City to boost its Metro Policing by another 180 traffic wardens

On Thursday, 19 July, the Mayoral Committee of the City of Johannesburg passed a resolution to boost the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) with a further 180 traffic wardens.

The City is growing at a substantial rate of about 3 000 new residents per month, as more and more people from around the world choose to make Johannesburg their home, and this rapid growth in population has necessitated that the City increase and improve capacity in all areas in order to deliver services efficiently and effectively.

This is part of “Diphetogo”, the City’s multi-party government’s initiative to improve the lives of our people by allocating a bigger share of funds only to priority projects that touch the lives of residents in a meaningful way.

Public safety is essential in maintaining stable economic growth and attracting investment to the City, which is why JMPD has been spearheading the restoration of law and order across the City.

Since the launch of Operation Buya Mthetho, a multi-disciplinary operation aimed at restoring law and order, more than 500 un-roadworthy and illegal mini bus taxis have been impounded by JMPD.

The metro police’s K9 Narcotics and Tactical Unit has effected 1 193 arrests, recovering 123 illegal firearms, 136 kilograms of drugs and over 1000 hijacked vehicles.

Noting that safety challenges in the City remain a mammoth task, it is important to ensure that there are adequate policing resources to serve its residents.

To this end, the City will be recruiting about 180 traffic wardens from the former Extended Public Works Program employees who were previously trained to perform traffic pointsman duties.

The Department of Public Safety identified the need to capacitate traffic wardens with additional powers in order to allow them to perform at optimum level.

JMPD Chief of Police David Tembe has engaged with the Gauteng Provincial Government and Transport MEC Dr. Ismail Vadi has agreed to this initiative to further endow JMPD traffic wardens with the following powers:

In terms of the National Road Traffic Act of 1996, a traffic warden may, in addition to their usual traffic management functions;

  1. When in uniform, require a driver of any vehicle to stop such vehicle;
  2. Regulate and control traffic upon any public road and give such directions as may be necessary;
  3. Require any person to give his/ her name, address, and other particulars or any process which are required for identification purposes if the traffic warden suspects the person having committed an offence;
  4. In respect of any motor vehicle, demand the owner, operator or driver to produce any documents as may be prescribed in terms of the Act.

The recruitment process will commence shortly and qualifying beneficiaries in terms of this first Traffic Warden Recruitment Program will be contacted to present themselves for the relevant processes. Once the recruitment program is completed, the City will see 180 traffic wardens servicing the residents of Johannesburg.

In closing, I wish to extend my sincere gratitude to MEC Vadi for accepting our application and extending the above powers to the City of Johannesburg as this allows us to bring back the Rule of Law to the City.

MEC Vadi’s assistance is a perfect example of the kind of intergovernmental relations that we wish to have.

 

Coalition governments pass a combined R100 billion in pro-poor budgets in Johannesburg, Tshwane and NMB

The following remarks were delivered today at a press conference of coalition partners unpacking the 2018/2019 metro budgets passed in Johannesburg, Tshwane and Nelson Mandela Bay. The representatives consisted of DA Leader Mmusi Maimane, Cope President Mosiuoa Lekota, ACDP National Chairperson Jo-Ann Downs, FF+ Leader Pieter Groenewald, and IFP Mayco Member for Transport in Johannesburg Nonhlanhla Makhuba

Introduction

In the 2016 Local Government Elections, after over 20 years of ANC government neglect, the people rightly fired the ANC and chose alternative governments in Johannesburg, Tshwane and Nelson Mandela Bay. From the moment the coalition governments assumed office in these metros, they all set out with a shared vision: to aggressively crush corruption, wage an unrelenting war on crime, shape an enabling environment for job creation and deliver nothing but the highest standard of services to all.

While there is still a long journey and many more complex problems for these coalition governments to solve, huge progress continues to be made.

Last month, the coalition governments in the City of Johannesburg, City of Tshwane and Nelson Mandela Bay in total passed more than a R100 billion in budgets for the 2018/19 financial year. What distinguishes these budgets from previous metro budgets under the ANC is that they are all singularly focused on pro-poor basic service delivery improvements, and on creating an enabling environment for job creation, defeating corruption, and winning the fight against crime.

