Internal Newsletter
In the Loop Issue No.
21 Nov 2015
What’s inside:
Save water for their sake
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15
20
Contents
Arts, Sports & Culture
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Message from the Executive Mayor
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16 Days sharpen focus on gender and abuse
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African solutions for urban issues on table of Johannesburg Summit
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AIDS Day campaign tackles stigma and raises awareness
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Mega housing projects are building momentum
Respect, loyalty, and devotion to service kept City veterans going
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Sharp brains bring green innovations to the City
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Attracting talent to City must be priority
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Smart City opening new worlds to Joburgers
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Innovative Joburgers embrace increasing Jozi@Work opportunities
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Keeping the traffic flowing is all in a day’s work
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City demonstrates readiness to respond to emergencies
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Heroes speak out on rescue
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Joburg in pictures
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Duelling poets to engage in ‘war of words’
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Find peace among the animals this summer
10 transport changes leave lasting legacy in City
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Corridors message taken to China meeting
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City on right path to meet the future
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Top award for City’s planning professional
City opts for creative approach to water management
Acknowledgements
Cover Credits
Chief Editor Makhudu Sefara - MakhuduS@joburg.org.za
The City of Johannesburg is responding to the current water crisis in a creative way. Steps are being taken to manage water resources and consumers are encouraged to use water sparingly.
Editor: Thomas Thale - thomasth@joburg.org.za Contributor: Luyanda Lunika - luyandal@joburg.org.za Photography: Enoch Lehung - enochl@joburg.org.za
In the Loop
Everyone can help to ensure that the water keeps flowing through our taps.
Find peace among the animals this summer A
re you looking for a place to take your kids during the summer holidays and to enjoy a tranquil piece of nature within the “urban jungle?” Trying to find a spot where education and learning are mixed with fun and enjoyable activities? Then the Joburg Zoo is the place to be during the lazy days of summer in the city. A number of Day Tours offer visitors a range of options. The Ferry Tour visits the five main animal complexes with Holiday Fun stopovers at destinations at the Zoo where the animals are being fed. offers kids an outdoor The very popular Behind the Scenes adventure with a range of Tour takes you where only the fun activities from games, arts Zoo’s staff members are allowed and crafts to animal feeding and – at night rooms, the kitchen observing their behaviour from and the hospital – and gives close range. Different programmes you an instructive overview will be hosted on each day – of how the Zoo 14, 15, 17 & 18 December – functions. and the entrance fee is R80 per person.
This year the City’s premier tourist destination is, again, pulling out all stops to provide its visitors with unique experiences that offer them important information about the role of nature and animals within our environment, while keeping them thoroughly entertained. Booking for all events and tours is essential. More information is available at the website: www.jhbzoo.org.za; on Facebook @TheJohannesburgZoo and Twitter: @JoburgParksZoo. Once the sun The Zoo Snooze is a sets over Joburg a sleepover opportunity for new day starts for the enthusiasts who prefer to spend nocturnal animals of the Zoo. the night on an overnight campout. The Open Moonlight Tour Groups must bring along their own takes visitors into this exciting camping gear such as tents, bedding, environment. The entrance food, cutlery, torches and warm fee for the programme that clothes. A minimum group of starts at 17h15 is R105.00 25 people is required for but it includes a night-time a booking. bonfire, tea, coffee, marshmallows and hot chocolate. On the second Sunday of each month families can gather at the Zoo for an early morning fun run or walk. Registration opens at 07h00 of the morning of the Zoo Trot and participants can bring along picnic baskets to enjoy the rest of the day on the lawns and in close vicinity of the animals.
In the Loop – 23
Contents
Message from the Executive Mayor
Duelling poets to engage in ‘war of words’
Message from the Executive Mayor
Arts, Sports & Culture
Festival was a pivotal event in Johannesburg’s development as a leading global city. For the first time ever a major section of a city’s financial and commercial hub was turned into an ecomobility zone – and traffic did not go into standstill as it was anticipated by some.
I
t has been likened to “martial arts with words.” Duelling poets… red hot rhymes.
place on Saturdays, starting in November and continuing into the first half of 2016.
It is Poetry Slam. It is one of the hottest trends in the world. And it will be hitting Jozi in force during the next six months.
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While audiences at the Nelson Mandela Stage of the Joburg Theatre will be delighted by the festive sounds of the Sleeping Beauty pantomime the City’s aspiring poets and wordsmiths will be engaged in verbal sparring at the Cas Coovadia Studio. The idea behind Poetry Slam is quite simple. Writers and poets come together in a workshop environment to recite or read their poetry to a live audience. On each 3rd Sunday of the month twelve of the most promising poets in the City will be selected to perform their work. Judging is done by a panel of experts as well as members of the audience. Winners go through to the next round of competition. A Gauteng final will be held to select a provincial team and in June 2016 the South African National Poetry Slam will be hosted at the Joburg Theatre. For the winners there is the prospect of showcasing their poetry to global audiences with possible participation in international contests in America on the horison. •
Verbal virtuosos of a different kind will keep audiences in stitches at the Soweto Theatre in the last few weeks of the year. The “Tell Them” comedy tour offers a great night out, filled with laughter, served by some of the country’s top stand-up artists.
Comedians and actors, Eugene Khoza, Simmi Areff, Lazola Gola and Thabelo “Tips” Seemise are combining their talents in an evening of high-energy entertainment and side-splitting laughter. The once-off performance takes place on 18 December and booking can be done at the theatre. •
The Little Mermaid is a Danish fairy tale that became a classic of Disney animation. It is an age-old tale but with contemporary life lessons about friendship and acceptance.
A youthful cast under the direction of stage veterans Jill Gerard and Kenneth Smith will bring this production to the Joburg Theatre stage in a run that ends just before Christmas.
We showed to the world that it can be done. We confounded the predictions of many observers who expected large scale chaos or severe disruptions to traffic and economic patterns. This was made possible through thorough planning, hard work of many role players in the city’s departments and agencies, the cooperation of business and NGO sectors, as well as the extraordinary goodwill of residents and commuters who participated during the month-long event.
