Internal Newsletter
In the Loop Issue No.
09 Sept 2014
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Get Up! Get Out! and enjoy the exciting Jozi!
INSIDE
Hillbrow Tower Development
Arbour Day
Healthy Lifestyle
Arts, Sports & Culture
Contents Welcome.
Acknowledgements
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Get Up! Get Out! and enjoy the exciting Jozi!
Chief Editor:
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Contents
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Urban renewal to breathe new life and vibrancy into Hillbrow. Weight Loss Challenge to reward the biggest loser of them all.
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Take a walk on the wild side..
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New street names celebrate Joburg’s shared past … and future
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City trees put communities on healthy diet.
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Talent management is a special passion for the City’s academic achiever
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New SAP system to bring big benefits to City employees.
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JMPD sweeps the boards at Employee Games.
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Swimming lessons to help you splash into summer with vigour.
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JRA app scoops multiple awards for innovation
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Electricity convention placed cable theft in the spotlight
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Arts Alive gets Jozi dancing to the rhythm of top entertainers.
In the Loop
Nabintu Petsana - bintu@joburg.org.za
Editor: Thomas Thale - thomasth@joburg.org.za
Contributor: Luyanda Lunika - luyandal@joburg.org.za
Photography:
For the first 10 days in September the city truly belonged to those who live in it as Arts Alive took music, dance, poetry and the performing arts to a wide range of venues – from the lush lawns of Zoo Lake to the community halls of Orange Farm, to the outskirts of Ruimsig. This year’s festival featured no less than 16 international and 20 local acts who demonstrated their talent at venues across the city. Among the international headline artists were Afro-jazz muzo, Josh Mech of Zimbabwe, Senegalese-born, Remna Schwarz, renowned for his mixture of jazz and poetry and renowned Indian poet, lyricist and cultural activist, Vidya Shah. Clr Vordo says the Jazz on the Lake performance at Zoo Lake was one of the highlights and attracted 24 000 people, its biggest ever audience. Local superstar, Johnny Clegg, led a stellar cast of home-grown talent which also included jazz specialist, Mbuzo Khoza, reggae star Colbert Mukhevo, Afro soul crooner, Vusi Nova and the smooth a capella sounds of The Soil.
“One of the great traditions of Arts Alive is our ability to provide exposure to young talent who now appear on stage with well-established artist and are able to perform to large audiences. I think we have really been able to discover some new local talent who will soon become household names to the people of Joburg.” In the year in which South Africa celebrates 20 Years of Democracy, Arts Alive paid homage to women who have made such significant contributions to the cultural growth of the city over the past two decades. Jazz on the Lake paid special tribute to the legendary icon of South African music, Brenda Fassie while the Divas in Democracy was a gala concert at the Joburg Theatre where one of Brazil’s most celebrated vocalists, Tania Maria, was joined on stage by Cape Verde’s Nancy Viera, and our own “queen of urban soul”, Lulu Dikana.
Enoch Lehung - enochl@joburg.org.za
Cover Credits
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In the Loopn – 21
Arts, Sports & Culture
Welcome but also walking, running and cycling in support of the GO Jozi Healthy Lifestyle programme. We tell you about the progress made with the implementation of the GO Jozi lifestyle programme, encourage you to participate in the weight-loss challenge and then to visit the swimming pools that have opened at the beginning of the month and now also offers swimming and water safety lessons. You can further enjoy the glorious weather that Joburg is experiencing at this time of the year by visiting the large number of parks and hiking trails that are open, safe and accessible to both visitors and employees alike.
Nabintu Petsana Group Communications and Tourism
Arts Alive gets Jozi dancing to the rhythm of top entertainers Arts Alive has again confirmed Johannesburg’s reputation as the leading cultural and entertainment hub in southern Africa. It brought together people from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds in a unique celebration of social cohesion and unity.
We have reached that period in the year when Jozi erupts in a celebration of Spring, Tourism Month, Heritage Month, Arbour Month and Arts Alive… all packed into a vibrant and fascinating 30 day period. It is time to explore the outdoors – visiting the City’s tourist attractions,
For the first 10 days in September the city truly belonged to those who live in it as Arts Alive took music, dance, poetry and the performing arts to a wide range of venues – from the lush lawns of Zoo Lake to the community halls of Orange Farm, to the outskirts of Ruimsig.
This edition of In the Loop captures the vibrancy of Joburg at the turn of the seasons by reporting extensively on the multitude of activities that take place within this period and which are accessible to our City employees. Cable theft and potholes are often associated with the urban environment and the City of Johannesburg has taken pro-active steps to address these issues and their impact on our economy. We hosted the important the annual AMEU convention where discussions were held on how to counter cable theft while the Johannesburg Roads Agency scooped a major award for its innovative Find & Fix app, used by residents to report roads-related
issues including potholes. With more than 2.5 million visitors coming to our City every year the importance of this sector to economic growth, job creation and the strengthening of emerging enterprises cannot be overestimated. One of the best ways to market Joburg to discerning visitors is through the hosting of world-class events and festivals. The Arts Alive Festival has been a trademark event for the City for more than a decade and this year’s festival surpassed all previous records by drawing record crowds and eliciting rave reviews in the media. An equally iconic feature of Joburg is the Hillbrow Tower, right in the middle of one the busiest parts of the CBD. In this edition we tell you in great detail about the City’s plans to revitalise the Hillbrow precinct through a comprehensive programme of urban renewal. Change is also in the air with the renaming of a number of streets in the CBD to honour the contribution of activists who led the struggle for human rights and democracy. This is especially relevant for all of in the year when we celebrate 20 Years of Freedom and focus on the creation of a new identity for the City based on inclusiveness and social cohesion.
