City calls for collective action to protect public infrastructure
While the Mayor presents plans for improvement, residents challenge local leadership on persistent issues like crime, illegal dumping, and lack of healthcare services.
Scores of residents gathered at the Brixton Multipurpose Centre on 2 April for Region F’s Integrated Development Plan (IDP) meeting.
Speaker of Council, Clr Nobuhle Mthembu, chaired the session, while Executive Mayor Clr Dada Morero presented the draft 2025/26 IDP, dubbed ‘The People’s Plan’.
He emphasised the importance of shaping Johannesburg’s future through residents’ perspectives, focusing on trust, transparency, and essential service delivery.
Morero outlined key infrastructure commitments, including upgrades to water reservoirs in Brixton, Yeoville, and South Hills. Other priorities include tackling illegal dumping, strengthening law enforcement, repairing roads, maintaining public parks, and improving the electricity supply.
“The city is refurbishing 45 reservoirs and making strides in service delivery,” said Morero. “Projects include unblocking stormwater drains, fixing potholes, and progressing on major developments like the new Turffontein Clinic (39% complete), Murray Park Library (54% complete), the Joburg City Library refurbishment, and Bertrams Multipurpose Centre.”
Residents voiced deep frustration over lawlessness, unemployment, homelessness, and illegal structures.
Complaints included informal settlements encroaching on public spaces, illegal traders blocking pavements, illegal electricity connections, and the shortage of clinics.
A Ward 58 resident expressed anger: “A gas servitude in the area has been invaded by undocumented immigrants. They build shacks and spaza shops, destroying infrastructure.”
Another resident was sceptical about the meeting’s impact: “I’ve attended for over five years, but nothing has changed.”
Mapule Madiba from Ward 64 raised additional concerns. “Most streetlights don’t work, parks are vandalised, and crime is rampant. We need security patrols. Our nearest clinic is Hillbrow, but we’re told to go to Bez Valley, which is too far for unemployed residents.”
Members of the Mayoral Committee acknowledged these grievances and committed to oversight visits, including to the Ward 58 gas servitude.
They assured residents that the Joubert Park clinic would reopen once budget allocations were finalised and highlighted the city’s shortage of environmental health practitioners, with only 250 currently employed.