Cool heads… and warm hearts show true spirit of Jozi Colleagues, In recent days Joburgers had not only ample reasons to celebrate but also to commiserate. To learn from experiences in other cities and to demonstrate leadership in our thinking and innovation. To reflect on our achievements in so many areas of urban management and to recommit ourselves to make our city a better place to live for all its citizens. I am convinced that our recent hosting of the EcoMobility World
In the middle of this major international event, an unexpected – and unrelated – tragedy occurred when part of the support structure of a bridge across the M1 freeway collapsed just before the usual heavy traffic began. Sadly two people lost their lives and 19 others were injured. This occurrence tested our preparedness and the quality of our response and emergency services to the maximum. And, again, we showed that Joburg – particularly our Emergency Management Services – is up to the task. In just 24 hours we were able to demonstrate that we have both the expertise and the capacity to host an event of great magnitude; and the skills and abilities to manage a tragic incident.
Joburg, indeed, demonstrated that this is a city with a cool head and a warm heart. These are also the characteristics we will need in the days to come as our city continues to make an imprint on global discussions around the future of the urban environment. This will first be at the 7th Africities Summit in Johannesburg from November 29th, and later, in December 2015, at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 21) in Paris. Given the rapid migration of people towards cities there is a growing realisation that future solutions for the most pressing issues facing humanity will have to be found in the urban spheres and led by local government leaders. Some cities are increasingly looking South, to cities such as Johannesburg, for inspiration and innovation. This is a role that Johannesburg as an aspirant world-class African city is willing to warm up to. We continue to demonstrate that we are able to meet these challenges. Our residents have shown that they are willing to embrace the changes that are required to ensure a sustainable future for all. And therefore, certainly, Johannesburg is ready to become a city of the future.
Cllr. Mpho Parks Tau Executive Mayor
Use the QR code reader on your smartphone to scan these barcodes.
Aspiring dancers can attend the Africa Goombay classes at the Joburg Theatre during the holiday season. Organised by DANCEunLimited the programme offers participants an experience of different African dance styles, from its traditional elements to its modern influences.
African Goombay is a dance class that is open to youth and adults with and without previous dance experience and irrespective of their social background or identity. Classes take
22 – In the Loop
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In the Loop – 3
Joburg in Pictures
Africities
African solutions for urban issues
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on table of Johannesburg Summit
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rban leaders, academics and activists on local government are meeting in Johannesburg in the coming days for the 7th Africities Summit. Organised by United Cities in Local Government in Africa – UCLG-A – the delegates will represent a combined population of more than 350-million African citizens who live in cities across the continent. The five day conference will be held at the Sandton Convention Centre and will also be attended by current and former heads of state, executive mayors and captains of industry and commerce. “Africities has developed into a premier showcase of developmental innovations by local governments and cities on our continent. It plays an increasingly important role in creating discourse, dialogue and debate on African cities.” – Executive Mayor, Mpho Parks Tau. UCLG-A is an umbrella body that represents the interests of municipalities, exchange best practices and share ideas on issues that confront cities on the continent. “We are participating at local level to unite the continent of Africa. And we are working towards the empowerment of local people to take control of their lives… This is how Africities was born” – Jean-Pierre Elong-Mbassi, Secretary General of UCLG Africa. The Johannesburg Summit will be the first opportunity for city leaders to meet since the adoption of Agenda 2063 by the Africa Union. This comprehensive strategy highlights the importance of local government to provide the building blocks for the participation of citizens in democratic processes.
“We have to radically rethink urban institutions and urban government so that we move beyond the role of just traditional service providers for urban infrastructure; but as entrepreneurs and in building human capacity and training.” – Dr Caroline Kihato, Senior Researcher, School of Architecture and Planning, University of the Witwatersrand. Africities 2015 is of particular importance because its agenda reflects some of the most pressing issues facing the global community at the mid-point of the current decade. On many of the issues Johannesburg is offering leadership through its programmes and innovative responses to issues such as migration, food security, poverty alleviation, youth development and entrepreneurship. “Africities 7 must ensure the advancement and investment in developmental local government by strengthening the role of local government … and sharing knowledge and experiences on good practices and innovation.” – Xolile George, CEO of the SA Local Government Association – SALGA. The official opening of Africities 2015 will be done by President Jacob Zuma while the President of the African Union Commission, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma will deliver the keynote speech. “We need a strong world… but a strong world needs strong cities. Local government must be empowered with functions and resources that will enable it to deliver services more effectively.” – Sithole Mbanga, CEO of South African Cities Network.
1. First Lady, Pilisiwe Twala-Tau, Colins Chauke, Mayor Parks Tau, Speaker Connie Bapela and Pastor Samuel Radebe participated in a march against police killings. 2. MMC Sello Lemao, City Manager Trevor Fowler and Pastor Mboro Motshweneng took part in the march. 3. The annual Soweto Fashion Week again attracted the country’s top upcoming and established designers. 4. Young entrepreneurs from high schools in the City won big prizes in the first TeenPreneurs Festival sponsored by the City and the business community hosted at the Wits Business School. 5. Dr. Thandi Ndlovu, Finance MMC Geoffrey Makhubo, Nontando Mahlati and Khomotso Letsatsi at the Mayoral Charity Golf Day. 6. Khomotso Letsatsi, Hlula Msimang and Bongi Mokaba attended the Mayoral Charity Golf Day.
4– In the Loop
In the Loop – 21
Service Delivery Financial Sustainability
Employee News
Heroes speak out on rescue Some of the heroes and heroines of the “bridge collapse” – as the incident is now known – have related their accounts of the tragedy at the JMPD headquarters in Martindale.
“The impact of the beam that hit the taxi was so hard it squashed the whole front portion of the vehicle,” she recalls. The woman sitting behind the driver was badly injured but was, eventually, freed.”
Teamwork saved the day The teams were working very well together. Curious onlookers were pushed back because we had to quarantine the scene and provide privacy to the dead and the injured.” ‘Jaws of life’ were used to free the passengers but the rescue team had to improvise, using smaller tools in areas where conventional equipment couldn’t reach. Private ambulances subsequently arrived and offered valuable assistance. One seriously injured man was stabilised and then airlifted to hospital. Paramedic Faurie led the team that arrived early on the scene. “We assessed the situation immediately. One passenger in the taxi was in a lot of pain but we managed to calm him down and start with treatment. The critical care medics took over and gave him morphine for pain and he was, subsequently, airlifted to the Johannesburg Hospital. The last body was pulled out of the wreckage by 21h00. Sergeant Ido Mankga was part of the night shift team that continued with the very important clean-up operations.
