THE City of Johannesburg and Diabetes South Africa has planned a number of activities as part of the World Diabetes Day taking place on 14 November 2011.

2011 marks the 3rd year of the five-year focus on "Diabetes education and Prevention", which is the theme selected by the International Diabetes Federation and the World Health Organization for World Diabetes Day 2009 – 2013.The campaign slogan is: "Act on Diabetes Now"

Diabetes is a chronic condition that arises when pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas that enables cells to take in glucose from blood and use it for energy.

 "As a build-up towards to the events around World Diabetes Day, the City of Johannesburg will be conducting health education on diabetes, screening for diabetes (checking blood sugar levels), blood pressure, cholesterol, weight check, and eye screening in all seven regions of the city. On Monday, 14 November 2011, Diabetes South Africa and the City of Johannesburg will light the Nelson Mandela Bridge in Blue for people living with Diabetes", says Clr Nonceba Molwele, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Health and Social Development in the City of Johannesburg.  

"We want to create an awareness of healthy living through educating the city’s residents on the importance of maintaining a balanced lifestyle", says Molwele.

There are two main types of diabetes: Type one diabetes is an autoimmune disease characterized by the destruction of the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Consequently, people with type one diabetes produce very little or no insulin and must take insulin by injection or insulin pump to survive. Type one diabetes, which used to be called juvenile-onset diabetes, is most commonly diagnosed in young adults.

Type two diabetes is marked by insulin resistance. People with type two diabetes cannot use the insulin that they produce effectively. They can often manage their condition through exercise and diet. However, in many cases oral drugs are needed and often insulin is required.

Constant thirst, weight loss, frequent urination and fatigue are warning signs of diabetes. Blurred vision, slow-to-heal cuts, tingling or numbness in the hands and feet, and recurring skin, mouth and bladder infections could all be signs that you have diabetes.

Foods that have a high sugar or fat content, such as pastries, cakes, chocolates, chips, sweets and desserts should be avoided. If eaten at all, it should be in very small quantities. Stay away from oily sauces and high-fat dairy products. Low-fat proteins, whole-wheat grains, fruit and vegetables, starches and low-fat dairy products are recommended.

Go for a simple urine and blood tests at your local clinic or doctor. This will indicate if you have diabetes and require additional examination and treatment. Talk to a health worker about your results. They will explain how your diabetes can be controlled. Some people will require to take pills or insulin injections to control their diabetes. Many individuals can also control their diabetes by controlling their food intake (diet) and doing regular exercise.

Remember you can control diabetes. For further information please visit your nearest clinic. If you are a Diabetic – subscribe with "Diabetic South Africa" - telephone: (011) 792 9888

For more information contact:
Nkosinathi Nkabinde                                        
Communications Specialist                                         
City of Johannesburg Public Liaison Department                            
Tel: (011) 407 – 6477
Cell: 083 408 7787                                    
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

TRIBUTE will be paid to the families of military veterans during the National Remembrance Sunday event to be held on Sunday, 13 November 2011, at the Cenotaph in Harrison Street.   

Thoughts will turn to the pain and destruction of war, which affected not only the ex-combatants, but also their families who are left behind, and the many who have lost loved-ones and bread-winners.     

National Civic Remembrance Sunday honours all South Africans who made the supreme sacrifice for their country in wars and conflict, including the struggle for democracy.  The commemoration in Johannesburg is the largest of its kind in South Africa, and links with Remembrance Day events held in many countries of the world.   

National Remembrance Sunday will open with a march-past the Cenotaph in Harrison Street, featuring veterans' organisations and military bands, supported by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), and with hundreds of marchers in the parade.  This will be followed by an inter-faith religious service to be led by the Chaplain General Marius Cornelissen.   

As part of the Service, wreaths will be laid by senior SANDF officers, diplomats, civic dignitaries, a large variety of ex-service organisations, and youth groups.  The wreath-laying will be led by the Executive Mayor, Cllr. Parks Tau, laying the first wreath on behalf of the City of Johannesburg.   

Loose flowers will be available free of charge for members of the audience to lay in memory of the loved ones who lost their lives in wars and conflict, including the struggle for democracy.  The event will start at 14: 30 and is open to members of the media and the community at large.   

