Internal Newsletter
In the Loop Issue No.
16 June 2015
60 Years of Freedom Charter celebrated in Kliptown.
Contents
Arts, Sports & Culture
3
Message from the Executive Mayor
13
Regeneration of Kliptown continues as heritage is celebrated
4
Joburg youth given the opportunity to ‘make their own path’ to success
14
Early prison visits help Joburg youth to stay away from jails
Record Budget “ensures tomorrow will be better than today…”
15
Opening of advisory centres highlights City’s youth-focused activities
16
Nurses take health care to the people
17
Joburg in pictures
18
City of innovation attracts major global conference
5
6
City extends a helping hand to the poor in Budget
7
Pace of corridor development is picking up
8
Money to build a thriving city
9
Africa’s ‘premier meeting place’ is growing in Sandton
19
Traffic wardens help to make JMPD more effective
10
City support helps small business to grow bigger
21
Winter fun at the Joburg Zoo will appeal to young ones
11
Twitter is ablaze as Joburg breaks the magic mark Final bow for respected man of the arts
Free Wi-Fi connecting Joburgers to a world of information
22
12
23
Dancing nuns and friendly green monster to entertain theatre-goers
Acknowledgements
Cover Credits
Chief Editor Makhudu Sefara - MakhuduS@joburg.org.za Editor: Thomas Thale - thomasth@joburg.org.za
The 60th Anniversary of the adoption of the Freedom Charter was commemorated with the unveiling of the Freedom Charter Gardens in Kliptown. See page 13 for more details about current and future developments in Kliptown.
Contributor: Luyanda Lunika - luyandal@joburg.org.za
Correction
Photography: Enoch Lehung - enochl@joburg.org.za
In the May issue of the In the Loop we made an error with the name of the Regional Director of Region C. It should be Mlamleli Belot.
Dancing nuns and friendly green monster to entertain theatre-goers T
he world’s most hilarious nuns and everybody’s favourite green ogre will keep audiences at the Joburg Theatre in stitches in the coming weeks when local productions of some of Hollywood’s most famous shows are brought to life.
Bernard Jay, the Executive Producer of the Joburg Theatre says Sister Act will be “the biggest musical to be staged in Johannesburg this year.” It is directed by Janice Honeyman and will open on The Mandela stage on July 10 and run until the middle of August.
Sister Act tells the story of a raunchy disco diva who was placed in a convent as part of a protection programme after she witnessed a murder. Here, she soon finds herself at odds with the rigid lifestyle and an uptight Mother Superior, but her singing and dancing talents turns the church choir into a sensation, with hilarious results.
Tickets are exclusively available from www.joburgtheatre.com Shrek the Musical Jr is another Oscar-winning blockbuster that has been turned into a stage hit. Part romance and part fairy tale, the story of the gentle green ogre will appeal to children of all ages and will be an ideal outing for the kids during the winter holiday period. It will have an extended run at the People’s Theatre throughout the month of July.
Idols finalist, Candida Mosoma will star as Deloris van Cartier, the role that made Whoopi Goldberg a household name in entertainment. The role of Mother Superior is played by stage veteran, Kate Normington while the rest of the cast include the likes of Vanessa Brierly, Themba January, Nqobile Sipamla and Keith Smith in the top male role of Monsignor O’Hara.
In the Loop
The Soweto Theatre will host the finals of the province-wide Dlala Mapantsula Festival during the last weekend of June. Regional competitions for the best Pantsulas and amabhujwas were held throughout Gauteng and the final groups will be involved in dance-offs with R30 000 in prize money at stake for the winners. In the Loop – 23
Arts, Sports & Culture
Message from the Executive Mayor period in which we commemorate the contribution made by the youth of 1976 to liberate South Africa from a system of oppression to secure fundamental freedom for all. The month, however is also an opportunity to reflect on initiatives that we have in place today to address developmental issues that are most relevant to the current generation of young people. Youth unemployment is often identified as one of the biggest challenges facing our country, in general, and our city, in particular.
Final bow for respected man of the arts
We have to deal with a situation where even the young people who do emerge from our education system, simply do not have the requisite skills to participate in a highly competitive job market.
he Gauteng arts community is still in mourning T following the death of Weiss Doubell, a performing arts
Extraordinary challenges require innovative solutions. On June 1st, the city launched one such solution the Vulindlel’ eJozi youth programme – to mark the beginning of the 2015 Youth Month.
pioneer and founder of the Roodepoort Theatre.
careers there, 44 are still professionally active, with 19 of them enjoying international success.
Born in December 1943 in Smithfield in the Free State, Doubell took his final bow at the age of 71, bringing the curtain down on the life of one of Johannesburg’s most dedicated orchestra conductors.
The South African Opera Quadra were among the many emerging groups and artists touched by his genius while globally acclaimed diva, Sibongile Khumalo, was among the prominent local and international classical musicians that graced the theatre’s stage during his tenure.
Tributes have poured in for a man who, in a career spanning more than 35 years, touched so many lives, and loved books, wine and talented young people. He dedicated his adult life to the promotion of classical music and his wife, Rita, and daughters Cecile and Grethe were all right there behind him.
After his retirement in 2008, Doubell spent his time with his family going through his extensive and treasured music collection, reading and enjoying La Vita, a favourite pastime for this vibrant, energetic and passionate human being.
As the founder CEO of the Roodepoort Civic Theatre – later renamed Pro Musica Theatre – and orchestral conductor, Doubell presided over the theatre’s most productive years and was the driving force behind the establishment of various ensembles in the musical performing arts. A talent spotter of note, his vision included developing young talent – and he took risks to achieve that. He ventured into schools and townships, identified talented youngsters and brought them to the theatre where they were trained by experienced performers. Many young soloists made their opera debut at the Pro Musica Theatre. Of the 79 singers who started their
22 – In the Loop
In paying tribute to her father, Cecile Doubell-Fourie says Doubell was very passionate about his craft. “The Pro Musica Theatre and music were his life. He made this a venue for the community to enjoy classical music,” she says Long-time colleague and stage manager, Fred Mudau, is also full of praise for Doubell, whom he calls “a friend and a brother”.
