February 12, 2003
By Tendai Dhliwayo
THE City of Johannesburg has set aside a whopping R25 million for the first phase of the Soweto Development Programme - an ambitious infrastructural development initiative for the area - in its quest to showcase its commitment to service delivery in the city.
The programme, which started in January and is set to change the face of Soweto, will see gravel roads paved, street lighting installed and Neac Park upgraded, marking the first phase of development.
R14.8 million has been set aside for road paving in Orlando East as well as areas around Moroka Dam. According to Musa Jack, programme director for the Soweto Development Programme, 17.4 kilometres of residential roads will be tarred.
The state of roads, especially around Moroka Dam, was posing a threat to the recently rehabilitated dam by aggravating silting, and tarring roads will halt that negative environmental effect.
Besides these two areas benefiting immensely, Mofolo North and Central, Zondi, Jabulani, Chiawelo, Zola-Emdeni, Moletsane, Moroka, Jabavu and Mapetla-Phiri are some of the areas that will be blessed with street lighting - costing R2.7 million - as a result of the programme.
An amount of R7.5 million will be spent on restoring Neac Park in Dobsonville.
The targeted completion date for the first phase of development is end of June 2003.
Soweto residents were asked to identify priority areas for development. Roads upgrade and street lighting were identified as areas wanting improvements by the community of Soweto, says assistant director for project management in the city council, Ottie Ncube.
The paving of dusty roads will, says Jack, create jobs for the local communities, as their skills will be used. "Communities are going to be involved. We want to give opportunities to local people," she says.
According to Ncube, the contractors who are going to be appointed to undertake the work will hire people in the area.
The second phase of the development programme will kick off depending on the availability of funds, adds Jack.