Our aim is simple: our governments must distinguish themselves by delivering nothing but the best services to all residents of Johannesburg, Tshwane and Nelson Mandela Bay.

Every coalition government has crafted a budget that prioritises basic service delivery over luxuries. This is evidence of coalition governments that are fiscally responsible with the people’s money.

Johannesburg 

Under the coalition government in Johannesburg, the City is well on its way to strengthening its hand as the economic powerhouse of Africa. The City of Johannesburg passed a R58.9 billion budget that is rightly aimed at fixing the financial position of Johannesburg, which was left close to bankruptcy by a billing crisis and rampant corruption. It has achieved this by prioritising spending on infrastructure investment, pro-poor development and visible service delivery.

To this end, the Diphetogo Programme has been the clarion call of the City. The Diphetogo Service Delivery Budget includes budget for infrastructural investment, pro-poor service delivery and the fight against drugs and crime.

Over the next three years more than R1 billion will be invested in the tarring of gravel roads through spending on average R357 million each year – a R40 million per year increase. Residents of Johannesburg can expect 6 000 less pipe bursts over the next year as the City has apportioned almost R1 billion to its water network. The City has doubled the amount allocated to re-cabling old intersections and installing traffic light battery packs, ensuring that traffic light faults at intersections will drop by nearly three quarters. Moreover, almost R200 million has been set aside to solve the residual backlog over the next three years.

This coalition government has stressed the fundamental importance of the people’s money being directed to people who need it the most – the poor and vulnerable. That is why next year’s housing budget of almost R1.5 billion is by far the largest ever in the history of the City.

To make residents feel safer, three Community Substance Abuse Treatment Centres will be built with the R12.5 million budgeted to do so. There is also an increase in capital expenditure for public lights to R45 million, which will see the installation of 2 300 new lights in public areas across the City.

Tshwane

The leadership team behind the Capital’s revival have ambitious plans for the people of Tshwane. The City of Tshwane’s vision will lead to the improvement of basic service delivery, strengthening of public safety, prioritise the poor, rapid growth of the economy and creation of jobs.

Almost R1 billion has been apportioned by the City for electricity, roads, storm water and housing respectively. That is how serious the City is about investing in major infrastructural projects that will power the City, ensure safe roads, modernise storm water and attract investment.

Nearly double the almost R1 billion that will be used for housing has been provided for general infrastructural maintenance and repairs – which is a 20% increase from the previous budget. Water and sanitation has seen nearly half a billion apportioned to it and R25 million has now be made available to fix sinkholes in the City.

The people have reason to feel safe under the Tshwane administration. Whether recovering from drugs and substance abuse or vulnerable to theft and vandalism, the City has put in place measures to ensure that the people’s safety is top of the agenda. R318 million has been directed towards a comprehensive security plan for security services at City facilities so that the amount of theft and vandalism that robs the people of Tshwane of basic service delivery is curtailed. And those who have fallen victim to drug and substance abuse can now know that there this is a City that cares with over R40 million having been budgeted for drugs and substance abuse programmes.

Those who have been left behind and the most vulnerable in our society lie at the heart of the City’s budget. Almost R300 million in capital expenditure will be used on upgrading informal settlements and R132 million to enhance to water and sanitation residents of these settlements. More than a quarter of a billion will be spent on the upgrading of roads and drainage

The operational expenditure budget for planning and feasibility processes over the next year has been increased to nearly R100 million, ensuring that arrangements to identify informal settlements that can be upgraded in the future are being planned and facilitated. The people of the Capital City can look forward to R36 million in infrastructure and social housing units being developed in Chantelle, Townlands and Sunnyside over the next year.

Over a billion rand is being injected into the economy, with job creation at the centre of this investment. Nearly R150 million has been made available to ensure that 23 000 jobs can be created through EPWP initiatives.  More than R40 million has been approved for the inner city over the next year – with almost triple that amount planned for the medium term to tackle water, electricity, roads and water capacity constraints.