Let us honour our youth through innovation Colleagues, Johannesburg is often described as one of the youngest metropolitan areas in the world. Compared to some other great cities on the globe, Joburg is relatively a newcomer – having achieved city status a mere 87 years ago. This youthful nature is reflected in the way in which the city continues to progress and in the steps our administration is taking to manage and guide this growth. The month of June is designated as a
Vulindlel’ eJozi is a partnership initiative between the city and non-governmental organisation, Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator. It is designed to break down barriers to various opportunities for the youth and seeks to address unemployment from a completely novel perspective.
competencies will be matched with the skills needs and requirements within the job market. Vulindlel ‘eJozi is but one example of Joburg’s youthful approach to addressing long-standing issues that confront cities across the world. If you analyse the 2015/16 Budget, you will notice a large proportion of resources have been allocated to innovative programmes that set Joburg apart as a city of modernisation and originality. The Budget itself represents a remarkable achievement for the city, exceeding for the first time the symbolic R50-billion ceiling to continue our long-term commitment to invest in strategic infrastructure that serves as the backbone for our ongoing growth. Programmes such as Jozi@Work are already transforming the staid model of service delivery and looking at our citizens as active partners in development, rather than passive recipients of services. Meanwhile, through the Corridors of Freedom we are transforming apartheid legacy spatial patterns to new hubs and spokes of liveable and sustainable developments and, thus, building a new city based on principles of equity and fairness.
At the core of the programme is the realisation that we need to equip our young people with meaningful life skills that will enable them to participate in a real life economy.
As South Africa’s most dynamic city, Johannesburg will continue to set the pace in innovation and modernisation. The best way to honour the contribution made by the youth of South Africa in the past is to offer them future opportunities today.
This will be achieved through assessments and targeted training. It is from this point that a Vulindlel’ eJozi candidate’s newly acquired
Cllr. Mpho Parks Tau Executive Mayor
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“He was such a dedicated team player and always very supportive. Everyone worked with passion because he led by example. He made me what I am today,” says Mudau. www.facebook.com/ CityofJohannesburg
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City Parks & Zoo
Human and Social Development
Through Vulindlel’ eJozi the City entered into a partnership with the Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator to break down these barriers to opportunities and to upgrade the potential of young people to enter the job market. The first phase would be to source and screen young candidates who have completed matric from the existing databases of the City and Harambee. They are then professionally assessed through testing and interviews to determine the areas where they are still lacking skills. A strong emphasis is placed on literacy and numeracy skills and participants are offered opportunities to attend step-up programmes in mathematics and English supported by speaking and writing training to boost their confidence.
Joburg youth given the opportunity to ‘make their own path’ to success
Y
outh unemployment is being tackled in a resourceful way in Johannesburg through a new initiative where the focus is on the development of skills that can match the needs of employers. Vulindlel’ eJozi was a major new announcement by the Executive Mayor, Cllr Parks Tau, in his 2015 State of the City Address and attracted attention because of its fresh approach to skills development and empowerment. “It is not, primarily, a job creation programme,” explains Jak Koseff, the Special Advisor: Priority Projects in the Office of the Mayor. “It is a skills empowerment initiative through which we match existing job openings in both the private and public sectors with young people who have been suitably trained to fill these positions.” Mayor Tau described this as “a hand-up; not a hand-out” approach whereby young people should contribute their own efforts to reap the benefits of the programme. This is reflected in the name of the programme, “Vulindlel’ eJozi” --- make your own path. Recent statistics show that there are about 800 000 young people of working age – 18 – 34 – within Johannesburg who are not employed or involved in further education. A majority of them lack the basic skills to become employable or don’t have the opportunities or networks to connect them with job openings that do exist.
4– In the Loop
Koseff says a game-changing feature of the programme is to match the requirements and expectations of employers with the skills that are available among the trainees. The training offered by Vulindlel’ eJozi is therefore “fit for purpose” and designed to enable the participants to get a job, retain it, and excel in it. Work readiness bridging programmes prepare youth for a wide spectrum of work-place situations, from the interview, to relationships with colleagues and supervisors, understanding of an industry and communications with clients and customers. Once the training phase is done the programme will try to match their specific skills with the available job opportunities identified by the private sector on the database. Others will be supported to continue with further studies and training or incorporated into the City’s own Jozi@Work and Expanded Public Works Programmes. Koseff says Vulindlel’ eJozi offers young people in Joburg “a line of sight” of success. It is a realistic and targeted programme where participants are seen as individuals and provided with a precise assessment, training programme, skills matching and on-going support after they have entered the job market.
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Winter fun at the Joburg Zoo will appeal to young ones
T he winter holiday is one of the busiest periods of the year at the Joburg Zoo and a fun-filled programme is being rolled-out in the coming weeks to keep the youngsters happy and occupied.
During July there will be two special activities geared towards the younger set to introduce them to the exciting world of the animal kingdom and showcase the many attractions at one of Johannesburg’s most-visited leisure venues.
A new website www.vulindlelejozi.co.za has been created as a platform for would-be participants to get their names on the database and qualify for the programme.
• Holiday Fun @ the Joburg Zoo is a morning programme to be hosted on weekdays during July – from the 6th to the 10th, and again between 13 and 17 July.
Registration can also be done online at http.vulindleljozi.mobi. The mobi site can be accessed at the City’s free Wi-Fi spot and people without Internet access can register at regional community centres and libraries.
The Zoo promises a great outdoor adventure experience with a wide range of fun activities that will have specific appeal to children in the age groups between 7 and 13. On the programme are animal feeding and enrichment activities, various crafts and a host of different animal-related games to be played.
Each day will have a different programme so young animal enthusiasts are encouraged to join the programme often during the holiday, assured in the knowledge that they will not be bored. Entrance fee for the morning activities, starting at 09h00, is R75.00 and visitors are advised to bring their own lunch. • A very special event for toddlers and pre-schoolers will be hosted on Thursday 14 July. The young ones and their parents will be taken on a guided ferry tour to see animals of all shapes and sizes. The two-hour programme will start at 10h00 and the entrance fee is R75.00. Booking for all holiday activities is essential. Lebo Moalusi, the contact person can be reached on 011 646 2000 (ext 216) or lebo.moalusi@jgbzoo.org.za. More information about the zoo, its programmes and ongoing activities can also be found on the website, www.jhbzoo.org.za as well as its Facebook page: @TheJohannesburgZoo.
