Internal Newsletter
In the Loop Issue No.
28 June 2016
What’s inside:
Joburg – a City where the youth is on the rise
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12
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Contents
Arts, Sports & Culture
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Message from the Executive Mayor
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New Student Council ready to tackle youth issues
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Largest ever Budget keeps Joburg running
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City is balancing growth with protection of environment
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A City that delivers on its commitments 15
Protecting the environment… how is Joburg doing?
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Building our City. Building our Future 16
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R1-billion upgrade to invigorate Joburg Market
Sparks of innovation supported through Jozi My Beginning
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Connected after 30 years… Naledi Bridge offers vital link
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Quality leadership builds confidence in City entities
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Coordinated management will lead to improved delivery
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Connecting 1976 to 2016 through dialogues
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Academy gives economic freedom to young disabled
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Blood connects us all… become a donor
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Events of June 1976 commemorated in stone and bronze
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Joburg in Pics
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Winter fun activities at City Zoo and libraries
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Historic 1976 Uprising commemorated during Youth Month in City
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Romance, fairy tales and edgy comedy to heat up the winter
Acknowledgements
Cover Credits
Editor: Thomas Thale - thomasth@joburg.org.za
Executive Mayor Mpho Parks Tau and Members of the Mayoral Committee recently spent a day in Region A as part of the Ntirhisano-Moogo service delivery programme. The visit coincided with International Children’s Day and Mayor Tau took time out to visit the Little Ones crèche in Bloubosrand.
Contributor: Luyanda Lunika - luyandal@joburg.org.za Photography: Enoch Lehung - enochl@joburg.org.za Lesego Montsho - LesegoMon@joburg.org.za
Romance, fairy tales and edgy comedy to heat up the winter F
rom the romantic steps of Romeo and Juliet to the risky humour of the “Thugz of Comedy”; and from the fairy tale of Rompelstiltskin to the Biblical drama of Job… theatre goers and audiences in Joburg will have a wide variety to choose from during the early weeks of winter.
The international production is choreographed by Sisters Harris and includes the collaboration of dancers from Art of Motion and the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy. The imaginative storyline will be narrated by Tshepo Ncokoane.
• Jeremiah Mntonga and his stand-up team are known as, the Thugz of Comedy. They built their reputation on the skits they performed on SABC2 but are now taking their act to the Joburg Theatre where they are staging monthly performances till November.
• More classical ballet will come to the Joburg Theatre in July with the production of the classical Romeo and Juliet and the music composed by Sergei Prokofiev. The Joburg Ballet company will perform the ballet based on the work of William Shakespeare which tells the heart rending story of two young lovers set against their feuding families in Verona, Italy.
• Followers of serious drama might prefer the production of Jobe which brings the Biblical tale of a man who encounters adversity and pain, searching for the reasons why his life has been turned upside down. The facts are revealed to him in a dramatic, life-changing vision that rocks him and his family and friends to the core. Jobe is performed by an ensemble cast of Teboho Sengoai, Mbali Malinga, Titus Megkwe, Simpho Mathenjwa and Jeremiah Mntonga and will play at the Fringe stage of the Joburg Theatre from 14 to 16 July. • 16-year old ballet sensation, Leroy Mokgatle, made dance news earlier this year when he won a scholarship at the Prix de Lausanne competition in France. Now he has the opportunity to display his talents to local audiences when he appears in the local production of Rompelstiltskin at the Mandela Stage.
June 2016
• For younger audiences the Roodepoort Theatre offers ample entertainment during the winter holidays. The Ovation Youth Company presents an adaptation of Mary Poppins while Joburg Ballet will stage its Ballet for Winter programme. • Mbali Motha is one of the fastest risers on the gospel music scene and the will perform live in concert at the Soweto Theatre on 24 July. Critics describe her as “a sensational and dynamic contemporary singer” with a “voice that is sure to give you goose bumps.” • Another well-known gospel artist, Mngobi Nxumalo will release his long-awaited second album, “My Side of the View” at the Soweto Theatre on 3 July. He made his name as a member of Joyous Celebration before embarking on a solo career.
In the Loop – 23
Message from the Executive Mayor
Arts, Sports & Culture
Contents
Message from the Executive Mayor
Winter fun activities at City Zoo and libraries
apartheid. This was the moment that inspired most of us. We saw the actions taken by the youth of that generation as a model of how we can also transform society in our lifetime. Johannesburg occupied centre stage in the unfolding of the Soweto Uprising. Most of the initial protests against the inadequacies of “bantu education” started in Soweto and were later replicated in Alexandra before spreading rapidly across the country. The seeds of what later became a massive youth movement and catapulted South Africa into a period of popular resistance were planted in our City. Today, in the month of June, we commemorate the bravery and single-mindedness of the youth that inspired and guided a movement that we can – 40 years later – look to for leadership on the challenges that we face in the current society.
1976 principles guiding Joburg youth empowerment drive Colleagues,
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oliday fun and educational programmes for the young ones are combined at the City’s libraries during the coming winter school break. The Johannesburg Zoo – the most-visited destination in the City – is also hosting a Holiday Fun Programme catering for children between the ages of 7 and 13. On weekdays from 4 to 15 July the younger set can attend a daily programme which consists of animal feeding, crafts and games and outdoor adventures. The entry fee is R80 and visitors are advised to bring their own lunch for the activities that take place from 09h00 in the morning till 13h00. Booking is essential and can be done through the website www.joburgzoo.org.za or Facebook @TheJohannesburgZoo.
22 – June 2016
Libraries in the various City wards are offering a wide range of activities that will appeal to most children who are looking for ways to spend the holiday period during the months of June and July. The activities range from introduction to computers to making food treats to arts and crafts and indoor games. The City’s Emergency Management Services will offer helpful safety tips relating to fires that might occur at home while the Joburg Zoo has scheduled activities where they introduce the younger set to some of its interesting animals.
Again, we as a City are not standing back or waiting for events to overtake us. We believe the future is in our hands and it is within our remit to adopt the principles and actions that can change its course. After all, Johannesburg is a City where the youth lead the call for socio-economic transformation – demanding opportunities to work, to improve their lives, and to become the best of what they could be. Johannesburg is certainly a City that knows and understands that with just a little help, our youth are not the challenge that some perceive them to be, but our greatest asset.