Issued on behalf of:
Executive Mayor's Office
City of Johannesburg

Issued by:
Nthatisi Modingoane
Deputy Director: Communications
CITY OF JOHANNESBURG
Tel: (011) 407 7354
Fax: 403 3494
Cell: 082 467 9228
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

THE City of Joburg has advertised its intention to enter into a long term contract with public transport operators to set up a bus operating company for Phase 1B of Rea Vaya BRT. Phase 1B will run from Soweto to Parktown through Noordgesig, Riverlea, Westbury, Westdene, Auckland Park and will also have feeders from Yeoville and Parktown and will require a bus operating company operating 134 buses.

The proposed contract with the bus operating company (BOC) will run for 12 years. Section 33 of the Municipal Finance Management Act 56 of 2003 requires the City to engage in a public participation process when entering into contracts that will impose financial obligations on the City beyond the three years covered in the current annual budget.

The City through its Rea Vaya BRT Project is committed towards providing safe, reliable and affordable public transport to the residents of Joburg. One of the cornerstones of the project is to ensure that existing public transport operators affected by Rea Vaya are given an opportunity to own and operate the Rea Vaya busses. For that purpose the City needs to enter into long term contracts with the affected operators for the provision of the required bus operating service.

The Information Statement which is being published together with the draft bus operating contract indicates that the City anticipates that the contract will cost an annual amount of between between R130m per annum and R164m per annum, depending on various factors such as the actual bus prices, loan finance costs, and the price (fee per km) that would result from the contract to be negotiated with the affected operators.

These costs are to be funded wholly or in part from fare revenue to be derived from Phase 1B. The purpose of the public participation process is to obtain comments or representations from members of the public and stakeholders on the proposed long term contract.

The above mentioned Information Statement summarizing the City's obligations in terms of the proposed draft contract will be published in the local newspapers and announced through radio broadcasts during early November 2011.

Copies of the Information Statement and the proposed draft contract will be displayed on the Second Floor (West), Council Chamber Wing, Metropolitan Centre, 158 Loveday Street, Braamfontein, at the City's 7 Regional Offices, at all Satellite Municipal Offices and all 90 the Municipal Libraries, and on the City's official website.

The public has until 7 December 2011 to e-mail comments or representations on the proposed draft contract to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or deliver them to 11th Floor, North Wing, JRA Building, 66 Sauer Street (cnr Jeppe Street), Johannesburg, Fax: 011 870-4611 - Attention: Mr Segala Malahlela.

We trust that City residents take this opportunity to let us know of their views about entering into this long term contact.

Media queries can be directed to:
Tebogo Mogashoa
Stakeholder Liaison
Office of the MMC
Tel: 011 298 5269
Cel: 072 207 5945

Issued on behalf of:
Councillor Rehana Moosajee
MMC for Transport
City of Johannesburg

THE City’s debtors book has grown substantially over the last financial year. The City has embarked on comprehensive credit control and debt collection measures on all customer accounts.
 
The City will endeavour to call on customers as soon as their accounts defaults to remind them of the default - providing the City has up to date customer contact information. The City therefore requests that customers update their contact information and also ensure that they obtain a statement.

According to Kgamanyane Maphologela, the Revenue & Customer Relations Management’s spokesperson, the City encourages customers that can not fully service their outstanding payments to immediately make use of the arrangements options the City has to offer.

Please note:

• We have sent a communication to all customers who are in arrears by sending them pre-termination notices before cut off can be effected, and implementing immediate credit control process if there is no response from the debtor.
• Customers who have logged a legitimate query and who have received reference numbers and ensured that the account is flagged will be excluded from the credit control campaign. However, customers with logged queries must remember that they are still required to pay normal monthly consumption by the due date.
• All customers erroneously cut will be immediately reconnected.
• All customers who have been issued with a pre-termination notice and who have recently been converted to a prepaid metre are requested to urgently  visit the nearest customer service centres to update their metre details .

Indigent customers and pensioners are welcome to register with the relevant assistance programs of the City. Please note that these customers must still pay any arrears on their accounts as they will be subjected to credit control and debt collection actions.

Customers with queries must ensure that such are logged for resolution and customers are encouraged to still resume paying the expected monthly average bill to prevent credit control action.

The City will send out notices to all customers that have defaulted to notify the customers of the City’s intention to terminate all services. All services will be terminated on accounts with balances outstanding 30 days and older.  Further legal action will commence immediately on all delinquent accounts to recover outstanding amounts owned to the City.

