Monthly updates on the Charter progress from Johannesburg’s Inner City Programme Manager Santhurie Naidoo.

THE Sixth Inner City Charter Partnership Forum was held at the University of Wits' Origins Centre on 2 June 2009, chaired by Joburg's executive mayor Amos Masondo.

At play in the inner city

Participation in the forum was extensive and included a range of stakeholders from the public, private and non-profit sectors.

Leading up to the forum and the drawing up of themes, one-on-one meetings and intensive working groups were held on the six Charter sectors: Urban Management, Safety and Security; Social Development; Transportation; Residential Development; Public spaces, Arts, Culture and Heritage; and Economic Development.

Progress on the Economic Development sector   
At the end of the financial year 2008/09, the recorded cumulative investment directly attributable to the UDZ is almost at R7-billionn, which surpasses the R2-billion mark originally set.

As part of the Grow Your Business strategy, 500 traders were enrolled and certified in July 2008, and were awarded certificates at Wits University. A total of 700 traders will be educated via this programme.

Four major linear markets are being implemented. These are Quartz Street with the JDA, Hoek Street 1 with Metro Trading Company, Hoek Street 3, and the Fordsburg Market. Hoek Street 1 has been completed by MTC. Quartz Street is being finalised.

In conjunction with the linear markets, by June 2009, 3 600 smart cards will be  issued  to all  informal  traders  within  MTC  managed  facilities,  including street stalls within the Inner City.

Progress on the Public Spaces, Arts, Culture and Heritage sector
The City’s public art policy is a successful public art programme that plans and schedules the roll-out of key public art interventions and installations in tandem with the redevelopment of public spaces and streets, such as the eland.

The eland in Braamfontein

The Workers' Museum, the Drill Hall, Rissik St Post Office are underway. Constitutional Hill remains work in progress. Joubert Park has been successful. Additional high level policing is required in public spaces and heritage areas.

The calendar of events has been finalised, as well as a cultural calendar. The JHB 52 weeks live is a link to the joburg.org.za website and highlights all the Joburg events where you can be kept busy with all the arts and culture in the City all year around.

Progress on the Residential Development sector
Varied typologies for affordable housing have been set to ensure that different housing models can be applied to different users’ needs. The City is renovating Selby, City Deep and Van Beek hostels. Jeppe and Denver informal settlements are still to be addressed. The Draft Phase 2 of the Housing Action Plan can be expected by December 2009, with the inclusion of the input from the Inner City Spatial Framework.

With regards to transitional housing, the City will supply 1 000 transitional beds in 2009.

BG Alexander Phase 1 is complete and occupied. This includes communal kitchens and bathrooms as well as self-contained family units of between one and three bedrooms. In total there will be 402 beds at the cost of R45-million. La Rosabel has shared bathrooms and the use is for long-term accommodation with 50 units and a total investment of R7-million. Vannin Court will have 106 units at the refurbishment cost of R16.5-million. The Raschers will have 87 units upon completion at the total refurbishment cost of R9-million. Linatex will have 120 units at the refurbishment cost of R15.6-million. AA House will have 144 units at R38.9-million. Europa will have 120 units at R24-million. The total beds will be 1 109 at R156-million.

Progress on the Social Development sector   
Some R5-million has been allocated to street children from the 2009/10 Community Development budget, and a further R5-million will be secured as part of the Inner City fund.

The City of Johannesburg will facilitate the establishment of an Inner City Corporate Social Responsibility Fund, which is attractive for corporations to fund. This will be carried out in partnership with the JICBC. 

Progress on the Transportation sector
For off street parking facilities, by-laws for on-street parking and loading along BRT routes are being developed and the City’s Parking Policy has been approved.

The first BRT station in Joubert Park

Many beautiful BRT stations can be seen in the City. Gwigwi Mgwebi, Plein Street and the Metro Loop are to begin in the new financial year. The completion of the BRT for the Inner City is expected by October 2009.

Progress on the Urban management, Safety and Security sector
The blitzes are progressive and are occurring on a weekly basis in the Inner City.

Prototypes on the safest manholes are still being explored. The sustainability and value add of the Region F office demands ongoing operating funding.

Enforcement of the City’s by-laws and applicable legislation in being implemented on a larger scale than previously.

What to expect in the next Inner City newsletter?
The July Inner City newsletter will bring you the public environment upgrade projects completed for Hillbrow, New Doorfontein and surrounds, Pageview, Vrededorp, The Governor’s House, and the Fordsburg market.

From Santhurie Naidoo
Inner City Progamme Manager