In the Loop – 21
Good Governance Financial Sustainability Financial Sustainability
Employee News
High honours for health practitioners at awards T he environmental health of Joburg is in good hands with a dedicated group of workers and professionals
The major winners were:
looking after the well-being of residents. Top academic and researcher, Prof Stanley Mukhola, says the state of local environmental health far surpasses that of other cities in the country.
•
Food safety, pest control, waste management and the monitoring of water quality are counted among the duties performed by the sub-directorate in the Department of Health.
•
Some of the top achievers in the City were recognised at a recent awards’ function while accolades were also given for students at local universities who are engaged in research work aimed at improving the quality of environmental health. The awards recently presented at a function at the Turffontein Race Course are designed to enhance the state of environmental health in Johannesburg and encourage innovation among practitioners. The new awards are named after one of the giants of the liberation struggle, Alfred Nzo, who served for many years as the General Secretary of the African National Congress and was South Africa’s first Minister of Foreign Affairs in the democratic era. Mr Nzo started his career as a sanitation inspector in Alexandra in the 1950s before joining the struggle in exile. Dr Refik Bismilla, the City’s Executive Director for Health, says he was impressed by the presentations made by the winners of the awards in the various categories. This is reflective of the high standards maintained within the department and clearly shows that the health of residents is in safe hands. 20 – In the Loop
•
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Tebogo Rapoo of Region F who scooped the Innovation Award with a presentation on “The Requirements of a Car Wash Facility”; Thabo Molefe, the recipient of the Community Project Award; Ian Paire who was honoured with the Research Award for his work done on knowledge, attitudes and practices among property owners and backyard shacks in Diepsloot West; In the students’ category, a third year student in Environmental Health at the University of Johannesburg, Nyakallo Mohapi, was recognised for a research study on the state of tap water at the UJ’s Doornfontein campus. Other student winners were Bronwyn Caelen (Community Projects) and Sheeny Mnisi (Research).
Speaking at the event, Selva Mudaly, the President of the SA Institute of Environmental Health called for strong working relationships between the City and academic institutions and research organisations. Prof Stanley Mukhola, an environmental health specialist and current Deputy Vice Chancellor of the Tshwane University of Technology commended the quality of the City’s management processes. He also urged environmental health inspectors to behave in an ethical manner and not to fold their arms or look away when they are required to intervene in issues that affect the health of the population.
Record Budget “ensures tomorrow will be better than today…” J
ohannesburg’s record Budget of more than R52-billion reflects the health and sustainability of the City’s finances within a global and regional economic climate that remains constrained,” says Councillor Geoffrey Makhubo, the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Finance. The Budget consists of operating expenditure of R42.7billion and almost R10-billion in capital expenditure. However, the City is appropriating a three year capital budget of R29-billion that will take it to the 2017/18 financial year. “We are demonstrating to the people of the City that the Johannesburg of today is much better than it was yesterday,” says MMC Makhubo. “In partnership with the people of Johannesburg we are ensuring that tomorrow will be even better than today.” MMC Makhubo says the City has consistently delivered on the commitments it has made to residents and communities in Johannesburg. “We have kept our word. We have done what we said we would.” The City’s financial health and future sustainability are reflected in a number of important indicators: • It has generated surpluses over the past three years and reinvested this to fund major developments including road infrastructure, electrification and service delivery;
• Johannesburg maintained high levels of liquidity with cash balances exceeding R5-billion at the end of the 2013 and 2014 financial years; • The City received unqualified audits in the past two consecutive years – with four entities achieving ‘clean audits’; • It is meeting its commitment to invest R100-billion in infrastructure over a ten year period. In the past year Johannesburg has spent over 95% of its approved capital budget on projects designed to improve the quality of life of residents. MMC Makhubo says Johannesburg’s capital budget is guided by an investment framework which seeks to eradicate service delivery backlogs, especially in poor and marginalised areas. Service delivery is improved through infrastructure and services that are planned, delivered and managed in an objective and structured manner. “The Budget demonstrates the positive achievements of the past and continues to set a firm basis for optimism about the future of our great city,” he says. “The City is growing ever more confident in its ability to meet the needs of its communities while progressively rolling back the economic and social legacies of its apartheid past.”
In the Loop –
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Employee News
Financial Sustainability
While property rates have been increased by 6%, water and sewerage tariffs by 14% and electricity by 12.19%, the City takes far-reaching measures to cushion their impact on the poor. It recognises the reality that large numbers of residents cannot pay for basic necessities – reflected in the City’s own research which indicates that 42% of the poor go without a meal for up to three days a month. The Siyasizana programme is managed through the City’s Social Benefits Unit, run by Farida Taaka (Deputy Director: Systems and NGO Capacitation), ably supported by Assistant Director, Tino Singo and Aletta Mzimela (head of the sub-unit: Social Benefits). To qualify for benefits, unemployed and elderly citizens are urged to register at Revenue Customer Service Centres across the City. This registration must be renewed every six months to ensure the data remains fresh and the services are rendered to the correct households.
Ms Pauline Mkalipe, a 77-year old resident of Alexandra, recently attended the City’s Open Day in Sandton and registered for the pensioner’s rebate offered through the Expanded Social Package.
City extends a helping hand to the poor in Budget he poorest residents of Johannesburg will continue T to benefit from special rebates despite the tariffs increases announced in the 2015/16 Budget. Almost 140 000 residents are currently registered for the Expanded Social Package – Siyasizana – which provides relief for the most vulnerable households through rebates on property rates and discounts on water, electricity and waste removal services. The Budget takes into account the wide spectrum of households in Johannesburg, particularly those considered most vulnerable to economic hardship such as pensioners, child-headed household and families with low incomes, says Cllr Geoffrey Makhubo, the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Finance.