All cleared within hours Freeway patroller, Sergeant Busisiwe Kulati, says she and her biker colleagues had just finished their parade on the M2 when she heard JMPD Officer Ruth Khoza “screaming for help” over the radio. “She was frantic, screaming that the foot bridge on Grayston Drive had just collapsed onto the freeway and she needed help. We got onto our motorcycles and headed to the scene,” she says. Superintendent Vusi Khanyile says he and his fellow officers were confronted with a chaotic scene. “Everyone had to think on their feet… and they were all up to the task, ”Superintendent Vusi Khanyile says he and his fellow officers were confronted with a chaotic scene. “Everyone had to think on their feet… and they were all up to the task,”
Handled in professional manner While the medics attended to the injured and the occupants who passed away JMPD officers started stopping and redirecting traffic because the freeway was closed in both directions. Khoza and other first responders started cutting through the roof of the minibus taxi to reach the trapped passengers. Seats were removed to make room for the injured passengers to be lifted to safety. Across the freeway the driver of the Fortuner was helped out of the vehicle. Two other passengers were trapped of which one already succumbed to injuries. “We did the best we could to save lives and attend to the injured. It was a chaotic scene but it was handled in a brilliant and professional way,” says Khoza. Rescue technician Rachel Martin had just attended to an accident scene on the N3 when the call came through and she and her colleagues immediately rushed to the scene.
20 – In the Loop
The construction company brought heavy-lift machinery to the scene to start with the dismantling of the damaged structure. The City’s own Urban Search and Rescue truck – the only one of its kind in South Africa – provided massive assistance. By the start of the next afternoon rush hour all the rubble was cleared and the freeway reopened for normal traffic. Everyone involved in the incident agree that the City readiness to respond to major emergencies was severely tested. “It’s not every day that you are confronted with such an accident,” says the JMPD’s Superintendent Bongani Mavuso. “Our effective response showed that we are prepared for any disaster.”
Probe into bridge accident launched The City has launched its own investigation into the causes of the incident that resulted in the collapse of scaffolding on the Great Walk Bridge across the M1. Executive Mayor Parks Tau was among the first people to visit the scene of the accident in which two people were killed and more than 20 others injured. He later also visited survivors in various hospitals and praised the effective actions of the City’s first responders and emergency rescue teams. The City’s investigation will run concurrently with other probes initiated by the Department of Labour, the SA Police Services, the Engineering Council of SA and the contractors. Mayor Tau says construction of the foot bridge will resume at the earliest opportunity. The 250-meter long concrete structure will accommodate both pedestrians and cyclists and is designed to promote ecomobility in Johannesburg.
Executive Mayor Parks Tau and Housing MMC Dan Bovu handed over the keys to a house to its new owner, Elsie Thuli Khanyile.
Housing MMC Dan Bovu wasted no time in getting his hands dirty on a construction project in Dobsonville.
Mega housing projects are building momentum T
he City is going full-steam ahead to meet its target to deliver some 95 000 housing units by 2019. Many mega housing projects that will have a catalytic impact on growth in the City are either in the pipeline or in the planning stages. An amount of R657-million was set aside for housing projects in the 2015/16 financial year – almost double the allocation for the previous period. This amount will be increased to R932-million in the next financial year. “These mega projects will provide opportunities for densification, mixed use and transit-oriented development, linking economic opportunities to places of residence,” says the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Housing, Dan Bovu. The developments are grouped into seven nodes, spread out across the city from a spatial perspective and planned according to Gauteng’s Transformation, Modernisation and Reindustrialisation (TMR) programme. Through TMR we contribute to the creation of vibrant, interconnected and sustainable human settlements and a “compact province,” says MMC Bovu.
Node
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...is known as Lanseria City, and is located in the northern part of the City. There will be mega projects around the Lion Park, in Diepsloot East and Riverside View, Ext 28. This will yield 46 500 housing units and serve as a link between Johannesburg, Tshwane and the West Rand District Municipality. ...is located in the Johannesburg North West. Projects under way include Cosmo City and the Malibongwe Ridge development which has been allocated a further R88.8-million in the current budget.
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...in the south of Johannesburg will see developmentsto further the City’s densification plans. Projects in South Hills and KliptownNancefield are already underway and Southern Farms and Ennerdale Ext 19 will follow soon. Together the project will yield more than 68 000 units.
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...is focused on the Corridors of Freedom and the regeneration of the Johannesburg Inner City. This is currently in the pre-planning stage but will, eventually, provide 50 000 homes.
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...is known as New City 2 and encompasses Alexandra and Modderfontein, linking the east of the City with Ekurhuleni. New developments in Rabie Ridge, Marlboro as well as several bonded houses are in the planning stage.
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...links Johannesburg with Sedibeng and the West Rand to form New City 3. A total of 24 000 housing units are being built in Lufhereng and the envisaged development by the Gauteng province in Syferfontein will see the delivery of a further 60 000 homes. Issues relating to dolomite and acid mine drainage are currently being addressed.
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...is centered on Fleurhof. Phases 1 and 2 are both already under development and will yield some 18 200 homes while future plans for Goudrand Ext 4 are being investigated.
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The Zandspruit development in Honeydew will proceed once environmental constraints of the wetlands have been resolved.
In the Loop – 5
Employee News
Green Economy
Winners all... Gabriel Ally from GezaJozi, Paseka Lesolang from Water Hygiene Convenience , Yolandi Schoeman of Baoberry and Power Optimal’s Sean Moolman, celebrated winning the top prizes in the Green City Startup Challenge.
Sharp brains bring green innovations
to the City A
device that plugs the leak in your loo; a system that protects your business from load shedding; a floating wetland that soaks up the pollution from ponds and streams; and a tricycle that enables waste recyclers to move their heavy refuse bags across the City with a minimum of effort. These are the best and brightest innovations that caught the eyes of the judges in the first Green City Startup Challenge, hosted by the City and the University of Johannesburg. “A Green Economy is central to Johannesburg’s future,” says the MMC for Economic Development, Councillor Ruby Mathang. “The Department of Economic Development, which initiated and implemented the Green City Startup will be launching the 2016 Challenge at the end of November 2015.” Some 86 entries were received for the competition which called for “revolutionary ideas in the green space.” This was then narrowed down to 20 contestants who attended a workshop at which they were helped to refine their ideas even further.