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“We are absolutely thrilled with the way in which Joburgers responded to the festival’s events. Most of the acts attracted full houses and the audiences were highly appreciative about the quality of the acts and the variety that was on offer” says MMC Chris Vondo. Clr Vordo says the City’s backing and support for the festival was crucial to its success. “We could not have achieved this without the endorsement of the City’s leadership and the assistance from so many departments and agencies.
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“It demonstrated once again why Johannesburg is a world-class city with a growing reputation to stage festivals of this magnitude and significance,” saya Clr Vondo.
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In the Loopn – 1
Public Safety
Economic Development
Get Up! Get Out! and enjoy the exciting Jozi! Love Joburg was the tagline of a jam-packed Tourism Month in the City which appealed to the tastes of all city residents and build its reputation as one of the world’s most exciting urban destinations. More than 2.5-million international visitors arrive in Johannesburg every year leaving a lasting economic legacy through its impact on small-business development, the hospitality and leisure sectors, the services industry and job creation. This year, again, the City has burst into Spring with a flurry of festivals, events and activities designed to encourage communities to get out and about in Jozi and visit some of its celebrated attractions. Joburg’s calendar of lifestyle events takes off in September and lasts until well into the new year. The number of events celebrating music, food, fashion and entertainment is quite mind-boggling – and this pace is sustained until the end of summer. Joburg’s pace is hard to beat and September is a great time to remind locals and visitors that this is the most vibrant destination on the continent. There is always something new to experience and get excited about. Johannesburg is not only the Continent’s economic hub, but also the trendsetter in the fields of culture, leisure, entertainment, sport and lifestyle activities.
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City “winning the battle” against cable theft and vandalism Johannesburg successful measures to clamp down on cable theft and progress made with the roll-out of smart meters were highlighted at the 64th annual convention of the Association of Municipal Electricity Undertakings (AMEU) held at Gallagher Estate. Addressing delegates from power utilities and local authorities across the country, the MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services, Matshidiso Mfikoe, expressed her concern about billions in revenue being lost by municipalities through cable theft and infrastructure vandalism. MMC Mfikoe said the City has put in place measures to clamp down on cable theft. We have made significant strides in the fight against cable theft. Our conviction rate of 88% reflects our success to combat this scourge that threatens to reverse the gains that have been made in providing quality service to the residents of Johannesburg, she said. Sicelo Xulu, the Managing Director of City Power was elected President of AMEU, an association of municipal electricity distributors as well as national, parastatal, commercial, academic and other organisations that have a direct interest in the electricity supply industry in Southern Africa.
collection and a decrease in electricity theft following the implementation of smart metering systems in 800 households in the area. City Power’s Managing Director for Infrastructure Development, Xolani Lembede, said the power entity had increased its revenue collection from the River Park area by about R1.6 million a year. Stuart Webb the General Manager: Plant Condition Monitoring, referred to an innovative programme which enables City Power to remotely access geysers to reduce capacity when demand is tight or when there is an emergency situation.
The system of “geyser control” had the potential to allow for a reduction of between 50 and 80 megawatts, depending on the season and time of the day. To reduce the overall demand on the grid, City Power has to date rolled out more than 60 000 solar water geysers in different areas across the city. “Since the inception of these rollouts in 2012, we have seen a reduction in evening peak demand of six megawatts,” Webb said.
A project spearheaded by City Power in River Park, near Alexandra, is showing a dramatic increase in revenue
In the Loopn – 19
Economic Development
Service Delivery
One of the strengths of the City’s tourism sector is the wide diversity of its attractions and offerings. Its rich anthropological and paleontological history as the cradle of human development is recognised globally and its role at the core of South Africa’s struggle for democracy is without question and well-represented in heritage sites such as Liliesleaf Farm, the Hector Pietersen Memorial, Chancellor House and Constitution Hill. But it is the modern, “happening” Jozi that is increasingly drawing the attention of both international visitors and South Africans interested in experiencing a diverse and exciting urban destination.
JRA app scoops multiple awards for innovation The Johannesburg Roads Agency’s innovative Find & Fix mobile app – which makes it easier for residents to log roads-related faults, chat with agents, send feedback or receive messages using their smart cellphones – has won three prestigious awards at the 2014 Microsoft Partner Network Awards. The first of its kind in South Africa and Southern Hemisphere”, the smartphone app scooped the Microsoft Application of the Year Award, Managing Director’s Award and Public Sector Industry Award at a glamorous gala dinner at the Inanda Club in Sandton recently. The recognition came only four months after the app was launched. Microsoft SA, one of the leading global software companies, says its annual awards honour partners “for delivering innovative solutions that directly address customer challenges”. Coincidentally, the awards were bestowed on JRA at the start of this year’s Transport Month, during which the City is highlighting its achievements in improving the public transport system and showcasing initiatives aimed at taking public transport in the city to a higher level. Reacting to the accolades, City of Johannesburg Member of the Mayoral Committee for Transport Councillor Christine Walters said this was a demonstration of the City’s commitment to delivering solutions that enhance residents’ experience on the city’s roads. 18 – In the Loop
Vilakazi Street in Soweto, the Maboneng Precinct to the east of the CBD and Braamfontein further north are just some of the vibrant neighbourhoods that attract and continue to enthral visitors of all cultures and demographics. The city’s astonishing range of shopping, dining, entertainment and nightlife experiences is complemented by the fabulous weather and a transport and leisure infrastructure that ranks among the best in the southern hemisphere. Don’t you just ‘Love Joburg?’ Starting in September this is an opportunity to Explore, Experience and Enjoy your city.
