The Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Councillor Herman Mashaba, praised the work done through the Inner City Partnership Forum in revitalising the inner city of Johannesburg.
The desired outcome of the Inner City Partnership Forum is accelerated, inclusive, shared and sustainable growth.
Addressing a packed Inner City Partnership Forum meeting earlier today, Mayor Mashaba said: “Next month will mark exactly two years since we decided to convene under the banner of the Joburg Inner City Partnership Forum. So let us take this opportunity to reflect on the journey we have travelled together thus far.”
He further emphasised that the Inner City Partnership Forum will continue to be a space to foster collaboration between inner city stakeholders, the City of Joburg and the private sector for meaningful engagements to find long-term sustainable solutions to the problems that plague the inner city.
In pursuit of accelerated, inclusive, shared and sustainable growth, the forum agreed to strive for sustainable solutions to meet the city’s social, economic, and physical needs so that the lives of all its citizens can be improved. This would be achieved through developing a liveable and safe community within the very heart of Johannesburg.
The forum further agreed to find ways to facilitate job creation; promote youth and small business development, ensure that businesses which are established in the inner city are retained and that new businesses are attracted.
One major achievement to realise these collective objectives is the awarding, in April, of tenders for 24 developments, spanning 81 properties and pieces of land holding with an investment value of approximately R20 billion. Throughout their lifespan, these 24 developments will create 11 000 jobs, before and after construction. The developments will deliver mixed typologies consisting of one bedrooms and two bedroom units.
According to high level plans, there will be approximately 6 500 units made up of one and two bedroom units as well as about 1 500 student beds. The monthly rentals will range from R900 a month per unit excluding utilities to R4 500 a month.
In the Request for Proposals, the City insisted that, for each development, 20% caters for the R900 per unit a month rental category.
The intended result is the mixed use development with emphasis on affordable residential units, student accommodation and retail spaces for small businesses.
A further 70 buildings will be awarded by September 2019 and are set to yield another expected R15 billion in investment, create 10 000 jobs and as well as a further 5 000 housing opportunities.
The Executive Mayor assured the stakeholders that the City will continue to facilitate investment of this scale by ensuring that there is sufficient infrastructure.
This can be attested through the recently approved budget where the allocation for infrastructure upgrade was pushed up to 71% from the previous allocation of only 53%.
The City will also continue with its efforts to take back the inner city from building hijacking syndicates, drug dealers and other criminal misfits, which are starting to bear fruits.
The City has identified about 500 buildings that have either been hijacked or abandoned. The City indicated that, in cases where owners of hijacked buildings cannot be located‚ applications will be brought for court orders to declare the properties in question abandoned, and direct the Registrar of Deeds to register the property in the name of the state or its nominee.
“Our partnership to revitalise the Inner City is beginning to have the effect of shedding light on areas beyond the Inner City, meaning that opportunities for investment, housing and job creation will continue to multiply,” concluded Councillor Mashaba.
ENDS
Issued by the City of Joburg
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