Johannesburg executive mayor, Clr Parks Tau delivered his end-of-term State of the City Address (SOCA) on Wednesday.
He summed up his administration’s performance of the past five years and presented plans to be implemented in the 2016-2021 term.
The speech was presented a few days after the city made a declaration at the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) Stakeholder Summit.
“Successes achieved by the city in the 2011-2016 term included improved quality of governance supported by improved audit opinions; excellent financial management; improved access to basic services; increases in infrastructure spending including improving the delivery of basic services; improved access to health services; improved quality of health infrastructure and increased creation of job opportunities and improved public transport service,” said Clr Tau.
He said the city also made progress in building a smart city, which will result in economic development and job creation, providing a place to live and work, using digital technologies for better connectivity and improved service delivery.
In his 2011-2016 executive summary, Clr Tau recognised that developmental challenges remained. “There has been significant progress in eliminating them,” he said.
“The city is certain it has an excellent long-term strategy as well as medium- and short-term plans to eliminate these challenges and to create a resilient, liveable and sustainable Johannesburg,” he said.
Some of the major points featured in the mayor’s speech included:
r Continued investment in the establishment of the Corridors of Freedom with new spatial developments aimed at creating a united city where residents will work, attend school and be closer to their workplaces.
r Increased investment in Rea Vaya – the city’s bus rapid transit (BRT) system to help improve public transportation, ease traffic congestion and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, especially following the successful hosting of the EcoMobility World Festival in Sandton in October 2015.
r Strengthening of the Jozi@Work Programme, which is a mayoral initiative aimed at fighting unemployment, poverty and inequality by contracting co-operatives and community-based businesses to provide the city with services such as grass cutting, cleaning, repairs and maintenance, landscaping and gardening, to mention a few.
r Continuing to create employment and empowerment opportunities for the youth through programmes such as Vulindlel’ eJozi which has achieved phenomenal outcomes in its first year.
r Stepping up efforts to address food insecurity in many households in the poorest parts of the city by assisting small-scale farmers, establishing food empowerment zones and encouraging the creation of backyard food gardens.
r Building sustainable human settlements especially in the Turffontein, Louis Botha Avenue and Westbury-Perth Corridors of Freedom.
r Investing in green and blue economies to support the growth of a greener city through programmes focusing on the reduction of carbon emissions, minimisation of waste impacts, protection of the natural environment and sustainable use of resources in economic activities.
r Continuing to bridge the digital divide through the roll-out of a broadband fibre optic cable to support the city’s information technology infrastructure, improving access to the internet in public libraries and creation of more free Wi-Fi hot spots in the city.