OCTOBER - TRANSPORT MONTH (TBC) Dates
Event
Venue/Locality
Target Audience
2 – 5 October
Joburg City FestivalJoburg-Inner
City/CBD
Local residents
4 October
Gautrain Big Nite Out
TBC
Local residents and national
4 October
Springboks vs All Blacks
Ellis Park
Local residents and national sports
“I would like to congratulate the developers of the Find & Fix app for their innovation and their commitment to strengthening a culture of an engaged active citizenry,” MMC Walters said.
4 October
Launch Factory – fashion, food &
TBC
Local residents and national
Bierfiest
Montecasino
Local residents and national beer lovers
Interaction via the app is a fraction of the cost of making a phone call or sending an SMS. Significantly, it is also far cheaper than travelling to a customer service centre.
TBC
Mercedes Benz Fashion Week
TBC
Local residents, national and intercontinental
The app is the fastest, most convenient and cost-efficient way for residents to interact with the City. It enables residents to report potholes, faulty traffic signals, leaking storm water drains, missing manhole covers and other infrastructure defects to the JRA.
music in the Gautrain system 17-19 October 24-26 October fashion enthusiasts 24-26 October
Baba Indaba
SandtonConvention
Local residents and national moms and dads
Centre 29-31 October
Winex
Sandton Convention
Local residents and national wine
Centre
connoisseurs
MMC Walters said the development of the app formed part of the JRA’s turnaround strategy and service delivery drive. “The City is committed to becoming more accessible to citizens and road users and to developing itself into a centre of engineering excellence with enhanced service delivery and satisfied customers,” she said. For Johannesburg residents, the Find & Fix app enables ongoing communication on service progress, facilitates faster turnaround times. It also allows for media alerts on hotspots and pre-reported issues in a specific journey area. “The app will also assist us to ensure that Johannesburg, one of Africa’s largest economic hubs, benefits from improved road infrastructure due to faster call logging and In the Loopn – 3
Service Delivery
Economic Development
and refurbished during the off season. This is a marked improvement on the 2013 season when only 27 pools were opened on Spring Day. The Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development, Chris Vondo has called on residents and community-based swimming clubs to make the maximum use of the pools. He also appealed to residents to treat the swimming pools as vital community assets and to safeguard them against vandalism, theft and abuse. A further 10 swimming pools are still undergoing maintenance and will be opened for patrons before the big summer heat comes rolling in, in December. Among the pools that will be opened at a later date are Brixton, Riverlea, Florida North, Dobsonville, Moletsane, Orange Farm, Lenasia South, Eldorado Park Ext 4 and Vrededorp. According to MMC Vondo, the pools in Murray Park and Newville will remain closed for the foreseeable future due to severe structural damage. The City is currently involved in a consultation process with communities and stakeholders to determine plans for the future of these pools. However, this does not mean that people living in these neighbourhoods are deprived of aquatic facilities. They are encouraged to visit a number of swimming pools within a reasonable five kilometre radius, including the Olympic-sized facility at Ellis Park, Hofland Park, Malvern, Moffat and Rhodes Park.
Urban renewal to breathe new life and vibrancy into Hillbrow Paris has the Eiffel Tower. Rio de Janeiro has the statue of Christ the Redeemer. Joburg has the Hillbrow Tower as the most recognisable feature of the City skyline. This most familiar symbol of a vibrant, bustling – and, sometimes turbulent – Jozi will be the centrepiece of the City’s comprehensive initiative to revitalise and transform the Hillbrow Tower precinct and enable it to claim its rightful place at the core of an exciting and alive urban scene. Through the decades Hillbrow has been known as the cosmopolitan heart of this mining town which grew into Africa’s foremost financial and trade centre. Established as one of the first suburbs of the newly declared Johannesburg in the late 1880s the city literally expanded outwards from this core area. In the 1970s and 80s “the Brow” developed into the most cosmopolitan area of the Joburg inner city. In an era that was defined by racial separation and segregated neighbourhoods, Hillbrow was a defiant exception. The one small piece of earth that attracted and welcomed both black and white. A few square blocks of sanity and refuge in a larger mosaic of apartheid-inspired social engineering.
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The outdoor pools will be open to the public for at least five days a week between 10h00 and 17h30 throughout the spring and summer seasons. The pools will close for the winter season at the beginning of April 2015.
Be safe and courteous before you jump in!
Swimming pools, like all other public facilities, are built and maintained for the enjoyment of all the city’s residents. However to keep them in good shape and to ensure that all visitors get an opportunity to revel in their moments in the sun it is important to follow a few basic rules of good behaviour and water safety:
Alcohol and chlorine don’t mix well; stay away from liquor when you visit a public pool; Be courteous and accommodating of your fellow swimmers; Treat the public swimming pool as if it is your own property; report incidents of vandalism, theft and anti-social behaviour; Always swim with an adult who can swim; Watch out for children – your own as well as those of others; remember the motto: “every child is my child!” Most of the Joburg pools have trained lifeguards on duty; trust their judgement and experience and obey their instructions; Never run along the edge of a swimming pool or push people in; Take up swimming lessons and learn CPR and emergency procedures; Drowning happens to adults too – “better be safe than sorry!”
