The city has successfully concluded all 29 community-based planning (CBP) meetings that were held from 12 February 22 until 5 March 2022.

Over the next few days, officials will be hard at work collating and analysing  all the community inputs received through the different platforms created for participation. The outcome of the CBP process and collated inputs will be scrutinised by the Mayoral Committee with the objective of referring key emerging issues for consideration by the relevant departments and entities. The departments and entities accordingly respond by determining projects, programmes and initiatives to address the issues raised. 

The Speaker of Council, Councillor Vasco Da Gama who’s office is also responsible for public participation, says “It is important to acknowledge that the issues raised are not new to the City and also reflect community dissatisfaction with service delivery.  A resounding outcry is the quality of our road infrastructure  as well as the lack of adequate housing that was echoed by most of the Regions”.

“ As a result, the capital expenditure allocation is likely to have a large amount dedicated to Housing and the Joburg Roads Agency. As the inputs get finalised, they will be incorporated into the draft business plans and draft Integrated Development Plan (IDP) that will be tabled before Council on 24 March 22”, says Speaker Da Gama.

He added that it would be “an injustice to not highlight the challenges faced” by this year’s IDP formulation. Ordinarily the CBP process is conducted between the months of September to November with the legal requirement of adopting the IDP in March the following year.  The local government elections conducted in November 2021 coupled to the delays in electing relevant chairpersons meant that the CBP process started later than normal. 

Under the circumstances the city must nevertheless knuckle down and meet the set deadlines so that the “Golden Start” as promised by Executive Mayor Mpho Phalatse and her mayoral committee is realised. The Office of the Speaker plays an oversight role over the executive to ensure that identified community projects and programmes are implemented.

Ends

Issued on behalf of Councillor Vasco da Gama, Speaker of Council
By Virgil James
082 467 9415

10/03/2022