6 – In the Loop
Resolution Circle, a UJ-owned private company coordinated the next stage during which eight finalists were given R250 000 each to build a prototype and present their models to the judging panel. “The development of a green economy is one of the City’s core strategic objectives,” says MMC Mathang. The Challenge will now become a regular event in Joburg with the City providing the seed funding and working together with business and the academic community to promote research and development into sustainable, green projects. The eventual winner, Paseka Lesolang, was rewarded with a R1-million first prize to further develop and market his product while three other innovators also received substantial amounts to take their businesses to new levels and introduce concepts that will enable the City to launch initiatives that will result in a more sustainable future.
City demonstrates readiness to respond to emergencies T
he Sandton bridge collapse tested the readiness of Johannesburg’s public safety entities to their limits – but they emerged from the rescue operations with a significantly enhanced reputation.
October. The scaffolding that supported the construction of a foot bridge across the highway near the Grayston off-ramp collapsed and a number of vehicles, drivers and passengers were trapped under the rubble.
Some of the officers who rushed to the scene of the incident near Grayston Drive on the M1 Freeway have recalled their participation in the rescue efforts where lives were saved and severe injuries handled with great speed and professionalism.
Members of the city’s two Public Safety entities – the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department and the Johannesburg Emergency Services and Disaster Management – were completing their shifts and preparing to go home when the calls came through.
Executive Mayor Councillor Mpho Parks Tau and senior members of the City’s leadership were on the scene shortly after the incident which happened just after 15h00 on 14
They dropped everything they were doing and swung into action.
Heroes speak out on rescue Rescue technician Rachel Martin, paramedic Andrew Murray Faurie and their crews from the Sandton Fire Station were on the scene within minutes and were quickly joined by firefighters, paramedics and JMPD officers. Within 20 minutes 100 more officers from the Emergency Medical Services, JMPD and the Freeway Patrol went straight
to work, closing traffic in both directions and attending to the dead and injured. Of great concern were several passengers travelling in a minibus taxi and the occupants of a Toyota Fortuner who had to be rescued with the “jaws of life.”
In the Loop – 19
Green Economy
Employee News
Keeping the traffic flowing is all in a day’s work T
he next time you are caught up in frenzied morning traffic on the way to work, say a small word of thanks for the traffic wardens of the JMPD. Without these men and women doing points duty at the busiest intersections the vehicle flow would be slower and the journey to and from home almost unbearable. Come rain or sunshine – cold winter mornings or oppressively hot summer afternoons – road users in Johannesburg can count on the JMPD points people directing traffic and easing the flow in and out of the most congested areas of the City. Wearing their distinctive reflector jackets and tell-tale white gloves traffic wardens such as Robert Molokomme and Makgomo Sonai will be found in the middle of intersections, using their experience and street wits to keep the snarling traffic moving gently. Traffic congestion is the bane of any large city in the world – whether it is Los Angeles or Cairo, Mumbai or Rio de Janeiro. It is an indicator of economic growth, of life and commercial activity in your inner city core… a “necessary evil”. But, explains Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar of the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department, there is a responsibility on traffic enforcement officers to unlock the gridlock and keep the wheels of the City’s economy turning. “Johannesburg is the heart of the regional economy,” he says,” and the roads leading into and out of the CBD are the arteries that keep this heart beating.” Within the City limits there
18 – In the Loop
Plug the leak, save on your water bill A leaking toilet in a household can waste up to 300 litres of water a day, equivalent to seven bathtubs filled with water. Multiply this volume with the number of households and you get a staggering 7.2-billion litres lost from the system every year. For a water scarce country that currently experiences an unprecedented drought, this is simply not good enough. One young entrepreneur, Paseka Lesolang, saw in this an opportunity to save water and to build a business through the invention of an innovative device that stems the losses in the case of a toilet leak.
are 4.8-million registered vehicles and up to 800 000 vehicles enter Johannesburg on a daily basis from adjacent metros. Siyabonga Dube feels he is up to the task to manage the traffic at the intersection in downtown Joburg where he reports for duty on the afternoon peak hour shift. Like his fellow wardens he joined the JMPD as part of an Expanded Public Works initiative in which enterprising young people are trained to perform law enforcement duties such as traffic management, the writing of parking tickets and by-law enforcement. This frees up the hands of the more experienced JMPD officers to attend to moving violations and conduct anti-crime operations.
The Leak-Less Valve produced by his company, Water Hygiene Convenience earned Lesolang the R1-million first prize in the City’s Green Challenge Fund. And consumers in the City will be winners too… because they will have substantial savings on their monthly water bills if they install the device.
But, you get better with experience. And at the end of a hectic shift you can share with your fellow wardens a sense of accomplishment that you have helped to keep the heart of the City beating.
Device to reduce the chances of load-shedding Load-shedding has become part of the vocabulary of every South African in recent years. While utility companies such as City Power are leading the way with technology to limit the supply of power allocated to households during peak consumption periods, smaller innovators are finding solutions on the demand side of the business. Sean Moolman, from Power Optimal received a R500 000 award from the Green Challenge Fund for his invention that can reduce peak power demand in businesses and buildings by up to 50% and help companies to save up to 20% on their electricity bills. New-look trolley recycles the waste business Most Joburgers are familiar with trolley recyclers who pull fully-laden pallets of waste up and down the streets to Pikitup’s recycle centres. For Gabriel Ally – a former Mayor of the Johannesburg Junior Council – this was an opportunity to transform the informal recycling industry and start an enterprise called GezaJozi. His Recycle e-Trike is a 500W electrically assisted tricycle with the ability to double the output of the trolley recyclers and improve their safety on the roads. The vehicles are fitted with disc brakes, indicators, a headlamp and hooters and can move more than 150kg of recyclable waste over a distance of more than 50km.
The head of the Unit, Superintendent Cromwell Mazamane, says there are currently some 500 wardens performing different duties in the City. They are working in two shifts per day – to manage morning peak hours between 06h00 and 09h00 and again from 15h30 till the traffic eventually subsides around 18h00. The rest of the day is spent on by-law enforcement in fields such as street trading or illegal dumping. Mduduzi Ncongwane readily admits that traffic management is not an easy task. It is a high-pressure environment. You have to have an “instinctive feel” for the flow; a “sixth sense” of how a situation might develop; a “thick skin” to ward off the jibes of irritated commuters.
