March/April 2009

AS part of the Inner City Safety Plan, CCTV cameras have been installed in many areas of the City. This has led to increased policing and monitoring of the City as well as addressing crime as and when it happens on the ground. The Inner City currently has 410 JMPD officers in Hillbrow Berea, Yeoville, Marshalltown, Fordsburg, Mayfair, Bertrams, Vrededorp, and Jeppestown and will have a total of 750 JMPD officers by June 2010. Out of the committed 100 JMPD vehicles to the Inner City by 2010, 74 JMPD vehicles are already operative. 

In keeping with a more managed, safer and cleaner Inner City, the Region F office has developed a quadrant based urban management system that is led by quadrant Teams that operationalise service and by law blitzes. The blitzes have been numerous and are ongoing on a block by block system which has been successful.

After much stakeholder consultation, the Masterplan for linear markets has been developed for the Inner City. Now in the implementation phase, the sewer and stormwater has been laid for Hoek and Quartz Streets markets. Hoek Street is being done in three phases, with Phase 1 recently been completed. It is expected that 3600 Smart Cards are to be issued to all legal traders by 31 June 2009. Street traders are being trained and educated via a business trading programme conducted in partnership with Wits. Also on economic development issues, 1400 BPO seats have been trained and secured, with the broadband pilot to rollout in Yeoville by June 2009 and the greater Inner City at a later stage.

Human Development has made substantial progress on the Charter. The Social package is progressive and will be made public as soon as possible. Several sports and recreation facilities in the Inner City have been upgraded, including a recreation street in the Inner City. The new policy for public art and places has been completed and is being implemented with 1% of capital spent on public art per project. The latest update of events is brought to you, the Inner City Stakeholder, via The Cultural Calendar and the JHB 52 Weeks Alive. This highlights all the City's events for the year.

The Housing Action Plan has been approved, with 1247 beds been provided for emergency, transitional and inclusionary housing. JOSHCO has acquired four new buildings for this purpose. The City will supply over and above commitments 1000 more beds in 2009.

The Bus Rapid Transit is progressing rapidly with Commissioner and Market Trunk Routes under construction. Miriam Makeba and Twist Street Trunk have also commenced and the second BRT Station is being constructed in Joubert Park. The Westgate Station will soon start construction.

Moving forward
So what can you, as the Inner City Stakeholder, expect over the next two years? A focus on linear markets, SMME development, support to the Central Improvement Districts, Investor information for the Inner City, more areas under public environment upgrade, the creation of iconic public spaces, transitional and emergency housing provision, the completion of the BRT and off Street Parking for Taxis and Buses.

Coming up in the next newsletter

• Exciting new housing developments in the Inner City
• Progress on the linear markets
• The City’s Capital expenditure allocation to the Inner City Regeneration

From Santhurie Naidoo
Inner City Progamme Manager