Internal Newsletter
In the Loop Issue No.
25
March 2016
What’s inside:
City bursaries are changing young lives
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18
23
Contents
Arts, Sports & Culture
3
Message from the Executive Mayor
14
Libraries turned into hotspots of knowledge and learning
4
You said… We did!
15
City programme opens doors to maritime careers for youth
5
High praise for Joburg from Premier of Gauteng… 16
Think before you Tweet…
6
Nancefield at the heart of Soweto Corridor 17
Award Function beckons for Social Development
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Youth programme opens more doors to opportunity 18
Clean sweep of finances at Pikitup
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It is time, again, to go… to the 2016 Rand Show
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New ‘people’s chamber’ to be ready in July
Joburgers urged to #SaveWater
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Turning the tide against TB through treatment
Big LEAP for library partnership
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Hear the sounds of the animals calling visitors to the Zoo
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No more ‘moans and groans’ about the ‘IT-guys’
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22
Comics to delight audiences on Jozi stages
Jozi Housing's Mr Delivery Keep our storm water system free from pollutionCity opts23 “The greatest gift ever…” – a bursary from Joburg
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Healthy living starts at an early age
Healthy living starts at an early age T
Acknowledgements
Cover Credits
Editor: Thomas Thale - thomasth@joburg.org.za
Some 100 high school matriculants are able every year to continue their tertiary studies with bursaries from the City of Johannesburg.
Contributor: Luyanda Lunika - luyandal@joburg.org.za Photography: Enoch Lehung - enochl@joburg.org.za
The bursary scheme forms part of the City’s talent pipeline and covers all tuition fees and study material. Johannesburg’s Executive Mayor, Cllr Mpho Parks Tau and the MMC for Corporate and Shared Services, Cllr Mally Mokoena, recently hosted some of the 2016 bursary students.
he Kiddies Games is a fun-filled event held every year in Joburg to encourage physical activities and introduce healthy lifestyles at an early age.
Children between the ages of five and six who attend preschools or crèches are eligible. Participating schools are based at recreation facilities or in close proximity.
More than 4 500 kids from Early Childhood Development Centres in Johannesburg take part in the event at area and regional levels – with a strong emphasis on mass participation and skills development. The final event will bring together 490 children at the Klipriviersberg Recreation Centre on 31 March.
In the first stage some 4 500 children take part at area level. They then progress to seven regional competitions. At the final Kiddies Games children from the various regions, wearing distinctive T-shirts participate and all are presented with gold medals. The winning region also receives a trophy.
The event was started in 2006 and initially known as the “Kiddies Olympics.” The City recognised the fact that some of the ECD Centres did not conduct physical activities, either because of insufficient funding and facilities or a shortage of staff with appropriate knowledge.
A second element of the programme involves the training of ECD practitioners, to ensure children achieving their physical development stages at a certain age. Implementing this program assist in empowering these institutions to do skills development and ensure children have fun whilst acquiring these skills important for future achievements.
Early childhood development is one of the corner stones of the City Human Development Strategy and the programme is designed to stimulate children both mentally and physically and inculcate a culture of healthy living.
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Cognitive and physical development of children. • Healthy lifestyles fromofanchildren. early age. • Cognitive and physical development Objectives • Introducing children • Healthy lifestyles from an early age. to a variety of sporting of• theIntroducing children activities a friendly, recreational atmo to a in variety of sporting activities in a programme: sphere. friendly, recreational atmosphere. • Enhancing •social cohesion social and group interaction through Enhancing cohesion and group sport. interaction through sport.
Objectives of the programme:
Good sportsmanship is at the core of the programme. There is a strong emphasis on fair play and participation in sport, rather than competition and winning.
March 2016
Activities
Skills and Impact
Ball dribbling
Body motion control, cardio exercise, eye and foot coordination
Relay running
Body motion control and cardio exercise
Bean bag balancing
Body control and balance
Ball kicking
Eye and foot coordination and balance
Ball throwing
Concentration, upper-body exercises and hand-eye coordination
Ring throwing
Concentration
Ball hopping
Concentration, upper body exercise and hand-eye coordination
In the Loop – 23
Message from the Executive Mayor
Arts, Sports & Culture
Contents
Comics to delight audiences on Jozi stages
Newcomers take the mike
Message from the Executive Mayor
Space Comedy is a series of shows that will be hosted on the last Friday of every month at Space.Com at the theatre. This is intended to be a platform for young talent who will get the opportunity to test their routines on a discerning audience. Virgil Prins, a stand-up artist from Sophiatown, will be joined at each performance by a line-up of six fellow participants, including two newcomers. The two open spots will help emerging talent to get more exposure and share the stage with some of the more experienced artists. More information can be obtained from the Theatre’s website: www.joburgtheatre.com or on Facebook: Space.Comedy.
No script required
Shows take place on the last Thursday of every month and the Jittery Citizens also offer corporate training and workshops on how companies and organisations can use the power of improvisation to strengthen their businesses.
Funniest people on Soweto stage The 9th Annual Soweto Comedy Festival is staged at the Soweto Theatre on 26 and 27 March. The line-up includes mainstream comedians who have already carved out a career in show business. The creative director, Kedibone Mulaudzi, says they want to showcase the excellence of local talent and offer audiences a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
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The Genie is out of the bottle
t is comedy time in Jozi as both professionals and wannabe stand-up performers take to the Joburg and Soweto Theatre stages in the next few weeks. A City that gave rise to the talents of global comedic sensation, Trevor Noah, and continues to provide material for the likes of Tumi Morake, David Kau and the Deep Fried Man is ready to discover the next generation of stand-up talent.
Younger audiences will be taken on a magic carpet ride at the People’s Theatre when a new production of Aladdin is staged during the coming holiday period. The talented Andile Maqxaki – recently seen in Shrek and the Little Mermaid – takes on the role of the diligent Genie who helps the hero, played by Aiden Hyland, to overcome the villainous Jafar and win the heart of Princess Jasmine.
premiumcomedySA
Sean McGrath, a veteran of children’s theatre portrays the role of Jafar while another audience favourite, Noni Mkhonto plays the hilarious, wise-cracking Parrot.
premiumcomedy
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premiumcomedysa
22 – March 2016
of a city that is anchored on transparency, accountability and clean governance.
The city’s achievements have not gone unrecognised. In his National Budget Speech, Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan pointed to initiatives such as the Corridors of Freedom as examples of projects that can unlock the potential of private sector development that carry the potential to stimulate our economy.
