Inner city programme manager Santhurie Naidoo looks at the eighth inner city charter partnership forum; and the private sector investor in the spotlight is South Point, a company bringing quality and affordable student accommodation to the precinct.

THE eighth inner city charter partnership forum was held on 24 November 2009 at the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre in Newtown.  Chaired by executive mayor Amos Masondo, the meeting was well-attended and highly interactive.

The agenda included congestion in the inner city; migrants and foreign nationals; items of the Johannesburg Inner City Business Coalition’s mediation request; critical issues; informal traders and the City Improvement District policy for the inner city.

Lively debate during the 8th inner city partnership forum meeting

Presentations were given by the member of the mayoral committee for transport Rehana Moosajee on transportation issues in the inner city while Anne Steffny of the Johannesburg Inner City Business Coalition (JICBC) touched on the organisation's contribution to the inner city regeneration and the charter.  

Laura Mseme of Thabiso Consulting discussed the independent assessment of the charter commitments for the 2008/2009 financial year and touched on general strategic inner city regeneration issues.

Inner city vision
The executive mayor opened the meeting with a reminder that “the vision of the inner city is that of a dynamic city that works; a livable, safe, well-managed and welcoming city; people-centred, accessible and celebrating cultural diversity; a vibrant 24-hour city; a city for residents, workers, tourists, entrepreneurs and learners focused on the 21st Century; respecting its heritage and capitalising on its position in South Africa, Africa and the whole world; a truly global city, the trading hub of Africa, thriving through participation, partnerships and the spirit of Ubuntu”.

Masondo continued and said to achieve this we must develop and maintain a quality and environmentally-friendly inner city through structures and systems of urban management; by providing an integrated approach to the management of bad buildings; complete the roll-out of CCTV cameras; visible and ample policing; an appropriate mix of affordable and high-end residential developments; rich arts, culture and heritage initiatives; public open space development; and the management of trading.

One of the most important advances achieved and highlighted at the forum was the significant progress made in the delivery of charter objectives since the 2007/08 independent assessment, with an increase of 10 percent in performance for the 2008/09 financial year. 

Bad buildings: still a challenge in the inner city

However, one of the biggest challenges the City itself still faces is bad buildings. As part of the City’s comprehensive response strategy to bad buildings and building hijacking, a unit was established within Region F to conduct special investigations into organised building hijackers and syndicates operating in the inner city.

Financial challenges
And although the worldwide economic situation is still some way from recovering to normal, the inner city will deliver on its charter commitments as far as possible.  An amount of R42-million will be spent in the core CBD in this financial year to upgrade the public environment.

This will include refurbished pavements, street trees, street lighting, trader stalls, the Ernest Oppenheimer Park upgrade and public art.

And as a special highlight in the next financial year, two clinics will be upgraded to cater for the large demand on healthcare facilities in the inner city.  The MBV hospital conversion to a residential property will be complete in the next few months and will provide much needed transitional housing for residents currently living in bad buildings.

In addition, inner city hostels will be completed and160 service delivery and by-law enforcement blitzes will take place in the new year.

The ninth Charter Partnership Forum will be held early in March 2010.

Student accommodation
Since May 2003, South Point has been providing student accommodation in Braamfontein.  The company opted for student accommodation because it filled a much needed gap in the property market.

South Point's 1 Biccard Street in Braamfontein

South Point realized that the University of the Witwatersrand could accommodate only 4500 students but in reality had applications for up to 10 000 students looking for res accommodation.  As a result students started living under poor, slum-like conditions in certain instances.

South Point realised there was a niche market waiting to be tapped. Says Anjoh Poolton of South Point: "We were not wrong with this assumption. We have kids seeking accommodation at all points in the year. 2010 students will take up 3800 in Braamfontein. We still remain very passionate about the Inner City and serve a strong role of bringing people back into the inner city, with functional space to live, work and play here."

Students accommodation in South Point buildings offer entertainment rooms which the students themselves nominate and include things such as pool tables, fuzz-ball tables, a soccer astro turf and DSTV.  South Point also provides recreational space on rooftops.

Not just a bed
Recreation space is aimed at making areas safe and conducive to positive entertainment.

Anjoy says:  "From the beginning, it has never been about a bed. It has been [about] relationships and extending these relationships. We want students to think of South Point beyond student accommodation, by bringing in motivational speakers, providing mentorship programmes and internships, handing out accommodation bursaries, providing a gym in Braamfontein where students pay R80 per month. Soon South Point will be opening up a crèche at 1 Biccard Street, as part of and beyond our inner city social responsibility."

Apartments come fully furnished

Apartments come fully furnished.

In the future we can expect a greater presence from the company in Braamfontein and plans are also afoot to move into Doornfontein. The South Point strategy is to create precincts by buying buildings based on market trends.  It bases its success on making that extra effort with all buildings coming with 24-hour finger print access, cleaning done twice a day and using the December and January period for maintenance such as painting rooms, fixing blinds, repairing door handles, re-tiling showers, signage and other building maintenance.  As a result, South Point buildings have a 100 percent occupancy rate at all times.

Young families, post graduates, 30-somethings and visiting lecturers at Wits will be a new market focused on for next year.

Thank you South Point for a magnificent contribution to inner city regeneration!

In the next newsletter
The February newsletter brings you more developments from the public and private sectors.

A prosperous 2010 to all in the inner city!

Inner city programme manager
Santhurie Naidoo