Delivering his last State of the City address in Turffontein on Wednesday morning, mayor Parks Tau said the city was being redesigned through the corridors of freedom, aimed at revitalising old suburbs and bridging the gaps between poorer and wealthier areas.
The corridors of freedom are recognised as a globally leading innovation by the UN, whose Global Environment Facility has committed an initial R100 million for the programme.
Tau said these corridors were bringing life to older suburbs and bridging the divide between poorer and wealthier areas.
The suburbs of Fleurhof and South Hills, Kliptown and Jabulani, Turffontein and Rosettenville, the student halls and shopping squares of Empire Road, Randburg, Jabulani, Orlando East, Park Station, Louis Botha Avenue, Alexandra and Sandton were areas that had been, and would be, improved through the corridors of freedom, he said.
“As we develop the Louis Botha corridor with the roll-out of the Rea Vaya phase 1c, the redevelopment of the Patterson Park node in Orange Grove and Norwood has already started. We are rebuilding a state-of-the-art clinic as part of a high-rise commercial space – redeveloping the public recreation and sports facilities and started with the massive revitalisation of Patterson Park and its waterways,” he said.
It is about multi-storey buildings rising along the corridor combining commercial space, green space, recreation and cultural amenities, market-rate rentals and social housing, he said.
“This means more people across a range of incomes are able to live richer lives much closer to where they can live, work and play. This is one major development which is bridging Norwood, Houghton, Orange Grove, Bellevue and Yeoville,” said Tau.
Among other successes over the past five years are an improved quality of governance which is supported by improved audit opinions and “excellent financial management”.
There has also been improved access to basic services, massive increases in infrastructure spending, including improving the delivery of basic services; improved access to health services, improved quality of health infrastructure and increased creation of job opportunities and improved public transport service.
“The city has also made excellent progress in building a smart city, which will result in economic development and job creation, providing a great place to live and work and using digital technologies for better connectivity and improved service delivery,” he said.
He said the city recognised that although developmental challenges remained, there had been significant progress in eliminating them.
“We are certain we have an excellent long-term strategy, as well as medium- and short-term plans, to eliminate these challenges and to create a resilient, liveable and sustainable Johannesburg,” he said.
Some of the major points in Tau’s speech included:
* Increased investment in Rea Vaya, the city’s bus rapid transit (BRT) system, to improve public transportation, ease traffic congestion and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, especially following the successful hosting of the EcoMobility World Festival in Sandton in October last year.
* Strengthening of the Jozi@Work Programme, a mayoral initiative aimed at fighting unemployment, poverty and inequality by contracting co-operatives and community-based businesses to provide the city with services such as grass cutting, cleaning, repairs and maintenance, landscaping and gardening.
* Continuing to create employment and empowerment opportunities for the youth through programmes such as Vulindel’ eJozi and digital ambassadors.
* Stepping up efforts to arrest food insecurity in many households in the poorest parts of the city by assisting small-scale farmers, establishing food empowerment zones and encouraging the creation of backyard food gardens.
* Investing in green and blue economies to support the growth of a greener city through programmes focusing on the reduction of carbon emissions, minimisation of waste impacts, protection of the natural environment and sustainable use of resources in economic activities.
* Continuing to bridge the digital divide through the roll-out of a broadband fibre optic cable to support the city’s IT infrastructure, improving access to the internet in public libraries and the creation of more free wi-fi hotspots in the city.
Meanwhile, Tau said plans have been intensified to fight drugs in the city, reports Karabo Moloi.
28 local drug action committees had been established to fight drugs‚ particularly nyaope.
“We’ll also facilitate therapy and rehabilitation at our own centre in Roodepoort and through our partner network of non-governmental and faith-based organisations. Nyaope and other drugs are consuming our youth‚ devastating families and wreaking havoc in our communities. We are empowering our communities to confront substance abuse‚” he said.
Furthermore‚ the city would introduce its new electronic patient record systems in 15 clinics across Soweto by June this year. This would reduce waiting times on an average of 10 minutes per person.
The city would also replace mobile clinics deployed in the most deprived areas with brick and mortar facilities.