Handing over the prize: Cllr Ruby Mathang, the MMC for Economic Development congratulates Paseka Lesolang on winning the top award. Looking on is Ravi Naidoo, Executive Director, Economic Development and Prof William Clarke of Resolution Circle.
Floating islands purify the water How do you remove dangerous and unhealthy contaminants that are polluting the City’s water sources, dams, ponds, rivers and streams? You build floating island filled with plants that can filter the nitrates, heavy metals and organic compounds that leak into the system and restore the body of water to pristine conditions. Reward for invention: Paseka Lesolang from Water Hygiene Convenience collected the R1-million first prize in the green City Startup
This idea, which is a cost-effective and green solution for urban water and sanitation challenges, has earned Yolandi Schoeman from ecological services company, Baoberry, a R300 000 prize in the Green City Start-up Challenge.
In the Loop – 7
Employee News
Smart City
S
mart technology is increasingly changing the lives of Joburgers as the City’s rollout of ICT infrastructure gathers momentum. In the next six months the City will continue to expand Wi-Fi coverage and introduce new technology that improves the interaction with residents and raises the quality of service delivery. The “Smart City” concept highlighted by Executive Mayor, Mpho Parks Tau, in his State of the City Address is starting to take shape. “Digital access is becoming as much an equity issue in our society as access to water and electricity,” says Mayor Tau.
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Top award for City’s
Improve quality of interaction
planning professional
The CityNext initiative provides customers with a single point of entry for doing business with the city and access all e-services from one, user-friendly point of access. This will improve the City’s online interaction with residents in areas such as billing, revenue, property transfers and emergency management services.
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Johannesburg’s achievements in spatial planning and urban regeneration were recognised through a major national award recently given to Yondela Silimela, the Executive Director: Development Planning.
Better safety, better health
The utilisation of CCTV technology has resulted in a significant reduction in crime in the Joburg CBD. The coverage provided by the Intelligence Operations Centre is being gradually expanded to other precincts. The introduction of digital
Silimela received the top honours in the Public Sector category at a recent gala dinner hosted by the Women’s Property Network. Citing her achievements, the chairwoman of the Network, Genevieve Naidoo, says it recognises outstanding leadership, inspiration and vision in organisations that have shaped the role of women in the public sector.
Smart City opening new worlds to Joburgers
A panel of judges comprised of seasoned executives in the property sector took the decisions on the winners in the categories for the Public Sector, the Entrepreneur of the Year and the Young Achiever. Silimela has built a career of more than 15 years in the local government and development policy environment having previously worked with the National Urban Renewal Programme, the CSIR and the Department of Provincial and Local Government. Since her return to the City of Johannesburg in 2012 she has played a leading role in the design and development of programmes such as the Corridors of Freedom and the revitalisation of the inner city.
Attracting talent to City must be priority The Smart City Flagship programme has already achieved a number of milestones and will continue to be rolled out in the last half of the current financial year.
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Opening the doors to information
The availability of free Wi-Fi is spreading across the City. Over 100 city-owned buildings are already connected and 370 Wi-Fi sites have gone live. A wireless mesh is being introduced within Braamfontein within which people can connect to free Wi-Fi on laptops, tablets and enabled mobile phones and download up to 300MB for free.
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Bringing knowledge closer
Some 35 of libraries in Johannesburg are linked to the broadband network and a further 52 will follow by mid-2016. Fast and free broadband will give Joburgers access to “massive open online varsities – MOOVs – where they can do course work and receive qualifications from internationally accredited institutions.
8 – In the Loop
patient records in Slovoville has cut waiting times at this clinic from an average of 45 minutes to only 10.
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Effective responses
Smart electricity meters enable City Power to turn “load shedding” into “load limiting” by warning consumers when their consumption patterns are too high. A modern freeway management system will soon be introduced to improve traffic flow on the City’s highways and warn commuters about potentially dangerous situations.
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Unlocking creativity
Through the #Hack.Jozi Challenge the City attracted innovative and entrepreneurial Joburgers who came up with great ideas for digital products that will help to solve problems in their respective communities. An amount of R5-million has been set aside to support digital start-up enterprises in the Smart City.
Talent management is growing into a priority area within the City as it fulfils its mandate as a developmental local government. Christina Maunye, Senior Practitioner: Human Capital Management recently delivered a paper on the professionalisation of local government at a conference hosted by the Institute of Municipal Personnel Practitioners – IMPSA. She says the City should develop strategies to attract talented young professionals to make a career in local government. This has to be done in an environment where skills shortages are experienced in both the public and private sector. In a report submitted to Council, Maunye recommends that the human resource management profession should be prioritised in the City and all HR staff trained to levels determined by the SA Board for People Practitioners.
In the Loop – 17
Jozi@Work
Employee News
M
Mahlungu Msitshana
Jacob Mosiea
Malesela Johannes Langa
Respect, loyalty, and devotion to service kept City veterans going T
ogether they have served Johannesburg for more than 220 years. Together they have seen it grow into the country’s most successful city.
wisdom for his colleagues: “In everything you do, have love for it, and have patience.”
Together they have performed the duties that keep the wheels of a modern city oiled… maintained the council-owned buildings, tended the grass and trees in the parks, managed facilities for the aged and ensured that the vehicles travelling in the city are in a roadworthy condition.
Enthusiasm for his work is also an attribute that can be ascribed to Raymond Ratzenburg who is retiring after a 44 year stint in the Transport Department – first as a diesel mechanic and later as a vehicle examiner at Langlaagte Licencing.
Malesela Johannes Langa says he will always be grateful for the City that has given him an opportunity to have a steady job and an income that enabled him to build a house, marry and raise two children. He started off as a general worker, responsible for the cutting of trees before moving to Booysens where his job entailed putting up road signs. Since 1992 his work has centered on community development, as a boiler man – and later cook – in old age homes and, later, as a general worker at libraries. His parting message from colleagues is to take advice from more experienced workers, be straight and respect everyone.
The married father of eight is proud of the fact that he has had an exemplary record with the city over 45 years of service and acquired deep experience in a wide variety of fields, including road construction and electrical matters.