It became a magnet for the eccentric and bohemian personalities, the musicians, the street artists, the late-night revellers and the early-morning “jollers.” Its legendary bookshops and street cafes attracted the intellectuals and the struggle philosophers and its record shops were often the only places in the entire South Africa where you could browse to discover the latest offerings from both local and international artists. But when the sun went down behind the high-rise buildings of the CBD, Hillbrow kicked into yet another gear. Late night discos and nightclubs blared their cacophony of sounds deep into the early mornings while the more sedate and discerning music lover could visit a secluded bistro or basement café.This was Hillbrow, the pulsating heart of the “city that never sleeps.” About 45 years ago the Hillbrow Tower was constructed as a communications tower to beam out the microwave signals for what is now known as Telkom. By night, the rich and privileged in society could board an elevator and travel the 130 metres to its top floor and dine in exquisite surroundings in a revolving restaurant – almost oblivious of how the rest of Joburg lived in the streets of Hillbrow down below.
In the Loop – 17
Economic Development
Service Delivery
When the democratic transition came to South Africa in the early Nineties Hillbrow became a powerful symbol of a new, integrated society and the Hillbrow Tower started to occupy its rightful place as the visual image of this transformation – incorporated into the logo of a democratic Johannesburg. Sadly, through the years, the Hillbrow precinct has lost most of its former glory. It fell victim to the type of urban decay and grime that is all too often associated with areas next to the central business districts of many global cities. It developed a reputation as a dark and dangerous place plagued by social ills related to over-crowding, crime, drug dealing and prostitution. But this is about to change. As part of an exciting urban renewal project the City has embarked on a comprehensive initiative to give Hillbrow a much-needed makeover. And the precinct in the immediate vicinity of the Tower that juts into the sky will be the first to be turned into a pedestrian-friendly, safe and walkable urban environment.
Swimming lessons to help you splash into summer with vigour The opening of Joburg’s 46 swimming pools for the sunny season also brings opportunities for both employees and residents to receive swimming lessons from qualified instructors.
Malgas says his aim for the year is to establish a regular swimming club at each of the municipal pools. “Even if we start small, with four or five members this is the way to go.”
This is part of a broader initiative by the City to encourage all residents to gain access to, and enjoy community leisure and sporting facilities.
The main objective is to promote leisure swimming activities and water safety among the communities – not to create Olympic stars. However, each of the clubs will host regular events, leading to regional competitions and culminating in a year-end gala at the Ellis Park swimming pool to close off the season.
Gus Malgas, the Operations Manager in Regions F and G, says a greater awareness of water safety and basic swimming lessons will inevitably lead to an increased confidence among people who want to wash away the winter blues by spending a relaxing day at the poolside in the company of good friends. “We can teach anybody to swim in 14 lessons,” says Malgas who is an experienced coach and a respected name in Gauteng swimming, life-saving and water polo circles. He adds that each of the 46 pools across the City that opened their lanes on 1 September has at least one lifeguard on duty who is also a qualified swimming coach. Members of the public can visit the pools during opening hours, speak to the coach and arrange for swimming lessons. This will then be scheduled at convenient times according to the interest and availability of other would-be swimmers.
16 – In the Loop
“This will be an event where the professional swimming coaches can spot talent and maybe develop them into serious competitors in the future,” says Malgas. He is also working with bodies such as Swimming South Africa and Central Gauteng Aquatics to develop new coaches, officials and administrators who can serve the various aquatic disciplines such as swimming, water polo, life-saving and diving.
The revitalised Hillbrow will be a core part of a modern new network of transport and communications connectivity that enables both residents and visitors to access it as a hub from where they can explore the rest of the city. The first stage of the project – scheduled for completion in mid-2015 -- will create economic development opportunities for local artists, tourism and leisure operators and businesses through the provision of trading spaces in the immediate vicinity of the Tower. Gradually, but inexorably, the rejuvenated Hillbrow will spread out into all the streets and alleys through the upgrading of the pavements and the construction of new sidewalks, landscaping, street furniture, storm water drainage systems and public lighting. Soon, Hillbrow, and its striking Tower, will be able to stake their rightful – and much deserved – places among the iconic landmarks of a revitalised and invigorated Joburg.