June 1976 was a watershed year in South African history. When we look back at this tumultuous period today with the wisdom of 40 years of hindsight, we are able to evaluate and appreciate the impact that the Soweto Uprising has had on our country’s course.
Realising the value of education, many of our youth-oriented programmes are designed to improve the quality of learning and skills of young people who exit the high school system without the requisite skills to find a job in the open market.
Many of the current crop of South African leaders in politics, business and civil society came politically of age during the mid-70s when the youth led the revolt against the brutal system of
Through the City’s youth programme, Vulindlel’ eJozi, an opportunity of matric rewriting classes and advanced training is offered in partnership with business and civil society partners to match the skills of
young work-seekers with those in the market place. The Massive Open Online University (MOOV) network takes this approach one step further by giving young people access to the wider world of knowledge that is available online. In 1976, township libraries and community centres were seen as venues of exclusion. However, in 2016, these have evolved to open doors to learning and knowledge acquisition for the people of Johannesburg – particularly our youth. And, again, the world is taking notice of what is happening in Johannesburg. The Citi Foundation and the Economist Intelligence Unit have ranked the Vulindlel’eJozi youth empowerment strategy among those of top 35 cities around the world that are effectively and aggressively harnessing the power of the youth to drive sustainable economic growth. Johannesburg is well aware of the need for significant reforms in education, entrepreneurship skills development and job training to empower young people in our current economic environment. This informs our investments in these areas and we urge more young people to rise and take up the many opportunities that the Vulindlel’ eJozi youth programme is opening up for them. It is clear that what was started in Johannesburg in 1976 has certainly grown into a movement that changed a country. What is growing in the City in 2016 is certainly flourishing into an undertaking that can also have a long-lasting impact on Johannesburg and the people who live in it – particularly our youth.
Cllr. Mpho Parks Tau Executive Mayor
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Story-telling, face-painting and traditional games will appeal to children in the younger age groups while teens will be interested in a variety of computer courses that are on offer. The scheduled activities take place in the mornings from 10h00 and detailed programmes can be obtained at the local libraries.
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In the Loop – 3
Joburg in Pics
Good Governance
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Largest ever Budget keeps Joburg running T
pressure on our infrastructure, housing and services.”
he City of Johannesburg has announced a R54.8-billion Budget – the largest in the history of South Africa’s largest metro.
The record budget consists of an operating budget of R45.3-billion and a capital budget of R9.5- billion. Johannesburg’s capital expenditure is, however, allocated over a three year period and the Budget tabled in Council requests a R28.6-billion appropriation.
Delivering his 2016/17 Budget Speech, the MMC for Finance, Geoffrey Makhubo, said the economic hub of the country is home to nearly 5-million people. Every month some 10 000 new residents arrive in Johannesburg “placing continuing
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Where the revenue comes from… • Electricity tariffs are increased by 6.93% -which is below the new 7.61% increase announced by NERSA. “We want to emphasise that this is a stepped tariff… the less electricity consumers use, the less they pay,” says MMC Makhubo.
• The increase of 13.2% for water is also below the city’s initial proposals. This is a “pass through cost” depending on the increases from Rand Water and takes into account the cost of maintenance and renewal of water networks and reticulation infrastructure.
• The tariff for waste removal services increases at an average of 6%.
• MMC Makhubo highlighted the fact that poor households benefit from free services through the City’s Extended Social Package. More than 124 400 households are currently registered and this figure is expected to increase to about 290 000 over the medium term.
• Property rates will increase by 5.9% - which is below the inflation target.
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Where the budget is allocated… More than R1.1 billion goes to the Housing department as well as a multi-year capital budget of R3.4 million. Over the past five years the City has created 16 000 housing opportunities and upgraded 28 000 informal settlements households. City Power will, in the coming year, continue with its roll-out of electricity infrastructure, including in areas such as Elias Motsoaledi, Lehae, Kliptown and Princess Plot. It receives a multi-year capital budget of R3.9 billion and R16.7 billion for operations. Joburg Water gets R8.6 billion for operational expenditure and its R3.1 billion capital expenditure will fund the ongoing upgrading of water infrastructure, reservoirs and bulk waste treatment plants. Human and Social Development has a budget of R6.3-billion for the coming year. This includes R775-million for health services including the roll-out of an electronic health system. The R3.2 billion allocation for Public Safety will enable the JMPD to strengthen smart policing, improve its crime intelligence operations and build a resilient law enforcement capability. The Economic Growth Cluster receives R4.5 billion for operating expenditure and R11.6 billion on its rolling capital budget. This will go towards programmes such as the expansion of Rea Vaya, the introduction of more green vehicles for Metrobus, the urban renewal projects managed by the Johannesburg Development Agency and the major road reconstruction projects undertaken by the Johannesburg Roads Agency. 4 – June 2016
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1. City Power has scooped the top award for “Power Utility of the Year.” MD, Sicelo Xulu, and his team were in Cape Town to accept it during the African Utility Week. 2. Mayor Parks Tau and members of the Mayoral Committee visited a crèche in Bloubosrand on International Children’s Day. 3. The finalists in the Hack.Jozi competition were announced and given support to start their own digital businesses. 4. Senior Leaders from the City recently graduated from Wits Business School after completing a course in innovative management programme. 5. High school learners visited the City as part of the “Take a Girl Child to Work” campaign. They were hosted by Molaudi Khutsoane, the Group Head of Group Corporate and Shared Services.
In the Loop – 21
Good Governance
Employee News
BLOOD CONNECTS US ALL… nor
o d a e m o bec
A City that delivers on its commitments J
ohannesburg has delivered on its commitments to residents and communities and built a strong economy with increased financial capacity and the ability to create jobs and opportunities. This was the key message of the 2016 Budget Speech delivered by the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Finance, Councillor Geoffrey Makhubo at the Turbine Hall in Newtown. He emphasised the fact that the achievements of the City have been confirmed by a wide range of rating agencies, analysts and investors – including both Moody’s and Fitch – who demonstrated their confidence in the City’s future by maintaining or upgrading its ratings.