6 – In the Loop
Statistics show that pensioners, the disabled and child-headed households in areas such as Ivory Park, Diepsloot, Orange Farm, Eldorado Park and parts of Soweto are deriving the most benefits from the programme.
Traffic wardens help to make JMPD more effective
Beneficiaries must be residents of Johannesburg and earn less than R4 783 a month. All pensioners qualify for electricity and water rebates which are capped, depending on the individual’s income. Residents whose properties are valued below R450 000 get a discount on the first R200 000 and are also entitled to capped water, refuse removal and electricity rebates.
The “long arm of the law” in Johannesburg is
growing longer, with the deployment of 300 new traffic wardens, following the completion of their three month training course.
Minnaar says wardens will wear orange and blue uniforms with blue caps to distinguish them from the other officers in the JMPD. They will not carry fire-arms but do have the powers of arrest.
Under the Siyasizana programme working age residents do not qualify for rebates on property rates but they do get the electricity and water relief benefits. Participants in the programme also receive social services from the City and qualify to be referred to skills development and training programmes.
The 300 new wardens will become a familiar sight for City residents as they assume responsibility for the monitoring of routine traffic violations, traffic control at intersections where the lights are out and actions to support by-law enforcement.
In many instances they will serve as the eyes and ears of the JMPD by monitoring and reporting instances of by-law violations such as illegal dumping, illegal electricity and water connections or visual pollution caused by unauthorised advertising boards or placards.
“Traffic wardens will enable the Johannesburg Metro Police to become more effective,” says JMPD spokesperson, Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar. “By deploying them to focus on technical violations and traffic flow, we are freeing the arms of our highly-trained officers to combat serious crimes such as robberies, assaults and hijackings more successfully.”
Another important part of the wardens’ duties are to issue traffic tickets to vehicles that have been parked illegally.
Taaka says many residents are reluctant to register for the programme because they may have outstanding debts with the City. “The rebates are not a licence for people not to pay off their existing debts,” she says. They can make arrangements to settle such debt with the Credit Control Department. However, Siyasizana does provide significant relief for thousands of Joburg residents who genuinely struggle to make ends meet. “We are meeting residents halfway. We are giving them a helping hand,” says Taaka.
The wardens were recruited and trained as part of the City’s Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP). They received their training at the JMPD Academy in Stafford and concluded with a passing out parade in May. The training consisted of courses in the theoretical and legal aspects of traffic law enforcement, point duty, ticket writing and physical training.
Minnaar says the 300 new wardens will bolster the JMPD’s force and enable the 2 300 metro police officers to perform their duties more effectively. The training and deployment of wardens also demonstrate the City’s commitment to job creation through its participation in the EPWP. The conclusion of the wardens’ training coincided with the passing out parade for the latest intake of 48 JMPD officers. A new group of 132 recruits started with their 18 month training phase in January 2015 and will conclude it in mid-2016.
In the Loop – 19
Corridors of Freedom
Economic Development
Ravi Naidoo, Group Head of Economic Development with Councillor Ruby Mathang, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Economic Development.
The Sandton Convention Centre will host the GlobalEntrepreneurship Congress in March 2017.
City of innovation attracts major global conference Imore nnovators, trendsetters and thought-leaders from than 150 countries across the world will converge in Johannesburg in March 2017 for the Global Entrepreneurship Congress. The City has just won the bid to host the four-day global event which is described as “the world’s largest celebration of innovators and job creators who bring ideas to life, drive economic growth and expand economic growth.” “This is a major opportunity for Johannesburg to become the first city in Africa to host the congress,” says the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Economic Development, Councillor Ruby Mathang. Invitations will go out to at least 300 official delegates from the participating countries but the event also attracts large numbers of private sector entrepreneurs, academics, researchers and representatives from non-governmental organisations. An estimated 5 000 people from 157 countries are expected to attend the congress and inject more than R50-million in the City’s tourism, leisure and hospitality sectors. Long-term benefits will also accrue from the significant media interest associated with a global event of this magnitude. MMC Mathang was part of the South African delegation that attended the 2015 congress in Milan, Italy where the hosting rights were awarded to Johannesburg. Also in attendance were the Minister of Small Business Development, Lindiwe Zulu and Kizito Okechukwu, the executive head of SEA Africa, a pan-African research and development company that will partner with the City to organise the event. 18 – In the Loop
A team from the Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC) will visit Johannesburg in July to meet with local organisers and assess the Sandton Convention Centre where the meetings will be held as well as surrounding hotels and hospitality venues. Previous GEC meeting were hosted in the United States, the People’s Republic of China, Brazil and Russia while the 2016 congress is planned for Colombia. MMC Mathang described the congress as “a once-in-alifetime opportunity” to position South Africa and Johannesburg on an important global platform. It will enable local entrepreneurs to learn from experiences of international innovators who have achieved success and also create opportunities for partnerships, mentorships and the exchange of ideas and knowledge.
The new Freedom Charter Gardens was unveiled by Executive Mayor, Mpho Parks Tau, at the site where thousands of South Africans converged in June 1955 to adopt the Freedom Charter.
Pace of corridor development is picking up The spatial transformation of Johannesburg through
the Corridors of Freedom Initiative is gathering pace with more funds being allocated to this game-changing project in the 2015/16 Budget.
To make public transport a viable option along the Corridors the City aims to increase daily passenger trips on Rea Vaya from 23 000 currently to over 45 000 by 2016.
Bulk infrastructure development is already under way along three identified Corridors – Empire-Perth, Louis Botha Avenue and Turffontein – with emphasis placed on optimised land and infrastructure use to support mixed-use developments, high-density accommodation, office buildings, retail and recreational facilities.
• Development Planning – which oversees the coordination of the Corridors of Freedom and the implementation of the Inner City Roadmap – is allocated an operating budget of R303-million and a multi-year capital budget of R1.3-billion.
The congress will, again, confirm Johannesburg’s status as an accomplished host of major international events and contribute to the branding of Johannesburg and South Africa as prime investment destinations.
The new-look Johannesburg will comprise well-planned transport arteries linked to mixed-use interchanges. Parks and green spaces will form an integral part of these developments.