Over half a billion rand will be shifted to economic nodes as they are vital areas that need capital involvement to create an enabling environment for job creation. In partnership with institutions such as AIDC, SEDA, EOH, BPESA Gauteng Government, DTI and National Small Business Department, as many as 1 700 people will receive training through skills development centres.

Nelson Mandela Bay

No coalition government is easy to navigate, and Nelson Mandela Bay knows this reality. But never has this difficulty been made the people’s problem. Considerable support has been budgeted for low-income communities, the upgrading of housing and informal settlements, roads and lighting and community facilities.

Low-income communities will never be left behind under the Nelson Mandela Bay coalition government. The coalition will continue to help Assistance to the Poor (ATTP) recipients with more than R2 billion budgeted over the medium term. And R1.5 million will be spent on infrastructure for informal trading (EDTA) over the next year.

The people of the Bay can expect to live in dignity under the coalition government. Almost half a billion rand has been apportioned to upgrading housing and informal settlements. R45 million of this will be used for the acquisition of land for housing development in the areas of Seaview and Lorraine; R183.4 million will be spent on various human settlements projects and a R30 million bucket eradication programme. Morevover, R167.9 million in informal housing and informal electrification programmes will be rolled out over the medium term.

The safety of Nelson Mandela Bay’s roads is a key priority for this government. To ensure this, more than half a billion rand has been put aside for roads and lighting. Over the medium term, R68.5 million will be directed to the resurfacing of roads and the tarring of gravel roads. Subsidised roads will be resurfaced at a cost of R30 million, R40 million in road rehabilitation will be rolled out, and R72.7 million will go towards public lighting.

Finally, almost R150 million will be injected into the upgrading of community facilities. R36 million of this will go towards the construction of three Multi-Purpose Centres. Libraries will be upgraded and restored for R32 million, R18.5 million in sports facilities upgrades will be implemented, a R6 million major park upgrade will be developed, and R49 million in upgrades and development of public open spaces will be rolled out.

Conclusion

In Johannesburg, Tshwane and Nelson Mandela Bay, we will continue to work hard to ensure that we govern in an open, transparent and people-orientated manner. After decades of neglect by previous ANC administrations, the people of Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Nelson Mandela Bay can have hope in their governments that are focused on delivering for the people. Where we govern, jobs are created, corruption is eradicated, and services are provided to all.

In the City of Johannesburg, City of Tshwane and Nelson Mandela Bay, capital spending that focuses on basic service delivery has been prioritised over all ‘non-essential spending’. And this has led to fiscally prudent government spending in the Johannesburg and Tshwane where record-high budget surplus’ have been achieved.

These metro budgets are focused and responsible pro-poor budgets that seek to build a conducive environment for job-creation, crush corruption, win the war against crime and deliver excellent services to the people. And it is because of their vision and leadership that City-led economic growth continues to flourish in the country.

DA-led Jozi takes the fight to un-roadworthy vehicles

As part of Operation Buya Mthetho, an initiative between the City of Johannesburg and the JMPD, the DA-led City of Johannesburg has been removing un-roadworthy, unlicensed and illegal vehicles from the roads across the city since the beginning of the year.

One of the 500 impounded vehicles that used to transport children to school every single day.

One part of this multi-focused operation is to ensure the restoration of road safety and law and order on the roads.

Over 500 un-roadworthy, unlicensed and illegal minibus taxis, and over 60 illegal dumper trucks have been impounded by JMPD since the commencement of Operation.

Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba investigating one of the impounded taxis.

“We will not surrender to lawlessness. Illegal, non-compliant and irresponsible operators cannot expect us to look away whilst they play with the lives of commuters and other motorists on the roads”

– Herman Mashaba, Mayor of Johannesburg

Council Passes Budget Championing the Needs of Johannesburg Residents

Today, Council passed the multi-party coalition government’s Operational and Capital Budgets and Integrated Development Plan (IDP) for the 2018/19 financial year in full compliance with the Municipal Finance Management Act.