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une is Blood Donor Month across the world and the global theme for 2016 is “Blood Connects us All.”
of fluids – strong on sugar – prior to and after your donation and will check your health condition before you leave the area.
The City of Johannesburg is supporting the global and national campaign – and will set up blood donation stations at the Reception Room in Braamfontein on 9 June.
Regular donors give blood four times a year. The City has 76 regular donors on its database.
All City employees are encouraged to donate blood on this day, says Charmaine Ndou, the Deputy Director: Workplace Wellness, HIV & AIDS. Reminder messages will be sent through e-mails and bulk SMS.
12 things to know about donating blood Donating blood is a short and uncomplicated process. “It should not take longer than 20 minutes from arrival at the blood station till completion,” says Ndou. Most Joburg employees are eligible to donate blood. The process starts with a questionnaire about your health record and only people with specific medical conditions will be excluded at this stage. If you are between the ages of 16 and 65, weigh more than 50kg and lead a sexually safe lifestyle you are welcome to donate blood. No prior preparation or change in diet is required before you arrive at the donation station. Donating blood should have no impact on your own health status. Health care professionals will give you 500 mm
20 – June 2016
The blood donated at the City will be sent to the SA National Blood Service for further testing and distribution to hospitals and medical facilities. Every unit of blood is thoroughly tested for conditions such as HIV, Hepatitis B & C and Syphilis. Only tested and safe blood is used. The tested and safe blood is separated into red blood cells, platelets and plasma and used for different medical purposes. Donating one unit of blood – about 470ml – can save the lives of up to three people in dire need of blood after accidents or surgery. Transfusions are given to patients during surgery, patients with cancer or leukaemia, accident victims and women who bleed as a complication of pregnancy. One you become a regular donor you will receive a special card indicating your donor status. All donors who participate in the blood drive on 9 June will be eligible for a name draw and a special gift.
• We said we would expand the bus rapid transit system and ensure communities have access to safe, affordable and reliable public transport. The rapid growth of Rea Vaya and its current extension towards Sandton, Alexandra and Midrand bear testimony to this. • We said we would change the spatial structure of a divided City in the past… and our Corridors of Freedom programme is achieving this, building a cohesive City where people can live, work and play.
• We said we would exercise fiscal responsibility and high standards of prudent financial management… our Financial Development Plan brought that to the table and our achievements were recognised by the ratings agencies and the Auditor General’s reports over the past number of years. • We said we would refurbish our infrastructure network… and we are doing exactly that through our R100 billion capital commitments. By the end of June 2017 Joburg will have spent more than R30 billion of this investment in the modernisation of infrastructure and addressing the legacy of apartheid spatial planning through the Corridors of Freedom. • We said we would turn around the City’s revenue management… and we have achieved this through the Revenue Step Change programme. We delivered and we are confidently reporting to Joburgers that they can trust us to continue delivering. • We said we would ensure that all residents have access to quality water, reliable electricity and decent sanitation… and we have done this through the investments made by Joburg Water, the electrification of informal settlements and the expansion of services in marginalised areas. • We said we would address the quality of our roads, fix the potholes, repair broken traffic lights and clean out the storm water drains. The City is investing in highways and access roads, bridges and traffic networks that are able to accommodate the coming economic boom in our City.
Cllr Geoffrey Makhubo, the MMC for Finance, Speaker of Council, Constance Bapela and Executive Mayor, Mpho Parks Tau at the delivery of the 2016 Budget.
MMC Makhubo says the 2016 Budget builds on the great work that has been done by the team led by Executive Mayor, Mpho Parks Tau, over the past five year. “Together we have built a City that belongs to all its citizens. Together with our citizens we are building an even better Johannesburg.”
In the Loop – 5
Employee News
Good Governance
Building our City. Building our Future
Coordinated management will lead to improved delivery A
Strategic Portfolio and Programme Management Office (SPMO) has been established in the City to deliver on the accelerated capital investment programme and to align this with long-term strategies. The Acting Unit Head of the SPMO, Moeketsi Mohlabi, says the Office will support the various departments and entities across the City to undertake the right projects and programmes and deliver them in an integrated and coordinated manner. “We will act as a strategic facilitator to enable the City to take informed decisions that are more responsive to change,” says Mohlabi. The SPMO will perform a cross-cutting function and ensure that the various entities and departments share valuable information regarding projects. This integration will provide increased coordination and efficiency in the delivery of services to citizens, business and through investment in infrastructure, “reduce the economics of inequality across the City.”
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The Strategic Portfolio and Programme Management Office (SPMO) will perform four primary functions:
• Portfolio Management – “Ensuring that the right projects are funded”. The aim is to better align the capital expenditure programme with the City’s strategic objectives. The SPMO will collaborate with departments responsible for planning and budgeting to ensure the maximum socio-economic value is realised.
• Programme and Project Delivery Management – “Ensuring that projects are delivered right.” The aim is to ensure projects are delivered on time, according to the agreed quality standards and within the allocated budgets. • Project and Programme Assurance – “Ensuring accountability.” Good governance is ensured through transparent reporting supported by an auditable trail of decisions made by committees, boards and councils. • SPMO Best Practice Hub – “Ensuring sustainability.” The programme provides capacity building and support through a “Best Practice Hub” facility.
ohannesburg ends the current five year cycle of the Mayoral Term on a high note. The decision by the Moody’s rating agency to upgrade the City’s investment ratings reflects the confidence that external analysts and investors have in the quality of Johannesburg financial management.
• The City’s food security programme has reached more than 66 000 households in 34 wards. The percentage of poor people going to bed hungry has dropped from 42% to 23% through interventions such as food parcels and the establishment of food gardens.
This confidence is shared by a growing number of residents who have benefited from the City’s programmes to create jobs, extend the reach of basic services and invest in strategic infrastructure across Johannesburg.
• More than 95% of clinics in the City offer comprehensive HIV/Aids treatment and prevention programmes. Less than 1% of HIV-exposed babies born in clinics are HIV-positive.
