RESILIENCE AND HOPE was this years’ theme for the City of Johannesburg, State of the City Address by Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda.
Delivering the much awaited 2024 SCA, Mayor Kwamanda, told Councillors that Johannesburg is a resilient City known for its ability to navigate through crisis, adapt, and succeed in the face of constant disruption.
“We are confronted with a constantly changing environment characterised by rapid urbanisation, inward migration, economic exclusion and soaring inequality,” he told guests inside the Chambers, covered in a black-and-white Palestinian shawl over his shoulders.
He went on: “Despite challenges, a glimmer of hope persists – a tenacious spirit that refuses to be subdued by hardship. Our city’s resilience has over the past year been tested by a variety of incidents that have required us to provide certainty in leadership and efficiency in our actions”.
It is indeed a place where everybody seems to understand what Martin Luther King Junior meant when he said: “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl; but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.”
Says the Mayor, disruptions from natural disasters, crime and socioeconomic challenges were daunting and at times unpredictable.
The city is plagued by violent crime, jeopardising the wellbeing and safety of residents. Despite efforts to enhance law enforcement and deter criminal activity, the city still faces serious challenges of illegality, he said.
“The rapid urbanisation in Johannesburg has placed immense pressure on its infrastructure and service delivery, resulting in deficiencies and inefficiencies.
The increase in informal settlements serves as a daily reminder of the city’s incomplete pursuit of inclusivity, fairness and spatial justice.”
He said residents of Johannesburg have exhibited extraordinary resilience in the face of adversity, uniting to confront obstacles head-on.
The City’s finances were stable and its entities had achieved unqualified audit opinions.
This was an affirmation of the effectiveness of internal systems and the robustness of control mechanisms.
“Though we face budget constraints and resource limitations, our dedication to delivering quality services remains unwavering.
“A prominent achievement is almost all informal settlements (97%) have now received basic services in all service delivery areas. Every rand paid towards municipal services is an investment in the future of Johannesburg — a future characterised by resilience, prosperity and boundless opportunity,” he said.
Last year the City was struck by two major disasters when a section of Lilian Ngoyi Street exploded and within a month, the Usindiso building caught alight and 76 people died.
“Our City’s resilience has over the past year been tested by a variety of incidents that have required us to provide certainty in leadership and efficiency in our actions to respond effectively to disruption.”
He told Councillors they could not criticise and complain about services in the City, if they defaulted on their payments or acknowledgment of debt arrangements.
“We must pay and be exemplary in our commitment to pay for services.
“The City has adopted an intensive revenue collection and enhancement initiative to assist us in recouping revenue outstanding to the City, while assisting our ratepayers with queries and disputes.”
The City has taken a hard line against illegality, where defaulting ratepayers illegally reconnect themselves despite actions to recover money owed to the city.
Gwamanda acknowledged the recent water crisis, saying the City faces a rapid rise in water demand which is threatening the sustainability of the water supply and straining the capacity of the systems.
“Our water use per capita far exceeds that which is the standard in developed and thriving Cities of the world. There is an urgent need to control and manage demand to ensure we create reliability and sustainability in our supply environment.”
He said Johannesburg Water needs R27bn for infrastructure to cater for the demands of the City.
“I am excited that the Brixton and Crosby bulk infrastructure projects, which have a combined investment value of R512m, are progressing well and will help us resolve the challenges of the Commando water system.”
“Johannesburg, located in the heart of South Africa, is a tribute to the solid determination of its citizens to overcome challenges. Every day, we marvel at the resilience of this City.
Despite the City’s turbulent past, marred by the remnants of apartheid segregation, it has undergone a remarkable transformation, becoming a beacon of strength and rejuvenation.
Boasting a population of 6 million, Johannesburg exudes vitality, with its bustling streets teeming with the dynamic spirit of our communities.
The transformation of Johannesburg from a City divided by inequality and injustice to a symbol of hope, is a tribute to the resilience and perseverance of our people.
As the country marks the 30 years of democracy, Mayor Kwamanda pointed out the Johannesburg Social Housing Company (JOSHCO) is well on track towards passing the mark of having 10,000 units being rented by tenants in the coming financial year.
JOSHCO’s own strategic plan has identified a backlog of more than 300, 000 units in the social housing market in Johannesburg. This means that the Johannesburg property industry is ready for new players – there is great potential for private sector investment and growth.