Our collective contributions
In his recent State of the Province Address, Gauteng Premier David Makhura described Johannesburg as “the economic powerhouse” of Africa and “the leading destination for foreign investment” on the continent.
The Jittery Citizens is a group of innovative comedy and musical artists who perform a special brand of ‘improv comedy.’ In true tradition of this style the performance is seldom scripted and the audience can suggest the line and theme of the show as the evening progresses. The group consists of an all-star cast of comic and musical improvisers drawn from some of the country’s best talents – including Alex Radnitz, Mpho Osei-Tutu, Toni Morkel and Jai Prakash.
audit report. The number of municipal entities which achieved “clean audit” status grew by 50%.
Independent confirmations
Sensibility with public funds key to Joburg success Colleagues, The City of Johannesburg is currently in the midst of a national budget cycle where much attention is focused on our capacity to manage public finances and uphold the highest standards of corporate governance. Johannesburg’s financial affairs came under close scrutiny in the most recent report of the Auditor General. This independent watchdog over the public purse gave the city its third successive unqualified
Independent institutions have also come out in confirmation of these opinions through their own actions and decisions. Global ratings agency, Fitch, upgraded and affirmed the City’s ratings at a time when the financial performance of many other institutions, across the world, came under severe pressure. The global investment community – often the most demanding indicator of confidence – has displayed its trust in the city’s future by investing in our long-term bonds. These accolades are echoed by one of Johannesburg’s giant financial institutions, Standard Bank, which recently took out adverts stating “When does a city become iconic? When it is recognised by the world.” This is a clear reflection
It is now up to us - the civil servants in Johannesburg – to maintain our economic ratings and reputation through prudent, responsible and accountable management of public funds. These funds, which are entrusted to us – the political leadership, senior management and every employee of the city – through budgets, grants, rates and taxes, must be used to transform our Johannesburg and the lives of its people. We need to demonstrate that budgets and financial statements are more than mere numbers on paper. They reflect a commitment by our city to improve the quality of life of our residents and bring fundamental changes to the way in which our administration interacts with the people of Johannesburg. Each one of us has the responsibility to respond positively to the trust placed in us by the citizens of Johannesburg to be sensible with the spending of public funds. Each one of us can make our own contribution to the quality of service delivery, the well-being of our residents and the transformation of this world-class African city for all.
Cllr. Mpho Parks Tau Executive Mayor
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Aladdin is a must-see family production and shows are staged on weekdays at 09h00 and 11h00 and over weekends at 10h30 and 14h30. www.facebook.com/ CityofJohannesburg
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In the Loop – 3
Joburg in Pix
Good Governance
You said… We did! IDP
process about to start
In the coming weeks, Johannesburg residents have ample opportunities to shape the immediate future of the City through their participation in the IDP process. The Integrated Development Plan is a multi-year strategic blueprint that sets out the City’s vision, supported by detailed strategies and implementation plans required to achieve this vision. The 2016 IDP is of particular importance because it comes at the end of the current term of office of the Council elected in 2011 – and the Mayoral Committee which serves as the executive branch of the City’s leadership.
what is required to build on our success over the next five years,” says Fowler.
The City is going to the public with the following messages: • • • •
We listen to you and acknowledge your concerns. We look to you for advice and recommendations. We will work with you to ensure the issues you raised are addressed. We will report back on progress and keep you informed.
Hear the sounds of the animals calling visitors to the Zoo T
he Johannesburg Zoo will be again be a top destination for residents and visitors to the City during the coming Easter holiday period. The focus will be on family-oriented activities with a number of attractions that appeal especially to younger visitors.
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Holiday Fun at the Zoo offers kids an outdoor adventure with a range of fun activities that include animal feeding, games, arts and crafts. The programmes will vary and each day promises to be different. The holiday programme takes place from 29 to 31 March, on 1 April and then during the school holidays from 13 to 21 April. The entrance fee for visitors is R80.00.
New direction to 2021 Local government elections will take place across the country between May and August – on a date still to be determined. This IDP therefore connects the work done over the past five years with the mandate to be given to a newly elected Council that will take Johannesburg towards 2021. City Manager, Trevor Fowler, says “the IDP will ensure strategic continuity into the next term of office. The signs of a transforming Johannesburg are already visible in its multibillion rand investments in infrastructure, the Corridors of Freedom programme and the many initiatives to empower the youth and create jobs through the Jozi@Work initiative. City reports with confidence “Now, we are going back to communities across the City with great confidence and ask them to give their inputs on
4 – March 2016
A series of Citizen Relationship meetings are scheduled between 9 and 21 April at which residents can give their inputs into the draft IDP. The 130 wards in the City are clustered according to geographic proximity and overlapping interests and developmental needs.
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The series of imbizos will culminate in a city-wide Stakeholder Summit on 23 April. Details about the dates and venues of the meetings are available from regional offices and on the City’s website – www.joburg.org.za
The very popular Behind the Scenes Tour takes visitors to areas of the Zoo that are usually only accessible to staff members. These include the night rooms, the animal hospital and the kitchen where the food is prepared. Both tours offer visitors a comprehensive overview of how the Zoo operates.
Call for participation Mr Fowler is calling on all stakeholders and residents to actively participate in the IDP process to enable Johannesburg to continue on its current trajectory. “Through the IDP process and the subsequent local government elections our citizens will be able to express their views on the future direction of Africa’s leading city,” he says.
Day Tours at the Zoo continue to attract visitors who want take a close-up view of the City’s premier tourist destination. One option is to join the Ferry Tour that passes by the five main animal complexes with stopovers at destinations where the animals are being fed.
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On the second Sunday of each month families can gather at the Zoo for an early morning fun run or leisurely walk. Participants in the Zoo Trot can bring along picnic baskets to enjoy the rest of the day on the lawns close to the animal enclosures.
Booking for all events and tours is essential. More information is available at the website:
www.jhbzoo.org.za Once the sun sets over Joburg many of the Zoo’s nocturnal animals start their activities. The Zoo’s Open Moonlight Tour starts at 17h15 in the afternoons and the cost of R105.00 includes a night-time bonfire, coffee, tea, hot chocolate and marshmallows.
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@TheJohannesburgZoo @JoburgParksZoo.
FIND US
In the Loop – 21
Good Governance
Health
High praise for Joburg from Premier of Gauteng… Turning the tide against TB through treatment J
ohannesburg is experiencing a decrease in TB infections following the introduction of a comprehensive campaign to combat the curable disease.
The good news is that there is a decrease in the number of new TB infections in Johannesburg. The number of TB cases in the City has declined steadily from 21 264 in 2011 to 15 244 in 2015.
