​​The City of Johannesburg's Executive Mayor, Cllr Herman Mashaba, told more than 500 residents who packed the Dlamini Community Hall to keep a closer eye on the budget.

“I say to you, hold us accountable for the approved budget, which we will be implementing. You should hold us accountable for the increase in the delivery of housing, in the issuing of title deeds and service programmes," said Mayor Mashaba.

Mayor Masha was addressing the second Integrated Development Plan (IDP) regional summit on Saturday, 23 March 2019, which attracted scores of residents from as far as Chiawelo, Protea Glen, Meadowlands, Zola and Mapetla.

He was accompanied by MMC for Safety Cllr Michael Sun, MMC for Health and Social Development Cllr Mpho Phalatse, MMC for Community Development Cllr Nonhlanhla Sifumba and the MMC for Corporate and Shared Services Cllr Ntombi Khumalo. Also in attendance was the Chief Whip Cllr Kevin Wax and the acting Speaker Cllr Given Mogane.

The mayor promised residents that come April, the City will launch its new serviced sites programme for people to build their own houses. This bold promise by the mayor was met with applause and ululations.

Cllr Mogane said the legislature had brought the mayor and his executive to the community to respond to the issues that were raised in the last IDP and to give a progress report.

Soweto, Alexandra and Randburg will benefit from the expansion of the Opportunity Centres later in the year. These centres will assist local entrepreneurship to grow, reach their potential and create jobs, said Mayor Mashaba.

“These facilities are for free to use. They are yours. You must use them. We are going to get rid of the tenderpreneurs and rather focus on building entrepreneurs in the City. These centres must assist you by ensuring that every street and every ward has a plumber and a technician," said Mayor Mashaba.

He urged residents to be their brother's keeper and report any illegally dumping in their area.

Top issues that were raised in the previous IDP meetings across the region included the lack of housing, inadequate health facilities, safety and security, roads and transport and jobs.

​Soweto residents will be happy to know that in the current financial year 2018/19, the budget has been allocated for the total upgrade and the installation of the storm-water infrastructure in Protea Glen, Diepkloof and Orlando West.

Nonxeba Ginxane from Ward 13 demanded that City projects must prioritise local people when hiring labour. “The community is stopping the projects because the councillor appoints his own people. It is people from the outside who get jobs. This is why as the community we stop the projects," said Ginxane.

​Patrick Nyambeni from Phiri complained about the network server often being down each time he goes to the regional office to check his name on the RDP waiting list.