This is the second budget passed under the combined leadership of the DA, IFP, ACDP, UDM, COPE and VF+, with the support of the EFF, as well as the AIC who have broken ranks with the ANC and supported this budget.

After engagement between political parties in Council over the past few weeks, an approach was taken to reduce the tariffs for water and electricity. By doing, Council has achieved a caring and sensitive approach to household income which is under strain from various decisions of National and Provincial Government.

Equally the tariffs approved will enable the City to generate its revenue that will drive the fundamental change – Diphetogo – to our communities.

The Diphetogo project, at its core means real transformational change, and prioritises investment in the service delivery backlogs that plague our communities.

We have taken the decision to deprioritise the non-essential elements, cut unnecessary expenditure and re-directed these savings to battle our service delivery infrastructure backlog.

Some of the key highlights in the budget include: 

  • 2018/19 sees the largest share of the capital budget for roads, transport, housing, electricity and water, going up from 54% in 2016/17 to 69% in 2018/19.
  • R120 million to site and service schemes, double the previous year’s allocation, to provide serviced sites onto which beneficiaries can be settled with full ownership;
  • To accelerate the formalization of informal settlements, R14 million is allocated for the purpose of embarking on a consolidated planning program for informal settlements across the City;
  • R50 million has been set aside for the upgrading of Inner City emergency housing and rental stock.
  • R60 million for the renewal and refurbishment of the following hostels: Diepkloof, Meadowlands, Helen Joseph and Madala hostels.
  • R46 million has been set aside for the acquisition of buildings in the inner city for the purpose of creating affordable housing for residents.
  • R117 million for the electrification of informal settlements
  • R45 million for the installation of new public lighting city-wide, including our informal settlements, as well as an additional R20 million for the repairs and maintenance of existing public lighting within the City.
  • Johannesburg Water is allocated a capital amount of 1 billion over the medium term and R10.6 billion in operating expenditure which will reduce the number of pipe bursts by 6,000 leaks.
  • Pikitup is allocated a medium term budget of R771 million as well as 3 billion in operational expenditure. This will support additional cleaning shifts within the inner city as well as address the dilapidated conditions of Pikitup facilities. Pikitup’s operating budget will also pave the way for the filling of 1400 funded vacancies in their frontline service delivery capacity.
  • R30 million in operational expenditure has been allocated to the Departments of Health and Social Development to fully capacitate the City’s free Community Substance Abuse Treatment Centres.
  • R20 million is allocated to continue running extended operating hours within 11 of our clinics.
  • Public Safety has been allocated a medium term capital budget of R260 million for both Emergency Management Services (EMS) and the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD). This budget will also be utilised for the continued training of 1500 JMPD recruits who will soon join our law enforcement efforts.
  • The Department of Economic Development receives an operating budget of R223 million and R30 million in capital budget over the medium term. This includes funds to complete the development of the Job Seekers’ Database which will effectively replace Jozi@Work, and do away with middle-men determining access to these opportunities.
  • R25 million to construct informal trading facilities in Rosebank Linear Park, Dobsonville and the inner city to support informal traders and provide them a space to grow their businesses.
  • R627 million of the national Public Transport Network Grant to finish the Rea Vaya Phase 1C services which will run between Sandton, Alexandra, Greenstone and the CBD.
  • R250 million for road rehabilitation and reconstruction and R181 million for the rehabilitation of bridges.

Through the implementation of the proposed tariff increases, we will work harder to improve access to quality water, electricity, sanitation and refuse services in our city.

I am pleased that through our coalition government working together, we are able to bring a diversity of views to the table and convert it into pro-active solutions to the challenges our residents face.

Together, and following extensive public consultation, we were able to construct a budget that will ensure Diphetogo when implemented.

For the first time, this public consultation was split into a listening tour of the City in October 2017, followed by engagements with the draft budget in April and May 2018.

Over 9500 residents formed part of the IDP outreach process, with the City receiving close to 3500 written and electronic submissions.

I would like to thank our coalition partners, the IFP, ACDP, UDM, COPE and the VF+ for their development and support for this budget.