However, the battle against tuberculosis has not been won, says the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Health and Social Development, Cllr Nonceba Molwele. The Massive TB Screening Campaign launched in November 2015 is continuing. Higher and more ambitious targets are being set to improve the cure rate. These are in line with the United Nation’s “90% strategy.”
This can be attributed to the success of the City’s TB and HIV awareness and treatment programmes. The number of patients who are being cured following treatment stands at 85% and the mortality rate has declined to only 3.3%.
What is tuberculosis?
The City’s excellent performance is being noticed. In 2015 the Johannesburg District was named as the Best Performing TB Control Programme in Gauteng over the past three years.
TB is an infectious disease that is spread from person to person through the air. It affects mostly the lungs but can also have a health impact on other parts of the body.
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auteng is poised to transform and modernise its economy for the best good of all its peoples. Johannesburg – will be the driving force to stimulate growth and “trigger a new wave of smart and green re-industrialisation.” This was the core message from Gauteng Premier, David Makhura, when he delivered his annual State of the Province Address to the provincial Legislature. In a wide-ranging speech Premier Makhura cited several examples from Johannesburg to demonstrate why the province remains “the economic powerhouse” and the “leading destination for foreign investment in Africa.”
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The imminent establishment of the regional headquarters for the BRICS Bank in the City also emphasised the City’s reputation as an international centre for financial services and banking.
In the Budget Statement Minister Gordhan singled out Johannesburg for at least three game-changing initiatives: •
Improved land use through the Corridors of Freedom. This will unlock the potential of private sector development, increase settlement densities and improve social mobility.
Top Ten Reasons why Joburg is leading the pack: Facts and figures:
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TB remains the leading cause of illness and death in South Africa and globally. The country has the 3rd highest number of new TB cases reported in the world – surpassed only by India and China. Stats SA has confirmed TB to be the “number one killer” in the country – responsible for almost 38 000 mortalities annually – 8.4% of deaths. More than 450 000 new cases are reported in the world every year.
20 – March 2016
Four ways to detect possible TB symptoms:
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2. 3. 4.
A persistent cough that continues for more than two weeks – or any cough if the person is HIV positive. A fever that lasts longer than 14 days. Unexplained weight loss of more than 1.5kg in a month. Drenching night sweats and sudden fatigue among children.
Four ways to prevent the spread of TB:
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2. 3.
4.
Cover your nose and mouth when sneezing and cough into your elbows; Ensure your house is adequately ventilated; Live a healthy lifestyle through regular exercises and a balanced diet; Go for testing at City Health facilities if you display some of the symptoms.
Four positive messages about TB treatment:
1. 2. 3.
4.
TB can be completely cured if the treatment is followed for six months. Testing and treatment for TB and HIV are free at all government clinics; The spread of TB can be prevented through easy to follow changes in behaviour and healthy living. Families and communities can contribute to health by encouraging patients to continue their treatment until they are cured.
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The Green Bond Initiative
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The Corridors of Freedom
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The Kopanong Precinct
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Vulindlel ‘eJozi Youth Initiative
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Service delivery successes
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Roads and economic infrastructure
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The Tshimologong Precinct
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Revitalisation of the township economy
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Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit
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Education for special needs learners
Premier Makhura pointed to the challenges related to urbanisation and the need for cities in Gauteng to accommodate some 200 000 people who move into the province each year. “We have to work doubly hard and do things differently in Gauteng with regards to the economy, infrastructure development and service delivery,” he said.
… and from the Minister of Finance Johannesburg’s leadership in spatial planning and public transport systems to create united and cohesive cities featured prominently in the National Budget delivered by Finance Minister, Pravin Gordhan in Parliament.
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Improved access to public transport. The expectations are that the Rea Vaya network will grow to 180 000 passenger trips a day by 2019, Mr Gordhan said.
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Improved centre for financial services. The New Development Bank will open its African Regional Centre in Johannesburg this month. The Bank is a joint initiative by the BRICS Group of Countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
“This initiative gives impetus to our role as a financial centre for Africa and facilitate access to global finance by African investors and institutions,” Minister Gordhan said.
In the Loop – 5
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Economic Development
Corridors Of Freedom
Nancefield at the heart of Soweto Corridor O
ne of Soweto’s premier transport hubs, the Nancefield Station, is at the core of a revitalisation programme that includes the provision of economic and social infrastructure to support future development. The Soweto Corridor of Freedom will become a focus point in the rollout of this flagship programme in the City and Nancefield and Jabulani are among the primary development nodes. Nancefield is an important commuter railway station and is also easily accessible from the Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit route. Cllr Ros Greeff, the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Infrastructure and Planning says a primary objective of the Corridors initiative is to regenerate key economic nodes and to link them to the rest of the City through efficient and more accessible public transport. Transit precincts in marginalised areas such as Nancefield, Orlando East, Jabulani and Alexandra are turned into key economic nodes that can serve as catalysts for development in their surrounding precincts. Through strategic investment in infrastructure by the City of Johannesburg, the nodes will become more attractive for mixed-use private real estate investment. In the long term, the City’s vision is to create high density mixed-use development nodes closer to social facilities and employment opportunities. The Johannesburg Development Agency manages the partnerships that are responsible for the Station Precinct Development Programme.
6 things to know about the Nancefield Station Programme:
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It is an important transportation hub for Klipspruit and surrounds and closely linked to business activities at Maponya Mall.
The road network that includes Tsolo Road, Mofokeng Road and Mbambiza Road is being upgraded through the provision of bulk infrastructure such as storm water, sewer, water and electricity. More than R60-million has been allocated in the previous financial year for road upgrades and the installation of bulk infrastructure.
Under-utilised land is being developed and poor households are now given access to well-located accommodation, jobs and social facilities.
New housing opportunities will be created – supported by the provision of community facilities such as parks and community centres.
The aim is to create a high-quality urban environment with social and educational facilities, open spaces and retail opportunities – linked to the rest of Soweto and Johannesburg through the public transport system.
The Nancefield Precinct will become a better and safer neighbourhood with the potential to attract investment and support future mixed-use development.
MMC Greeff says the Nancefield development demonstrates the City’s commitment to best urban management practices. The Corridors of Freedom programme is no longer a mere “vision of the future.” It is already being implemented and becoming visible in many parts of the City.
6 – March 2016
New ‘people’s chamber’ to be ready in July T
he construction of the City of Johannesburg’s R128-million state-of-the-art council chamber at the Metro Centre in Braamfontein is expected to be completed by July.
