy to Newtown precinct
Full support from Joburg The Telkom 947 Cycle Challenge is sanctioned by the City of Joburg, which authorises full road closures on the day.
Acknowledgements
Cover Credits
Editor: Thomas Thale - thomasth@joburg.org.za
Johannesburg’s successful track record of service delivery is highlighted in the End of Term Report released this month. The Report provides a comprehensive review of Joburg’s achievements during the five year Mayoral Term of Executive Mayor Parks Tau. Mayor Tau presented the report at a media conference and he gave interviews to TV and radio stations.
Contributor: Luyanda Lunika - luyandal@joburg.org.za Lesego Ngobeni - lesegong@joburg.org.za Photography: Enoch Lehung - enochl@joburg.org.za Lesego Montsho - LesegoMon@joburg.org.za
“The City is proud to host an event of this magnitude, which has an international profile and forms part of our drive to urge Joburgers to lead healthy lifestyles,” says Joburg’s acting Director of Events, Thandiwe Mphore.
T
elkom has thrown its weight behind Joburg’s biggest cycling event – the 947 Cycle Challenge – giving it a new name and millions in sponsorship. Considered one of the biggest events on Joburg’s sporting calendar, the modified 947 Cycle Challenge will bring pedal power to Joburg streets on Sunday, 20 November 2016. The race will now be known as the Telkom 947 Cycle Challenge – The fastest way to connect to the city. This year marks the 20th anniversary of this seminal cycling event, hosted annually at the Riversands Commercial Park in Fourways. Primedia Broadcaster 947 recently unveiled the new sponsorship on its radio show – Breakfast Express. Through the partnership, Telkom will sponsor the annual bicycle race and all its subsidiary events, including two mountain bike challenge categories and the kiddies challenge. Organisers say the Cycle Challenge dovetails well with Telkom’s brand philosophy of providing bolt-speed broadband connectivity for all Joburg residents, hence they’ve been chosen as the headline sponsor. As the prime sponsor, Telkom will take sponsorship rights at all water points, of the live television broadcast and of the annual Cycle Challenge expo and registration.
July 2016
Telkom 947 Cycle Challenge has teamed up with former Springbok captain Victor Matfield, rally champion driver Gugu Zulu, news-jock Jacob Moshokoa and current team Telkom cycling captain, Malcolm Lange, for its Ride for a Purpose campaign, which encourages all participants to ride for a charitable course. Last year more than R15-million was raised through Ride for a Purpose. The Telkom 947 Cycle Challenge starts and finishes at Riversands Commercial Park on the R511 in Fourways. The race will also pass over the iconic Nelson Mandela Bridge into Braamfontein, go up Jan Smuts Avenue, through the northern suburbs then travel through Cosmo City and Diepsloot to finish inside the Riversands Commercial Park, the permanent home for the race. Organisers say on the Saturday before the main race, cyclists will participate in a 40km Twitter Ride, marked as the last training session before the main event. For more information on the Telkom 947 Cycle Challenge and to register for the race visi: http://www.cyclechallenge.co.za
f
facebook.com/947CycleChallenge @947Cycle
947CycleChallenge
In the Loop – 23
Message from the Executive Mayor
Arts, Sports & Culture
Contents
Walk the Talk –
what are you walking for? G
et your walking shoes ready, it’s time for the annual 702 Walk the Talk – a family saunter around the lush ambience of Joburg’s northern suburbs. The leisurely walk, scheduled for Sunday 24 July is organised under the auspices of the City in partnership with Primedia’s Talk Radio 702. The event is aligned with the City’s objective to promote a culture of healthier lifestyles and foster social cohesion. “Regular exercise is one of the pillars of preventing lifestyle diseases, and we encourage people to do this to ease the burden on our healthcare system,” says Executive Mayor Parks Tau.
Social cohesion promoted This year’s event urges participants to walk for a philanthropic cause.
Cities are the sphere of government closest to communities. It cannot be that as a City we must be ashamed or secretive about the work we are doing to change the lives of Johannesburg residents. The South African Cities Network is the latest independent body to rate us as the best performing city in the country.
“Walk the Talk offers an opportunity for social cohesion, as we all come together peacefully to walk for causes close to our hearts and to learn about others and their causes,” says 702 station manager Pheladi Gwangwa. The walk, which begins and ends at its traditional home – the Marks Park Sports Club in Emmarentia – will take walkers along meandering routes in the suburbs of Greenside, Parkhurst, Parkview and Westcliff.
How do we, begin to hide community investments such as shopping malls, state of the art recreational parks with gym facilities, a high standard theatre, stadiums and multipurpose centres in our townships?
To ensure the safety of walkers and motorists the City has granted permission for stringent road closures, which include sections of Judith Road and Victory Road from 4am to 2pm. No vehicles will be allowed on any of the closed roads.
How do we even start to withhold information on the free online education being offered mostly to our youth in public libraries, the COJ Free Wi-fi that is alive in parts of our City and being used for homework, studies, freelance job assignments and by small business enterprises, among others?
Charities to benefit
The event is divided into three categories; 15km for competitive walkers, 8km for moderate athletes and the 5km fun walk.
The 702 Walk the Talk is recognized as the biggest walk of its kind in the southern hemisphere and the third biggest walking event in the world. A significant percentage of the Walk the Talk’s net profit is donated to charity.
“We call on all registered walkers to come out in their numbers to participate in the walk, which is part of Joburg’s annual social calendar and encourages healthy living,” says Thandiwe Mphore, acting Director of
Entries for the walk have already capped the 50 000 target and are closed. All walkers who cross the finish line will receive a medal.
Events.
Message from the Executive Mayor
As always, there will be plenty of free live entertainment on the day, including performances by popular local artists. Participants are advised to bring their picnic baskets, own food and non-alcoholic beverages. For a comprehensive list of all road closures, parking availability and a detailed route map, log on to the Walk the Talk website http://walkthetalk.co.za/. Alternatively, telephone the race office on 011 017 2700 or email walkthetalk@702.co.za.
