Millions allocated to upgrade and fix Mogale’s issues

Mogale City Executive Mayor Koketso Calvin Seerane announced in his State of the City Address that Mogale City central business district (CBD) is set to get a facelift once the local municipality implements its Social Housing Policy.

Mogale City is finalising the Social Housing Policy, which would guide the establishment and promotion of a sustainable housing environment, after sourcing public comment in February.

“Most business buildings in the CBD will be converted into residential apartments with varying occupation arrangements that include rental, rent-to-buy and outright purchase,” says Seerane,

The policy aims to accelerate the provision of housing to low and middle-income residents as a way to “restructure and integrate” previously excluded groups in the area.

According to the draft policy, low-income households are defined as those earning between R1 500 and R3 500 a month, and low to medium-income households are those earning between R3 501 and R10 000. Qualifying criteria for social housing include South African citizenship and earnings of between R1 500 and R7 500, besides others.

Transport plans

Meanwhile, as Mogale City recorded significant growth, a Local Integrated Transport Plan that will see various transport hubs upgraded to meet the growing demand for an efficient public transport system, has been tabled.

The mayor says development proposals are under consideration for the upgrade of the Krugersdorp Railway Station after the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) has budgeted R30 million for the project.

“This project is part of a slew of interventions aimed at the regeneration of the Mogale City CBD,” said Seerane.

“The City will work with the Gauteng Transport Commission to accelerate opportunities presented by the phased introduction of the bus service on the West Rand as announced by Premier Nomvula Mokonyane in her State of the Province Address,” he adds.

Efforts are also under way to conclude plans to upgrade the N14 between Mogale City and Tshwane, as part of the export-import driven “Lanseria City” development.

Tenders are currently out for the construction of the regional taxi rank at the much-awaited R2-billion Leratong Nodal Development.

Electricity for Mogale

Mogale City says that more than R200 million has been spent on upgrading the various substations and transmission lines to improve the City’s electrical supply capacity to accommodate new developments.

The City also injected R5 million into the electrification of houses in Kagiso Extension 13 and Sinqobile, besides others, and provided for public lighting in informal settlements, including Pangoville, Tudor Shaft, Joe Slovo and Makhulugama.

Mogale City is exploring alternative off-the-grid energy provision for informal settlements across the city, while initiatives are under way to reduce the impact of conventional electricity generation on the environment, Seerane adds.

“For example, a process of installing energy-efficient light fittings has started in municipal buildings and on street lights, [while] a solar-geyser installation programme is [also] being rolled out. Currently, a waste-to-energy strategy is being developed to add impetus to an existing move towards alternative and renewable energy.”

The City and the Department of Energy entered into a memorandum of understanding to pilot a smart-metering and other renewable-energy projects in Munsieville, with the department contributing R10-million towards the project.

Water issues to be addressed

The City’s provision of other basic services also will be boosted, as the municipality allocated R53,8 million to installing bulk water and sewer pipelines and prepaid meters, besides other initiatives in areas such as Kromdraai, Lanwen, Munsieville and Magaliesburg.

New reservoirs will be constructed in Munsieville, Magaliesburg and Muldersdrift, while the Kenmare reservoir, sump and pump station will “receive further attention”.

This emerged after the municipality said that over the past few years it had spent over R220 million on water and sanitation projects, including the resealing of reservoirs, maintenance, refurbishment, the installation of new water and sewer pump stations, upgrading three wastewater treatment plants and the extension of water reticulation to other areas of the city.

“We also supply tankered water to informal settlements across the city,” Seerane added.

A municipal priority for the year ahead would be a water pipeline replacement programme and the continuous installation of prepaid meters to reduce the volumes of unaccounted for water.

“Provision also will be made for bulk water supply to the Chief Mogale mixed-housing development. All these water projects are expected to cost about R79 million,” the Mayor says.

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