June 1, 2004
By Thomas Thale
THE Randburg CBD, which has in recent years been in a state of decline, is to undergo a major facelift: the City of Johannesburg has decided to pioneer efforts to revive the area.
At its monthly sitting last week, the council approved plans by the City and landowners in Randburg to have the CBD declared a city improvement district.
The City will pool resources with property owners in Randburg to contribute towards the improvement of the district over three years. The participants will pay a levy to the council, which will go towards improving safety and security, upgrading public facilities, improving public transport and traffic flow, improving street lighting, providing facilities for minibus taxis, refurbishing parking spaces and tackling other social maladies.
The council meeting also took note of a progress report on the proposed second issue of municipal bonds - which, the report said, is on track to happen at the end of June. It will raise R1-billion for capital expenditure.
After extensive deliberations, the council approved a proposal for the City to work with businesses to promote investment and the empowerment of black entrepreneurs in the city. The Economic Development Unit will work closely with the National African Federated Chamber of Commerce Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the chamber that was unified at the end of 2003.
The council also endorsed plans for the City to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Gauteng Department of Sport and the Gauteng Department of Education. The three will work to improve facilities and promoting sport among the youth in the city.
The council also came out in support of a four-year business plan for the regeneration of the Joburg inner city. The plan will involve various agencies working in concert.
Utilities, agencies and corporatised entities owned by the City also presented their quarterly reports to the council. The reports come just a month before the executive mayor, Amos Masondo, delivers his budget speech on 30 June.
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