Water is accessible to 98.3% of households; electricity is available to 94.1%; sanitation is provided to 93%; and refuse removal is extended to 90.5%; ensuring that every part of the city has the basic amenities required for a dignified existence, says Kwamanda.
The City has created a conducive environment for businesses to thrive and for small enterprises to grow within the Joburg Economy.
“It means our programmes must make a dent in the unemployment rate in our City and must create work opportunities to accommodate the growing number of youth who are neither in employment, education or training.
I am pleased that as committed in the last State of the City Address, we have now formally launched the Youth Directorate in the City and it has commenced with the important work of formalizing a strategy for Youth Development and Empowerment within the City,” commented the Mayor.
350 young were awarded with bursaries as per the City’s critical and scarce skills requirements at an amount of R14 million for the 2023/2024 academic years.
The City also appointed five hundred and ninety-four (594) interns in recognition of the need to create developmental opportunities for young people to get exposure and training in preparation for the world of work.
“Although we face budget constraints and resource limitations, our dedication to delivering quality services remains unwavering.
We have placed the needs of our residents at the forefront of our efforts by tirelessly working towards improving their quality of life and providing equal access to essential services whilst prioritizing cost efficiency,” says Kwamanda, indicating a prominent achievement is that almost all informal settlements (97%) have now received basic services across all service delivery areas.
On crime, the Mayor says it he’s deeply concerned about crime and grime in the inner-City.
“This concern is evidenced by the investment we are making in creating a safe environment in the City through improved crime fighting initiatives. The newly re-launched Tactical Response Unit of the JMPD is making great strides in enforcing law and order in the inner City and in targeting violent crimes.”
He went on: “This capability has also been enhanced with the deployment of CCTV cameras in partnership with Vumacam to provide the City with access to over 5, 000 cameras in the City, enhancing the ability of the JMPD to detect and respond to crime.
The Tactical Response Unit has over the last year recovered a total of 570 vehicles, 87 illegal firearms and conducted 127 drug busts in the City. In a coordinated manner and with the deployment of intelligent tactics and systems, we are slowly making inroads in our fight against crime in the City,” including a fight with Zama Zamas.
The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) is taking steps to reduce risks associated with illegal mining and potholes strewn all over the City.
On the burning issue of loadshedding, the Mayor says, our City has been struggling with the endemic load shedding that has plagued South Africans. However, I am pleased to declare that we are taking firm measures to confront this obstacle directly.
“We recognize that we cannot tackle this crisis alone. It is for this reason that we have established partnerships with the Gauteng provincial government and Eskom to address it collectively”.
On transport master plan, the Mayor indicated plans were completed in the last year and these will serve as a guide for mid to long-term transport planning, project development and investment for the economic and social needs of Johannesburg.
“Our commitment is to provide integrated transport solutions for the benefit of residents and solutions which allow us to bridge the apartheid spatial configuration of our City by providing the majority of our residents with safe and reliable transport options and decent infrastructure,” says Kwamanda.
The completed Master Plans cover Region G, which includes Protea South, Eldorado Park, Lenasia, Ennerdale, Orange Farm, Zacharia Park and surrounds.
The Roodepoort CBD Transport Master Plan has also been completed and that plan covers the western edge of our City and provides a western link to the Johannesburg CBD for areas such as Kagiso, Krugersdorp, Soweto, Braamfischerville etc.
“The Government of Local Unity took charge in February 2023 to steer Johannesburg towards its goal of becoming a World Class African City as guided by our long-term Growth and Development Strategy – Joburg 2040.
Our vision for Johannesburg, which encompasses economic dynamism, social equity, and environmental stewardship, is outlined in our 2024/25 IDP review.
This document serves as a guide to inspire collaborative efforts, ensuring that all stakeholders are actively involved in shaping the city’s future. This is consistent with our priority to have an active and engaged citizenry,” says the Mayor.
“The IDP review incorporates fresh objectives influenced by the Joburg 2040 vision, matching the changing requirements and ambitions of the city. By conducting thorough yearly evaluations, promoting transparency, and involving the public, the IDP guarantees responsiveness and responsibility towards the desires of the residents.
The IDP centers around the idea of “The People’s Plan: Joburg – Our City: A place we call home,” emphasizing the importance of resilience, shared ownership and accountability,” reiterated Mayor Kwamanda.
Image (CoJ Mayor Kabelo Kwamanda during his 2024 SOCA).