I would also like to thank my own caucus for their unwavering support and dedicated hard work; and the EFF for their vigorous engagement with our administration.

I would also like to acknowledge the AIC, who has broken ranks with the ANC and supported this budget as a testament to their commitment to change in Johannesburg.

While the approval of this budget & IDP is an important milestone for the residents of this administration as well as the residents of this City, what really matters is how well we implement our budget.

This is the budget that will begin the large-scale turnaround of Johannesburg and place government at the service of our people.

City of Jozi to seize R300 000 worth of property from Luthuli House

After the ANC brought an urgent application to the South Gauteng High Court, in September last year, in a desperate effort to table a motion of no confidence against Mayor, Herman Mashaba the Court struck the ANC’s application from the roll and awarded costs in favour of the City as a result of their application being “devoid of urgency”.

The ANC has failed to pay over R300 000 in legal fees owed to the City and its residents, and On 5 June 2018, the City of Johannesburg obtained a writ of execution against the party.

It was unfortunate that Court’s time and taxpayer’s money had to be used to prove that the ANC’s baseless accusations were nothing more than a smokescreen to regain control of the City by any means possible, but more concerning is the ANC’s failure to respect the Court order which instructed the them to pay for the City’s legal costs.

Should the ANC fail to honour this payment by Friday, 15 June 2018, the City has instructed its lawyers to proceed with the execution of the court order, which will result in R300 000 worth of property being seized from the ANC headquarters, Luthuli House, by the Sheriff of the High Court.

– Johannesburg Mayor, Herman Mashaba

City of Jozi to seize R300 000 worth of property from Luthuli House

After the ANC brought an urgent application to the South Gauteng High Court, in September last year, in a desperate effort to table a motion of no confidence against Mayor, Herman Mashaba the Court struck the ANC’s application from the roll and awarded costs in favour of the City as a result of their application being “devoid of urgency”.

The ANC has failed to pay over R300 000 in legal fees owed to the City and its residents, and On 5 June 2018, the City of Johannesburg obtained a writ of execution against the party.

It was unfortunate that Court’s time and taxpayer’s money had to be used to prove that the ANC’s baseless accusations were nothing more than a smokescreen to regain control of the City by any means possible, but more concerning is the ANC’s failure to respect the Court order which instructed the them to pay for the City’s legal costs.

Should the ANC fail to honour this payment by Friday, 15 June 2018, the City has instructed its lawyers to proceed with the execution of the court order, which will result in R300 000 worth of property being seized from the ANC headquarters, Luthuli House, by the Sheriff of the High Court.

– Johannesburg Mayor, Herman Mashaba

DA-led Jozi affects major drug bust in Eldorado Park

Following a tip-off on Friday 8 June 2018, the Johannesburg Metro Police Department’s (JMPD) K9-Unit took swift action and uncovered a total of 554 Mandrax tablets and six bags of Mandrax powder at a drug house in Eldorado Park, Extension 9.

We have been receiving multiple complaints about the blatant drug dealing in Eldorado Park and our JMPD K9-Unit has been monitoring the situation undercover. We knew it was just a matter of time before this drug bust will be made.

 – Public Safety MMC Michael Sun

No suspects have been arrested, but investigation continues and the police are confident that suspects will be apprehended soon. They have also urged that anyone with information relating to this case to contact the SAPS or JMPD on (011) 375 5911.

DA to table a pro-poor budget in Johannesburg today

Today the Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Herman Mashaba, will table a pro-poor budget which is committed to improving the lives of poor residents in the City and increasing service delivery to the people of Johannesburg.

The DA-led government in Johannesburg have inherited a massive service delivery backlog from the ANC and we have committed ourselves to put the people of Johannesburg first in our efforts to restore good governance and services.

The DA is confident that our coalition partners will put politics aside and support the people’s budget. Political grandstanding will not put the people first or solve the massive challenges facing the City.