The interest shown during the awareness workshops prompted the City to extend the submission deadline to allow those who wished to submit more time to polish their innovative ideas.
The City of Johannesburg’s R50-million fund – which is an extension of the co-production programme Jozi@Work – received innovative ideas from community-based enterprises and individuals in the preceding month.
In its evaluation of submitted ideas, Resolution Circle will be looking at innovation, economic empowerment of the respective impacted communities, as well as alignment with green/blue economy and ‘smart city’ principles.
Johannesburg’s Executive Mayor, Councillor Parks Tau, describes the number of submissions received as one of the indicators that local residents were increasingly embracing various empowerment opportunities presented by the Jozi@Work programme.
Jozi@Work Fast Facts
Raymond Ratzenburg
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“The community innovation fund is part of the city’s ongoing efforts to develop a culture of innovative entrepreneurship. We started with the #Hack-Jozi earlier this year, followed by the recent Green City Startup Challenge, and now the Jozi My Beginning fund,” says Mayor Tau. “To ensure transparency and fairness in the evaluation of ideas submitted, the city has partnered with University of Johannesburg, which tasked its field experts Resolution Circle with the administration of the fund.” “The fund is looking for ideas that are geared towards boosting municipal products and service delivery in-line with the Jozi@Work’ s objective to partner with communities in the delivery of municipal services,” says Mayor Tau. Community awareness workshops on Jozi My Beginning were conducted in all seven regions of the city between September and October 2015.
Now, on the eve of their retirement, five of Joburg’s most valuable employees are looking back on their careers and leaving their colleagues with sound advice based on experience.
Customer care was always foremost in the mind of Phineas Musubi during his career at the Johannesburg Roads Agency and City Power. The bulk of this experience was gained as a meter reader inspector where he built good relationships with customers and learned the values of mutual respect.
ore than 1 500 innovative ideas were submitted by Johannesburg residents for consideration by the new Jozi My Beginning community innovation fund by the set closing date in November.
The programme was launched in September 2014. Municipal product and service contracts valued at just over R3-billion have been set aside for cooperatives and other community-based enterprises under Jozi@Work.
Other initiatives developed under Jozi@Work include:
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Vulindlel’eJozi Youth Programme, which is a partnership with Harambee, is set to break down barriers to various opportunities for 200 000 youths in entry-level job placement, further education and entrepreneurship skills development
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Jozi Digital Ambassadors, which is a partnership with the University of Johannesburg is designed to bridge the digital divide by sending 3 000 youths across the city to offer digital skills training to more than 700 000 house holds, using the Joburg portal called Maru a Jozi.
Innovative Joburgers embrace increasing Jozi@Work opportunities
Ratzenburg will dearly miss the work environment where he was always excited to start a new day and meet different people who rely on the City to render a good service. His advice for the future is that the City must ensure that the work environment for employees is “fair, firm and friendly.” This will encourage higher productivity among employees.
“I love my work so much,” is Mahlungu Msitshana’s description of his experience in the city where he joined as a grass cutter in Norwood, way back in 1971. In the ensuing years he served at a number of other venues before joining Community Development as a general worker in 1993.
Reflecting on his 45 year of service Jacob Mosiea is impressed by the many positive changes that have taken place over this period. Streets have been tarred in every residential area and every house – including those in informal settlements – now have electricity.
The key to his long service at the City has been “respect,” he says. “Respect your managers and other colleagues. But, most importantly, respect your work.”
“I am excited about the future,” says the man who started as a librarian and ends his career as area manager for housing. “Dilapidated buildings are being demolished, new buildings are being erected and the City is getting cleaner by the day. ”
Looking forward to spend more quality time with his wife, seven children and eight grand kids, Msitshana, has these final words of
“Johannesburg must keep up the good work,” says this City veteran.
16 – In the Loop
In the Loop – 9
EmployeeHealth News
Green Economy
10 transport changes leave lasting legacy in City J
AIDS Day campaign tackles stigma and raises awareness
oburgers changed the way they moved during the EcoMobility World Festival 2015 in Sandton.
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More than 15 000 people attended the mass events on the streets of the Sandton Central Business District (CBD) during October and some 10 000 visitors had a glimpse of the innovative modes of transport on display at the Exhibition.
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The City’s bike distribution programme will continue. In Region E a programme for both adults and learners will include bike training and safety, donations of bicycles and the establishment of a bike empowerment centre in partnership with Qhubeka, Freedom Ride, local schools and community-based organisations.
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Traffic signals in the Sandton CBD will be fitted with uninterrupted power supply units in partnership with the Sandton Management District. This will decrease the number of robots that are not working and help to facilitate traffic flow in the precincts.
Many of the temporary measures taken to support traffic flow during the event proved to be effective and will now become permanent features in parts of the City. The legacy of the event will remain through 10 major changes:
1 2 3 4
The temporary public transport lanes along Rivonia Road, Fifth and Fredman Streets will become permanent and West Street will be added. Six commuter shelters will be erected and the safety features strengthened. Permanent contraflow lanes for buses, minibus taxis and car pools will be in place along Republic Road, William Nicol and Sandton Drive by mid-2016. This can reduce travel time for public transport users by up to 30 minutes. Wider sidewalks and dedicated cycle lanes will be constructed along West and Maude streets to improve the safety of pedestrians and cyclists. Non-stop bus services will be operational during peak hours between Sandton, the Westgate Mall in Roodepoort, Brightwater Commons in Randburg and Montecasino in Fourways. Sections of these malls are turned into permanent park-and-ride facilities. 10 – In the Loop
8
A cycle lane is being developed between Rosebank and Sandton and a dedicated cycle bridge over Sandton Drive will be constructed in partnership with Growthpoint and other developers.
The very popular Vaya Moja App will continue and grow into a comprehensive source of information to Joburgers and visitors to the City about public transport services and traffic conditions.
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The construction of the 5km dedicated cycle lane and pedestrian route connecting Alexandra and Sandton will continue. This includes the bridge over the M1 where parts of the scaffolding recently collapsed. The City has commissioned an independent investigation into the cause of the accident and is also working with other inquiries.
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The City will continue to support initiatives by the private sector and communities to transform their roads for short periods and to host street activities such as the Freedom Ride, street festivals and fun runs. An annual Road Safety Family Day will be held on a popular street in the City.
