The City of Johannesburg, creating jobs

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Quick Facts from  the Campaign While South Africa's economy has grown by 2,9% since 1996, the City of Johannesburg's has grown by an exceptional 4,5%. South Africa's average household income grew by 70% between 1996 and 2004. Johannesburg's grew by 104%. Johannesburg's economy has grown faster than both Gauteng and South Africa. Over the last eight years the City has created more than 316 000 jobs – more than any other major municipality in South Africa. The City has spent over R400-million on the redevelopment of Kliptown. At the heart of the project is the establishment of the Walter Sisulu Square of Dedication, the site where the Freedom Charter was adopted. Over the last three years Johannesburg has spent R74-million tarring 232 kilometres of dirt roads in Soweto. Annually the City maintains a further 30 000 kilometres of roads. In the last five years the City has spent R31-million on new parks and the upgrading of existing ones. With over six million trees, Johannesburg is now the biggest man-made forest in the world. The City employs over 2 000 people to maintain these trees and parks every day. Through programmes like Operation Gcin'amanzi, the City has delivered water and upgraded water supplies to 98% of its households. A further 18 980 connections will be completed by 2008. Through Project 100 Spots the City has converted 100 illegal dumpsites into micro parks, food gardens, meeting spots and car wash areas. This is acknowledged as one of the 10 best local government initiatives by the Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management. The Johannesburg Aids Council has partnerships with NGOs like the Reproductive Health Research Unit's Hillbrow initiative and the Vusabantu Project. By reducing the stigma and discrimination, these groups support people living with HIV and Aids. In the last five years, the City of Johannesburg has made it easier for 8 000 of its families to have a home. In the last five years, the Metro Police presence has increased by 331%.

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A food garden on Old Potch Road, Soweto

Joburg advertises its successes THE City is drawing attention to successes attained over the past five years through a media campaign currently underway. February 15, 2006 By Ndaba Dlamini THE City of Johannesburg has made positive strides over the past five years in its efforts to deliver quality services to its citizens. To highlight some of these achievements, it is running an advertising campaign in various media. It is running on radio and television and in the print media, showcasing the progress the City has made in improving infrastructure and quality of life for its citizens, says Bev Swartz, the City's brand manager. Entrepreneurs like Khulani Vilakazi can make their dreams a reality The campaign coincides with the end-of-term report by the Executive Mayor Amos Masondo, Reflecting on a Solid Foundation, that he presented in January this year. The City has concentrated its efforts on upgrading infrastructure and job creation, so improving the quality of life of its citizens. It focuses on: The tarring of roads, in particular in Soweto, where 232 kilometres of roads were tarred over the past three years at a cost of R74-million. In addition, the City maintains 30 000 kilometres of roads annually. The upgrading of the water supply, namely that through Operation Gcin'amanzi the City has delivered water to and upgraded water supplies to 98 percent of its households. Increasing the number of street lights – in the past five years the City has installed and upgraded 16 427 street lights, making it a safer place for all its citizens. Job creation, namely that in the past eight years more than 316 000 jobs have been created in Joburg, which is more than in any other major city in South Africa. In addition, while South Africa's economy has grown by 2,9 percent since 1996, Joburg's has grown by an exceptional 4,5 percent. Joburg is booming! Increased disposable income – the average household income in Joburg has surpassed the country's average. Between 1996 and 2004, South Africa's average household income grew by 70 percent; Joburg's grew by 104 percent. The building of new and upgrading of existing parks – in the last five years Joburg has spent R31-million on its parks. With more than 6 million trees, it is now the biggest man-made forest in the world, and the City employs more than 2 000 people to maintain these trees and parks every day. Aids partnerships, namely that the Johannesburg Aids Council, which is chaired by Masondo, has partnerships with non-governmental organisations like the Reproductive Health Research Unit's Hillbrow initiative and the Vusabantu Project. By reducing the stigma and discrimination regarding HIV and Aids, these groups support people living with the virus. Increased metro police presence, which has risen by 331 percent in the past five years. Housing – in the past five years the City facilitated housing for 8 000 families. Project 100 Spots, which deals with waste, one of the City's biggest challenges. Through this project Joburg has converted 100 illegal dumpsites into micro parks, food gardens, meeting spots and car wash areas. The Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management has acknowledged this achievement as one of the 10 best local government initiatives. The redevelopment of Kliptown, at a cost of R400-million to the City, at the heart of which is the establishment of the Walter Sisulu Square of Dedication, the site where the Freedom Charter was adopted in 1955. Tourists in Kliptown Permission to use web site material Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as: Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website (www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency (www.joburg.org.za)"; If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original article on this website; The name of the article's author is acknowledged; The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill in this brief online form). Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 Print this Page E-mail this article to a friend Help using Joburg.org.za