8 things you should know about Hillbrow: The first development came to the area in 1889, a mere three years after the formal proclamation of Johannesburg. It was first known as Hospital Hill but, due to its located on a geographical high rise, gradually became known as Hillbrow; The 2011 census stated the official population figures of Hillbrow as 74 131 – with 98.3% designated as “black African.” The boundaries of the Hillbrow precincts are defined by Clarendon and Willie Streets in the north; Joe Slovo Drive in the east; Smit Street in the south and Hospital Street in the west. The Hillbrow Tower was completed in 1971 and was officially named the JG Strijdom Tower to honour one of the most notorious Prime Ministers of apartheid South Africa; Its official name, today, is the “Telkom Jo’burg Tower” – but, who cares? – we all know it as the Hillbrow Tower; From the bottom to the top of the Tower is 131 metres – but the antenna spire at the top brings the total height to 269 metres; At the top of the Tower there were six public floors including a revolving restaurant. For a mere 20 cents – in 1980 – you could get into a high-speed lift that travelled at 6 metres per second to the top of the tower. The Hillbrow tower has been closed for visitors since 1981. For 40 years it was the tallest man-made structure on the continent of Africa and, until 1979, the tallest in the southern hemisphere. These positions are currently occupied by the Nador Tower in Morocco (380 metres) and the Sky Tower in Auckland, New Zealand (328 metres);
Here is an opportunity for readers of In the Loop to celebrate the “rise of the modern Hillbrow.” We encourage you to take a “selfie” of you and your friends with the Hillbrow Tower in the background. Send this picture, you name and department, to the Editor, Thomas Thale at: thomasth@joburg.org.za, and we will publish the best submissions in the next edition of “In the Loop.”
Joburg’s sunny climate and ready access to rivers, dams, lakes and pools makes it imperative that its residents are aware of water safety and Gus is passionate about the need for as many children as possible to receive swimming lessons. The further good news is that the majority of the City’s pools are in top condition to meet the rush of sun-seeking
In the Loop – 5
Human & Social Development
Employee News
JMPD sweeps the boards at Employee Games Weight Loss Challenge to reward the biggest loser of them all The “GO JOZI” initiative is alive and well… and encouraging Joburgers of all ages to lead an active and healthy lifestyle. A Weight Loss Challenge was launched in Region D – Pimville and Moletsane – in August and is being rolled out across all Regions, culminating in May 2015. Region B was targeted for September with Regions F and E following in October and November. MMC Nonceba Molwele has called on city employees to join the Challenge in large numbers in the wards where they are living. “Use this opportunity to start a new healthy lifestyle and make use of the professional advice that is being made available to change your diet and embark on an exercise programme.” Molwele says the Social Development Department has been reaching out to communities to provide education,promote healthy eating, active lifestyles and participation in physical activities. Launched as a practical initiative flowing from the Joburg 2040 Growth and Development strategy the first phase of GO JOZI was to establish the brand and mobilise support. The City is cooperating with various sectors and stakeholders representative of Joburg society, including early-childhood
6 – In the Loop
development centres, churches, traditional healers, youth and sports clubs, stokvels, luncheon clubs for senior citizens, restaurants and informal vendors to get the important health messages across and mobilise communities to take charge of their own lifestyles. GO JOZI enjoys the enthusiastic support of the City’s leadership – especially Executive Mayor Mpho Parks Tau – who has singled out the campaign as a priority during his tenure. On the agenda are seven high-profile events to promote healthy lifestyles in each of the Regions. The idea is to close off a section of a street and create an area where a range of activities can be staged such as cycling, dance and aerobics, walking, sports demonstrations and children’s activities. This is being done in collaboration with gyms, health and sports shops and sporting codes in the areas. The Weight Loss Challenge starts at Ward level and is then escalated within the Region until two winners – both male and female – are crowned. Contestants are weighed at the start of the month and then on a weekly basis with the participant in each Ward who has lost the most amount of weight progressing to the regional challenge.
City of Johannesburg and municipal-owned entities’ employees battled it out at the City’s 2014 Employee Games for places in the team that will represent the municipality at the upcoming South African Local Government Association’s OR Tambo Inter-Municipality Games. Among those who excelled were members of the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), who took top honours in several sporting codes, including pistol shooting, chess, ladies’ soccer and volleyball. Hosted by the City’s Community Development Department at Marks Park in Emmarentia on September 19, the games attracted a large number of enthusiastic employees, all with a common purpose to fly the City’s flag high at the OR Tambo Games, which will be held on October 24. “This mass participation event was held in accordance with the Employee Sport Policy, which gives guidelines on how employees and councillors are to be organised to engage in
sport and recreational activities that have a social and physical benefit to the staff and councillors,” explained the department’s Faried Loonat. Loonat said the games also provided the city with the ideal opportunity to foster and promote a healthy lifestyle among its employees and their families. The team to represent Johannesburg was finalised by the end of September. The OR Tambo Games will be hosted by the Sedibeng District Municipality. All 12 municipalities in Gauteng will take part in sporting codes such as action cricket, bowls, chess, darts, golf, morabaraba, ncuva, pistol shooting, pool, race walking, running, seven-a-side soccer, eleven-a-side soccer, squash, table tennis, tennis, volleyball and cycling.
In the Loop – 15
Human & Social Development
Employee News
The City is assisting participants with information on how to prepare healthy food as well as advice on a healthy eating and exercise programme. Partner company, the Sureslim Clinic, provides each participant with an eating plan and advice on a sensible exercise programme that takes into account their age, weight and access to facilities. They are also put in touch with a personal trainer who will provide them with advice and support during the competition. However, the GO JOZI initiative also stresses the importance that losing weight is an individual journey and citizens should take ownership of their own health objectives and stick to their goals, says MMC Molwele. The regional winners will each receive a Sureslim contract and the services of a personal trainer for a period of three months.
3 out of 5 South Africans are overweight – and the numbers keep rising; Obesity is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, strokes, diabetes and some forms of cancer; After smoking, obesity is the second leading cause of preventable deaths; Lifestyle changes, health eating and sensible exercises can help to improve the quality of your life; It is not, primarily about your looks; but about your health!