The Mayoral Committee believes the chamber will help to uplift the city’s residents and communities by:
The new chamber – which will replace the “outdated” existing structure – forms part of the City’s R15-billion Office Space Optimisation programme that will eventually bring all its entities under one roof and result in the development of some of the regional offices into modern “people’s centres”.
• • • • •
Helen Botes, the CEO of the Joburg Property Company – JPC – says the chamber will be both the nucleus of Johannesburg’s new Metro Centre and an emblem of the city’s transformation into an economic empire. According to Allan Dinnie, the JPC’s Property Senior Development Manager, the new ‘green and smart chamber’, will cater for all 366 councillors, complete with a public gallery that would accommodate more than 150 people. Shaped in the form of an African drum, the imposing structure, which has a glass façade, creates a lekgotla-like setting to capture Johannesburg’s ‘Africanness.’ Sitting atop of it will be a gold dome to celebrate Johannesburg as the City of Gold.
Improving service delivery; Increasing operational efficiency; Centralising administrative activities; Revitalising marginalised areas of the city; and Creating an urban environment that embodies cohesion, efficiency and sustainability.
As a symbol of a united and transformed Johannesburg, both the exterior and interior will pay tribute to South Africa’s diverse cultures yet celebrate a united vision. Botes says although the venue will incorporate cutting-edge technology and adhere to green building-principles it will not forego the city’s roots. Local artists will be commissioned to create hand-crafted artworks that truly represent this inspiring African city – a city rich in culture and wealthy in ambition.
“This will be a chamber for the people, who will be able to view council meetings in session. It’s all about transparency. It will be a smart chamber, with a full IT system. Everything will be electronic,” Dinnie says. At least 500 jobs will be created during the construction phase, with 30% of them going to Johannesburg inner city’s SMMEs. “The existing council chambers are too small and outdated. The last refurbishments were done about 40 years ago when it was first constructed. The building has exceeded its lifetime,” says Botes.
In the Loop – 19
Jozi@work
Employee News
Ten youths from Orange Farm have been earmarked for jobs in the maritime sector in line with Operation Phakisa – a Presidential programme. (Full report on page 15)
Clean sweep of finances at Pikitup T
here is an atmosphere of cleanness about Suren Maharaj’s office at Pikitup in Braamfontein. An unprecedented clean audit opinion to recognise the quality of financial controls at an entity responsible for cleaning the streets of Johannesburg has contributed in a cleaner reputation for the entire City. Arriving at Pikitup as the new Chief Financial Officer in early 2013 Maharaj immediately realised the challenge of turning the financial performance and solvency of the company around. “It was a bit of a dog’s breakfast,” he now admits when looking back on his first encounter with the company’s financial affairs at the time. As a high-performing Chartered Accountant with close on 18 years of experience working at global giants in the telecoms and semiconductors industries Maharaj set his team a five year target to financially turn the business of Africa’s leading waste management utility around. He enjoyed the full support of Executive Mayor Mpho Parks Tau, MMC Matshidiso Mfikoe, the Pikitup Board and Managing Director, Amanda Nair, he says. This target was achieved within two and a half years. Fraud and corruption involving tenders were addressed at their roots. Operating losses that threatened to bleed the company dry were stemmed. A deficit of more than half-a-billion rand was turned into a healthy surplus rendering the company solvent for the first time in its 14 year history. And Pikitup has just received its first ever clean audit report.
In the coming months attention will focus on the acceleration of the Jozi Digital Ambassadors programme, which is designed to empower up to 720 000 households in Johannesburg with digital skills using the City’s Free Wi-Fi hotspots and its new Maru a Jozi portal. Some 3 000 ambassadors are expected to reach these households, and already 85 youths are deployed as Jozi Digital Ambassadors in Soweto to kick-start the roll-out of the initiative across the City.
For his outstanding work at Pikitup Maharaj was recently named as one the finalists at the 2016 annual CFO Awards – an achievement he jokingly describes as “the Oscars for chief financial officers.” Only 23 financial executives from among the country’s top corporations, listed companies and parastatals have been nominated for these prestigious awards that will be handed out in 11 categories and judged by a distinguished panel of industry veterans. Suren Maharaj’s achievements at a glance: • • • • • • • •
Matriculated from the Effingham Secondary School in Durban with six distinctions. Achieved the highest marks in the country for Maths and Accounting. Received a BCom-degree from the University of Natal and qualified as a Chartered Accountant. Joined European Marine Contractors in 1998 and helped it to win a multi-million dollar contract in Australia. Grew top-line revenue more than three-fold as Commercial and Finance Director of Motorola Sub-Sahara Africa. Formed part of the team that set up Broadband Infraco – the state-owned telecoms network provider. Joined Pikitup as Chief Financial Officer in 2013 following a stint with global solar power company, Sun Edison. Member of the SA Institute of Chartered Accountants, the Institute of Directors of Southern Africa and CFO South Africa.
Maharaj says he is keenly aware of the fact that public perceptions about Pikitup are shaped by its primary responsibilities to keep the streets of Joburg clean, remove waste and eliminate unsightly dumping sites – rather than by the cleanness of its balance sheet. However, it is equally true that the quality of financial management and the standards of corporate governance contribute to the favourable reputation of the City and morale among staff members. “You could see the spring in the steps of our colleagues when we became solvent and received a clean audit report,” he says. And these positive attitudes will be carried over into Pikitup broader objectives to keep Joburg clean, create an attractive environment for residents and visitors and lead initiatives to reduce, reuse and recycle waste in the City. 18 – March 2016
Youth programme opens more doors to opportunity J
oburg’s youth programme – Vulindlel’ eJozi – continues to deliver tangible results through the creation of opportunities for unemployed young people to develop their entrepreneurial skills and increase their prospects for jobs. In the second quarter since its launch in June 2015 the programme has secured more than 47 000 opportunities in online education, skills development and job placements in new economic sectors such as the maritime and hospitality industries. Thus far some 15 124 young people have directly benefited from opportunities created through Vulindlel’ eJozi including the ability to earn a livelihood in early childhood development, information technology, retail and financial services and business process outsourcing. Top partners joining Several top South African companies have joined City and its partner, the Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator to break down barriers to empowerment opportunities. Among the companies involved in partnership negotiations are industry leaders such as Unilever, Nando’s, Woolworths, Pick n Pay, Standard Bank, First National Bank, Nedbank, Imperial and Scaw Metals. The programme’s mobisite www.vulindlela.mobi has already registered up to 140 000 youths, who are keen to participate in the programme. One of the most exciting initiatives is the Massive Open Online Varsity – MOOVs – which is available at City libraries. Young Joburgers have free access to a wide volume of educational material on the internet and are able to download course material, listen to lectures and submit assignments that will lead to widely-recognised qualifications.