You are living in a City… Accolades, awards and global recognition continue to pour into Johannesburg. Since the beginning of 2015 Joburg has been recognised as:
The Budget presented by the MMC for Finance, Councillor Geoffrey Makhubo allocates more funds for the key departments and agencies responsible for the continuing implementation of the Corridors:
• • • • • •
Africa’s most popular destination city – for the second year in a row – by MasterCard Global; The 2nd Most Inspiring City in the World – behind Hong Kong – by the Good City Index; One of the “Four Emerging Art Cities You Should Know” – by the Wall Street Journal; One of the world’s “top travel destinations” – by the influential “Rough Guides” publication; The “latest hip city” – by the Times of London; One of the “top 30 places to visit” – by The Australian magazine;
• Transportation -- responsible for the rollout of the Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit System receives an operating budget of R1.5-billion for 2015/16 and a capital budget of R3.5-billion for the next three years. The budget will fund a number of projects, including the Rea Vaya rollout of Phase 1C from Parktown to Alexandra and eventually to Sandton, Johannesburg’s second-largest central business district.
MMC Makhubo says the intensive planned infrastructure developments will see population numbers spike along the strategic Corridors. “On average, the population in the three corridors will increase from 7 000 people per square kilometre to over 41 000 people per square kilometre in the long term,” he says. Residential developments within the Corridors will support a range of typologies, densities and incomes. • JOSHCO receives an operating budget of R138-million and a capital budget of R1.9-billion for the next three years. The city’s company responsible for social housing will develop several social housing projects over the next three years within the priority corridors. MMC Makhubo says significant opportunities are opening up for the private sector, especially in real estate development. “We urge investors and partners to work with the City to grasp these opportunities.” In the Loop – 7
Joburg in Pictures
Financial Sustainability
In the past year the City has resurfaced 623 kilometres of existing tarred roads – a 700% increase over the previous period – and a further 2 277 kilometres of gravel roads were graded. The upgrading of roads such as Coleraine Drive in Bryanston, 1st Avenue in Houghton and Harry Galaun Road in Midrand: “has brought positive changes to many communities across the City”, says MMC Makhubo.
Senior City Officials and Councillors at the sod turning for the Alexandra bridge. The City will become one big construction site in the next financial year.
Money to build a thriving city M
ulti-million rand investments in economic and social infrastructure to drive Johannesburg’s future growth and development are the primary features of the City’s 2015/16 Budget. Housing, roads, security and the upgrading of ageing infrastructure, all receive significant slices from allocations recently announced by the Member of Mayoral Committee for Finance, Councillor Geoffrey Makhubo. Bulk infrastructure, including roads and storm water systems, are being delivered in areas such as Kliptown, Diepsloot, Braamfischerville, Orange Farm, Rabie Ridge and Eldorado Park.
New community and recreation centres will be built in Drieziek, Kaalfontein, Phiri, Diepsloot and Orlando Ekhaya. Access to such facilities will ensure young people “are engaged in activities that will broaden their horisons and expose them to the possibilities of a better tomorrow”.
The first of Metrobus’ new dual fuel ‘green fleet’ will be delivered in June and the remainder of the 150 buses introduced over the next 18 months. Some of the existing fleet will also be converted to run on both gas and diesel. MMC Makhubo says mixed development in Lufhereng and Fleurhof – one of the largest integrated housing programmes in the country – will offer communities various residential options, including RDP housing, social rental and affordable bonded housing.
Nabintu Petsana, Head of Tourism and Sibongile Morale, Business Tourism Officer celebrating with delegates after scooping the Humanitarian Award at the Destination Marketing Association International held in Frankfurt, Germany. The award recognises a destination marketing organisation that demonstrates significant leadership and support of its community.
An amount of R210-million is going towards the Integrated Operational Centre that will improve public safety and Johannesburg’s ability to respond to disasters. A state-of-the-art analytics centre will add to the existing CCTV network. In areas where CCTVs are already operational, there has been a 37% decline in assaults and a 27% reduction in robberies.
Where the money goes… Total Budget Operating Expenditure Sustainable Services Cluster Environment and Infrastructure Services Housing City Power Joburg Water Pikitup JOSHCO Human and Social Development Cluster Community Development Health Social Development Public Safety City Parks and Zoo Joburg City Theatres Economic Growth Cluster Economic Development Transportation Development Planning Joburg Market Johannesburg Property Company Johannesburg Development Agency Joburg Roads Agency Metrobus Good Governance Cluster Group Functions Group Finance Corporate and Shared Services Office of the Speaker and Legislature Capital Expenditure
8 – In the Loop
R52.6-bn R42.7-bn R25.9-bn R235-m R864-m R15.4-bn R7.2-bn R2-bn R138-m R1-bn R7.43-m R182-m R3.4-bn R223-m R126-m R4.4-bn R187-m R1.5-bn R303-m R347-m R456-m R99-m R943-m R612-m R7.8-bn R1.3-bn R3.5-bn R1.2-bn R315-m R9.9-bn
Johannesburg is converting its vehicle fleet to run on eco-friendly fuel. Executive Mayor, Mpho Parks Tau and Cllr Mally Mokoena, the MMC for Corporate and Shared Services received the first of the new green cars to be rolled out in the City.
Joburg’s Comrades runners received a send-off prior to participation in the world’s premier long distance race. Bonolo Mofokeng from Transport, Vincent Seng, from Region C – the winner of the Loskop Marathon, Cllr Chris Vondo, the MMC for Community Development, Thomas Chauke from the JMPD and Derrick Oliver from City Power attended the function.
Joburg supported the CEO sleep-out in Sandton to raise funds for charities such as Girls’ and Boys’ Town. Cllr Nonceba Molwele, the MMC for Health and Social Development, Leslie Sedibe, the CEO of Proudly South African and Pheladi Gwangwa, the Station Manager of Radio 702 are getting ready for the night out on the streets of the City.