Customers that have queries can log a query with Joburg Connect at (011) 375-5555 or email them at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit their nearest Customer Service Centre.

Issued by:
Kgamanyane Stanley Maphologela
Deputy Director: Customer Communications
Revenue & Customer Relations Management Department
Phone: 011 628 4728
Fax: 011 358 3639
Cell: 083 589 3746
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

THE City of Johannesburg (CoJ) Public Safety office wishes to commend Johannesburg residents, the business community, the visitors and law enforcers for the staggering contribution and co-operation during the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) march.

The MMC for Public Safety Councillor Matshidiso Mfikoe, together  with the Chief of Johannesburg  Metropolitan  Police (JMPD) Chief Chris Ngcobo and Acting Chief of the Joburg Emergency  Management  Services (EMS) Director Lazarus Makola are humbled by the conduct and behavior of the marches during their 12 hours  proceedings  from the City of Johannesburg to the City of Tshwane.

According to Councillor Matshidiso Mfikoe, the commitment which was executed by the City's law-enforcers  who went beyond the call of duty to ensure  that the City's by-laws relating to the safety of the City's infrastructure was protected and maintained during and after the expected ANCYL March.

"This mature and civil conduct which proceeded during the youth league march should serve as an olive branch to other civic groups/organisations.

"We would like to urge all parties intending to stage similar proceedings  to be encouraged by this good behavior, patriotism and to uphold the values which are imbedded in the constitution of South Africa.       

"The City of Joburg belongs to all who live in it and such privilege should inspire everybody who lives, works or is visiting the City to take ownership of the City's infrastructure and to respect fellow patriots in Joburg and beyond.

During the march the City of Joburg dispatched over 1 000 JMPD to monitor the march and made available five ambulances from the start of the march to finish.

Issued on behalf of:
Councillor Matshidiso Mfikoe     
MMC for Public Safety
City of Johannesburg

Issued by:
Anda Mbikwana
Spokesperson
Office of the MMC for Public Safety
Tel: 011 758 9149
Cell: 076 792 9769     
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

THE Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) wishes to assure Johannesburg residents, the business community and visitors that their safety and traffic mobility within the City of Joburg is of paramount importance to the department.

The department has met with relevant stakeholders and put in place a plan to deal with any safety threats that may arise as a result of the anticipated ANC Youth League march for "Economic Freedom".

On Thursday 27/10/2011 the JMPD officers will be out in full force to ensure that the City's by-laws relating to the safety of the City's infrastructure is protected and maintained during and after the "expected ANCYL March for Economic Freedom".

Traffic management will be beefed-up as more officers will be positioned in strategic intersections to monitor and ensure easy traffic-flow.

The marchers will converge at 08h00 at Beyers' Naude Square which is in the City Centre of Johannesburg. The procession will commence at 10h00 going through Simmonds Street via Marshall Street then to Sandton via Braamfontein.

Motorists are cautioned to avoid Simmonds, Rissik, Marshall, Juta and Smit, Oxford  and Revonia  Streets between 09h00 and 15h00.

The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department approves all marches in line with the Gathering Act no 205 of 1993 as well as the Road Traffic Act no 93 of 1996. Permission is only granted if applicants meet all the requirements in terms of the aforementioned legislation.

The office of the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Public Safety in the City of Johannesburg headed by Councillor Matshidiso Mfikoe wishes to apologize to residents for any inconvenience they may experience and pleads for patients to all affected people during the aforementioned times.

Issued on behalf of:        
Councillor Matshidiso Mfikoe     
MMC for Public Safety
City of Johannesburg

Issued by:
Anda Mbikwana
Spokesperson
Office of the MMC for Public Safety
Tel: 011 758 9149
Cell: 076 792 9769    
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The City of Johannesburg in partnership with Siemens invite you to the kick-start of the climate change awareness raising campaign on Monday, 24 October 2011 as the build-up towards the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP 17).

The 24th October 2011 is an International Day for Climate Change. The world will be awash with activities geared towards heightening awareness and education of the people about the causes of climate change and its impacts on ecosystems and human livelihood.

The City contributes to climate change and is also not exempt from the negative impacts thereof. For instance the City is expected to warm by 2 – 3oC in future depending on the season of the year. 

The anticipated warming will trigger heat waves that may result in many deaths as in Europe in 2003. On the other hand, rainfall is expected to intensify resulting in flooding in many parts of the city.  Flooding will be worsened by blockages in the storm water drainage systems.