Mayor Mashaba’s has worked hard to ensure that his budget is inclusive of poor and marginalised residents and rejuvenates service delivery in the City. Some of the main pro-poor budget allocations include:

  1. Pro-poor delivery
  • Next year’s housing budget will be the largest ever in the City’s history at over R1.142 billion.
  • R12.5 million for the rollout of 3 Mobile Clinics.
  • R1.1 billion will be spent over the next 3 years to tar gravel roads in informal settlements.
  • In 2018/19 the City will be extending the operating hours at another 13 clinics, bringing the number to 26.
  1. Infrastructure investment
  • Over R1,2 billion on roads including; R250 million for road rehabilitation/reconstruction, R226 million for stormwater upgrades, R181 million on bridges.
  • City Power has received R1 billion which will be used to upgrade key substations across the City and bring stability to the network.
  • Over R900 million on the water network, expected to reduce the number of pipe bursts by 6 000 in 2018/19.
  1. Visible service delivery
  • The City has doubled its budget for grass cutting and tree pruning from R107 million to R207 million in 2018/19.
  • R45 million will be spent to install new public lighting across the City with the budget for street light repairs going from R1.6 million to R21 million in 2018/19.
  • An additional R40 million has been allocated for road markings.
  1. Public safety and substance abuse
  • R12.5 million on three more Community Substance Abuse Treatment Centres to bring the total to 9.
  • R10 million for traffic calming measures.

By voting to pass this budget, together we can get to work and deliver long overdue services to those who need it most and continue to improve the lives of the residents of Johannesburg.

DA calls on COGTA to urgently intervene in collapsing municipalities

The DA notes with concern the findings of the Auditor General (A-G), Kimi Makwetu, as contained in the Consolidated General Report on the Local Government Audit Outcomes: 2016-17. The A-G reported “an overall deterioration in the audit results of South Africa’s municipalities” for the period, admitting that it is “five years later, and we are still faced with the same accountability and governance challenges we had flagged throughout these years. There has been no significant positive change towards credible results; instead, we are witnessing a reversal in audit outcomes”.

Despite the grim overall picture painted by the A-G, the DA is proud of the Western Cape’s performance, as 86% of our municipalities received a “good” overall assessment for financial health. Once again the DA-governed Western Cape has come out miles ahead of ANC-governed municipalities, with only 47% of municipalities in second-placed KwaZulu-Natal achieving the same assessment for financial health and none at all in the Free State. This is further proof that where the DA governs our people have transparent and efficient governments.

In the DA-run metros in Johannesburg, Tshwane and Nelson Mandela Bay, we inherited a mess from years of ANC mismanagement. We have, since August 2016, worked tirelessly to run clean governments which deliver services to over 16 million South Africans. Our Mayors will continue to work hard to bring much-needed change and rid the metros of the rot the ANC has left.

Alarmingly, the A-G found that all municipalities in the Free State, 59% of municipalities in the North West and 56% of municipalities in the Northern Cape require interventions. These findings are a damning indictment on the ANC-led governments in these provinces. In particular, Ace Magashule and Supra Mahumapelo have single-handily destroyed local governments in the provinces that they led. Instead of being punished for depriving South Africans of the much-needed change, the ANC has now rewarded them both by simply redeploying them.

The DA strongly condemns the lack of intervention and support from the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) and we call on Minister Zweli Mkhize to timeously address this failure by acting boldly and urgently implementing financial recovery plans in the 83 municipalities which require interventions. It is simply not good enough to have these damning reviews years after our municipalities have been plunged into a state of crisis. COGTA must have a far more active role in ensuring that we do not lose billions to corruption like has been the case for the past 3 years.

It is clear that South Africa needs total change. The ANC has demonstrated it cannot be trusted to run clean and effective governments.

BOKAMOSO | Johannesburg has a long way to go, but it’s heading in the right direction.

Joburg Mayor Herman Mashaba gave his second State of the City address on Wednesday, marking the first full reporting year under his leadership. I urge you to read this extract from his speech. Without doubt the Johannesburg we dream of is still a very long way away. But I am 100% confident the City is heading in the right direction.

