Johannesburg Water’s slow reinstatement work delays Weinberg Family Park’s adoption process
Johannesburg Water says it's implementing a strategy to improve turnaround times.
Ward 74 councillor Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku is not confident that Johannesburg Water (JW) will meet its deadline to hand over Weinberg Family Park.
Last month, the publication met with the councillor at the park. Kayser-Echeozonjoku said she had met with City Parks and JW to discuss issues that needed to be addressed, including reinstating the park’s pavements. This was to be started on January 27.
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“February 16 was the first time I saw contractors on-site at Weinberg Family Park, and it was also after residents asked when the road and pavements would be reinstated. I was told that there was a discussion about paperwork between JRA and JW that had to happen, hence the delay,” she said.
“This means the contractors were not there from January 27 as discussed and were only there on February 16. I am not confident that Johannesburg Water will meet the deadline to hand over the park.”
The spokesperson for Johannesburg Water Nombuso Shabalala said the entity understood the frustration caused by the delayed reinstatements.
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“The entity is actively implementing a strategy to improve turnaround times, which includes allocating additional resources and enhancing coordination with JRA for quicker responses. A dedicated task team has been established to monitor and expedite long-overdue reinstatements.”
Shabalala added due to the high volume of backfilling and reinstatement work in the city, reinstatements were prioritised based on various factors, including safety risks, traffic impact, public complaints, and the type of infrastructure affected.
Urgent reinstatements, particularly those in high-traffic areas or those presenting safety hazards, were given priority to ensure the safety and convenience of the public.
The publication and Kayser-Echeozonjoku will continue to monitor the progress at the park until the handover happens.
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