A city at work

Executive Mayor Mzwandile Masina

Having heard the calls of the people of Ekurhuleni, Executive Mayor Mzwandile Masina says the city has embarked on a pro-poor programme aimed at fast-tracking and sustaining service delivery.

poor agenda is the Siyaqhuba Mayoral Outreach Programme, which Masina says has made a tremendous impact in fast-tracking service delivery within communities.

“Our people mandated us to provide them with decent housing, proper access roads and quality services; they asked us to tackle corruption and expand healthcare services, among others. The people further appealed to us to, among others, ensure that we make informal settlements more liveable so that we restore human dignity,” Masina noted during his most recent State of the City Address.

With this in mind, he highlighted that the city managed to record a 94.31% capex spending against the planned 95% target. The overall spending on grant funding was R2.067 billion. The city also achieved an unqualified audit with zero unauthorised, fruitless and wasteful expenditure, and a substantial decrease in irregular expenditure. Over the past four years, the City of Ekurhuleni has connected 22 000 homes in informal settlements to the grid, bringing the total number

of households connected to the grid since the year 2000 to 93 000. In addition, nine mega housing projects are under way as the city works towards the provision

At the heart of Ekurhuleni’s pro

of 100 000 housing units and 59 000 serviced stands.

The city is also on track to address water security challenges through its Aqua-Leap Programme. This involves the simultaneous construction of 29 reservoirs and towers to the tune of R1.2 billion. One of these will be the biggest on the continent and among the biggest in the world. This infrastructure will add an additional 417 Mℓ of storage to the existing 954 Mℓ.

Added to this, the city has reduced water losses from 34.3% in the 2017/18 period to 30.79%.

Among the major roads projects completed across the city are 30 km of non-motorised transport, 27 km of newly constructed roads and the rehabilitation of 309 km of the existing road network. Furthermore, a total of 121 km was paved. Ekurhuleni has also introduced a bridge management system and a total of 198 bridges were assessed. Twelve bridges in need urgent attention have been identified.

A number of catalytic roads projects have been lined up. Among these are the upgrading of the N12/Daveyton CBD interchange, which

Delivering services

is expected to start soon, and the doubling of Barry Marais Road, expected to get under way in the current financial year.

“We have a responsibility to provide an adequate and efficient public transport system. In this regard, four years ago we vowed to fast-track the completion of the bus rapid [transit] system for ease of movement of our people between home and places of work,” said Masina.

Since the launch of the system, roll-out has been accelerated, resulting in the construction of dedicated lanes, the purchasing of 40 buses, and nine median stations are expected to be completed soon.

Addressing spatial reform

According to Masina, the city’s future spatial trajectory will ensure that historic challenges are aligned and budgeted for in realising a sustainable city. In this regard, the city will continue to implement its Municipal Spatial Development Framework.

The city has unlocked 4 900 hectares of land for development and, through township regularisation, has realised over 95 000 stands to enable developments, specifically shops for local businesses.

Advanced bulk investments in roads, sewer and water pipelines and substations to enable megaprojects and strategic urban developments are expected to see a return on investment of R1 billion in rates by 2021. This is will further increase as third parties take up spaces for developments, especially warehouses that service the Aerotropolis Precinct.

Masina noted that the city’s plans focus on a commitment to build a local economy that grows in the hands of the people, and to develop communities economically, socially and culturally. “I cannot overemphasise the importance of all of us employing a great degree of urgency in the work that we are doing.”