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Economic Development
Health
Nurses take health care to the people M odern-day approaches to health care are being combined with tried and trusted methods to improve
the health status of patients in Soweto and reduce the pressure on clinics. A number of clinics in Region D are now mixing old and new methods to tackle issues relating to long queues at primary health care facilities and overcrowding. This is resulting in better health outcomes and improved relationships between the health care workers and communities. Eight of the 15 clinics in the region have revived the old Soweto Clinics Outreach Model with a strong focus on visits to the home of patients and combining this with the Cohorts Group Programme, a modern approach to care, championed by the national Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi. Concerned nurses from the eight clinics got together a year ago to discuss innovative measures that can be introduced to improve primary health care outcomes in the region. The new approach is being implemented under the direction of Sister Mashudu Tshikoto, a professional nurse and Hamilton Ntila, an operational manager, both based at the Zondi Clinic. A pilot programme was initially introduced at three clinics – Nokuphila (Ward 48), Green Village (Ward 53) and Naledi Extension (Ward 14). It was subsequently rolled out to the Zondi Clinic (Ward 56) and Sinqobile (Ward 45) as well as catchment clinics in Wards 34, 46, 46 and 47. In terms of the outreach approach, the areas located in the vicinity of a clinic are divided into blocks, equal to the number of available nurses. Each nurse takes responsibility for a block and conduct home visits four times a week. 16 – In the Loop
Patients visit clinics now only on the fifth day for further consultations and referrals to other medical facilities. Sister Tshikoto says visiting nurses are able to attend to the health of expectant mothers and identify people with TB or other chronic diseases and refer them to the clinic, social workers or appropriate government services. Defaulters are traced and placed back on medication. “The nurses are able to observe any health concerns and identify social issues that require interventions. All this is done in a relaxed home and family environment,” says Sister Tshikoto. She attributes the success of the programme to support received from ward councillors, primary healthcare committees, ward committees, community development workers and health promoters. Ntila says the introduction of the Cohorts Group Programme has helped to further reduce waiting time and alleviate the workload of medical staff. Individuals with shared health challenges are visiting the clinics at the same time where they are attended to in a group. Their prescriptions are processed ahead of the appointment and when they arrive, the medication is already packaged and waiting to be dispensed. Patients are in and out of the clinics within 30 minutes and the workload on nurses is significantly reduced through a streamlined process. By cutting down on the waiting times, the new system also encourages patients to visit clinics for regular check-ups where they are now served by a much more efficient system.
Africa’s ‘premier meeting place’ is growing in Sandton
O ne of Africa’s premier urban development projects is taking shape in the heart of Sandton with the construction of a new mixed-used precinct.
Work on the R1.3-billion Kgoro Gateway near the Sandton Gautrain station will soon start, following the relocation of the temporary taxi rank to a permanent facility in April. Hailed as the “foremost Afripolitan meeting place,” Kgoro Gateway will be a mixed-use precinct developed around a vibrant public square and will consist of a number of medium and high-rise buildings – ranging from six to 45 floors. The development is a public-private partnership and is set to become one of the most prestigious venues in South Africa, says Alan Dinnie, Senior Manager: Development at the Johannesburg Property Company (JPC). In addition to retail and office space, Kgoro Gateway will also incorporate residential and hotel development as well as a new contemporary art museum and gallery. The existing public library will be retained. The design of the line shops on Rivonia Road and West Street has been completed and contracts awarded to fit-out the shops. Dinnie says the new Sandton taxi rank on the ground floor of the Gautrain station accommodates 89 vehicles and has a nine-lane routing system.
The rank now forms part of an integrated transport facility, known as the Public Transport Interchange (PTI), which caters for the Gautrain, metered taxis and minibus taxis. The PTI provides an ideal landing point for visitors to the City and daily commuters and also enables them to switch seamlessly between various modes of public transport. Dinnie says the relocation of the rank was completed following a complex process of negotiations between various stakeholders including the City, the Gauteng government, taxi associations and trade representatives. The new high-end taxi rank includes offices, a marshal’s office, security control rooms, a relaxation area for drivers, public restrooms and 22 fully-fitted trader stalls. Dinnie says the JPC facilitated the planning and development of the project that was constructed at an estimated cost of R100-million. Fast Facts on new Sandton development: • • • • •
Location of Kgoro Gateway – corner of Rivonia Road and West Street; Cost of development – R1.3-billion; Total size – 150 000m²; Residential and hotel space – 84 000m²; Development cost of new Sandton Taxi Rank – R100-million. In the Loop – 9
Employee News Human & Social Development
Economic Development
and Jozi@Work through which emerging businesses become partners of the City through a new model of service delivery.
Pholo says sales leads to the value of more than R120-million have been generated with a number of other “mega-deals and partnerships”, that will be negotiated in the coming months. Speaking at the opening of the Expo, the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Economic Development, Councillor Ruby Mathang said local government can play a crucial role to guide patterns of economic development and create the supportive conditions for the private sector to grow and flourish. An innovative idea to manufacture branded waste trolleys used by informal waste collectors has been turned into a profitable business for a young entrepreneur and now creates an income for some of the poorest people in Johannesburg. Branded waste trolleys are becoming a familiar sight on Joburg streets through an innovative partnership between the City and an emerging entrepreneur. The trolleys are branded with advertising and the collectors receive a percentage of the revenue generated.
City support helps small business to grow bigger
Sifiso Ngobese is in a partnership with Pikitup to take informal waste collection to a new level. His company has developed unique waste trolleys that are used by informal collectors to transport waste to recycle points. The trolleys are branded with advertising and the collectors will receive 10% of the revenue generated in addition to the money they earn from selling the recyclable waste. There are already three branded trolleys in the CBD and Ngobese has plans to grow this to 200. The trolleys all meet the safety specifications required by the City and the JMPD and the project has the support from Pikitup because it helps to keep the city clean.
E
merging businesses and young entrepreneurs in Johannesburg are receiving valuable support from the City to showcase their ideas and projects to a wider audience. Recently, the City hosted the Empowertec Africa exhibition at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand that attracted more than 220 companies from 14 countries, with a strong focus on technology and the manufacturing industry. The City hosted a pavilion and provided exhibition space for 60 small-and medium enterprises, including several of the finalists in the Green City Start-up Challenge. This partnership between the City and the universities of Johannesburg and the Witwatersrand, promotes innovation in green enterprises and technology and the winning participant will walk away with a R1-million grand prize at the end of the year. Reginald Pholo, the City’s Director of Trade and Investment Promotion, says small business has “reaped tremendous rewards from the exposure and networking opportunities,” that were available at Empowertec Africa”.
