The City of Johannesburg Executive Mayor, Dada Morero, members of the mayoral committee, and senior city officials led a high-impact service delivery programme in Region F on February 3.

The operation focused on strategic areas in the inner city.

The programme forms part of the city’s accelerated service delivery drive aimed at restoring order, improving infrastructure, enhancing cleanliness, and enforcing municipal by-laws in high-density urban areas, particularly in Region F’s wards 59, 60, 123, and 124.

A coordinated, multi-disciplinary team comprising law enforcement, service delivery entities, departments, and social services was deployed to address long-standing and recurring inner-city challenges.

Backlogs addressed

The teams addressed various service delivery backlogs, including the unblocking of stormwater drains, repairing leaking water valves, road resurfacing and reinstatements, repairing potholes, street cleaning, repairing vandalised infrastructure, fixing streetlights, clearing illegal dumping, disconnecting illegal connections, and conducting building and business inspections.

This intervention marks a critical step in accelerating commitments made to President Cyril Ramaphosa and citizens of the city, ensuring a coordinated and fiscally responsible approach to rebuilding a safe, functional, and inclusive city.

During the operation, City Power teams disconnected several illegal electricity connections, including Park Central Mansion on De Villiers Street, which owes the city over R2.3m in outstanding electricity debt.

Town Planning, Building Development Management (BDM) and Emergency Management Services (EMS) issued two fines and five notices for non-compliance and contravention of various municipal by-laws. Environmental Health issued three notices for non-compliance, including operating without valid licences and closed one shop.

The Johannesburg Roads Agency unblocked stormwater drains along Wanderers, Bok, and Noord streets. With the current heavy rains, keeping our stormwater drains clear of blockages is critical to ensuring free water flow and preventing flooding.

Social Development teams engaged and profiled homeless people along Twist Street in Hillbrow, educating them about available support programmes offered through the city’s Displaced Persons Unit.

Challenges remain

Johannesburg’s inner city continues to face challenges such as overpopulation, ageing infrastructure, hijacked buildings, illegal street trading, homelessness, and the mushrooming of illegal settlements.

The director for Citizen Relationship and Urban Management in Region F, Irene Mafune, emphasised the importance of sustained service delivery blitzes and inspections: “We are restructuring the inner city street by street. While the work remains challenging, we remain committed to restoring dignity and delivering quality services to our residents.”