Time to exercise your voting right wisely Colleagues, The phrase “the future is in our hands” has seldom been as apt as it will be in the next few days when the time to exercise your voting right in the August 3 Local Government Elections finally arrives. This is the time to make up your mind about the incumbent leadership of the City. We have been reporting back on our service delivery record of the past five years. This has been done through direct community engagements across our seven regions, while various print and broadcast media platforms, as well as advertising have also been used.
How does a progressive City like Johannesburg begin to downplay its spatial redesign efforts to reverse the spatial legacy of apartheid? There is certainly nothing wrong in informing Johannesburg residents how we are delivering basic services to all our residents, including those who live in informal settlements. It is certainly not a secret that Johannesburg is leading with the development of integrated settlements such as Lufhereng, Fleurhof, Cosmo City, Lehae and Kliptown. Having an election is an opportune time to inform residents on the work done for them by an incumbent leadership. An election season is indeed the time that a record of delivery, such as the End of Term Report 2011 – 2016, should be shared with residents.
South Africa is not alone in holding elections in 2016. Voters in both Italy and France cast their votes in municipal polls earlier this year and similar processes are unfolding in countries such as Zambia, Ghana and Slovakia. And, there can be little doubt that the results of the US Presidential elections in November will be watched with keen interest across the world. However, in Johannesburg, we are not only consulting and engaging citizens every five years. In fact, the elections on August 3 are but one step in an ongoing conversation between elected representatives and residents. As a City, we are especially proud of the way in which we have involved citizens in the municipal decision-making processes over the past five years through the Joburg Growth and Development Strategy 2040. We sure hope that all the work that has been done and is currently still being completed to improve the lives of Johannesburg residents continues. The City’s spatial redesign interventions and developmental programmes that seek to advance socio-economic transformation in local communities remain open to positively impact people’s lives. We, as the leadership of Johannesburg between 2011 and 2016, remain committed to improving the lives of the people of Johannesburg. It is your time to reflect and use your voting right wisely on August 3.
Cllr. Mpho Parks Tau Executive Mayor
Regular elections are among the key features of modern democracies and elected representatives must have the confidence to go back to residents, who happen to be voters, to give and receive feedback on their delivery in a five-year term of office.
Use the QR code reader on your smartphone to scan these barcodes.
www.facebook.com/ CityofJohannesburg
22 – July 2016
www.plus.google.com/ 1131415161359973 56931/posts
www.instagram.com
www.twitter.com/ CityofJoburgZA
www.youtube.com/ my_videos?o=U
www.flickr.com/ photos/city_ of_joburg/
www.linkedin.com/ profile/view?id=2453 26835&trk=tab_pro
In the Loop – 3
Arts, Sports & Culture
Good Governance
A bird’s eye view of a City over 5 years The current Mayoral Term comes to a close in the first week of August 2016 when residents of Joburg go to the polls to cast their votes in the local government elections. In the past five years, the City has undergone significant changes – especially in the restructuring of its spatial landscape, the introduction of initiatives in the green and blue
Make way for new talent on Joburg stages
economy and the implementation of programmes to support entrepreneurship and job creation among the youth. The term started on an active note with the adoption of the city’s Growth and Development Strategy – Joburg 2040 – which sets long-term objectives, with short-term mileposts to be passed along the way.
Joburg 2040 listed four key outcomes:
1 Outcome 1 – Improved quality of life and development- driven resilience for all. Agriculture and food security was identified as a priority to address the dire situation of poor and vulnerable groups in society. Three food empowerment zones were established to support emerging farmers and deprived households benefited from the creation of food gardens. The quality of health care was improved through the construction of clinics in the most deprived areas and the rapid expansion of treatment programmes for people with HIV/AIDS, mothers and young children. “Safer City” initiatives have led to a reduction in crime and this will continue through the City’s investment in smart technology.
2
3
4
Outcome 2 – A resilient, liveable, sustainable urban environment.
Outcome 3 – An inclusive, job-intensive and competitive economy that harnesses the potential of citizens.
Outcome 4 – A highperforming metropolitan government that contributes to a globally competitive Gauteng City Region.
The Corridors of Freedom programme is widelyrecognised as a game-changing initiative to transform the spatial landscape of the City and enable people to live closer to job and economic opportunities. During the current term of office the City spent 92% of its capital budget on infrastructure, primarily within the Corridors and along the Rea Vaya trunk routes. The Bus Rapid Transit system is changing the way Joburgers commute with a growing preference for accessible and affordable public transport. Social housing initiatives were launched within the Corridors supported by the upgrading of the public environment and the provision of social and economic infrastructure.
Jozi@Work is changing the way in which services are delivered with residents becoming partners rather than recipients. Communities are organising themselves into cooperatives or small enterprises and are allocated work packages in areas such as refuse removal, road maintenance and construction. Through youth-oriented programmes such as Vulindlel’ eJozi and Massive Open Online Varsities – MOOVs – the City enables young people to upgrade their skills and to match their capabilities with opportunities in the job market.
Johannesburg’s sterling financial performance has been recognised by commentators, the media, investors and the ratings agencies. The “billing crisis” that existed at the start of the term was solved and the Auditor General has given the City unqualified audit opinions for three financial years in a row. Smart City initiatives are bridging the digital divide among residents, enabling them to interact better with the City and giving them access to information, technology, better health care and improved safety.
Y
oung talent will shine on the City’s theatre stages in the next few weeks after a blockbuster winter season of extravagant productions. With Youth Month still fresh in the memory – and Women’s Month coming up – the production of She Bellows at the Soweto Theatre will definitely challenge entrenched perceptions about the society. In her brief career, Zimkitha Kumbaca has already carved a place for herself on the local art scene as a scriptwriter, stage actress, singer and soapie star. In She Bellows she is combining all these talents in a single production that incorporates music, poetry, dance and improvised interaction with the audience. The production will run from 3 to 14 August and bookings can be done on the Soweto Theatre’s website, http://www.sowetotheatre.com/ Another face that is well-known to TV audiences is Bongi Mthombeni, who was one of the finalists in the early days of Idols. Since then he has performed in a number of musical productions at the Joburg Theatre and will be entertaining diners at the Stages restaurant on the weekends of 15/16 and 22/23 July.