Fast Facts about obesity and weight
New SAP system to bring big benefits to City employees The imminent introduction of an upgrade SAP system will change the way Johannesburg does business with its residents and clients – but also bring major benefits to employees in their relationship with the City. Gerald Dumas, the Chief Operating Officer of the City says the new SAP represents a huge investment by the City and will enable Johannesburg to truly live up to its reputation as a World Class African City. The previous system has reached the end of its maintenance and support window and a decision was taken to keep up with the latest version of technology and meet the required systems standards. From a customers’ perspective, it will mean that all their relevant information and data will now be available on a single IT platform. This will give them a single access point into the City from which data such as billings for water and electricity as well as property valuations and transactions will be available. This will improve the experience of customers when they interact with the city and lead to a reduction in complaints about billing discrepancies or the accuracy of data. It will result in the seamless integration of information and improve the ability to track the flow and report back on queries that have been raised by customers. But the new system also brings significant positive changes for Joburg’s employees in all departments and across all entities, explains Mpho Kotane, the Change Management Leader in the City.
14 – In the Loop
control: More than 1.1 billion adults world-wide are overweight and some 312-million are regarded as obese;
An example of a practical benefit will be in the field of automated leave management. City employees will be able to submit their applications for leave through the SAP system while managers can review the employee’s records and approve the leave request in real time. “It will also be a powerful tool for our employees to manage their own skill sets and careers,” says Kotane. They can update their CVs to a centralised data platform and add the details of courses attended or new qualifications achieved. One of the key features of the system is that it will be easy to use and readily accessible for all employees. As the system is introduced and expanded they will, eventually, be able to access it through both personal computers in the work situation as well as hand-held devices. Kotane says Group Information and Technology (GICT & IM) has just completed a number of engagements with all departments in the city to get an understanding of their expectations of the system. The information gathered will be used to further refine the programme and ensure that it meets all the requirements of the eventual end users and accommodate all the City’s business processes. The Operational Steering Committee met in August to review progress and make recommendations on how the system can be made more functional and reliable. Employees will be kept informed about the progress made with the implementation of the SAP upgrade through reports in In the Loop and internal electronic communication, says Kotane.
In the Loop – 7
Explore, Experience & Engage
Employee News
Take a walk on the wild side It is time for walking and hiking enthusiasts to lace up their boots, reach for the water bottles and stock up on sun screen and energy snacks for a trip into nature. Despite its position at the core of Africa’s most vibrant urban economy Johannesburg is also a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers. The City can lay claim to more than 10 000 hectares of green spaces with lots of opportunities to enjoy open areas for both the serious hikers and the casual walkers. In the coming months In the Loop will introduce you to some of the most popular outdoor trails in and around the city and encourage you to visit and make use of these facilities and enjoy the companionship of friends and family.
In addition, she was singled out for high praise by the International Quality & Productivity Centre following her recent keynote presentation at the Shared Services & Outsourcing Africa conference in Sandton. “It is a real inspiration to know that your work is being recognised by both your peers and senior executives,” she says. “It motivates me to move beyond a mere search for excellence. The sky is, indeed, my limit.”
Security is good but it is advisable to walk in group or to join one of the tours led by the local guides. Decent walking shoes, hats, extra water and sunscreen are advisable during the summer months.
Describing herself as “a child of Dube,” Maunye absorbed her passion for education from some of the stalwarts of South Africa’s struggle for human rights and equal opportunities. She grew up in the home of her grandparents, Dr Nthato and Mrs Sally Motlana. The late Dr Motlana was one of South Africa’s first black physicians, a Treason Trialist in the 1950s and the leader of the Committee of Ten who supported the ideals of the youth movement during the 1976 Soweto Uprising. He is widely regarded as the “father of black economic empowerment” because of his extensive involvement in the growth of black business after the democratic transition in 1994.
More information is available at on: www.footprint.co.za/klipriviersberg.htm or contact Joburg City Parks at 011 712 6600.
Alberts Farm is the second largest park in Johannesburg located in the suburb of Albertskroon close to the recently refurbished Northcliff Corner. There is a clear signboard to the entrance on the corner of 8th Street and 6th Road West. The park offers beautiful and restful walks through indigenous grassland and around a small dam. There are no formally laid-out trails but a network of well-traversed paths has developed over the years. It is possible to do one to two hour walks and to link with the other spruits criss-crossing the city, to the east with the Braamfontein Spruit and then linking in a southerly direction towards the Emmarentia Dam or to the North towards Delta Park. In recent years the Park has become a popular venue for bird watching – with close on 140 species spotted -picnicking and kite flying while local residents use it for exercising their dogs. It is advisable to wear good walking shoes, to walk in groups and to be conscious of basic security precautions. The beautiful nature spot is located a mere 10km to the south of the City centre and offers a number of hiking trails through the koppies. The Vaal River, which brings water to the bulk of Johannesburg, has its origins on this piece of land which is also well-stocked with game such as blesbok, zebra and duiker. There are six trails in the reserve offering options for hikers with a range of experience. It is possible to take an easy 30 minute walk along the meandering spruit or take on the more challenging routes lasting up to three hours. Klipriviersberg has a rich historical and archaeological heritage and there are guides on hand to provide you with background information or point you to the colour-coded trails. The reserve is owned by the City and located next to the suburb of Mondeor. The best way to access it is at the “Silent Pool” entrance on Frandaph Drive which is well signposted.