Mohlabi says this is the first time the city is introducing a central unit to coordinate and manage its major infrastructure programmes and projects. It enjoys the support of the Executive Mayor and a wide range of stakeholders in the city and it will report to the Chief Operating Officer, Gerald Dumas.
“We are indeed a city that is hard at work to provide a real quality of life,” writes Executive Mayor Mpho Parks Tau in the foreword to the comprehensive End of Term Report that sets out the achievements and challenges over the past five years.
• Crime figures in the City have dropped by almost 10% since the introduction of CCTV cameras linked to the Intelligent Operating Centre.
“This is an important project for Johannesburg and we are confident that it will enjoy the support of everyone who is committed to achieving our vision of a world-class African City,” says Mohlabi.
“This is a City that is looking to provide sustainability for all its citizens in our bid to become a resilient and adaptive society.” The Report traces the growth of the City since the start of Cllr Tau’s Mayoral Term in 2011. It singles out the initiative taken since the adoption of the Growth and Development Strategy – Joburg 2040 – which serves as a blueprint for subsequent actions. It also clearly documents the highlights of the term – the launch of the Corridors of Freedom; the implementation of Jozi@Work; the roll-out of ‘smart city’ infrastructure; the unprecedented investment in new and upgraded physical infrastructure; the extension of basic services to the point where more than 95% of residents now have access to water and power.
“Johannesburg deserves only the best efforts from everybody…” were Cllr Tau’s first words
Mohlabi says this will enable the City to deliver on its long term strategic vision as defined in the Growth and Development Strategy – Joburg 2040.
• More than 200 000 smart electricity meters have been installed – enabling households to manage their power consumption and reduce the risk of load-shedding. • The City has created more than 200 000 Expanded Public Works – EPWP – jobs during the current term of office. • Through its Jozi@Work programme the City has supported more than 30 000 small enterprises and cooperatives to conduct business. • Some R150-million has been allocated to the Vulindlel’ eJozi programme which trains and upskills young people and connect them with job opportunities in the private sector.
shortly after his election as Mayor in 2011. Five years later he can reflect on his term of office and state with conviction:
“We are building our City. We are building our Future.” 6 – June 2016
In the Loop – 19
Service Delivery
Employee News
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oard members of municipal entities in Johannesburg make vital contributions to the quality of corporate governance in the City. Their roles and functions were underlined at a recent induction following the Annual General Meeting. The day-long conference was attended by the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Finance, Councillor Geoffrey Makhubo, City Manager, Trevor Fowler, board members, managing directors and CEOs of all the City’s entities. MMC Makhubo says municipal board are central to the City’s ability to achieve the objectives of the Growth and Development Strategy – Joburg 2040 – and the Integrated Development Plan. The decision by the Moody’s ratings agency to raise the City’s investment rating by four notches came as no surprise and is a vote of confidence in the Metro, says MMC Makhubo.
Who’s Who of leadership on Boards
Prominent community leaders and well-known business people serve on the Boards of municipal entities in Johannesburg. Among them are:
Building good institutions
R1-billion upgrade to invigorate Joburg Market
The achievements in governance are best reflected in the recent report of the Auditor General. The number of municipal entities who have received a clean bill of health has grown to six – Johannesburg Social Housing Company – Joshco – Joburg Theatres, the Johannesburg Roads Agency, Pikitup, the Johannesburg Property Company and the Johannesburg Development Agency.
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Mr Fowler said the primary duty of a municipal authority was to deliver services efficiently and effectively and to maintain the dignity of citizens. He emphasises the important role played by municipal boards, saying their effectiveness was necessary for strong corporate governance. “The separate functions between municipal boards and management are thus crucial in ensuring effective accountability mechanism. Most importantly, municipal boards are responsible for delivering on and managing the interests of shareholders," says Fowler.
Quality leadership builds confidence in City entities
The unprecedented R1-billion upgrade, driven by the team, under the leadership of acting CEO, Joe Mazibuko, will usher the Joburg Market into the modern era. “This will be the first major upgrade of the market since it first opened its doors in 1974," says Mazibuko.
The market is a key and strategic asset of the City of Johannesburg as it forms part of its mission to ensure food security and empower emerging farmers in and around Gauteng. . Mazibuko says the recapitalisation project will be carried out in two phases – the creation of “the market of the future” and the “sweating of assets”. The Council has approved a R674-million budget for the first phase, which is already at its planning stage.
Joburg “market of the future” in numbers:
Construction is expected to commence during the 2016/2017 financial year.
he Joburg Market – the biggest fresh produce market in Africa – will undergo a major recapitalisation programme over the next four years.
110 000 square metres – the size of the envisaged
trading area – from the existing 75 00 sqm;
5 000 – the number of suppliers to be accommodated;
2 100 new jobs to be created – 1 500 during construction, 50 for specialists and 600 permanent;
40%
– the percentage of produce sold in South Africa that passes through the Joburg Market;
– the number of daily customers expected to visit the expanded market;
R6.3
billion – the projected annual turnover of the new market;
11 000
“This is the result of building good institutions,good organisations and adopting good governance principles of accountability, responsibility, fairness and transparency.”
• Dr Frank Chikane, well-known public servant, cleric and activist chairs the Board of City Power;
• Dr Trish Hanekom, long-time activist and community leader chairs the Pikitup Board;
• Academic and activist, Khehla Shubane, is the chairperson of the Board of the Johannesburg Roads Agency;
• Renowned poet and novelist, Dr Wally Serote, is Chairperson of the Board of the Joburg Theatre;
• Mr Terry Tselane – the Deputy Chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission, on the board of the Joburg Market;
• Actor and entertainer, Mabutho Sithole – on the Board of the Joburg Theatre;
• Social justice activist, Caesar Molebatsi, chairs the Board of the Joburg Market;
• Business leader and entrepreneur, Papi Molotsane;
• Dr Molefi Oliphant – former President of the South African Football Association; 18 – June 2016
In addition to the building of new halls and the upgrading of existing ones, there will be complementary projects in and around the market. This will include the upgrading of facilities and infrastructure such as the entrance and exit gates, roads, storm water drains, security access points and IT. The second phase will complete the modernisation of the market.