10 – In the Loop
“Through this project, we are providing a livelihood for informal waste collectors and giving them a sense of dignity and belonging to the City,” says Ngobese.
There is no shortage of ideas and innovation among the young entrepreneurs who participated at Empowertec Africa with the support of the City’s Directorate of Trade and Investment Promotion. Yolandi Schoeman said the expo was a great learning opportunity for her start-up company, Baoberry, and several large businesses showed an interest in the environmental solutions it offers in the fields of water purification and green construction. Another emerging business owner who received vital exposure from the City’s initiative was Zenale Legabe, the owner of Nokuphola, specialising in beaded African jewellery and artwork. “This was a great marketing opportunity for us,” says Legabe. Obakeng Masipa praised the City’s efforts to support emerging businesses and says the exhibition has created several sales and business leads for his green energy solutions company, Semona Eco.
Books for schools… The Youth Advisory Centre in Orange Farm received a donation of 2 000 books from the Open Learning Group that will now be distributed to various schools within Region G. The books include text books that can be used in schools, general knowledge publications and works of fiction.
Opening of advisory centres highlights City’s youth-focused activities T hree new Youth Advisory Centres are being opened in Joburg as part of a range of activities to commemorate
Support to bin cleaners… Pikitup is offering support to community-based entrepreneurs who took the initiative to start bin cleaning operations in Soweto. Some 1 150 groups were entered into a database and 250 participants received training from the National Youth Development Agency. Pikitup is supporting the initiative through the provision of training, protective clothing and cleaning detergents. The intention is to encourage the groups to form some cooperative and benefit in a meaningful way from the Jozi@Work programme.
Youth Month. The Advisory Centres serve as one-stop destinations for young people where they can receive information about opportunities that are offered by the government, NGOs and the private sector. They also provide services such as advice on career opportunities, skills development programmes and entrepreneurial support, says Phemelo Kebinelang, the Operations Manager in the Youth Directorate.
Awareness on health issues… The Department of Health will conduct a workshop on HIV and Aids, drug abuse and teenage pregnancy for some 600 young people from across the City. The objective is to create a greater awareness about the issues, offer HIV counselling and testing and enable the participants to utilise their knowledge within their local communities through peerinteraction and the distribution of information.
The new centres are located at Hikhensile in Ivory Park (Region A), 8th Avenue in Alexandra (Region E) and at the Orange Farm Skills Centre (Region G). Existing centres are located at the Training and Development Centre in Westbury (B), the Multi-purpose centre in Cosmo City (C) and the Welfare Centre in Diepkloof (D). The Advisory Centres make valuable contributions to a wide range of activities within the City which are aimed at youth development. This was also reflected in the 2015/15 Budget delivered by the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Finance, Cllr Geoffrey Makhubo, where allocations were made to innovative programmes such as the Vulindlel’ eJozi initiative which will train more than 200 000 young people and match their skills with employment opportunities, the Digital Ambassadors Programme, designed to deploy the IT skills of the youth
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Human & Social Development
Smart City
“We work closely with the Department of Correctional Services, the Gauteng Department of Education and the South African National Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence in each of the regions to make this a realistic and valuable experience,” says the Youth Development Specialist at the EMS, Lufuno Maphagela. High school learners who display risky and anti-social behaviour such as drug use, bullying or involvement with gangs are identified by schools and then taken on a day trip to the Johannesburg Prison – also known as “Sun City”. The groups also include learners who are considered to be role models and who can convey positive messages to their class mates after the visits. The visits to the prison are very realistic. Learners are searched for drugs and illegal substances and are taken into the cells and prison yards to observe what it is like to be incarcerated. Prison inmates play vital roles in the programme. They speak to the youth about their own experiences behind bars and warn them to stay away from crime and keep to the straight and narrow.
Early prison visits help Joburg youth to stay away from jails Y
oung people from high schools across the City are taken on prison visits where they are given a glimpse of life behind bars and advice on how to stay away from crime. The “Prison Tour” programme is an initiative jointly run by the Department of Public Safety – JMPD and the Emergency Management Services and forms part of its youth development initiatives. Councillor Sello Lemao, the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Public Safety says the programme is aimed at prevention and deterrence. “We show the consequences of crime to young people, but we also encourage them to redirect their energies to positive things in life.”
14 – In the Loop
“Our intention is not to scare young people, but to demonstrate to them that there are consequences for criminal activities,” says the JMPD’s Youth Development Specialist, Tebogo Morake. “Behaviour that might, eventually, land you behind bars often start with petty crimes at schools.” “Our message to high school learners is “don’t change the uniform of excellence for the uniform of shame,” says Morake. The feedback received from learners, schools and parents has been overwhelmingly positive. Youngsters often idolise gangsters and criminals in their neighbourhoods and it is only during a visit to a prison that they see what the consequences of criminal activities are. “Prison Tour” is an anchor programme for both the JMPD and the EMS in their 2015 Youth Month programme. Other activities are directed towards the unemployed youth, anti-drug and anti-crime campaigns and public safety education. Unemployed young people who are registered on various city databases are brought together for programmes where they are informed about the city’s by-laws regulating issues such as street trading, given fire safety information and anti-xenophobic messages. Another EMS initiative is run in collaboration with the Transport SETA and assist youth to acquire drivers’ licences. This increases their ability to find jobs because many employees require prospective job applicants to have valid drivers’ licences,” says Maphagela.
Twitter is ablaze as Joburg breaks the magic mark H
undred thousand followers by the end of June 2015…this is what Joburg’s Twitter account has achieved.
in Durban recently ranked Joburg at the top of all municipalities with regards to its Twitter performance.
The growth in popularity of @CityofJoburgZA has been phenomenal over the past 12 months, from a mere 22 000 followers in June 2014 to its current mark of over 100 000. This upward trend is expected to continue.
This is confirmed by other social media analysts such as eNitiate Visual Radio and the technology website, www.hypertextmedia.co.za.