No script required A group of innovative comedy artists, The Jittery Citizens has been delighting audiences with their improvisations and skits at the Joburg Theatre since March. They are now coming back with new material for a run that will last until the end of November. The group consists of an all-star cast of comical and musical improvisers drawn from some of the country’s best talents – including Toni Morkel, Mpho Osei-Tutu, Frances Slabolepzy and Jai Prakash.
4 – July 2016
For lovers of opera
Future artist in training
Gauteng Opera will stage one of the world’s most favourite music productions, L’ elisir d’amore – the Elixir of Love – from 2 to 7 August at the Joburg Theatre. Arjan Tien and Bronwen Forbay will sing the lead roles with other cast members including Thabiso Masemene, Kagiso Boroko, Thato Machona and Caroline Nkwe, best-known for performing the role of Winnie Madikizela Mandela in the recent production of Madiba, the African Opera.
Aspiring young singers and actors will benefit from the Heart 2 Art programme hosted by the Joburg Theatre on every last Sunday of the Month. It includes free music workshops, a mini-market and opportunities for young talent to perform in front of live audiences.
In the Loop – 21
Good Governance
Joburg In Pics 1
2
The numbers tell the story…
6
15%
•
210 000
7
•
• access to clean drinking water; 95.8% • spent by Joburg Water on new and R340 million upgraded infrastructure; • litres of water saved through a 9 reduction in pipe bursts; 3.1 10 • number of households with access billion to electricity; 85.1% • resident satisfaction with waste removal according to the latest survey;
100%
<1%
• • •
1. Alexandra resident and food trader, Cindy Simelane, was named as the maker of the healthiest and tastiest kota in town. The annual competition is held in the City to support the Go Jozi Healthy Lifestyle campaign. 2. Executive Mayor Mpho Parks Tau led guests across the pedestrian bridge at Bruma Lake where he announced future plans for the redevelopment of the precinct at the eastern entrance to the City. 3. Mayor Tau flanked by his son and anti-drug activist, Karabo and the founder of Crystal Sharing Without Shame, Dereleen James, were in Eldorado Park to urge young people to stay away from drugs as part of increasing awareness programme through partnerships with communities, celebrities and the private sector. 4. Mvuselelo Mathebula, Deputy Director of Waste Management receives a Certificate of recognition from Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs, Barbara Thompson for leading Waste Separation at Source and Waste Pickers Empowerment project at the Waste Khoro Conference recently held in Durban. 5. Radio and print journalists took the opportunity to interview Mayor Tau following the release of the City End of Term Report. 6. The MMC for Economic Development, Cllr Ruby Mathang, opened the Outdoor Advertising Indaba which was also attended by the Managing Director of the Johannesburg Property Company, Helen Botes and city business leader, Mzwanele Manyi. 7. Soccer superstar, Steven Pienaar, visited the Metro Centre to thank the Department of Sports for the support given by the City to the Steven Pienaar Community Cup in Westbury. Pienaar, second from the left, was joined by Martin Napier, Bjorn Freeman, Brandon Solomons and Verrelli Triegaardt.
20 – July 2016
95% • 15% 16 000 11%
•
•
the number of exposed babies born HIV positive; the immunisation coverage for children younger than one; of clinics providing comprehensive HIV and AIDS treatment and counselling; the reduction in serious crimes in the inner city after the introduction of CCTV cameras; the number of roadside checkpoints conducted by the JMPD; the decrease in mortality through improved emergency responses;
• 1258
1 900
• •
remote monitoring units at vital road intersections; kilometres of resurfaced roads over the past five years; the length of the network managed by the Johannesburg Roads Agency;
13 428km
800km 1 000 50%
• the length of broadband fibre optic cable installed; • the targeted number of hotspots to receive free Wi-Fi; • City residents who do not have access to the internet and who will benefit from city initiatives; •
66 000
23%
• •
the reduction in the number of poor people going to bed hungry; the number of households reached by food security initiatives; the number of emerging farmers supported by City hubs;
Transport Road Infrastructure
Population
12 years
Smart City
74 930 5
solar water heaters installed at housing developments; the reduction of waste to landfill achieved through recycling initiatives; smart electricity meters installed;
53 000
Food Security
•
• the length of Rea Vaya BRT already completed along the Louis Botha Corridor; • the number of daily passengers on the Rea Vaya network; • the extent of the agreement with the taxi industry for the operating of Rea Vaya;
16km
176
• Expanded Public Works jobs created; • the value of contracts to be 200 00 allocated to community-based companies through Jozi@Work; • the number of residents organised in micro-enterprises; 40 000
R3.2-billion
#1
#1
#1
#2
• ranking as the ’most popular destination in Africa’ by MasterCard Global; • most ‘economically powerful city in Africa’ – as ranked by the Global Financial Cities Index; • most ‘inspiring city in the world’ – by the Good City Index; • most ‘popular city in Africa for youth under 30’ by Youthful City Index;
In the Loop – 5
Job Creation
R100-billion
90%
150%
R43-billion
• the size of Joburg’s operating budget – up from R29-billion in 2011; • the oversubscription on the Green Bond issued by the City; • the size of the City’s allocation to infrastructure over 10 years; • billing queries resolved within 30 days;
Financial Management
• of the population younger than 14 years of age; • the number of new arrivals in the City every month;
23.2%
Green Infrastructure
10 000
Service Delivery
1.4-million
Health Care
4
3
• the latest estimated population of Johannesburg; • the number of households in the City;
Public Safety
4.7-million
But it is best reflected in numbers. The figures, the percentages, the size of budget allocations and the expansion of services and infrastructure provided to residents of the “world-class African City.”
Accolades
T
he success story of Johannesburg over the past five years has been told in reports, independent surveys, opinion polls and accolades from various local and international organisations.