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“This project will reposition Joburg Market as a premier fresh produce food hub. It will improve the look and feel of the market,” says Mazibuko. “Food safety is a priority and we will be able to trace every produce sold to its source, right down to the farm. But we also want to enhance the buying experience of our customers.”
Mazibuko says the empowerment of small scale farmers is a priority. At present, about 90% of the producers are big commercial farmers, with emerging black producers accounting for only 10% of production. The City is assisting a number of these farmers, to gain access to the market to sell their produce, improve food safety, food handling and packaging as well as entrepreneurial skills development. It is envisaged that the massive capital injection into the Joburg Market will result in the attraction of a number of major retailers back to City Deep. The Joburg Market is in discussions with some of these retailers who have shown great interest in anchoring the project once completed. In the Loop – 7
Jozi@work
Service Delivery
• Bamboo farming might be a solution to curb carbon emissions in Johannesburg and create incomes for small-scale farmers. The bamboo plant has the capacity to absorb carbon emitted from traffic and coal-fired stoves and, according to Kopano Mohapi, the fibre can be used to manufacture high-end household goods, furniture, flooring and wall partitions. • The cost of road construction can be brought down according to a proposal from Siviwe Khaba. The utilisation of polymer will significantly reduce the need for soil compaction and improve soil stability. This will enable local government to build tarred roads in informal settlements and peri-urban areas at a much lower cost.
Connected after 30 years… Naledi Bridge offers vital link
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he Naledi Bridge that links two of the best-known townships in Soweto has just been opened offering increased access and improved safety for pedestrians.
Local SMME contractors benefited from the construction activities and were responsible for some of the bulk earth works and the fixing of reinforced steel.
The bridge, which was constructed at a cost of R67-million, brings together two communities that have been kept apart for almost three decades. The suburbs of Protea North and Naledi are located ‘a stone’s throw apart’ but separated by a railway line. Pedestrians had to follow a lengthy detour by road or made their dangerous ways across the railway tracks.
Opening the bridge Executive Mayor Mpho Parks Tau, said delivery matters for the City. “It is important for us to deliver to those who need the services the most.”
Phillips says the bridge will contribute to community safety in Soweto, especially in Wards 14 and 20. Pedestrians can now cross the railway line at the bridge and public lighting and other safety features were included in the design. Commuters no longer have to follow a detour to get across the railway line, passing through congested streets in Chiawelo Flats, Mapetla, Phiri, Jabulani Flats and Moletsane.
“This is a proud moment for residents of Naledi and Protea North. I want to express my gratitude to Mayor Tau. You are the servant of the people; continue serving people because we appreciate that…” – Buti Masothe, resident. 8 – June 2016
• James Khamau and Dipuo Mabutana Mehana both propose the introduction of mobile fire engines in communities that are located far from the bases of emergency services. Community members can be trained on how to operate the system and then become the first responders should a fire or other emergency situation breaks out. • An academic at the University of Johannesburg, Reinout Meijboom, suggests solar energy can be stored in hydrogen cells and then be converted back into electricity when required. Such units can be placed at hospitals, IT infrastructure, large buildings and mining operations to ensure an uninterrupted power supply. • Mine acid water has been identified as one of the most pressing environmental concerns in Gauteng. Boitumelo Nkatlo is proposing the establishment of treatment plants using slag – a by-product of steel manufacturing – to convert the contaminated acid water into a product that is clean to be drinked.
The Managing Director of the Johannesburg Roads Agency, Dr Sean Phillips, says the new bridge demonstrates the City’s commitment to deliver quality infrastructure to communities and to create safer environments.
“My grandmother has waited for 30 years for the bridge. She is absolutely ecstatic…” – Beverley Selaolane of Naledi.
• Traffic lights that go on the blink cause huge frustration among commuters and cost the economy millions in terms of time wasting and lost productivity. Brian Nkolisa’s solution is to introduce mobile emergency traffic lights to intersections where the robots are down – leading to a resumption of normal traffic flow.
• Plastic waste can be recycled and compacted into panels that be used for the construction of houses. DuPreez Strauss has submitted a proposal on how this product can be manufactured with the obvious benefits of removing plastic from the environment and building houses at lower costs.
The Naledi Bridge is part of a comprehensive programme launched by the Johannesburg Roads Agency to revitalise road and storm water infrastructure across the city. As part of the R100-billion investment in infrastructure over ten years the JRA investigated the state and quality of the 814 bridges in Johannesburg with a combined asset value of more than R15-billion. The conclusion reached was that many of these bridges require extensive rehabilitation to upgrade the structures and to add features in line with modern engineering trends that will also contribute to the safety and comfort of commuters. One of the JRA’s primary concerns is the safety of communities that are often affected by floods that cause damage to bridges and roads during the rainy seasons. In Soweto, which often has to bear the brunt of the worst floods, it has raised pedestrian bridges above the flood lines at a number of locations, including, Kaalfontein, Kinini-Leselinyana, Klipspruit West, Jabulani/Molapo and Slovo Park
• Refilwe Lediga believes the solution to the housing backlog lays in the utilisation of emerging 3D printing technology. Concrete printing technology can be used to construct dwellings on site at much quicker speeds and reduced costs. • Waste picker trolleys have become familiar sights on Joburg’s streets. Sifiso Ngobese has designed a safer waste trolley that will enable waste pickers to transport bigger loads over longer distances. A prototype of this trolley is already in place and companies can be approached to brand the trolleys through advertising. • South Africa creates about 10.2-million tons of food waste every year. This waste is not utilised further down the food chain and contaminates other bio systems. Bernard Naude proposes a bioconversion solution to turn the food waste into alternative feedstock for animals and fertiliser for crops. This process will bring benefits for environmental health and waste dumping in public spaces and will create jobs throughout the value chain.