Recent high-profile events in the City have set the Twitter-sphere on fire: • During Executive Mayor Mpho Parks Tau’s State of the City Address in May, #JoburgSOCA trended for over 10 hours on the day of the speech and for five hours on the preceding day. The number of Twitter followers grew by 3 000 during this period. • And #JoburgBudget, kept up this high performance for six hours on the day the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Finance, Councillor Geoffrey Makhubo, presented his annual Budget to Council. Tumelo Komape, the City’s social media manager, says the Twitter account is growing by an average of 8 000 followers a month, making it the second fastest growing city account in the country. There is little doubt that Joburg is leading the pack in terms of its presence on this important social media platform. Over 9k messages are received on a daily basis and the City registers an impressive 87% response rate, including on weekends and holidays. This performance has not gone unnoticed. The Daily News
The Twitter account of City Power has more than doubled its number of followers since December and currently communicates to more than 100 000 people. Both Joburg and City Power have been hailed for their pro-active communication on load-shedding, power outages and other city services. Social media has improved communication between the municipality and more than 80% of Joburg residents who have access to the Internet. Vital information about power cuts or disruptions in water supplies are now at their fingertips, eliminating the element of surprise and improving confidence in the City’s abilities. Komape says it is clear that more people are turning to social media to obtain information about the City and to share that with their own group of followers and surrounding communities. He attributes the success of Joburg’s social media presence to its pro-active communication and high rate of response. “It is crucial to keep up with the tempo of conversations on social media and to participate in real time,” he says. • You can help us surge beyond the magical 100 000 followers by connecting to @CityofJoburgZA – and to encourage your fellow Twitterati to follow the trend.
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Human & Social Development
Smart City
Free Wi-Fi connecting Joburgers to a world of information
F
ree Wi-Fi has arrived in Joburg… at a blistering speed, giving residents, employees and visitors to the City unprecedented access to the Internet. The introduction of a Wi-Fi mesh in Braamfontein has changed the way in which Joburgers now connect to the wide world of information. One of the busiest and most vibrant districts in the City has been turned into an ‘always connected’ environment. “Johannesburg is leading the country in the provision of high-speed broadband access,” says the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Corporate and Shared Services, Councillor Mally Mokoena. “We are opening opportunities for students and learners to access sources of knowledge and this technology will change the way in which we deliver services to residents and businesses. The Head of IT, Tumelo Kganane, explains that the roll-out of free Wi-Fi is a Mayoral Priority and a critical element in the initiative to turn Johannesburg into a ‘smart city.’ What you should know about Free Wi-Fi • You are now able to access free Wi-Fi in Joburg through laptops, tablets and enabled mobile phones. • You can download up to 100MB per day – for free – on each of the devices. • Once the daily limit has been reached, you will have an option to buy additional download capacity. • The system is secure and stable and your privacy is guaranteed. • However, certain personal details are required for the purpose of registration. This will enable the system to recognise you when you log in and ensure your free account is not being abused. What is happening in Braamfontein? • A free Wi-Fi mesh is being rolled out in one of Joburg’s most dynamic precincts. • An entire area bordered by Hoofd, Joubert, Wolmarans and Jorissen Streets – up to the Freeway – has been turned into a free Wi-Fi Zone.
12 – In the Loop
• • •
There is blanket Wi-Fi coverage within this zone and you are always connected. Registered users are receiving free access on a 24/7 basis at competitive speeds and with a 100MB per day download capacity. The Metro Centre and key City buildings such as Thuso House, 222 Smit Street and Traduna House are all connected.
What is next for the Joburg Wi-Fi project? • The Braamfontein pilot will be extended into the university precincts, reaching the campuses of Wits and the University of Johannesburg. • Top facilities such as the Johannesburg Zoo, the various theatres, prominent parks, leisure spots and tourism attractions will soon receive free Wi-Fi. • Taxi ranks and high-volume public spaces such as Chris Hani – Baragwanath, sports stadiums and train stations will receive priority attention. • More Wi-Fi hotspots will come on line, with a target of 1 000 such venues by the end of 2016. • All Joburg libraries, clinics, offices and customer service centres will receive free Wi-Fi access. Easy steps to Free Wi-Fi in Joburg One…. When you switch on your device close to a hotspot the COJ_free Wi-Fi icon will be visible. Click on the Get Complimentary Access button on the left.
Regeneration of Kliptown continues as heritage is celebrated K
liptown, one of the most significant historical precincts in Soweto, is in the midst of an urban regeneration process that will have a major impact on future housing, transport and educational opportunities. The national focus is currently on the cultural importance of Kliptown with the 60th commemoration of the adoption of the Freedom Charter on 26 June 1955. This activities coincide with announcements in the 2015/2015 Johannesburg Budget that will result in ongoing investments in the regeneration of the precinct including housing, recreational facilities and the upgrading of roads, bridges and water infrastructure. “Kliptown has already undergone a major transformation since the turn of the century,” says the Executive Mayor, Cllr Mpho Parks Tau. “We have now started with a high-impact intervention to build on these gains and accelerate the public investment delivered by the City to the precinct.” Funds have already been allocated for the development of 6 143 housing units which will include both single residential units and apartments. This programme is
intended to be completed by the end of the 2017 financial year. To build on the area’s heritage significance and improve its ability to attract tourists and visitors a number of interventions are being planned. Among these are statues to commemorate the adoption of the Freedom Charter, the relocation of the museum, upgrades to the Heritage Trial and the restoration of 100 houses in the area. Trading facilities that are under-utilised will be converted into public recreational space and a public transport drop-off facility will be constructed along Klipspruit Valley Road. City Power has been allocated R1-million in the 2014/15 Budget to upgrade the electricity infrastructure in the precinct. Mayor Tau says the Freedom Charter has defined the political and socio-economic aspirations of the South African people during the times of struggle. These included demands for housing, security, mobility and job opportunities – all of which are being realised through initiatives such as the Kliptown intervention plan.
Two… Once you are on the landing page, fill in the required details and register. Three… Follow the link to “My account” and select “Use complimentary access”. Four… Enjoy up to 100MB per day of high-speed Wi-Fi. In the Loop – 13