Snapped: Jozi at Work
Good Governance
T
he establishment of a fully-fledged Johannesburg Investment and Tourism entity will enable the City to contribute to South Africa’s economic growth and gain an even larger share of the investment and tourism business flowing into the country. The Johannesburg Council has approved a by-law to create Johannesburg Investment and Tourism – JIT – and it is expected to start full operations within the next three months. “This opens major new opportunities for the City to market itself as the investment destination of choice in Africa,” says Ravi Naidoo, the Executive Director: Economic Development. JIT will offer investors – both local and foreign – a single entry point into the Joburg economy. It will fast-track decision-making
and guide prospective investors through approval processes and advice on issues such as land use, power and water connections and by-laws. “It is well-known that Johannesburg is the ‘horse that draws the cart’ of the regional economy,” says Naidoo. It contributes 15% to the South African Gross Domestic Product – GDP – and grows at a faster rate than any other city in the country. “Our aim is to make the city even more attractive to private sector investors and to attract investments in the right sectors and at the right volumes.” Private sector investment “gives oxygen for transformation – without growth you cannot address issues of transformation.”
City’s new investment and tourism company to drive growth and job creation
Johannesburg Investment and Tourism will be responsible to: • promote economic growth and transformation in the City; • serve as a platform for partnerships between the City and the private sector; • collaborate and co-invest in projects that will attract investment and tourism; • act as a facilitator for strategic investment projects; • be a single point of contact for investment and tourism; • assist investors by fast-tracking decision-making about investments; • position Johannesburg as a tourism destination for events and leisure; • promote tourism entrepreneurship and organise tourism events. Naidoo says it is a logical step to bring Joburg Tourism into the new entity. In a global environment the promotion of investment and tourism go hand in hand and a single organisation
6 – July 2016
will give the City more clout to attract business tourism and in the rapidly growing “MICE sector” – Meetings, Events, Conferences and Exhibitions. Through JIT the City will be able to do comprehensive “place branding” and work with marketing companies, the tourism and hospitality sectors and emerging players in the industry to promote Johannesburg even better. JIT will be a service utility in Johannesburg – similar to entities such as City Power and Joburg Water – but with a strong commitment to be run on business principles. There will be a Board of Directors and experts in both the investment and tourism industries will be appointed to the Board and the two Advisory Committees. Naidoo says a positive development is that the by-law to establish JIT received bipartisan approval in Council with all the major political parties supporting the move.
In the Loop – 19
Good Governance
Employee News
City streamlines contract management services A
ll contracts entered into between the City and service providers are now tightly managed following the establishment of the Contract Support Unit (CSU). The CSU was set up to oversee and ensure the City complies with the Municipal Finance Management Act with regards to contracts. Departments will no longer use their discretion to extend or modify the terms of contracts The streamlining of the process will improve general contract management, alleviate risks associated with external contracts and advance service delivery. The CSU was established following a risk assessment that identified loopholes in the contract management process. Among these risks were unauthorised and irregular expenditure, wasteful expenditure and the exceeding of allocated budgets for certain contracts.
Mitigating against risks Segala Malahlela, head of the newly established unit, says the City has long been exposed to risks associated with the management of a contracts’ lifecycle and has devised a way to mitigate this. Malahlela says the CSU is tasked with ensuring the development of contracts or agreements throughout the City, that are legal, commercially sound, risk adverse, efficient and effective. As part of the unit’s functioning, a contract review project has been done in partnership with Koikanyang Incorporated and Ernst and Young to look into the institution’s approach to contract management and map strategies to mitigate the identified risks. The CSU falls under Group Legal and Contracts (GLC) headed by Mr Mbulelo Ruda. GLC is an in-house legal services department which also offers contract administration and monitoring support to the City’s departments and entities. The CSU is responsible for contract administration and supervision. The unit head is supported by a group of contract administrators and contract specialists, whose work includes negotiating contract terms and conditions, ensuring contracts comply with legislative requirements and are aligned to municipal policies and procedures and developing standard contracts and service level agreements.
Offering specialist advice The unit is also in charge of reviewing payments made against contract deliverables and providing dispute resolution services. In addition the unit provides legal support to the procurement and supply chain management processes and advises procurement committees on bid specification, bid evaluation and bid adjudication. Malahlela says the contract administrators and contract specialists also liaise with the supply chain and finance departments in their line of work. Some of the unit’s early successes include developing the Group Contract Management Policy and Framework, which was approved by Council in March 2016.
Joburg ready to go to the polls I
t is “all systems go” for the Local Government Elections in Johannesburg when voters go to the polls on 3 August to choose their representatives for the next five years. The City is working closely with the Independent Electoral Commission to ensure the voting process is without a hiccup and that the results will be a free and fair reflection of the will of the citizens of Johannesburg.
Daniels says regular meetings are held with all stakeholders, including the South African Police Services, the JMPD, City Power and the Department of Education to weed out thorny issues ahead of polling day. City Power and Eskom will be responsible for electrifying approximately150 temporary and permanent voting stations on Election Day. It will also provide generators as backups in the event of a power outage.
Greg Daniels the Municipal Electoral Officer for the City of Johannesburg is confident that the logistics will be in place on polling day and that voting will proceed smoothly. Joburg is the largest Metro in Gauteng – a province where some 6.2-million people are registered to vote on 3 August.
Application for special votes is currently open and will close on 08 July 2016. This is to allow those who cannot travel to a voting station on voting day because they are infirm, disabled, pregnant or will be working on voting day to apply.
What you should know about the 2016 elections
Special vote is set for 1 and 2 August to allow those who applied and qualify to vote at voting stations or be visited at home. President Jacob Zuma recently announced that 3 August will be a public holiday to enable voters to cast their ballots.
• 270 councillors will be elected on the of 3 August. Following the most recent demarcation, there are now 135 wards in the City where representatives will be elected through direct ballots. A further 135 will be allocated seats on the Council through the system of proportional representation.
The IEC will be operating from the results centre at the SABC’s Auckland Park offices. Counting of the ballots will start soon after the polling stations close and Daniels is confident that the Joburg results will all be known by Friday 5 August.