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Located in Blairgowrie this is a beautiful multi-use park that is home to one of the country’s best environmental centres and an ideal spot for bird watching. The Florence Bloom Bird Sanctuary, overlooking a small dam, is located within the Park. Local and migrant birds, including guinea fowl, are seen in abundance. It is a popular venue for dog walking, biking and running and one of the most accessible facilities in Johannesburg for the disabled. The paths are paved and wheelchair-friendly while the signposts and the interpretative boards have descriptions in Braille. Delta Park forms the middle section of the Braamfontein Spruit Trail and the 6.7-km route can be walked in both directions. A moderate degree of fitness is required, because you need to return to your starting point.
Talent management is a special passion for the City’s academic achiever
For Christina Maunye, coming to work at the City of Johannesburg is neither a chore, nor a mundane activity. It is her passion, pleasure and hobby all rolled into one… and very soon this experience will also reward her with a Doctorate. To add to her formidable academic achievements, the City’s head of Talent Management was recently honoured with a number of special recognitions which place her among the top practitioners in her field in the country. “What a great honour to be informed about the nomination by the City Manager himself,” says Maunye about the day Trevor Fowler walked into her office to show her a commendation letter that has been submitted to the Director General of the Department of Cooperation and Development COGTA. She now represents the City in COGTA’s Competency Assessment Centre for Senior Managers.
Maunye’s grandmother, Mrs Sally Motlana, a formidable activist and community leader in her own right, was detained for her political beliefs on numerous occasions. In 2007 she received South Africa’s highest civic honour, the Order of the Baobab, for her life time of service including as vice-president of the SA Council of Churches and founder of the Black Housewife’s League. Maunye joined the City as the Manager: Special Projects at the Emergency Management Services, but not before she notched up a number of additional academic achievements – including a Bachelor in Business Administration from Thames Valley University in the United Kingdom and an MBA from Milpark Business School. From EMS she moved to Group Organisational Development where, as a senior consultant she currently leads the Talent Management Programme. In this capacity she is responsible for a key initiative identified in the 2040 Growth and Development Strategy to recruit competent professionals to the city and retain them by placing them on sustainable career paths. For Maunye, who resides in Protea Glen and still visits her ageing grandmother in Dube on a regular basis, her own career path and quest for knowledge have not ended. She is currently enrolled for a Doctorate in Business Leadership at Unisa’s Graduate School of Business. The subject of her thesis is: Using Career and Developmental Paths in the Professionalisation of Local Government, using the city of Johannesburg as her research case study. In this way, she believes, she can plough back her experience and knowledge into the city that nurtured her own educational and career journeys. “There is a great need to encourage young professionals to enter the public service, especially at local government level. “I will continue to make a contribution in this field, helping them to climb the ladder of success and motivating them in the same way in which the City’s recognition of my services has inspired me,” she says.
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Explore, Experience & Engage
Environmental Issues
At one end of the trail there is a licenced restaurant where you can enjoy a meal while the children play in a playground, on a jumping castle or a water slide. Dogs on leashes are welcome, there are opportunities for biking and you might even come across people on horseback. Delta Park is one of the safest venues in the City with ample security although visitors are advised to take basic precautions.
City trees put communities on healthy diet Johannesburg hosted the 2014 National Arbour Week activities with the planting of ornamental trees and the distribution of fruit trees to various communities across the City. The core focus during this year’s Arbour Week activities was the distribution of 6 000 fruit trees to local communities. It forms part of the City’s broader efforts to promote sustainability, food resilience and food security among residents. The 6 000 fruit trees will be handed over to needy communities in deprived areas such as Orlando East, Orange Farm, Freedom Park, Kliptown, Ivory Park and Diepsloot. The Joburg Zoo was joined by Eco-Kids to plant fruit trees at the Zoo and distribute trees to other learners. Clr Chris Vondo, the MMC for Community Development says the Skills Academy Education and Awareness was involved in the distribution of the fruit trees through its outreach initiatives. The recipients take the responsibility for the planting, caring and nurturing of the fruit trees. They also complete a tree donation form as acknowledgement of receipt. The
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The Delta Environmental Centre can be reached by following Barry Hertzog Avenue in a northerly direction, till it becomes Rustenburg Road. There is also car park in Louise Street in Parkmore, close to William Nicol Drive.
City conducts regular tree audits to follow up on the initiative and determine its impact on communities. Arbour Week is commemorated annually in the first week of September to create greater awareness about sustainable environmental management and to plant indigenous trees as a symbolic gesture of commitment. The national theme for 2014 Arbour Week was “Forests and People: Investing in a sustainable future.” Each year a few indigenous tree species are identified and South Africans are encouraged to plant them. The selected trees for this year are:
The Vepris lanceolota – also known as the White Ironwood / Witysterhout / Muruvula / Muhondwa / umZane or umOzana; The Heteropyxis Natalensis Harvey – also known as the Lavender Tree / Laventel boom or iNkunzi.
This stunning koppie close to the centre of town represents some of the best aspects of Joburg’s quality of life. Standing in the small park, which straddles the Hillbrow Ridge, you can easily imagine that you are in the middle of nature. Yet, if you raise your eyes you get a magnificent view of the city skyline, including the Hillbrow tower and Ponte. Hillbrow Ridge is one of the most important geographical features in South Africa and as a watershed it provides the origins of two of the sub-continent’s major river systems. To the south the water flows into the Vaal and Orange rivers and eventually ends up in the Atlantic Ocean. To the north, it feeds into the Limpopo with the Indian Ocean as the final destination. The Wilds is located on both sides of Joe Slovo Drive in Houghton. Parking is available on the corner with St Patrick’s Road.
