There’s hope for Joburg despite challenges – mayor
Residents have displayed ‘extraordinary resilience’
City of Johannesburg mayor Kabelo Gwamanda says there is hope in the metro despite service delivery challenges.
Delivering his state of the city address yesterday, Gwamanda told councillors that Johannesburg is a resilient city known for its ability to navigate through crisis, adapt and succeed in the face of constant disruption. “We are confronted with a constantly changing environment characterised by rapid urbanisation, inward migration, economic exclusion and soaring inequality,” he said.
According to Gwamanda, challenges such as disruptions from natural disasters, crime and socioeconomic issues were daunting and at times unpredictable.
He said the city was plagued by violent crimes, jeopardising the wellbeing and safety of residents.
Despite efforts to enhance law enforcement and deter criminal activity, the city still faces serious challenges of illegality, he said.
“The rapid urbanisation in Johannesburg has placed immense pressure on its infrastructure and service delivery, resulting in deficiencies and inefficiencies.
“The increase in informal settlements serves as a daily reminder of the city’s incomplete pursuit of inclusivity, fairness and spatial justice. Despite these challenges, a glimmer of hope persists – a tenacious spirit that refuses to be subdued by hardship.”
The city’s finances were stable, Gwamanda said, and its entities had achieved unqualified audit opinions.
This, he said, was an affirmation of the effectiveness of the city’s internal systems and the robustness of its control mechanisms.
“A prominent achievement is almost all informal settlements (97%) have now received basic services in all service delivery areas.
“Every rand paid towards municipal services is an investment in the future of Johannesburg – a future characterised by resilience, prosperity and boundless opportunity,” he said.
Last year, the city was struck by two major disasters when a section of Lilian Ngoyi Street (Bree) exploded, and within a month the Usindiso building caught alight and 76 people died.
He told councillors they could not criticise and complain about services in the city if they defaulted on their payments or acknowledgment of debt arrangements.
“We must pay and be exemplary in our commitment to pay for services.
“The city has adopted an intensive revenue collection and enhancement initiative to assist us in recouping revenue outstanding to the city, while assisting our ratepayers with queries and disputes.”
Gwamanda acknowledged the recent water crisis, saying the city faces a rapid rise in water demand which is threatening the sustainability of the water supply and straining the capacity of the systems.
He said Johannesburg Water needs R27bn for infrastructure to cater for the demands of the city.