The campaign will be launch under the theme “Mobilising Joburg citizens to act today to save tomorrow” in the south of Johannesburg at Orange Farm on Monday, 24 October 2011 and will be spread across the city over next weeks until the beginning of COP 17 in Durban.  

The campaign will takes place as follow:

• Green Bus will depart from the Metro Centre, 158 Loveday Street, Braamfontein at 9am on the 24th October 2011 to Orange Farm.
• The City’s officials will interact with members of the community in Orange Farm.
• City Power’s officials will install the energy efficiency bulbs whilst explaining to the households the reasons for doing so.
• A number of orange trees will be planted and explain the benefits of planting trees.
• The convoy will also stop at strategic points with a high concentration of people like local markets and taxi ranks to engage and distribute pamphlets on how can the public get involved in mitigating climate change?

Equally important is that South Africa will be hosting the COP 17 meeting in Durban from the 28th November - 9th December 2011. COP 17 is the most important gathering for two reasons; it is held in Africa and offers the opportunity to push the African agenda with a lot of emphasis on adaptation.

Secondly, COP 17 will determine the future of the Kyoto Protocol, the only legally binding international agreement for the developed countries to slash their greenhouse gas emissions by 5% based on 1990 levels.

END

For more information contact:

Nkosinathi Nkabinde
Communication Specialist  
City of Johannesburg Public Liaison Department
Tel: (011) 407 – 6477
Cell: 083 408 7787
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

ACCORDING to the Road Traffic Management Corporation's report for 2009, there were 277 fatal road crashes in Gauteng.  In statistical terms, this means that three out of every four days of the year we can expect a person to die from a road crash.

For many, when we take into account the cost of these road crashes we limit ourselves to the costs of the vehicles involved, the use of emergency vehicles, etc.  But as a city (and a society) we lose valuable human resources, many times the breadwinners of families.  We cannot afford so many car crashes to wreck so many lives.

But we are also aware that motor vehicles do not drive themselves.  It is us the residents of Johannesburg, who drive motor vehicles.  The 2009 RTMC report also states that 82.85% of fatal crashes are caused by the human factor.

Therefore the MMC for Transport: Clr Rehana Moosajee, will be hosting road safety stakeholders, which will include commuter organisations, public transport operators, insurance companies, faith-based organisations, school governing bodies, youth structures, disabled organisations, and many others so as to discuss how we as Johannesburg can establish a Road Safety Council.  

The express mission of the Road Safety Council must be to stop the carnage on our roads, through collective action and partnerships.  The meeting will be held at the Gold Reef City Conference Centre, on Tuesday, 25 October 2011, from 09h00 to 15h00.

The meeting will include diverse speakers such as Ashraf Ismail from the RTMC, Mandla Msizi from the Provincial Department of Health, Thembela  Mbalukwana from Headway, Gary Ronald from the Automobile Association, and Eugene Herbert from Master Drive.

The RTMC Road Safety Ambassador, Ms. Mangela Ngcobo, will be the programme director, who is also the current Miss Soweto.

The theme for Transport Month, is "Connecting People and Places", and therefore action must be as important as talking and discussing. Thus, participants to the meeting will be invited to join the MMC in painting a pedestrian crossing at the nearby Gold Reef Primary School.

All residents of Johannesburg as well as interested organisations and bodies are welcome to attend, for further information you can contact Fikiswa on 011 870 4615 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Media queries can be directed to:
Tebogo Mogashoa
Stakeholder Liaison
Office of the MMC
Tel: 011 298 5269
Cel: 072 207 5945     

Issues on behalf of:
City of Johannesburg

"Building a better Joburg: Promoting public transport, walking and cycling"

THE City of Johannesburg will launch its Joburg 2040 Growth and Development Strategy (GDS) document tonight at the FNB Stadium.

Joburg will not do it alone but together with residents, business, youth, women, the disabled, institutions of learning, government and all the organizations and individuals who participated in the GDS Outreach programme. This Outreach Process was a first in long-term strategy making processes in South African Local Government history.

Numerous activities are planned throughout the City involving different communities, their councilors and officials as part of the launch celebrations. As a build up to the launch, various structures like bridges and buildings will be lit up and branded with the Joburg 2040 logo.

Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg councilor Parks Tau says, "We are extremely excited about the launch of the Joburg 2040 document because it is a true reflection of the contribution and input of the citizens of Joburg".

Continuing he says, "Together with my team, I urge every person to spread the message of a world class African city that has shifted course and responded to what people have said".

The Joburg 2040 strategy is an aspirational document that defines the type of society Joburg wants to become by 2040.

It does however provide a set of defined strategic choices that frame the five-year Integrated Development Plan. In support of long-term delivery the IDP contains specific five-year operational activities, targets and financial budgets. Through platforms such as the mainstream media, the Joburg website and social media, each and every event received publicity. It was a successful engagement by the City to work with citizens and groups to find sustainable ways to meet their social, economic and material needs and to improve their quality of life.

The GDS Outreach, a nine-week process of engagement launched on 2 August 2011, provided an opportunity through which to test the ideas included in a draft of the 2040 GDS. The process included a number thematic weeks, namely: Liveable Cities, Resource Sustainability, Health and Poverty, Governance, Transportation, Community Safety, Environment, Economic Growth and Smart City.

Discussions with stakeholders including the community; ward-level engagement and participation to incorporate the voices of local communities ran parallel to the eight weekly themes.

An international conference with leading global, regional and local experts; a City Lekgotla and a final GDS Stakeholders' Summit providing critical feedback.

It aimed to include all stakeholders, using a wide-ranging stakeholder and community consultation process to drive the development of an inspiring, visionary and implementable local government strategy. As a strategic benefit, it brought about a greater public understanding of the causal relationship between long-term strategy, its implementation and service delivery imperatives. It allowed for an all-inclusive policy direction to be adopted by the City.

In doing so Joburg broke new ground and took public participation to a new level in pursuance of its vision: "Johannesburg will become a resilient world class African city of the future-a city that provides sustainability, a real quality of life for all its citizens and one that celebrates diversity".

Fast facts about GDS

• 15 000 estimated number of people interacted with the City through thematic workshops, Ward consultations, GDS Conference, GDS Summit
• 1000 Managers briefing to mobilise the City's 27 000 strong workforce
• 51 340 total number of interactions online through Facebook, Twitter, micro-site, You tube, emails, etc
• 83 total of number City-hosted events were held throughout the thematic weeks

Issued on behalf of:
Councillor Parks Tau
Executive Mayor
City of Johannesburg

Issued by:
Virgil James
Spokesperson
City of Joburg
Cel: 082 467 9415
Tel: 011 407 7226

SCHOOL learners in Joburg were given a platform to originate their innovative and artistic impression of their  vision of their City in the year 2040. This all as part of the City's Growth and Development Strategy (GDS). The competition was launched on 03 September, during the Governance theme week. Student Councillors and Grade 10 learners drawn from various schools had a debate in order to formulate ideas on how they see the City operating in 2040.

The themes used for the competition was in the context of the City's nine themes of the GDS namely: Economic Growth, Livable Communities, Community Safety, Health and Poverty,  Resource Sustainability, Governance, Transport and Smart City.

The objective of the competition was to generate a proposal on the key challenges confronting the City. It was also an attempt to obtain inputs and suggestions from learners whilst at the same  time capturing their imagination.

Learners were tasked to come up with creative solutions to the challenges facing the City.

The competition was open to all primary and secondary schools as well as tertiary institutions  in Joburg. Entry forms were distributed to 150 schools. By the closing date of 10 October 2011, over 200 entries were received in the following four categories:

• A colouring competition for the foundation phase. Learners were required to colour in a futurescape of their City
• An essay or art work for primary schools on any of the themes portraying their vision of the city in 2040;
• Secondary, and tertiary institutions were required to write a skit about their understanding of what an Active Citizen is or produce a 3-D model or design on their future city using recycled or scrap materials.

"Johannesburg is a great place to live in but hey, its not as "smart" as Seatle or San Francisco but I think we the future generation can change it," a quotation from the winning essay submitted by Neha Patel, a learner from Shree Bharat Sharda Mandir  school. The competition allowed innovation from learners. Their contribution to the GDS process was just as compelling and thought provoking as the inputs received from  other stakeholders in the City.

Issued on behalf of:
City of Johannesburg

Issued by:
Jaqueline Baloyi
Communication Specialist
City of Joburg Public Liaison
Tel: 011 407 7421
Cell: 073 088 0904

Join in the conversations about Joburg's future, my city our future!

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