The City of Johannesburg is making progress in addressing key service delivery challenges, according to Executive Mayor Dada Morero.
Speaking at a media briefing on March 26, the mayor provided updates on crucial projects, including water infrastructure improvements, pothole repairs, and the refurbishment of the Metro Centre.
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The mayor shared that the city is working to reduce water wastage through an advanced leak detection programme.
“Johannesburg Water continues to focus on improving the city’s water supply and management systems,” he said. He explained that 125 noise loggers have already been installed in pipelines across Roodepoort, Randburg, and other areas to detect leaks, with 400 more set to be installed by June.
Additionally, the city is upgrading its water pressure management system. So far, 27 pressure-reducing valves have been installed, with another 100 planned. The mayor noted that these components are often targeted by thieves, and extra security measures are being put in place.
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Speaking on the matter of potholes that have been plaguing Roodepoort, he shared that heavy rains have worsened the state of the city’s roads, but they are working to fix potholes through a three-phase plan:
• patching potholes
• deep-cementing damaged areas, and
• resurfacing roads for long-term durability
“We have built our in-house production capacity through our asphalt plant to fast-track the fixing and maintenance of potholes,” Morero said. He highlighted Cedar and Uranium roads as examples of completed repairs.
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The city has also been battling vandalism of traffic lights, and in his briefing, the mayor expressed that the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) is dealing with the vandalism and power outages affecting road safety.
“We are taking proactive measures to reduce theft and vandalism at these intersections, including installing CCTV cameras and electronic controllers.”
He added that 194 intersections have been affected by theft and power failures, and repairs are ongoing. The Metro Centre has been closed due to safety concerns and will undergo a full refurbishment through a Public-Private Partnership.
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“Our goal is to move the city away from reliance on the private sector for office accommodation and instead create our own modern, fit-for-purpose office spaces,” he said. The city is working with the National Treasury to fund the project, which aims to provide a safer and more efficient working environment for municipal staff.
Morero assured residents that the city is dedicated to improving their daily lives.
“On behalf of the city and this administration, I want to emphasise that the City of Johannesburg is fully committed to improving the daily lived experience of the residents,” he concluded.
