Johannesburg Inner-City Partnership Forum steers rejuvenation of the inner city
JOBURG – Mashaba urges Provincial and National Government to join inner-city rejuvenation.
On 26 February, the MMC for Development Planning, Reuben Masango, and Executive Mayor of the City of Joburg, Herman Mashaba, hosted this quarter’s Inner-City Partnership (JICP) Forum, which revealed that there was progress being made with the rejuvenation of the inner city.
“Since the beginning of our project to revitalise the inner city, I have called upon both Provincial and National Government to get their support for the City’s efforts. Sadly, little effort has demonstrated forthcoming from the Provincial and National Government,” Mashaba said.
Mashaba said the provincial and national government would have seen the excitement of FNB, TUHF, Citiq Group, MADdD Programme, Joburg Inner-City Tourism Association, City Kidz, Makers Way Project, Divercity Urban Renewal, Harambee, the UJ-PEETS Programme, and the Johannesburg Development Agency if they had been part of the initiative to rejuvenate the inner city.
“It is clear that the private sector shares the City’s vision of turning the inner city into an inclusive space where people can live, work, and play. There are various projects on the table that will see unique developments that speak to a better quality of life for all who venture to the inner city,” said Mashaba.
Mashaba said the initiative will provide affordable accommodation to residents, students and SMMEs working with the private sector.
“We are encouraged by the enthusiasm demonstrated by the Inner-City Partnership Forum to work with the City in turning the inner city into a construction site, reclaiming it from criminal elements allowed to operate with impunity in the past,” he said.
The City has recently released another 70 properties for development, bringing the total number of properties released to 154. Three developments have already been awarded tenders in Hillbrow and Newtown respectively.
“I am excited to see the future of the inner city of Johannesburg. With this continued support from the private sector, I believe we will indeed turn it around to become the city we believe it can be. We will also continue engaging with Provincial and National Government to become an active member of the inner-city rejuvenation,” Mashaba said.