• Phindiwe Silatsha has found a product that can fill potholes on roads quickly and at much lower costs. Road-fixing teams from the Johannesburg Roads Agency can use the products on major throughways but it can also be used by small independent operators to fill potholes on local streets. The product application is permanent, easy to use and can be applied during all weather conditions. • Barry Geer says he has developed a device that can stop cable thieves in their tracks using cable anchors. The external evaluation panel that considered his proposal notes that further design and product specification work is required but a final product can be brought to market in a short period of time. • Many Joburgers require the services of informal labourers for building, plumbing, landscaping and other short-term purposes. There are large numbers of such semi-skilled workers in the City – but no method to determine their reputability and rate the quality of their work. Umar Farouk Dockrat proposes a web-based system to book informal labourers and for customers to rate their services. • Peter Barthel has looked at the issue of fire hazards in informal settlements. His proposal is to introduce a chemical retardant that can be painted onto the inside of informal dwellings. The chemicals will reduce the burn properties of wood and give shack dwellers an opportunity to either douse the fires or evacuate the properties. • Micro-enterprises often find it difficult to secure mentorship and professional support from structured organisations. Such services are often costly and difficult to access. Evashnee Naidu has come up with a better system to link emerging enterprises with larger corporates, secure enterprise development funding and structure a mentor relationship. • Thato Kgatlhanye has big ideas to recycle plastic bags, clean it and turn it into sheets of textiles that can be worked into a range of products. Such recycled plastic can be turned into school bags, reusable shopping bags and handbags and – when fully operational it has the potential to create additional local jobs.
In the Loop – 17
Human and Social Development
Jozi@work
Connecting 1976 to 2016 through dialogues Y
oung people of 2016 are being connected to youth activists of the 1976-generation through a remarkable series of intergenerational dialogues to mark the 40th anniversary of the events that shaped South Africa’s future.
Sparks of innovation supported through Jozi My Beginning J
oburg’s top innovators who will receive product support and funding from the City through the Jozi My Beginning programme have now been named. 17 finalists emerged from a competition that started in 2015. More than 2 000 submissions were received and the proposals were evaluated by panels of independent experts. The programme is managed by Resolution Circle, an entity at the University of Johannesburg.
Jozi My Beginning is a R50-million community innovation fund established by the City to support Jozi@Work. The idea is to stimulate innovative ideas from city residents and communitybased enterprises on how municipal services can be delivered more effectively. A call has been made for the submission of new proposals for the 2016 round of the competition and more information is available on the website http://www.jozimybeginning.co.za/
“The fund uses experts to assist with the development of innovative ideas which can be turned into bankable proposals and, if viable, be turned into products or services that can contribute to the quality of life of Joburg residents,” says Executive Mayor Parks Tau.
The commemoration of the Soweto Uprising forms the backdrop to the series of conversations organised by the Youth Unit in the Department of Social Development. It offers perspectives on the events that happened during that fateful
The June 16 Dialogues are designed to bridge the generational gap between student leaders and activists at the time -- and current youths through a process of “story telling.” It gives voice to those who have survived the events of 1976 and lived through the democratic transition of the subsequent decades to share with the current generation their insights on the journeys they have taken.
Theme
Discussions
Growing up, going to school and the uprising
Discussions focus on the historical factors that led many black youth of the 1976 generation to sacrifice their childhood and take up the responsibility to liberate their people. It also looks at the conditions that existed at the time and how the Soweto Uprising was organised.
Bring the reports to the nation
Journalists who covered the 1976 events recount their experiences and how they brought the story to the attention of the nation – and the global community. Many of the stories could not be published because of censorship at the time.
Analysing the brutal response of the state
Exile and homecoming
Resilience in the face of oppression
The apartheid system unleashed the police and army on the young people to quell the revolt. Many of the participants who were placed on trial for their participation in June 16 talk about their experiences when confronted with an oppressive justice system while human rights lawyers talk about the challenges to defend those on trial. Many of the 1976-generation went into exile and provide accounts of their journeys, life in exile and what it meant to come back home during the transition to a democratic South Africa. The June 16 revolt left the nation in pain and many families had to bury their young ones. At the time many women provided leadership to the internal struggle while religious leaders took the brunt of the regime’s brutal response. The events led to an upsurge in cultural activities in the country’s townships with poets, writers, playwrights and songwriters giving voice to the voiceless through their creative arts.
The lecture series ends with a special event at Morris Isaacson High on 25 June. It was at this school that the largest march on June 16, 1976 originated and this will be relived through a special commemorative march.
16 – June 2016
period – recounted by activists of the time – and indicate how it had shaped the current social and political directions.
All participants are requested to walk or ride in memory of a family member or friends who were part of the 1976 Uprising and to bring along photographs, writings or keepsakes of those that they honour.
In the Loop – 9
Human and Social Development
Green City
Academy gives
Protecting the environment… how is Joburg doing?
economic freedom
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• aste diversion: The City monitors the diversion of waste to landfill to provide sustainable waste management services to residents. To date Joburg has achieved a rate of 16.2% overall waste diverted away from landfill site.
to young disabled Producing high-quality products Buys says the focus is mainly on jewellery design and manufacturing, which do not require strenuous physical ability or an academic background. Through this programme the academy has been able to produce high-quality jewellery, which is in big demand in the ever-increasing global market. The items the academy produces include rings, bracelets, chains and specialised jewellery. The academy recently reported sales of up to R200 000 from its business incubator section.
• Air pollution: The City is working jointly with the Department of Mineral Resources and several mining companies to minimise dust pollution emanating from mine dumps. In the past there has been a noticeable improvement in sulphur dioxide levels from all monitoring stations which means the various interventions are bearing positive results. However, the City is still challenged with high levels for particulate matter. • Climate Change: A recent reduction measurement exercise show that emissions from the transport sector are on an upward trend. It underlines the importance for the City to continue with the rolling out of public transportation. • Waste licencing: All waste-related activities are registered and licences are issued to companies and individuals who meet the prescribed conditions. This ensures there are no significant threats to human health and the environment.
• Urban water management: 18 water management units were established to monitor water quality, assess the health of rivers, combat the impact of pollution and rehabilitate the water courses. The successful rehabilitation of Bruma Lake serves as an example of what can be achieved. • Wastewater treatment: The City monitors the performance of wastewater treatment works to ensure the discharges have minimal negative impact on the ecological status of water courses. • Drinking water quality: Johannesburg continues to provide the best quality drinking water to its residents of all the large metros. Compliance with drinking water standards has improved from 99% to 99.8%. • Biodiversity Protection: Johannesburg is characterised by very high levels of transformation and urbanisation with only 32% of land in a natural state. The City has developed a Bioregional Plan to identify priority areas for formal protection to ensure the “free services” of nature provide the necessary ecological goods and services.