Turning around a city in decline is like turning around a large ocean-going liner that is travelling in the wrong direction. First you must slow it down, then stop it, turn it around, get it moving in the right direction, and then power it up to full speed.

When a seven-party DA-led coalition took over the running of Cape Town in mid-2006, this is exactly the process that played out. By the end of 2007, visible change was not as marked as residents had expected. And yet behind the scenes, the right systems and processes were being put in place to get the city moving forward.

Mashaba’s team inherited road, water and electrical networks all in a dire state of decay, a massive service delivery backlog and a monstrous debt of R17 billion, R5 billion of which was due this year. With scarce resources and huge demands on multiple fronts, prioritizing is everything and trade-offs are unavoidable. Mashaba is clear about his top priorities.

Firstly, he is determined that the rule of law will prevail in Johannesburg. His team has taken a zero tolerance approach to crime and corruption because the social costs of these are unacceptable. As he points out, the R18 billion of fraud and corruption under investigation would have been enough to build houses for all 152 000 people on Joburg’s housing list. “Our fight against corruption WILL NEVER rest in this City.”  

They are building a well-trained, well-equipped metro police force to fight deep-rooted lawlessness, with 1500 newly recruited additional JMPD officers currently undergoing training. They are targeting criminal syndicates (particularly the major dealers and distributors of drugs) through a dedicated narcotics unit, reclaiming hijacked buildings, cracking down on the illegal consumption of services and facilitating the processing of undocumented immigrants by Home Affairs. Joburg must be “a dangerous place for criminals”.

Secondly, Mashaba is determined to build a highly capable, professionalized civil service that prioritises service delivery to the poor. “Nothing we do will be more important than this, because the accumulative effort of having 33 000 employees committed to a common cause – which is our people – will exceed all other interventions we can possibly achieve.”

Already they have cut wasteful expenditure by R480 million and tripled the spend on repairs and maintenance of infrastructure from 2% under the previous government to 6% this year. If wealthier residents can’t yet see any visible change in delivery, it is because Herman’s team is concentrating their efforts on where services are needed most: in the informal settlements where communities still lack even the most basic of services.

RDP houses are being built, serviced sites and other housing options are being planned, title deeds are being delivered, potholes are being filled, roads are being tarred and maintained – all at a significantly higher rate than under the previous government. But the backlog is staggering; even many township residents are yet to experience material improvements to their lives. The ship is well and truly turned around, but it is by no means moving at full speed.

Mashaba is the first to admit this. “It has to be the focus of our government to ensure that the pace of change increases, and that it reaches into the lives of more people, more businesses and more communities.”

And thirdly, Mashaba is determined to make Joburg a place that is attractive to investors and entrepreneurs. He recognizes this is the only way to ensure sustainable job creation, which is the only viable route to economic freedom and social stability.

And already his commitment to cleaning up the inner city, fighting lawlessness and wooing investors is bearing fruit. “At this mid-year point, R5.6 Billion of external investment has been injected into our City which has already exceeded the annual target, and the achievement of any full prior year in our City’s history.”

He is rolling out Opportunity Centres, which offer a basket of services to assist small businesses, including registering companies on the City’s supplier database and training to improve the ability of SMMEs to tender for city projects. These Centres will house a Work Seekers’ Database where qualifying people can register to benefit from temporary work opportunities in the City on a fair and rotational basis.

An artisan training programme is in the pipeline for young people, which will serve the dual purpose of fighting youth unemployment and providing the skills needed by a growing economy. Red-tape is being progressively cut. In the past financial year, they have processed 95% of submitted building plans within 30 – 60 days.

In fighting crime and corruption, growing a capable state and making Joburg attractive to investors, Mashaba’s team is laying the foundations for what they call “Diphetogo”, a seSotho word that can be directly interpreted to mean real, transformational change. “It captures the idea that change is not an event but a process.” I am confident that Diphetogo has taken root, and that all the people of Johannesburg will one day share in its fruit.

In the coming weeks, I will share with you the progress we are making in the DA-led metros of Tshwane, NMB and Cape Town, and in the Western Cape.