A
ddressing stigma and working towards zero discrimination against people living with HIV and AIDS are at the core of the City’s 2015 World AIDS Day activities, says the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Health, Councillor Nonceba Molwele. The multi-pronged campaign culminates in the commemoration of World AIDS Day on 1 December – a global event since 1988 – during which awareness is raised about the fight against HIV and to show support for people living with HIV. MMC Molwele says leading up to the World AIDS Day, the City’s Department of Health has organised a number of activities including door-to-door campaigns and dialogues targeted at specific audiences. • Tshepa Thapelo recognises the pivotal role played by churches and faith-based organisations in shaping attitudes about AIDS and providing leadership in the fights against stigma and discrimination. In a letter to religious leaders, Executive Mayor Mpho Parks Tau – who is also the Chairperson of the Johannesburg AIDS Council – invites faith communities to devote time during church meetings on Sunday 29 November to discuss issues around the HIV pandemic. Mayor Tau and other members of the City’s leadership will attend church services and address congregations on that day. • The Tjovitjo campaign, a joint venture between Community Development, Health Department and the Sports Arts and Culture Sector, is aimed at learners through sports, arts and cultural activities. The event is scheduled at the David Webster
Park, in Troyeville. Five-a-side soccer, netball, theatre, poetry and musical numbers will be interspersed with dialogues and positive messages about HIV and AIDS. • Man-2-Man Dialogues have been held at the taxi rank in Ward 91, Alexandra. This programme is seen as an opportunity to speak to men on an individual basis and to encourage them to take responsibility for their actions rather than contributing to the spread of HIV. • “Ons Phola Hier” is an imaginative programme to reach out to commercial sex workers and men having sex with men (MSM) They are considered to be among the most vulnerable sectors of society and are often reluctant to access health services because of stigma and discrimination. • The main event this year is an Imbizo held at the Metro Centre on 4 December. This gathering will bring together representatives from all sectors of civil society drawn across the City’s seven regions.
Getting to ZERO World AIDS Day themes for the period 2011 to 2015 are focused on the “Getting to ZERO” concept developed by the World Health Organisation and UNAIDS. • • • •
ZERO discrimination against people living with HIV and AIDS; ZERO new HIV and TB infections; ZERO new infections due to vertical transmission – such as mother-to-child; ZERO preventable deaths associated with HIV and AIDS. In the Loop – 15
Human and Social Development
Corridors of Freedom
16 Days sharpen focus on gender and abuse J
ohannesburg’s activities during the 16 Days of Activism campaign will have a concerted focus on changing attitudes in the community towards abuse of the elderly and the attitudes of men on gender-based violence.
within communities. “Our surveys show alarming numbers of old people who are being abused or neglected, says Carina van Zyl, the Head of the Sub-Unit for Women and the Elderly. In many cases people simply don’t have the knowledge or skills on how to treat the elderly.
The 16 Days campaign forms part of global efforts to draw attention to violence committed against women and children and to establish a society free of violence. It starts every year on the 25th November – the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women – and concludes on 10 December – International Human Rights Day.
In partnership with Dementia SA the City will embark on door-to-door campaigns to identify older people who live in bad circumstances and to arrange for them to be diagnosed and receive medication for conditions such as dementia.
The theme for this year’s campaign is: “Peace begins at Home – from Peace in the Home to Peace in the World.” The Member of the Mayoral Committee for Health and Social Development, Nonceba Molwele says the City has brought awareness on gender-based violence into the mainstream of its activities. “The 16 Days campaign is a great rallying period to energise our efforts – but, in reality, we are implementing a 365 days a year programme.” Johannesburg’s recent hosting of the World Congress on Healthy Ageing has placed a sharper focus on issues affecting the elderly
business leaders over a three day period and to exchange views and share best practices on how to address issues of climate change in the urban context.
Network of leading cities The C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group is a network of more than 60 major cities on all continents that are committed to sustainable climaterelated policies and actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate risks. Last year Johannesburg became the first African city to host the C40 Mayors Summit.
A number of “talking books”, containing electronic messages about symptoms and treatment of conditions relating to the aged, will also be distributed within communities during the campaign. Van Zyl says the City will also continue with its innovative efforts to create greater awareness about gender-based violence among men. Opportunities for dialogues within smaller groups are created to enable men to speak freely about cultural issues that have an impact on gender relationships and to receive advice on how to change their behaviour.
Investment in green buildings The Corridors of Freedom programme is seen as a leading initiative because of its potential to direct infrastructure investment along designated axes.
Male forums have already been established in all the Regions and the objective is to extend this to every Ward in every Region, says Van Zyl.
This enables the city to provide the appropriate transport and social infrastructure which, in turn, results in private sector investment and higher-density housing opportunities for a range of income groups. The spatial planning for the Corridors has been completed with more detailed precinct planning currently underway.
Communities across the City participate in workshops on gender violence.
The MMC for Health and Social Development, Nonceba Molwele, leads the16 Days of Activism campaign.
Date
Venue
Activity
Region A 26/11 27/11
Supa Di Mama Vukuzenzele
Outreach on elderly abuse with “talking books” – Ivory Park
Region B 30/11
Home Away from Home
Outreach on elderly abuse – Diepsloot
Region C 2/12
Braamfischer Hall
Outreach on elderly abuse
Region D 26/11 2/12 2/12 8/12 10/12
Motsoaledi – (Ward 24) Orlando Skills Centre (29, 30 & 31) Phiri Day Care Centre Oppenheimer Hall (35) Church of Christ Ministry (53)
Workshop on gender-based violence Workshop on gender-based violence Outreach on elderly abuse Dialogue on gender-based violence Dialogue on gender-based violence
Region E Ongoing 24-26/11 27/11 3/12
Pan Africa Mall Alexandra – door-to-door Alex Sankopano Rethabile Day Care
Awareness on substance abuse Mobilisation for Men’s conference Men’s Dialogue on reproductive health, absent fathers Outreach on elderly abuse
Region F 3/12
South Hills Day Care
Outreach on elderly abuse
Region G 4/12
Orange Farm Centre
Outreach on elderly abuse
14 – In the Loop
Corridors message
taken to China meeting
Future interventions will include measures to attract the construction of “green buildings” into the Corridors and to introduce design elements which reduce energy and water consumption, provide and manage more green spaces and promote walkability within the precincts. Construction of social housing developments by JOSHCO and new public amenities such as clinics and libraries also provide opportunities for the City to showcase its commitment to green building practices.