• Voting will take place at 842 polling stations across Joburg – including 94 temporary structures and 96 sub-stations. • 22 political parties have registered to contest wards in the City with an additional 33 independent candidates. • Voter registration has already closed and voters can find the details of their voting station by sending their ID numbers to 32810 or phoning the toll free number of the IEC on 0800 11 8000. Queries can also be directed through the website www.elections.org.za. • Voters are only allowed to vote at the voting district where they are registered and should take their barcoded ID documents, smart cards ID or a valid temporary ID document to the voting stations. • Voting stations will open at 7am on Wednesday 3 August and close at 7pm.
18 – July 2016
MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS 2016 In the Loop – 7
Employee News
Good Governance
Joburg stalwarts bid farewell to Council An activist at heart
Joburg leads in the delivery of basic services
Although MMC Walters grew up in Cape Town, she has called the City of Johannesburg home since 1987 . “I love Joburg and I’m proud to be a Joburger,” she said.
J
She moved into local government in 1995 and was elected Chief Whip of the ANC caucus. Between 2000 and 2011, she chaired the Political Steering Committee before being asked to lead the Petitions and Public Participation and Community Development committees.
The report is released every five years and compares the strengths and weaknesses of Johannesburg, Buffalo City, Cape Town, Ekurhuleni, eThekwini, Mangaung, Msunduzi, Nelson Mandela Bay and Tshwane.
ohannesburg is the country’s leading city in providing basic services, according to a report released recently by the South African Cities Network (SACN). The City was rated first among nine cities in providing households with water, sanitation and refuse removal between 2010 and 2013 in a report entitled “State of South African Cities”.
Cllr Prema Naidoo.
What are the major findings of the Report • Cities are important – they are driving growth and development in the country and performing… but under difficult circumstances and with mixed outcomes. • Cities have significantly improved their service delivery and have good strategies in place to facilitate growth and social development. • The population of cities is growing rapidly. Few people arrive with the skills and resources to compete for jobs and formal employment opportunities are becoming increasingly scarce. • Spatial transformation is critical for cities to become more productive, inclusive and sustainable.
How does Johannesburg measure up? The Corridors of Freedom Programme is singled out in the Report as an example of how a city can benefit from the increase in private land values that flow from public investments. “The additional revenue can be used to finance other infrastructure or for poverty alleviation programmes,” notes the Report.
• Population growth is placing huge pressures on landfill sites, fresh water resources, energy and the ability of cities to develop sustainable growth paths. • Everyone has a role to play. Good leadership and management are critical and special attention must be paid to encouraging active citizenship.
What is the Executive Mayor’s response? The Report makes an important call to action for all segments of society – from communities and neighbourhoods to cities; from cities to the nation; and from the nation to the global – to support the inclusive growth and development of South African cities,” – Cllr Mpho Parks Tau, Chairperson of the Board, SA Cities Network.
What is the SACN? The South African Cities Network was established in 2002 as a network of cities and partners to encourage the exchange of information, experience and best practices on urban development and city management.
8 – July 2016
The nine metros generate almost two-thirds of the country’s economic activities and more than 50% of national employment.
A
fter selfless service to the community, two of Joburg’s most prominent leaders are retiring from the Council. Chief Whip Cllr Prema Naidoo and the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Transport Cllr Christine Walters have indicated that they will not be candidates in next month’s local government elections. Born in Doornfontein in 1946, Cllr Naidoo was involved in struggle politics from an early age. He worked closely with veterans such as Walter Sisulu, Bram Fischer, Molvi Cachalia and JB Marks and was detained several times for his political activities.
Together with Cllr Naidoo, MMC Walters played a huge role in the transition to local governance in Johannesburg, which included the merger of 11 different councils and substructures into a single and united City. During her four-year stint as MMC for Transport, Cllr Walters was instrumental in ensuring that the Joburg Roads Agency achieves a clean audit and that the City of Joburg successfully hosts the 2015 EcoMobility World Festival. “I am retiring from politics, but that won’t stop me from continuing to help where I can,” said MMC Walters. “My love for the ANC and commitment to the transformation and emancipation of all South Africans will continue to keep me working in the city and continue to contribute in the community.”
In his last speech as Chief Whip, Cllr Naidoo said he and fellow councillors had worked diligently since 1995 to contribute to the transformation of society and the improvement of the quality of life of Johannesburg residents irrespective of gender, religion or sexual orientation. “Before entering this council, I was a welder with very little formal education. I became a councillor at the insistence of a number of close comrades and friends,” he said. He was first appointed to the Mayoral Committee in 2000 and given responsibility to oversee the Health portfolio. He moved to Environmental Management before his appointment as Chief Whip – a critical leadership role in Council – in 2009.
Why is the Report so important? The State of the City Report is published every five years and provides a comprehensive overview of the performance of South African cities. The information, data and statistics are used by policy makers, urban planners, economists, civil society and the media to analyse urban growth and progress made in the implementation of policies.
Cllr Naidoo, who lives in Lenasia, has won numerous awards for his dedicated and selfless service to the public. “I have done my best to serve the residents of the city diligently, honestly and effectively. I was always aware that I could affect and improve the lives of the people who gave me the honour of serving them,” he said.
Cllr Christine Walters.
