JOHANNEBURG SOUTH – The City of Joburg proved to the masses of Johannesburg Region G that they have been getting their hands dirty, working hard to ensure delivery of essential services to numerous communities.
Mayor Parks Tau with his Members of the Mayoral Committee and South Africa’s First Lady, Madam Bongi Ngema-Zuma, spent Wednesday April 2 in Eikenhof, Lakeside, Orange Farm, Freedom Park and Ennerdale. The day’s activities varied but had a common link, which was to improve the lives of all those in the communities and ensuring they reap benefits from the different partnerships.
The Constitution gives the City the task of promoting and supporting social and economic development within its borders. The GDS 2040 has made this task more specific for Joburg, committing the City to a principle of development-driven resilience for all, one of the outputs of which is food resilience that is secured and safeguarded. Eikenhof residents have been working hard in partnership with the City to address one of the greatest challenges facing them, food insecurity. They now have a communal garden running under one of the City’s 66 co-operatives growing and selling their produce within their community.
Joburg Mayor Parks Tau highlighted the importance of the co-operatives and the greater access to food they provide within the communities. Tau added, “We should set an objective of having a city where no one goes hungry.”
The poorest residents in the city spend all their money on food or transport and the city is trying to find ways to alleviate poverty by assisting residents to find solutions to their challenges and partner with them in addressing them.
Residents of Lakeside and Orange Farm are reaping the benefits of a positive partnership with the city, they have greater community involvement in their agricultural initiatives. The partnership with the Johannesburg Fresh Produce market has also shown how they can become self-sufficient through the agriculture programmes.
The community of Freedom Park witnessed the difference persistence and patience can make, the 20-year-old township has now been granted access to reliable healthcare. The Freedom Park Clinic was officially opened by the City’s Mayor Parks Tau and our First Lady, Madam Bongi Ngema-Zuma. The clinic has ten consulting rooms and will offer the comprehensive primary care core package of services, including youth friendly services, comprehensive treatment and care of patients on HIV/AIDS treatment.
Madam Ngema-Zuma reminded residents of the importance of taking responsibility for their health and well-being and increasing their knowledge on non-communicable diseases like diabetes.
The sod-turning ceremony signified more improvements for the Freedom Park community, as a library will be built for the learners and students.
The promise of service delivery continues in the City, and Ennerdale residents were also given an opportunity to engage in conversation with the Mayor and his committee. “We want to deliver services to the people that are necessary and responsive to their needs”, added Tau.
Tau continued to highlight that improving the quality of life of the poor is the most important objective the city has, and the leadership endeavours to ensure that this happens on a continuous and consistent basis.