Innovative funding
J
ohannesburg’s leadership role in the introduction of green bonds and the roll-out of the Corridors of Freedom, received global attention at a recent conference in China. Liana Strydom, the Assistant Director of Regional Planning in the Department of Development Planning travelled to Wuhan, a city of more than eight million people in the eastern region of China, to attend a workshop organised by the C40 group. She was the only representative from Africa at the conference and presented a paper which looked at the Corridors of Freedom as an important intervention to create “low-carbon restructuring zones.” Strydom says this was a great opportunity to meet with planning professionals from 152 global cities as well as
Strydom says one of the primary challenges facing cities across the world is how to finance the delivery of environmentally sustainable infrastructure. The City’s decision to list a green bond on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange is regarded as an important innovation. Part of her presentation also referred to the value of public-private partnerships to develop low-carbon districts. Cities in the C40 group have set themselves clear targets to move towards renewable energy sources and reduce carbon emissions. New guidelines and incentives introduced by the City encourage private sector developers to invest in green buildings and this momentum is accelerated through the City’s own capital infrastructure projects.
In the Loop – 11
Resource Resilience
Good Governance
City on right path to meet the future S
outh African cities – including Johannesburg are now allocating more resources – and spending more efficiently – to reduce infrastructure backlogs in areas such as public transport, social housing programmes, roads and community facilities.
By 2050 around 80% of the population will live in cities. However cities will continue to operate under extreme pressure given the current trends of urbanisation and the existing municipal revenue models which rely on fees-for-service and formal property rates payments.
This is some of the good news reported in a recently published survey conducted by the South African Cities Network (SACN) – a think-tank that shares information, experience and best practices on urban development and city management.
Municipalities should start discussing the future of their cities and plan ahead to meet the challenges, says Mayor Tau.
Speaking in his capacity as chairperson of the SACN, Executive Mayor Mpho Parks Tau says the report identifies the important issues that the bigger municipalities are grappling with.
Johannesburg has increased its internally generated resources to fund capital expenditure from a mere 1% in 2009 to over 41% in 2014. It is the only city in the country that saw a decrease in capital spending funded by national or provincial grants. The City spends the highest percentage – 21% -- of its capital budget on electricity infrastructure.
The Report covers a rolling period from the 2009/2010 financial years leading up to 2013/2014, highlighting some of the achievements of Johannesburg, while also raising areas of concern.
Johannesburg is one of only two cities where repairs and maintenance as a proportion of operating expenditure has grown over the past seven years.
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Johannesburg is improving on doing the basics right – including unqualified audits – but should continue to do better by addressing remaining inefficiencies.
Capital spending has declined since the hosting of the 2010 Soccer World Cup. In Johannesburg, however, this has now recovered to the levels seen during the build-up to the global event.
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Cities have the power to generate more revenue through property rates and need to re-evaluate their current strategies and impact on paying and non-paying residents and the City’s budget.
Increases in bulk tariffs for electricity and water – which are controlled by national government – are driving most of the recent increases in municipal bills.
The City has taken the initiative and is leading the transition to the green economy. However, all cities need to find ways of mitigating the risk that energy-efficiency strategies will result in people moving off the grid and reduce incomes from electricity sales.
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City opts for creative approach to water management T
Masemola says the IUWM intends to achieve a number of objectives: • • • •
involve citizens in decision-making processes about water and sustainability; set clear and sustainable indicators that can guide the planning processes; reduce the net waste output from the city into the environment; and promote the harvesting of rainwater and storm water for reuse purposes.
Daniel Masemola, the Acting Director of Water Management and Biodiversity in the Department of Environment and Infrastructure Services (EISD) says one of the priorities is to move to a more integrated approach in the management of water resources.
The proposal is that the EISD should assume greater responsibility for storm water functions and the management of dams and impoundments as part of their broader mandate to manage water resources. However, this should be accompanied by the necessary budget provision to enable the department to engage the necessary service providers and contractor services, or additional internal capacity with the requisite geo-hydrology and hydrological engineering skills required to carry out such responsibilities.
The Department has developed a new Integrated Urban Water Management Strategy (IUWM) to address the challenges and this has been presented to the Mayoral Committee.
Through the IUWM the City can achieve a greater alignment between such activities to achieve sustainable economic, social and environmental goals.
By adopting the IUWM, the City will manage its urban water system in an integrated way; integrating aspects of water supply, stormwater management, wastewater collection, wastewater treatment and wastewater reuse.
Johannesburg Water currently supplies water and sanitation services to almost 600 000 domestic, commercial and industrial customers with an estimated consumer base of about five million people.
This approach also assists in conserving water resources, protecting the health of rivers, reducing damage and pollution to the environment and lowering the City’s vulnerability to climate change.
The bulk of the water is supplied by Rand Water but the current water scarcity demands that greater consideration should be given to conservation, reuse and alternative water sources, says Masemola.
he City of Johannesburg is responding in creative ways to current water shortages in the country in the midst of one of the most severe droughts in memory.
The current concerns about water scarcity and climate change have led to new perspectives on the management and conservation of water in the City. One of the areas addressed in the IUWM is to ensure a more integrated approach to water management among and between City entities that play roles within the water cycle. The Johannesburg Roads Agency is responsible for the planning, design and maintenance of road and storm water infrastructure. Other departments and entities such as City Parks and Zoo and Johannesburg Water are also involved in aspects of water management.
Revenue from other sources – such as traffic fines – can make a real difference to city revenues at the margins. For instance, a 1% increase in other revenue sources will mean an additional annual income of R310-million for Johannesburg. Rea Vaya is a good example of a public transport system that supports the more efficient funding of cities. The future business model for public transport in cities must combine the ingenuity of the minibus taxi industry with effective management of systems and operations provided by the City.
The Report calls for “a rethink on how cities are financed and funded,” so that they are able to sustain themselves and drive the critical agendas of green growth, the provision of sustainable human settlement and improved mobility through affordable and integrated public transport.
12 – In the Loop
In the Loop – 13