In the Loop – 17
Economic Development
Infrastructure
The Johannesburg Roads Agency is responsible for a network of 13 500km of tarred and gravel roads and some 2 178 intersections with traffic lights; Infrastructure
New unit to crack down on vandals and thieves
It has cost the JRA R11.6-million since 2013 to replace and repair damaged or stolen infrastructure; Manhole covers Stolen manhole covers cost the city some R6.3-million to replace over the past three years;
Storm water system
W
atch out cable thieves and vandals who destroy Joburg’s road infrastructure. A new, specialised unit has been formed to root out vandalism and theft and to follow the tracks of the petty thieves to the syndicates who pay for the scrap metal. Executive Mayor Mpho Parks Tau has described vandalism and theft of infrastructure as “economic sabotage” and welcomed new national legislation passed last month to crack down on offenders and impose lengthy sentences. The Infrastructure Protection Unit is a joint initiative between the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA), the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) and the Gauteng and national police forces to share information and coordinate actions against the scourge of vandalism. “This is a city-wide effort that will require the dedication, skills and capabilities of a number of city entities… but also the goodwill and cooperation of all our citizens,” says the Managing Director of the JRA, Dr Sean Phillips. The physical value of the infrastructure can be measured in rands and cents to show how much it costs to repair or replace metal or cabling, says Dr Phillips. But the hidden costs are even greater. “It must be measured in the time wasted in gridlock when a broken traffic light causes delays. It must be offset against the damage caused to vehicles that drive over an uncovered manhole. It must be valued in the cost of lives lost or the medical bills of victims of crashes at poorly signalled intersections.” Speaking at the launch of the Infrastructure Protection Unit, Cllr Christine Walters, the MMC for Transport, called on communities to work with the City by adopting a zero-tolerance attitude towards vandalism and destruction of public property and to help identify ring leaders and syndicates “who are robbing our citizens of a better life.” 16 – July 2016
It can cost up to R26 000 to replace a single kerb inlet on the storm water system;
01 02 03 04
City gears up for shopping extravaganza T
he biggest shopping event on the African continent is coming to Joburg again with thousands of people from all walks of life expected to flock to the City. For a third year in a row, the Johannesburg Shopping Festival will offer bargain hunters an almost unlimited variety of shopping experiences – with huge discounts on merchandise such as electronics, furniture and clothing. Bintu Petsana, the Head of Joburg Tourism, says this year’s festival – from 28 July to 9 August – will be the best ever and confirms the City’s reputation as the shopping and retail capital of Africa. The event brings added bonuses for the city because many shoppers will also stay at local accommodation and visit Johannesburg’s many heritage sites, tourism venues and dining spots. This will help to simulate the local economy and create jobs. “Visitors will not only be amazed by the shopping extravaganza but also by the warm welcome they will receive from locals,” says Petsana. “They will experience how easy it is to travel on the Rea Vaya network and the Gautrain and enjoy the rich variety of restaurants, shows, museums and events.
Guardrails, brackets and handrails Stolen or damaged guardrails, brackets and handrails on the M1, M2 and Soweto Highway had to be replaced at a cost of R5.2-million;
05
Five of Gauteng most popular shopping malls will be offering massive bargains and specials over the 13 day period. • Sandton City – the largest retail complex under one roof in Africa;
Traffic signals An average of 86 traffic signals is damaged every month in vehicle crashes. A further 31 signals are targeted by cable and metal thieves.
Traffic signals Repairs to or replacement of traffic signals cost the JRA R11-million a year.
06
• Oriental Plaza in Fordsburg – the bulk-buying mecca for the serial shopper; • the East Rand Mall – within a short travelling distance from the OR Tambo International Airport;
07
CCTV cameras At 30 road intersections where CCTV cameras are already in place the JRA has been able to reduce cable theft by 60%.
• Nelson Mandela Square – conveniently located close to the Sandton Gautrain Station;
08
• Rosebank Mall – with it eclectic mix of local chain-stores, international brands and boutique shops. In addition a variety of brands are supporting this year’s festival with special deals and bargain offers, including South African Airways, the Gautrain, the City Lodge Hotel Group, Sun International and Uber. Shoppers can also win a variety of fabulous prizes including four Chevrolet Spark vehicles, air tickets, getaway holidays to Sun City and tickets to the Joy of Jazz Festival. The Johannesburg Shopping Festival is modelled after a similar event held in Dubai over the past 21 years – but in Jozi it has acquired an identity and a flavour of its own. It has grown into a prime tourist attraction for visitors and positioned Johannesburg and Gauteng as convenient and budget-friendly shopping destinations. “It is the biggest event of its kind in Africa, says James Delaney, the CEO and founder of the Festival, “The special
deals and prizes to be won, make it well worth the journey for visitors coming to the City. Full details are available on the website, http://www.joburgshoppingfestival.co.za/ or the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/JoburgShoppingFestival/. The Joburg Tourism website http://www.joburgtourism.com/ is always a great source of information about events and destinations in the City. In the Loop – 9
Economic Development
Public Safety
Horses and riders combine into effective JMPD unit A
police officer on horseback might be the last sight you expect to encounter in the downtown CBD – but in Joburg the JMPD’s Equestrian Unit has become quite a familiar part of law enforcement. Based at the JMPD’s training centre in Selby, the Equestrian Unit is often called on to support crowd management operations during mass events or marches through the City’s streets. Mounted units are also frequently deployed to follow suspects in difficult terrains, such as parklands or hilly areas.
Complex adds vibrancy to Newtown precinct
the new complex, says JPC Senior Manager Alan Dinnie. It is equipped with LED lighting and solar heating and gas is used in the restaurant to reduce electricity consumption.
Inspector Steve Havenga has been with the Equestrian Unit since inception in 1988 and is currently responsible for the
“The horse is our most important asset and its well-being is a priority,” says Inspector Havenga. Aspiring officers soon find out that it is not a glamorous work to be responsible for every tiny detail of the horse, including feeding, grooming, brushing its teeth and cleaning its hooves to prevent a build-up of dirt that may affect its health. Inspector Mpoko says Joburgers respond very well to the horses and, despite their imposing presence, they make the JMPD more approachable. The Equestrian Unit has developed into a good marketing tool for the JMPD and is often used for demonstrations at schools, carnivals and major public events such as the Rand Show.
Convenient services closer to people The owner of the complex, Imraan Minty, says he is amazed by how good the place looked after the renovations. “It's not just a place where people fill up but it's a 24-hour business operation, where customers can get what they need at a time convenient for them," he says. He says the JPC-enabled investment had more than doubled the business's employment figures - from 29 to 60. “This is about bringing services closer to the people and ensuring that they have convenience where it matters," says Minty.
T
he rejuvenation of the Newtown precinct into a safe, vibrant and liveable mixed-use urban space has been given a major boost.
Some of the other developments that the JPC has facilitated in the Newtown Precinct include City Lodge, which was recently opened to the public, and the Newtown Junction Mall, valued at a total of R1.4-billion.
The Johannesburg Property Company – JPC – has facilitated the redevelopment of an ordinary filling station into a modern mini-business complex with a 24-hour Sasol garage and convenience store, three bank ATMs, a chicken outlet and a Mintys Tyre fitment centre.