Some of the trainees who graduate from the institution undergo further training, including management development, and hone their skills in incubators before they become fully fledged entrepreneurs. The Small Enterprise Development Agency – SEDA – provides support where necessary to ensure their ventures succeed. Mickey Padiachee, the City of Johannesburg’s Director of Region G, praises Buys and his team for establishing such a facility in one of the most impoverished regions in Johannesburg.
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oburgers with disabilities are participating in a creative programme where they learn the intricate skills of jewellery design and manufacturing and turn this into a promising business. The Global Jewellery Academy in Lenasia is located on land made available by the City and provides people with disabilities with the skills to make jewellery as a vehicle to economic freedom. The facility, which opened its doors in January 2012, is at present training 57 disabled members of the community – 38 boarders and 19 day students – and plans are afoot to increase its size and capacity so it can accommodate up to 300 trainees at a time. Centre Manager Robert Buys says the academy wants to ensure “the socio-economic interdependence of people with disabilities” and to restore their self-respect and pride by making them active participants in the overall economic development of the country. The skills training is provided by qualified professionals. The academy also employs two full-time sign language interpreters. Trainees are presented with certificates upon completion of their studies.
10 – June 2016
Making a dent in unemployment He says this is the reason the City did not hesitate with its support for the academy. “This academy will go a long way in creating a dent in unemployment, which is one of the major challenges in this region. “It also goes to show what private-public partnerships can achieve.” Padiachee says the academy’s bias towards people with disabilities is highly commendable. “This is most often the forgotten sector of our people. The academy is but one step to stem the tide of unemployment, especially among people with disabilities,” he says. The trainees are happy that they can now put bread on the table. One of them, wheelchair-bound Xolani Foloti of Orange Farm, was until last year idling at home, with no prospects of a job or training opportunity in sight. He wants to master the art of making jewellery so he can be his own boss within six years.
“Green schools” add to eco-awareness Johannesburg is among the leading cities to increase awareness about environmental issues among the youth. In 2014, the Environment and Infrastructure Department won the national EPWP Kamoso Awards for the best innovative project in the environment sector. This was for the Eco-guides project which encourages unemployed youth to promote positive environmental action through education and awareness.
Over the past three years, the City has established 38 “green schools” where feeding schemes are in place. At such schools the City rolls out rainwater harvesting tanks to irrigate food gardens and provides recycling bins, energy efficient lightning and solar water geysers. These initiatives are all integrated into the curriculums used by educators as teaching tools on how to address environmental challenges.
In the Loop – 15
Green City
E
conomic growth in a big city such as Johannesburg is strongly connected to the demand for natural resources such as water, electricity generated from coal, liquid fuel and minerals. This, inevitably, leads to the generation of waste which has an impact on the environment. “The management of our natural resources is one of the prime objectives of the City,” says the MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services, Cllr Matshidiso Mfikoe. “If human actions are not adequately managed we can deplete the earth’s natural resources to the detriment of future generations. Joburg’s approach to building a greener city focuses on actions taken to reduce carbon emissions, reduce consumption of natural resources, minimise environmental pollution and protect the natural environment. The City is served by two main water catchment areas – the Jukskei and the Klipspruit rivers. The Environment and Infrastructure Department – EISD – has undertaken various initiatives to improve the ecological state of the catchments through river clean-ups, the monitoring of water quality and rehabilitation of water courses. Johannesburg is one of the leading global cities that form part of the C40 network that takes action on climate change. The City is constantly looking at opportunities to accelerate the reduction of emissions through interventions in areas such as transportation, spatial planning, energy, water and waste.
Human and Social Development
Using waste as a resource One of the biggest environmental challenges facing Johannesburg is the management of waste generated in the City on a daily basis.
Events of June 1976 commemorated in stone and bronze
A number of initiatives are in place to respond to this challenge: • The City is generating electricity from the City’s Waste Water Treatment works; • Electricity will be generated from landfill gas extracted from landfill sites before the end of this year; • Two major feasibility studies were recently concluded. The one is for a Waste- to-Energy project to divert a third of Joburg’s total waste. This will be done through a Public-Private Partnership. The second project is to generate fuel for the City’s bus fleet from bio-waste; •
Waste reclaimers are encouraged and assisted to form cooperatives that can participate in the Jozi@Work initiative. This programme will also help to reduce poverty levels in Johannesburg;
• The City’s garden sites are being upgraded to accept recyclables. •
Separation-at-Source is being rolled out in some areas targeting a total of 470 000 households. In the final stages of the programme, a total of 950 000 households will be included.
City is balancing growth with protection of environment
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orty years after young people in Johannesburg set in motion a chain of events that swept the City – and, eventually, the country – the traces of their historic marches through the streets of Soweto are actively commemorated. The Soweto Heritage Trail is one of the most-visited sites in Johannesburg and a number of staging points have been developed by the City of Johannesburg to commemorate the tumultuous period in June 1976 that has become known as the Soweto Uprising. Dr Ali Khangela Hlongwane, Head: Museums and Galleries says “our aim is to recognise and celebrate the role played by young people to change the course of South African history – but to also make the sites relevant and accessible to the current generation.” Dr Hlongwane urges City residents to take time out during June 2016 to follow the Soweto Students Protest March Trail and to reflect on the contribution that the 1976 generation made to the liberation of South Africa. The route is clearly marked out and plaques have been erected at some of the most significant staging points: On June 16, 1976 young children from various schools in Soweto went on peaceful marches against the imposition of an inferior education system and a political dispensation that deprived Africans of their basic human rights. They came from many schools in the area – Naledi High, Morris Isaacson, Phefeni, Chiawelo, and many others – and the aim was to meet up at Orlando Stadium where a public declaration condemning apartheid was to be read.