City entities review progress in service delivery The contribution of municipal entities (MEs) to service delivery in Johannesburg was in focus at the Annual General Meetings held on 11 March. This year’s AGM took place at the end of a financial year in which the MEs reported significant improvements in financial management and corporate governance. Six of the MEs received clean bills of financial health from the Office of the Auditor General – the most in the City’s recent history: The Johannesburg Social Housing Company – JOSHCO; Joburg Theatres; Johannesburg Roads Agency; Pikitup; The Johannesburg Property Company; and The Johannesburg Development Agency. The AGM also focused on the developmental role of municipal-owned entities and on the contribution they are making to the city’s flagship programmes: Corridors of Freedom, Blue Economy, Smart City, Jozi@Work and Service Delivery.
In the Loop – 7
Employee News
Economic Development
Award Function beckons for Social Development
It is time, again, to go… to the 2016 Rand Show T
he Rand Show returns to the Nasrec Exhibition Centre in the last week in March… and brings with it an exceptional opportunity to market the City and interact with its residents and clients.
Mlaba says the City’s pavilion at the Rand Show will reflect Joburg’s position as a world-class African city and she hopes that many of the expected quarter of a million visitors will flock to the stand.
The Show has a close association with Jozi since it first opened its floor for visitors in 1894. Organisers are confident that this will be the biggest and most successful show yet in its 122 year history.
Most of the City’s Departments and municipal-owned entities will have a presence at the Show and residents will also be able to raise issues relating to service delivery such as water delivery and municipal bills directly with representatives from the entities.
“We will, again, have a prominent presence at the Rand Show,” says Matshidiso Mlaba, the Director Marketing. “The Joburg stand is always among the most-visited places during the 10 days of the event and we use it as an opportunity to showcase the achievements of the City and engage with residents in an informal setting.”
Five Fun Facts about the Rand Show:
Great story to tell about Joburg 2016 is of special importance for the City because Long-time it marks the end of the first term of Executive residents often still Mayor, Mpho Parks Tau and a chance to reflect refer to it as the “Rand on the past five years of achievements. In Easter Show” because this period the City drafted its long-term it coincides with the 20140 Growth and Development annual Easter Strategy and launched pioneering Holiday Weekend. initiatives such as the Corridors of Freedom, EcoMobility, investments in the green and blue economies It started off as and Jozi@Work. an agriculture show in 1894 – but soon “We have a great story to tell grew into one of Africa’s about a City that is leading the largest and best-known country in many fields of exhibition of products in service delivery, job creation trade, industry, and youth development,” she manufacturing says. “At the same time this is and leisure. one of the best destinations to visit on the African continent and it has time and again proven its ability to host global events, conventions, exhibitions and sports competitions.”
8 – March 2016
For the first 90 years it was held at Milner Park on Empire Road, which today forms part of the West Campus of the It moved to its University of current venue at the Witwatersrand. Nasrec Expo Centre in 1985. It is now easily accessible from the Golden Highway and Rand Show Road and is close to the Rea Vaya network.
Last year the Show attracted more than 200 000 visitors over an 11 day period.
Cllr Nonceba Molwele, MMC for Health and Social Development.
Mr. Edward Zwane, Executive Head of Social Development.
T
Recognition by peers
hey are the caring faces of a megacity. They are the helping hands that stretch out to meet the needs of children or young people who might be in trouble. They are the willing feet who visit child-headed households, organise feeding programmes or offer sound advice to a new migrant trying to navigate his way through the urban maze. The City’s Department of Social Development render irreplaceable services to large sectors of the Joburg community. They are responsible for many of the frontline programmes of the City and are often the first points of interaction between residents and administration. Now their commitment and service will be recognised publicly at the Staff Awards Gala Event to be hosted in April by the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Health and Social Development, Councillor Nonceba Molwele. “This is an occasion for us to recognise the work done by the officials of Social Development, both at the Metro Centre and in each of the 7 Regions,” explains Tino Singo, Assistant Director: Systems and NGO Capacitation and one of the coordinators of the event. Officials in the department are often confronted with harrowing social conditions when they implement the City’s wide-ranging social programmes. This can range from looking after the elderly to ensuring food security programmes and poverty relief when they reach the intended recipients. “This can be emotionally draining for officials but they have to continue performing their duties in a professional and efficient manner,” she says.
It is this professionalism and caring spirit that are being recognised through the newly introduced awards programme. It is also an opportunity for colleagues to identify and recognise the contributions made by their peers, says Lerato Legobane, the Regional Manager in Region D. All of the 411 staff members – including (Expanded Public Works Programme) EPWP workers – will be eligible for the awards. Five award categories have been determined in each region and staff members were encouraged to nominate candidates that deserve recognition and then to vote for the winners in each category. • • • • •
Exemplary Achievement and Performance Award; Excellence in Customer Service and Personal Interaction; The Reliability Award; Exceptional Leadership Award; Best Employee for the Region.
The regional winners will also be in line to be named as the Social Development Top Employee of the Year – nominated and voted for by colleagues in the department. A final accolade will be decided on by the Executive Head of the Department, Wandile Zwane. Members of the public often make positive comments or pass on compliments on services received from the department. Mr Zwane will select a candidate from among these names to receive the Executive Head Award. Rosina Masoa, the Regional Manager for Region D says the Awards Function will become an annual event and is introduced to improve morale among colleagues and inspire them to perform even better in their delivery of social services to City residents. In the Loop – 17
Resource Resilience
Employee News
Joburgers urged to #SaveWater W
ater conservation should be uppermost in the minds of all Joburgers as the country experiences one of the heaviest and lengthiest droughts in recent memory. Cllr Matshidiso Mfikoe, the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Environment and Infrastructure is urging residents, business and communities to support the #SaveWater campaign launched by the Gauteng provincial government.
Think before you Tweet… C
elebrities do it all the time. And their fans love to repeat it. Politicians find it useful to get their messages across. And their followers continue to spread it. “Thought leaders” grab the opportunities to show how wise they are. And their critics challenge them in public debate. It is the world of social media. Of Twitter and Tweets. Handles and Hashtags. Selfies and Instagrams. Tumblrs and Flickrs. For those who stick to the truth and follow the – mostly unwritten – rules they present a wonderful way of communicating positive messages and information. The City of Johannesburg ‘s own Twitter page – @CityofJoburgZA – has more than 200 000 dedicated followers and is a great source of regularly updated information about achievements, developments and what is happening in Jozi. Others might find themselves in hot water for posting inappropriate content or sending insensitive remarks into the global digital world. There are countless examples of celebrities who wish today that they had slower fingers. But the reality is that it is not only rappers and breakfast show hosts who have to watch what they tweet. The rules of civil conversations apply to everybody – including public sector officials who work for the City of Johannesburg.