The JPC believes these developments will continue to attract investment in the precinct. It is envisaged that the addition of Mintys Sasol Garage will further uplift Newtown and encourage additional development.
“The JPC wants to partner with various property stakeholders to ensure growth and revitalise the City,” says Helen Botes, the Chief Executive of the City’s property development entity that uses council-owned land to leverage private sector investments. In 2014, the JPC awarded Mintys Tyre and Mags a tender to upgrade an old filling station into a vibrant mini-complex with an investment value of R15-million.
Great example of inner-city development The recently-opened complex is the latest addition to the JPC’s growing property portfolio in the Newtown Precinct, which had stagnated at some point. It is located along Bree Street, between MuseuMAfrica, Mary Fitzgerald Square and the Oriental Plaza in Fordsburg. The new complex is helping to give Newtown a facelift by transforming it into an attractive place to work, live and visit. A lot of elements were taken into consideration when building
10 – July 2016
“The site is an excellent example of inner city redevelopment, prevention of urban decay and the creation of employment opportunities,” says Amien Suliman, Director of Mintys Tyre and Mags.
training of both horses and riders. Under his guidance, they are blended into a highly effective combination that makes a useful contribution to crime prevention and public policing in the City. Their high vantage points and easy manoeuvrability over all types of terrain make the unit a very effective element of the JMPD. One horse and rider can control up to 100 people at any given time. The unit currently consists of 20 horses and an equal number of mounted officers. They train as teams and are subsequently deployed together, thus building a strong bond between horse and rider, explains the commander, Inspector Isaac Mpoko, a veteran with more than 25 years of experience. He runs a closely-knit team where members are proud to be part of a specialised and elite unit. When vacancies occur, the unit advertises among existing JMPD officers and training takes place over a three month period. During the training, the horses are gradually acclimatised to situations they may encounter within the city, including heavy traffic vehicles, large crowds, booming noises and smoke.
Things to know about the equine members of the JMPD 1.
The Friesian is a horse breed that originated in the Netherlands but is also now bred in South Africa. Only mare and geldings – castrated horses – are used because of their good temperament.
2.
The imposing horses are jet-black in colour with a thick mane and tail.
3.
In medieval times, Friesians were used to carry armoured knights into battle and during popular jousting tournaments.
4.
The JMPD horses must be at least “15.2 hands tall” – about 155cm from the ground to the top of its shoulders. Despite their powerful built, the horses are exceptionally nimble and elegant.
5. All the horses are older than four – but they can continue to work until at least the age of 20.
In the Loop – 15
Economic Development
Economic Development
Time for businesswomen to make their mark
Accord to link Africa’s and Asia’s top commercial hubs T
The Executive Mayor, Cllr Mpho Parks Tau, will give the keynote address in which he will outline the role of women within the City of Joburg. The idea to host such a conference was mooted by the Speaker of Council, Cllr Connie Bapela, following a study tour of Vietnam. Attendees will participate in plenary sessions to debate global markets, inadequate financial support for women; economic literacy and other intangible impediments that hamper women from participating in the mainstream economy. There will also be a business-to-business matchmaking and networking session to help facilitate trade and investment deals. It is hoped the event will hone the skills of exporters on how to meet set international market standards.
W
omen entrepreneurs will get the opportunity to showcase their products and services at a two-day conference designed to bring them closer to the mainstream of economic activity in Johannesburg. The conference comes just a month after Joburg was named among the top 25 cities in the world where women entrepreneurs thrive by the 2016 Women Entrepreneur Cities Index at the Dell Women’s Entrepreneur Network (DWEN) Summit. DWEN is a global grouping of 200 top female entrepreneurs, business leaders, media and Dell's partners. Hosted at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand the International Socio-Economic Conference for Women in Business will bring together more than 1 200 participants including representatives from government, women entrepreneurs, the private sector, civil society, the youth and people with disabilities. There will also be 100 entrepreneurs who will exhibit their products for possible market penetration and networking. The initial day of the conference will focus on economic issues whilst the second day will be dedicated to social issues. Reginald Pholo, Joburg’s Director of Trade and Investment Promotion says the event will also afford women the opportunity to source project funding and present social development initiatives that can help alleviate poverty and unemployment. “The City is committed to playing a pro-active role in the support and promotion of women entrepreneurs in Johannesburg,” says Pholo.
14 – July 2016
Pholo says the long-term plan is to host the conference annually in an effort to develop synergies between the City and women entrepreneurs and devise ways to advance their empowerment.
rade and investment between Johannesburg and the Chinese city of Shanghai has been given a major boost with the signing of an accord between the respective business communities.
Four primary areas of future cooperation have been identified: •
Financial services with Chinese institutions looking to expand cooperation with the local banking and business process outsourcing sector;
•
Green economy through the promotion of collaboration on research & development and products that be sold into the African markets;
“This is a major step forward for future commerce, investments and joint ventures between our two cities,” says Ravi Naidoo, the Executive Director: Economic Development.
•
Precinct rejuvenation and property development, tapping into Shanghai’s own experience in establishing industrial parks and manufacturing hubs;
“Shanghai is the primary business hub in China and one of the fastest growing economies in the world. A formal link with Johannesburg, Africa’s commercial centre, will bring major benefits to our City.”
•
Smart city collaboration including strengthening Joburg’s own recent investments in broadband and ICT infrastructure.
Executive Mayor, Mpho Parks Tau, will visit Shanghai before the end of the year to sign a city-to-city agreement that will further strengthen the ties.
Naidoo says the accord also provides for increased trade missions between the two cities, the sharing of information and joint participation in exhibitions and marketing campaigns.
Naidoo says the agreement is the culmination of a process that started formally in 2014 when he led a delegation of Johannesburg officials and business people to China. The objective was to build on the rapidly growing trade links between South Africa and China who are both members of the BRICS group of nations.
Five Quick Facts to Know about Shanghai
The City of Johannesburg helped to pave the way for the Memorandum of Understanding between the Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry – the oldest business grouping in the City – and its counterpart, the Shanghai Chamber of International Commerce.