• A bronze statue of Tsietsi Mashinini, one of the leaders of the student movement has been erected at the June 16 1976 Interpretation Centre in Mphuthi street opposite Morris Isaacson High School where the June 16 Memorial Acre is located. Dr Hlongwane says the Heritage Trail is represented with a memorial wall and open air exhibition on this. It is also intended as a venue to educate the current and next generations of South Africans on the richness of the country’s past. • The Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum is located on the corner of Khumalo and Pela Streets – soon to be renamed Zeph Mothopeng Street. 12-year old Hector was one of the first students to be killed and a newspaper picture of Mbuyisa Makhubo and sister, Antoinette Sithole carrying his body became one of the iconic images of the Uprising. • From the Memorial it is easy to walk down Moema Street to Vilakazi Street which was one of the primary routes followed by the students prior to their confrontation with the police. Public art and story boards along the street recount the events and also connects visitors with the homes of two of Johannesburg’s most illustrious citizens, former President Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. • Also in close vicinity is Khumalo Street where some of the most dramatic confrontations between students and police occurred. One of the first students to die was Hasting Ndlovu and the City will soon be relocating a memorial in his honour as part of its extension of the Trail.
They were met with gunfire from the apartheid security forces and at least 176 students were killed and thousands more severely injured. The events on June 16 spread like wildfire across the rest of Johannesburg – and the country – and is still being regarded as a turning point in South Africa’s struggle for liberation.
14 – June 2016
In the Loop – 11
Human and Social Development
Human and Social Development
New Student Council ready to tackle youth issues T
he election of a new Johannesburg Student Council has brought new vigour to a City initiative to nurture the talents of young Joburgers and prepare them for future leadership roles.
Historic 1976 Uprising commemorated during Youth Month in City Y
Councillor Chris Vondo, the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Social Development, says the celebrations will highlight the historical significance of the events of 1976 – but also focus on the City’s current efforts to bring young people into the mainstream of social and economic activities.
outh Month celebrations in the City will this year focus strongly on the 40th commemoration of the Soweto Uprising in 1976. In the month of June – 40 years ago – young people across the country started to intensify the struggle for freedom and fundamental human rights. It started in Soweto as a revolt against the use of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction in schools, but soon spread to other areas in Johannesburg and – eventually – across the country.
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1 High school learners in Joburg are participating in an essay writing competition to express their views on the importance of June 1976 and its relevance to South Africa today. The winners will be announced at Nasrec Expo Centre on 15 June.
Nasrec is also the venue for a week of sports and recreational activities between 10 and 19 June. Netball tournaments, an aerobics marathon, social cycling and a fun run are among the activities that will take place at the Expo Centre.
12 – June 2016
3 The well-known film, Sarafina, will be screened at the Soweto Theatre from 9 to 19 June. Based on the musical, written by Mbongeni Ngema, it tells the story of a group of young people in Soweto who participated in the 1976 uprising. Leleti Khumalo starred in the title role and the cast also includes Hollywood star, Whoopi Goldberg and Johannesburg’s “First Lady of Song,” the late Miriam Makeba.
“Through discussions, dialogues and the unveiling of heritage sites we want to promote social cohesion in Johannesburg and create a shared future for all our citizens,” says MMC Vondo.
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A special heritage plaque to commemorate the life of Dr Melville Edelstein will be unveiled along the June 16 Trail in Soweto. Dr Edelstein was a sociologist who worked as chief welfare officer in Soweto and was killed on June 16,1976. The plaque will be placed at 3490 Mphuti Street and accompanied by an information panel on his life and death.
One of the first victims of police shootings on June 16, Hastings Ndlovu, will be remembered by the renaming of Thabete Street in Orlando West – the street where he grew up.
Youth Day – June 16 – will be commemorated through a re-enactment of the historic march through the streets of Soweto, starting at Morris Isaacson High School in Orlando West and ending at the Orlando Stadium. Here the participants will join the national commemorative programme designed to celebrate the day’s historical significance. A commemorative event will also be held at Alexandra Stadium.
A Youth Summit on Social Cohesion and Economic Transformation is scheduled to take place on 24 and 25 June. Youth from across the city will participate in the discussions aimed at creating a common plan of action to address socioeconomic challenges facing young people in 2016 and beyond.
Some 60 schools in the City – from Orange Farm to Midrand – participate in the Student Council. Each school elects two representatives among Grade 10 learners through internal processes. The elected students then attended a leadership conference where a new Junior Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Speaker and Deputy Speaker were elected. This process was conducted by the Independent Electoral Commission – giving the young people an early experience in democratic processes, on the eve of the local government elections in August. During the weekend the new Council also participated in team building and leisure activities designed to foster a spirit of cooperation and prepare them for their two year term of office. They were given presentations on the advantages – and pitfalls – of using social media and had a session offered by the SA National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse – SANCA. Brenda Andrews, the programme manager in the Office of the Speaker, says the Junior Council is contributing greatly to creating awareness about civic duties and community issues among the youth. Each councillor is responsible for running a volunteer project at his or her local school or in the community. In the past year this included programmes to combat xenophobia, collect food donated to children’s shelters, soup kitchens and an anti-bullying initiative.
Go-getter leading City’s youth Joburg’s new Junior Mayor is an energetic young activist with a passion to serve the community. For Teddy Mathekga, a 17-year old learner at Holy Family College, it was quite easy to decide on the priority programme he wants to promote during his term leading the Johannesburg Student Council. “Substance abuse is one of the biggest challenges facing young people in Joburg,” he says. “We have to create a greater awareness about this issue that affects young people from all walks of life. And we have to support positive programmes that support treatment and give them access to useful activities.” “We want to instil a culture of confidence, hope and change among the youth of Joburg.” Elected by his fellow councillors during the recent leadership conference he is determined to use his new position to reach out to young people across the City. He was born in Meadowlands Zone 1 and grew up in the care of his grandmother. For Teddy his term as Junior Mayor is another step on the way to reach his ambition to become a future President of South Africa. But, for the next 12 months his attention will be firmly fixed on his local duties and his passion to combat drug abuse.
“The Johannesburg Student Council has made me realise the beauty of our beloved City – Johannesburg.” – Oscar Booi 2015 councillor from Eldomaine Secondary.
In the Loop – 13