“It was a great year of achievement for the city in spite of economic difficulties,” Makhubo told journalists at a media briefing in Braamfontein yesterday. 

“Achievements include upgraded sewage drains and improved street lighting around Johannesburg, and the 750km of broadband optic fibre rolled out city-wide which is in line with being a ‘smart city’.”

Makhubo said service delivery remained problematic in the city. He said the executive mayoral committee had launched service delivery prioritisation programmes aimed at accelerating basic services. This follows over 100 services delivery protests in Johannesburg in 2012, according to City manager Trevor Fowler.

The city’s acting group CFO Quentin Green disclosed the city has achieved a R4.95 billion net surplus, and that its finances would be stable for up to 15 years.

He  confirmed Joburg’s R35 billion income included R5.5 billion (up 12%) in property rates and R18.6 billion (up 22%) in services.

Democratic Alliance spokesman Mmusi Maimane said residents deserved proper services. “Service delivery has always been prioritised, yet residents encounter bad services. This is unacceptable,” he  said yesterday.

“If you want to collect revenue from residents, you have to deliver services.

“It all boils down to the fact that we need the right people to do the job.”

The city had established its own ombudsman in an effort to address  complaints made by residents.

Public Protector Advocate Thuli Madonsela welcomed efforts by the city to address its billing problems, and would release her systemic intervention report on March 31.

– jevanneg@citizen.co.za