Tips for your Finger Tips: Think before you type. And think again before you send. Conversations taking place in the electronic universe are almost always permanent. Even if you retract an e-mail sent in anger; even if you delete that insensitive tweet; even if you wipe that embarrassing picture from your Facebook account… someone, somewhere will still have a record of it or be able to retrieve it.
Mind your manners and watch your language. The fact that you are using social media or text language does not absolve you from the long-standing practices of civil and respectful communication.
The current concerns about water supplies do not only flow from the prevailing dry conditions and the lack of rain. Careless water consumption by residents adds to the severity of the problem. In some areas of the City up to 45% of water is used for gardening. “Each and every Joburger can make a contribution towards water conservation,” says MMC Mfikoe. “Small changes in behaviour and a greater awareness about practical steps that can be taken can lead to massive reductions in consumption across the City.”
MMC Mfikoe says the City has taken pro-active steps to prevent water leaking from the network. More than 40km of water piping have been installed and this contributed to a reduction in unaccounted for water from 31% to 23%. The aim is to replace 900km of piping by 2017 as part of Johannesburg’s infrastructure investment programme. World Water Day is observed annually on 22 March to show that people care about water as a natural resource and commit themselves to saving and preserving water. Climate change is having a significant impact on fresh water resources. Global temperatures have been rising steadily since 1992 and 2015 has been the warmest year on record. As temperatures increase evaporation increases – often resulting in droughts or rapidly declining dam levels. The theme for World Water Day 2016 is “Better Water, Better Jobs.” It makes a connection between the availability of clean water resources – and the ability of a country’s economy to keep its manufacturing and trade sectors growing and create jobs.
Steer clear from postings that might be offensive, controversial, illegal or profane… or promote discrimination in any shape or form. Respect your employer and the citizens of Johannesburg who contribute to your salary. Do not engage in personal conversations or send private messages during working hours, using city-owned facilities and IT infrastructure. Do not speak on behalf of the City – unless you are authorised. Many Joburg employees have to communicate with residents and stakeholders as part of their daily responsibilities – and they know the boundaries of their communication. Speaking to the media or commenting on City-related issues are, however, best left to communication professionals. As a citizen of a democracy you have every right to participate in public debates or conversations outside of your work responsibilities. Freedom of expression is a fundamental right – but as a public sector employee you have to exercise this with circumspection. A full copy of the city of Johannesburg’s policy on social media is available on the intranet. The Government Communication and Information Services – GCIS – has also published useful guidelines:
Do’s and Don’ts of #SaveWater •
Do fix leaking taps, toilets and pipes;
•
Do use a bucket when watering your garden;
•
Do re-use water for flushing and gardening;
•
Do take short showers;
•
Do report water leaks to Joburg Water or regional offices;
•
Do collect water from rainfall.
X
Don’t leave taps running – especially when you brush your teeth;
X
Don’t use a hose pipe to wash your car;
X
Don’t water gardens during the hottest time of the day;
X
Don’t pollute precious and scarce water sources;
X
Don’t allow weeds to grow and consume large volumes of water;
http://www.gcis.gov.za/sites/default/files/docs/resourcecentre/ guidelines/social_media_guidelines_final_20_april2011.pdf
Private conversations are not private anymore. Always assume that someone will read your message or post and possibly forward it to a wider audience… and wider and wider. Once it has left your computer or cellphone it is available to the entire world.
16 – March 2016
In the Loop – 9
Employee News Human and Social Development
Smart City E-lending is rapidly replacing the conventional library model in which members borrow books for a limited time or access research and study material within the library buildings. Textbooks, research material and the great works of literature are being digitized and made available for downloading on computers or hand-held devices of users. Because of copyright requirements some of the content must be purchased and in most cases special applications must be installed on the devices to access the document. Cllr Chris Vondo the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development says the partnership between New York and Johannesburg will explore the possibility of securing e-materials that are freely available for youth from low-income communities. The NYPL is a pioneer in e-lending and intends to introduce pilot technologies in Johannesburg that will give the local library system easier access to e-content. This will open doors to two ground-breaking technology solutions:
Big LEAP for library partnership J
ohannesburg and New York are reaching across geographical boundaries to share in the wider world of knowledge and information. The 12 832 kilometres separating Africa’s premier commercial and cultural hub from the financial capital of the United States are now being bridged in seconds through a partnership that will make electronic content easily available. A formal partnership will link the New York Public Library – NYPL – with the City of Johannesburg’s Library and Information Services – LIS. This will contribute to the City’s broader initiatives to provide citizens easier access to e-content and create an educated generation of young people who have access to skilled job opportunities.
City programme opens doors to maritime careers for youth
Library Simplified is a new application for iOS and Android devices that enables users to find and read e-books in no more than three clicks. It also offers “middleware” that allow libraries on different continents to merge content sources and offer it to users through a seamless application. More information is available on http://www.librarysimplified.org/.
LEAP – Library E-content Access Project – is an initiative to build a new non-profit distributor of e-content in libraries. Each year libraries spend more money and resources to purchase e-books through commercial distributors. This acquisition model limits libraries in a number of ways. It increases the costs. It forces users to visit different vendor websites to access material. It reduces the ability of libraries to build their own e-book inventory. And it prevents libraries from developing direct relationships with libraries to improve their licencing terms. Through the LEAP project libraries can address these issues and the Johannesburg library system will benefit greatly from the partnership with its New York counterpart.