For further information visit the website: http://www.footprint.co.za/deltapark.htm
It is time for walking and hiking enthusiasts to lace up their boots, reach for the water bottles and stock up on sun screen and energy snacks for a trip into nature.
In recent years there have been incidents of crime and security has been stepped up. However, it remains advisable to walk in groups and to leave valuables at home. Joburg City Parks is doing a great job to maintain the area’s rich fauna heritage. There are superb examples of cycads and a wide range of indigenous wild flowers to be enjoyed. Beautiful water features, lush green lawns and paved pathways make The Wilds one of the gems of Joburg.
For further information visit the website: www.wildswalk.co.za or contact Joburg City Parks on 011 712 6600.
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Human & Social Development
Human & Social Development
Japie Vilankulu Crescent in Alexandra will replace Lion Crescent and Thabeta Street in Orlando West will in future be known as Hastings Ndlovu Street. A public consultation process will soon start in terms of the City’s Policy on the Naming and Renaming of Streets and Public Places and comment will be invited. In terms of the Council’s decisions dual signage containing both old and new names will be retained for a maximum of 12 months to enable members of the community to familiarise themselves with the changes. Maps and street addresses will be changed during this period and modern technology will support the transition on GPS and internet platforms.
Who will be honoured with new Joburg street names? Pixley ka Isaka Seme (Sauer Street) was one of the founders of the African National Congress and later served as its President (1930 – 1936). He had a law degree from Oxford University and was the first black lawyer to practice in South Africa where he served as a mentor to a number of young activists who later played key roles in the liberation struggle. He passed away in Johannesburg in 1951.
New street names celebrate Joburg’s shared past … and future Some of the busiest roads in the Johannesburg CBD will soon be named after well-known heroes of the country’s struggle for liberation and to commemorate the 20th anniversary of our democratic transition. “The renaming will enable all Johannesburgers to increase their identification with the names and historical significance of public spaces and contribute to our broader objectives to build an inclusive society with a shared future,” says the Executive Mayor, Councillor Mpho Parks Tau. The decision to rename four streets in downtown Joburg – and an additional two to honour student activists in Alexandra and Orlando West – was taken by the Mayoral Council during its meeting on the 4th of September. This is of great significance given the fact that September is commemorated throughout South Africa as Heritage Month. Mayor Tau says the decision to rename the streets follows an extensive public consultation process that started in October 2013. The move is supported by the Johannesburg Heritage Foundation – a community-based organisation that has been a watchdog over the preservation
10 – In the Loop
of the City’s rich history for more than three decades. The personalities who will be honoured through the renaming of the streets are representative of the City’s demographics and all have strong historical ties with Johannesburg and its place in the transformation of South Africa.
Sauer Street will, in future, be known as Pixley Seme Street; Bree Street has been renamed to Lilian Ngoyi Street; Jeppe Street has been named after community activist, Rahima Moosa; President Street will be known as Helen Joseph Street; and Noord Street becomes Sophie de Bruyn Street, named after the only living leader of the Women’s March.
not silence her voice and she remained a powerful political force until her passing in 1992. Rahima Moosa, (Jeppe Street). From humble beginnings as a worker in a canning factory and with little formal education this formidable woman was a guiding influence on the struggle for freedom for more than five decades. As a member of the Transvaal Indian Congress she led the initiatives to unite the liberation movement and to mobilise workers into effective and powerful trade unions. Hastings Ndlovu, (Thabeta Street) was a 17-year old learner at the Orlando North Secondary School who was among the first victims killed by the police on June 16, 1976. He led a group of students toward the bridge in Khumalo Street where they were confronted by police and fired on. He later died of his wounds in Baragwanath Hospital. Japie Vilankulu (Lion Crescent) was one of the “Young Lions” of the struggle who led the student uprising in Alexandra during June 1976. He was shot by the police during a protest march on 17 June and passed away at the age of 23.
Lilian Ngoyi (Bree Street) was a textile worker and mother of three from Orlando who joined the liberation struggle at an early age and rose to become the Secretary General of the ANC Women’s League and National Chairman of the Federation of South African Women. Her outspoken defiance against the injustices of apartheid resulted in her being charged with high treason, banned and placed under house arrest. She remained a beacon of strength to the liberation movement up to her death in 1980. Sophie Williams-de Bruyn, (Noord Street), the youngest of the protest March leaders and the only surviving member is an important link to the tumultuous event of 1956. As a founding member of the South African Congress of Trade Unions and a full-time organiser of the Coloured People’s Congress she played a critical role in mobilising communities to protest against injustice. She continued to serve a democratic South Africa through vital contributions as a Member of Parliament, Deputy Speaker of the Gauteng Legislature and member of the Commission on Gender Equality. Helen Joseph, (President Street) was an indomitable fighter for freedom and justice for more than six decades. As a founding member of the Congress of Democrats she was a major organiser of the Congress of the People in Kliptown in 1955 where the Freedom Charter was adopted as the guiding document for the liberation struggle. Decades of banning and house arrests and repeated assassination attempts could
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