Chanting, heckling and fervent pleas for help drowned out presentations from City leaders as the City of Johannesburg concluded its eighth and final Integrated Development Plan (IDP) regional summit at the Finetown Multipurpose Centre in Region G on Saturday.
This was one of the more politically charged IDP sessions, with part of the crowd chanting political slogans in an effort to upstage the mayor on the eve of the national elections happening on 8 May.
Executive Mayor, Cllr Herman Mashaba, had to cut short his presentation after sections of the frenzied crowd heckled him a couple of times, accusing him of politically campaigning instead of giving them feedback on past and future developments in the area, which includes Devland, Drieziek, Eldorado Park, Freedom Park, Ennerdale, Kanana, Lenasia, Orange Farm and Poortjie.
Before returning to his seat, where he was flanked by MMC for Health and Social Development Cllr Mpho Phalatse, who directed proceedings, Speaker of Council Cllr Vasco da Gama, MMC for Economic Development Cllr Leah Knott, MMC for Public Safety Cllr Michael Sun, Chief Whip Cllr Kevin Wax, Region G Director Mickey Padayachee and JMPD Chief David Tembe, Mayor Mashaba thanked his multi-government partners for allowing his administration to bring change to residents of the City.
He said his administration wants Joburg to be the economic engine for the country and that the City plans to be the biggest creator of jobs in 2019/2020.
“The 2019/20 draft budget IDP and budget will move us closer to achieving our goal of being a more responsive city that will deliver service with pride. Expenditure on infrastructure services and housing has increased from 58% in 2016/17 to 71% in 2019/2020,” said Mayor Mashaba.
“The City of Johannesburg has created 110 000 despite Gauteng and the whole of South Africa shedding jobs in 2018. The City increased economic growth from 1.3% to 1.7% and the ultimate goal is to achieve 5% growth to create more jobs and build a legacy for future generations.
“We have opened five community substance abuse centres. On Monday [May 6] we’re launching the first of 10 mobile clinics because building takes time and our people need urgent medical care now. Monday’s mobile clinic has been donated but we have budgeted for 10 mobile clinics to increase access to healthcare for our residents.
“Every year the money we spend on poor communities grows and we are not going to be apologetic about it. By lifting the poor, this gives us the privilege to serve you. We have delivered 6 606 tittle deeds in the past two years and 2 383 social housing units were developed by JOSHCO over the past two years,” said Mayor Mashaba.
During question time, resident Joshua Sithole asked the City’s leadership to consider building factories along the vast tracts of unoccupied land in Region G so that the scourge of unemployment and crime could be tackled.
Another resident from Orange Farm, Mandla Mathebula, said there has been a housing project that was started in 2015 and to date only the foundations to 27 houses have been built. “Project managers come and go and we the residents still don’t know what’s happening.”
A resident of Freedom Park who didn’t give his name said they were experiencing blackouts every weekend. He urged Mayor Mashaba and City Power to look into the electricity supply to the area.
City officials promised to respond to residents’ question and took down their contact details.