T
he City of Johannesburg youth programme, Vulindlel’eJozi has opened doors to maritime career opportunities for 10 Joburg youths through a partnership with the Presidential programme - Operation Phakisa. This is after the City and its partner on the implementation of the Vulindlel’eJozi programme, Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator secured the opportunities offered by the Presidential programme. Operation Phakisa was launched in 2013 and it is designed to boost the contribution of the maritime sector in the South African economy. This is after a huge potential for growth was identified in areas of fishing, ship building, marine conservation, cargo handling and in the leisure sector. Growing up on the dusty Highveld streets of Orange Farm, Nomvula Tsolanku, 26, and Thabo Thamae, 22, could never imagine that they might one day be part of a training programme that opens doors for them to find jobs on luxury cruise liners that criss-cross oceans. Today they are part of a group of 10 youths who have reached the final stages of training in swimming and hospitality for future jobs in the industry through the Vulindlel’eJozi programme. The group, whose interest has fully been captured on career opportunities in the maritime sector, is gearing up to take to South Africa’s coastline of more than 2 500km before the end of the year. They are looking forward to explore the coastline that stretches from the desert boundary of Namibia in the west, through to the southern tip of Africa - to the border of Mozambique in the Indian Ocean. The aspirant youths from Orange Farm entered the training programme late last year. Advanced water skills are a necessary requirement and they had to undergo swimming training and assessments conducted by the diving squad of the South African Police Service. This was followed by a five day bridging course in the retail and hospitality industry. The hardest part of the training then kicked in. An intensive two-week course was conducted to cover advanced skills such as medical First Aid, marine fire-fighting, passenger safety and personal survival techniques.
most prestigious operators in the world which owns a fleet of luxury liners that travel between destinations in Southern Africa, Europe, South America and the Caribbean. Almost like Vulindlel’eJozi, which aims to break down barriers to various opportunities for up to 200 000 youths, Operation Phakisa’s focus is on young people from poorer communities who have completed high school but do not have the means to continue their studies or find employment. About 140 000 youths have already registered for Vulindlel’eJozi on the programme’s mobisite; www.vulindlela.mobi. These young people are currently having their skills sets assessed before being matched to job placement, online further education and entrepreneurship skills development opportunities in the City. Jobs in the cruise line industry are at a premium because they are often seen as a gateway to future careers in the hospitality and maritime sectors. Successful candidates are set to be exposed to varied life experiences that require hard work and long hours of dedication. A job in the cruise line industry will provide 26-year old, Nomvula Tsolanku, with a welcome opportunity to help support her extended family. Her mother passed on shortly before she completed her matric in 2007 and she is currently living with her grandmother, younger sister and two children in Orange Farm Ext 3. She has been included on the final shortlist of 10 candidates that will soon attend a face-to-face interview with the cruise operators. As a promising young rugby star currently playing for the Southern Knights in the Golden Lions League, Thabo Thamae is used to keeping his eye on the opponents’ try line. Now he has another goal in sight as he contemplates a prospective career at sea. The 22-year old who hails from a family of 11 came across the City’s programme while job hunting on the internet. “It has changed my life,” he says. “It has given me hope and purpose. When I wake up in the morning I have something to look forward to and the prospect of easing the financial burdens on my mom and aunt who have cared for our family through the years.”
The 10 candidates have already been through comprehensive medical examinations and a series of interviews with MSC Cruises – one of the
10 – February 2016
In the Loop – 15
Human and Social Development
Smart City
Libraries turned into hotspots of knowledge and learning L
ibraries across Johannesburg are increasingly turning into centres of learning as the roll-out of technology infrastructure such as free Wi-Fi and high-speed fibre improve access to the internet. Through the centuries the purpose of libraries was to make knowledge available to communities on a mass scale. The traditional environment of rows upon rows of books, however, had its limitations because it requires physical space and a system of borrowing and keeping track of these expensive assets. Digital technology has changed all of that. And with greater access to the vast resources available in the digital space comes innovative approaches to distance learning. The City of Johannesburg has anticipated this digital revolution and started with the roll-out of infrastructure at an early stage. Cllr Ruby Mathang, the MMC for Economic Development says the digitisation of learning will help Johannesburg citizens to “climb the higher education ladder.” Now the City’s Library and Information Services are, again, at the core of a comprehensive eLearning Programme where technology is used to promote learning and literacy on a large scale.
Fast Facts: •
56 City libraries already have access to Wi-Fi hotspots. In the next six months this will be extended to include all 87 libraries.
Alexandra – 3rd Ave Diepkloof Zone 1
Glenanda Jabavu
Since June 2015 more than 17 300 users have accessed the internet through eLearning initiatives – spending more than 65 000 hours on the web.
Lenasia X1 Malvern Murray Park Norwood Parkview Protea Glen
•
There are 360 computers and work stations already installed from which users can access the internet. This will soon grow to at least 1 000.
Rhodes Park Roodepoort Sandton Orange Farm (eWorld) Ivory Park North (eWorld)
14 – February 2016
• eWorld is a joint venture between libraries and Group ICT to provide workstations from which users can have free access to computers. A customised application has been developed which manages the content but also offers open source applications with which the users can create documents and presentations and print pages for a fee. • Mobile literacy builds on the roll-out of Wi-Fi hotspots across Johannesburg. Users have access to training programmes and assisted on how to search the internet, access web-page content and create email accounts. • MOOV – Massive Open Online Varsities – open the doors to accredited post-school courses offered online by international colleges and universities. Registered students have access to on-line tutors and will receive credits at the completion of their courses. Speaking at the launch of a MOOV centre at the Westbury Library the US Assistant Secretary for Commerce, Marcus Jadotte, called it “an innovative skills and training platform to bridge the gap left by traditional education.”
T
he time of lengthy waits for the “IT-guy” to sort out your password problem belongs to the past. The qualities of service offered by the Information Technology service desk have seen marked improvements in recent weeks with drastically reduced waiting times and prompt responses to issues now becoming the norms. The Member of the Mayoral Committee for Corporate Services, Cllr Mally Mokoena, attributes this to a “client-focused approach” towards IT services in the City.
Mosime is justifiably proud of the improvements that are being noticed by computer users across the city: • • • •
calls to the help-desk number – 0800 223 220 – are now being answered in less than 10 seconds, on average; messages sent to itservices@joburg.org are responded to within 20 minutes; availability of the call logging self-service portal on Jozi-net; a desktop support engineer should be in your office at the earliest opportunity.
Mosime notes that the improved response times have been achieved with the same team made up of 13 service desk agents, seven interns and 45 desktop engineers. It can be ascribed to the introduction of some new technology and a thorough review of processes. In the end, however, it boils down to attitudes and a client-centric approach to service delivery. For Mosime and her team the improvements that are already evident to employees are only the beginning. They are always
• Techno-literacy is offered to library staff and interested members of the public. The programme includes formal training and electronic information literacy. Wi-Fi hotspots are available at the following libraries: (libraries in bold already offers eWorld access to the internet.
Eldorado Park X5
•
The eLearning programme is currently comprised of four projects – all designed to use the power of 21st Century technology to improve access to learning and knowledge.