“We want women to be able to build their own socio-economic infrastructure, so they that they won’t always be over-reliant on the government,” he explains. The envisaged outcome of the conference will be the expansion and broadening of market opportunities for women, the improvement of livelihoods for women entrepreneurs and the broadening of export opportunities. “We want the City to be viewed as a perfect destination for investment and business. If any person wants to invest, export or buy products, they should look at Joburg as their first port of call,” says Pholo.
The current trade between the countries stand at R270-billion a year, and annual growth in trade reached a whopping 76% per year. The Chinese trade with South Africa has exceeded its trade growth with most other countries. “The aim of the agreement, however, is not to merely create markets for Chinese goods in Johannesburg,” says Naidoo. The two chambers will operate on an equal footing and the focus will be on local production of goods in Johannesburg and the adding of local value which can, in turn, create local jobs and lead to exports into the regional markets. “We want to build the production capacity of the local economy rather than simply being a destination for other countries’ imports”, says Naidoo.
11.
It is among the most populous cities in the world – with 24 million people;
22.
The name Shanghai means “upon the sea” – a reference to its location on the East China Sea;
3. It was formally established as a city in the year 5 71 – about 1 300 years before Johannesburg;
3
4.
It is China’s most important industrial and construction hub and headquarters to the country’s largest car makers, steel makers and ship builders.
5.
At least 10 airlines fly directly between Johannesburg and Shanghai, where you can land at any of 16 major airports serving the city.
4
5
In the Loop – 11
Human and Social Development
Blue Economy
Benefits from Blue Economy start to flow I
ngenious devices that can significantly reduce the water uses for flushing… and a new kind of healthy bread baked from mango flour… are among the City’s first successful Blue Economy projects.
In the Blue Economy there are no waste products. Materials are continuously used and reused through a ‘closed loop’ process which turn them into new products, new components and new materials.
Executive Mayor Cllr Mpho Parks Tau sparked great interest with his announcements in the 2014 State of the City Address that Joburg will start with investments in sustainable projects based on innovation.
These new ways of producing goods are creating new opportunities for new entrants and enable them to compete with established businesses. Two of the programmes have already been initiated.
67 minutes
devoted to service in honour of Madiba
• Johannesburg Social Housing Company Joshco’s activities will focus on some of its own housing projects including visits to homes for the elderly and children with disabilities. • Region A Breakfast will be served at the Loveness Day Care centre combined with story-telling for the children who attend the early childhood development facility.
• Region B “ 67 Blankets for Mandela is an initiative through which the public are challenged to knit blankets or donate wool that will be donated to charities that care for needy households during the cold winter period. The region will also hand over books at schools in Riverlea and Pennyville.
• Region C Library staff will serve sandwiches and homemade soup at the Sakheleni Early Childhood Development Centre, accompanied by story-telling and reading.
Low-flush toilets Almost 30% of household water is being used to flush toilets. Large volumes of this water are wasted and the City’s objective is to cut down the water used in household toilets by half. New technology can be installed in household toilets and cisterns as well as in office buildings to reduce the volume of water used for flushing – thus saving the City’s most precious natural resource and reducing monthly water bills. An amount of R14.7-million has been allocated for this project and some 8 000 units will be installed during the initial stage. An estimated 150 direct jobs will be created during the pilot phase. The City’s aim is to make low-flush toilets and water-saving urinals standard features in homes, offices and commercial buildings and to introduce more innovations to save water and ensure a sustainable future.
Affordable and healthy bread Thirty micro-bakeries are being commercialised to produce and sell a new brand of bread baked with flour derived from the mango fruit. The City provided training for bakers and assisted them to establish cooperatives that can produce bread that is not only affordable but also contribute to healthy eating and lifestyles. Bakeries have been set up in places such as Orange Farm, Orlando, Bertrams, Tshepisong, Diepsloot, Lord Khanyile, Poortjie, Yeoville, Orange Grove and Mzimhlophe and each one will produce at least 250 loaves a day. The City allocated R50-million to kick-start the project and the aim is to transform the local bread market and offer consumers healthier, more affordable alternatives.
Benefits of City’s Blue Economy initiatives: It uses innovation to boost service delivery;
12 – July 2016
It helps to save the environment for future generations;
It uses resources in a sustainable way;
It enables new businesses to compete on an equal footing;
It promotes entrepreneurship;
It transfers knowledge and skills;
It promotes the productive use of waste material.
E
ach individual has the ability and the responsibility to change the world for the better.” This is the message for this year’s Nelson Mandela Day celebrations hosted on 18 July – 98 years after South Africa’s most revered leader was born.
The Citizen Relationship and Urban Management – CRUM – department will host activities at the Roodepark School in Discovery.
• Region E
On that day, organisations, charities and companies come together to spend at least 67 minutes in service of their communities – commemorating the lifetime of service the country’s first democratically-elected president spent in the struggle, in prison and in public life.
Activities include the handing over of toiletries to people at the Bombani Shelter for Abused Women in Alexandra.
Many regions, department and entities in the City have planned activities for Mandela Day – with a strong focus on actions devoted to young children, the disabled and the elderly.
• Region F
• City Parks and Zoo Joubert Park is the venue for an event hosted by City Parks and Zoo in partnership with Radio 2000. Gifts and food hampers will be distributed to homeless people, while the inner city park will also be cleaned up.
Clothes, nappies, wipes and dishwashing soap will be donated to the Door of Hope Orphanage for abandoned children. Staff members will also assist with laundry and cleaning of the premises. • Region G
• Johannesburg Development Agency
Mandela Day activities will be held at many of the libraries in the region. In Lenasia there will be a donation of books at the Georgina and Tshepiso’s day care centres. A special programme – called “67 lessons about the life of Madiba” – will be hosted at the Progress Primary school.
Employees from the JDA will spend the day at two schools where they will assist learners in sprucing up the environment. At the Westbury Secondary School and the Bernard Isaacs School in Coronationville they will repair ablution facilities together with JDA contractors.
In Orange Farm library staff will serve homemade soup at an old age home while community members will join the City to establish a vegetable garden at the Batho Pele Community Centre in Poortjie.
In the Loop – 13