Mayor unveils ‘Bomb Squad’ task force and R3 Billion investment plan in SOCA
This address aims to tackle pressing challenges the city faces and to outline key measures to be implemented in the next financial year.
The City of Johannesburg Executive Mayor, Sello Dada Morero, delivered the state of the city address (SOCA) on May 7 at the Conny Bapela Council Chamber, Braamfontein, under the theme ‘The Joburg we all want’.
This address comes a month after President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the crumbling city of gold.
With his aim to restore the City of Johannesburg (CoJ), the mayor announced in his speech what he calls a ‘bomb squad’, a task force aimed at addressing key issues like potholes, illegal electricity connections, dumping and undocumented migrants, led by Dr Snuki Zikalala, starting from June.
Photo Credit: City of Joburg Facebook page
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“In military language, a bomb squad has the responsibility of removing bombs and preventing them from exploding.
“This bomb squad must remove constraints that impact the city’s ability to create the Joburg we all want to see,” he said.
He also said the city is cognisant of the high electricity tariffs residents are paying, and that industrial users, who are considerable customers, would get relief tariff options.
Morero emphasised the support of the township economy.
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To address infrastructure backlogs and transform settlements into connected and economically viable communities, the city has allocated R3.03b to invest in eight of its most underserved areas, including Soweto, Riverlea, Zandspruit and more.
He also mentioned the Lufhereng mixed-use development, which will deliver over thirty thousand housing units alongside bulk infrastructure, social amenities, and local economic hubs.