No more ‘moans and groans’ about the ‘IT-guys’
Boskruin
Bosmont
Bryanston
Diepkloof Zone 5
Diepsloot
Dobsonville
Emndeni
Ennerdale X9
Florida
Halfway House
Hillbrow
Ivory Park
Killarney
Klipfontein View
Klipspruit
Lenasia X3
Lenasia South
Linbro Park
Meadowlands
Modderfontein
Mofolo
Newlands
Noordgesig
Norscot Manor
Orange Grove
Orlando East
Parkhurst
Phiri
Pimville
Poortjie
Protea North
Rabie Ridge
Randburg
River Park
Riverlea
Rivonia
Rosebank
Rosettenville
Sandringham
Savoy
Westbury
Yeoville
Ennerdale X1 (eWorld)
Witpoortjie (eWorld)
Alex 8th Ave (eWorld)
Klipspruit West (eWorld)
Southdale (eWorld)
Mayfair (eWorld)
“The ‘smart city’ starts within our own ranks,” she says. “A growing percentage of Johannesburg’s business is conducted on-line and information communications technology is no longer a ‘nice-to-have’ facility that is added on to our services.
looking at ways to streamline the service further. The objective is to have a system in place where most of the minor issues can be attended to by the user at his or her own desk and that the specialists are only called in to resolve complicated problems.
“It is a ‘must-have’ tool of the trade. City employees must have access to a reliable IT network at all times. And our support services must contribute by ensuring the network is up-and-running and minor computer issues are resolved quickly,” says MMC Mokoena. Gugu Mosime, the Deputy Director of the Service Desk leads the team that provides IT services support to the more than 8 500 employees who have access to computers in the City. Two team leaders and 30 desk top engineers do the job of responding to IT issues that are being logged at any of the 480 city buildings that are connected to the network. The bulk of the issues that require attention are easy to sort out – password problems, email issues and other minor IT concerns… But for the individual users they are sources of frustration and lead to computer downtime and a reduction in the quality of service offered to Joburg’s residents and clients.
In the Loop – 11
Human and Social Development
Service Delivery
Jozi Housing's Mr Delivery
A
t the last formal count - during Census 2011 Johannesburg's population stood at 4 434 827. This number has since been growing at an average rate of 10 000 a month, through new urbanisation alone, bringing with it major socio-economic posers for the City. This influx has contributed to making housing delivery, for example, a constantly moving target. And the man who has been chasing this target for the past four-and-half years, Housing MMC, Dan Bovu, is keenly aware of the challenge. He wants to take Johannesburg to a new era of "sustainability, liveability and resilience" that provides opportunities for densification, mixed-use and transit-oriented developments linking economic opportunities to places of residence.
G
rowing up in a poor household in Soweto, Mbali Mavundla never thought that she would be able to continue her tertiary studies. Resources have already been committed to meeting this target. Dynamic strategies For the 2015-2016 financial year alone the City plans to deliver 9 830 units in four of the seven nodes, as well as in the Corridors of Freedom. These developments are over and above other housing initiatives the City is undertaking to tackle the housing challenge.
"That is where world is going," says MMC Bovu. "Johannesburg cannot see itself outside the global picture."
•
The relaxation of certain bylaws to pave the way for the formalisation of backyard dwellings in townships;
Megaprojects on the cards
•
The expansion of JOSHCO's mandate to provide increased housing stock in the Joburg inner city;
•
Hundreds of four-roomed structures that were subdivided into two-roomed family units in places like Phiri, Meadowlands, Pennyville, Davidsonville and Klipspruit;
•
The allocation of available land in and around Alexandra and elsewhere for the development of multi-storey favelas -- semi-formal housing units often found in some of Brazil's high-density urban areas.
To achieve this, the City has established seven strategically located mega housing nodes where it aims to provide 322 000 housing units by 2019, in line with the National Human Settlements Strategic Plan, provide 322 000 housing units by 2019. This will be done primarily in seven primary housing nodes: − − − − − − −
Lion's Park-Diepsloot-Riverside View Extension 28 node -46 500; Johannesburg North West node --18 000; South Farms, Kliptown and Ennerdale Extension node -68 000; Corridors of Freedom and inner city node -- 50 000; New City 3 node, linking the City of Johannesburg and the Sedibeng District Municipality -- 60 000; Fleurhof node -- 18 200; and New City 2 node, which encompasses Alexandra and Modderfontein, where several thousands of houses are planned to be built.
12 – February 2016
“The greatest gift ever…” – a bursary from Joburg
MMC Bovu says although the City has reduced the number of informal settlements from 243 to 180, it will not be practically possible to eliminate all of them in the foreseeable future.
She had the ambition. She had the aptitude. And she had the academic marks required for further studies when she matriculated from the Jabulani Technical High School in 2014. But there was no money, no resources and little hope for financial support from her immediate family.
material while she is enrolled at the Johannesburg Institute of Engineering and Technology in Braamfontein. “It is, simply, the greatest gift ever,” says the vivacious 21-year old who is studying towards a qualification in electrical engineering. Without the support from the City she would have found it difficult to find a well-paying job that does justice to her skills and talents. Now, she is looking forward to complete her training and qualify as an apprentice engineer within the next 18 months.
At this point the City of Johannesburg stepped in and provided her with a full bursary that covers all her tuition and study Preference is given to students from underprivileged
Investments in the future
backgrounds who want to continue their studies in areas that address the major skills shortages in society – especially engineering, accounting and economics.
Every year some 100 high school matriculants like Mavundla benefit from the bursary scheme introduced by the City in 2002. “We make investments in the future of young people in Johannesburg,” says the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Corporate and Shared Services, Cllr Mally Mokoena. “Our City and our country need young people with knowledge and skills across a wide range of disciplines. We are rewarding excellence and create hope and inspiration for many that will follow in the footsteps of our bursary holders. “
Talent pipeline Enoch Mafuyeka, the Johannesburg City Deputy Director: Employee Development says the bursary scheme forms part of the City’s talent pipeline programme.
There is a great awareness about the existence of the bursary programme and the City’s receives far more applications than the number of candidates that can be accommodated. Advertisements are sometimes placed in the media and on the City’s website but there is also a good system of cooperation with ward councillors who have contact with deserving students and are able to assist them in the application process. Life-changing opportunity
Mafuyeka says there is no expectation that the graduates must apply their knowledge within Johannesburg but he is aware of a number of bursary recipients who are today playing a prominent role in society – thanks to the initial financial support from the City.
The initial sifting of applicants is done based on the grade 12 mid-year marks and final selection takes place once the results of the last school year have been processed.
For many, like Mbali Mavundla, this is a life-changing opportunity. “Thank you City of Joburg,” she says. “It would never have been possible without your support.”
In the Loop – 13