October 17, 2007
By Tabisa Mntengwana
RUBBLE removal, illegal dumping and cutting down the number of informal settlements were the topics of the day when Executive Mayor Amos Masondo visited Region C, in the west of the city.
The road show, on Tuesday, 16 October, kicked off with a breakfast at 7am at the Black Eagle Conference Centre in Poortview and a presentation on the region by regional director Calie Coetzee. Coetzee outlined recent developments and challenges the area faced.
"We want to expose everyone to the successes and challenges and give an overview of what the region is all about," he said.
The mayor was accompanied by City officials. The first stop was Zandspruit informal settlement, where Masondo stopped at a shack and spoke to the owner, Phendu Zondi, about keeping the area clean and free of crime. "As part of the community of Zandspruit it is crucial for everyone to look after the area and not dump waste in illegal dumping sites."
Speaking to Zandspruit residents at a public meeting at a nearby shopping centre, he assured them that the City was set to build 500 houses "for those who don't have formal housing".
Encouraging a culture of reading: the executive mayor Amos Masondo gave away books
(Photo: Enoch Lehung, City of Johannesburg)
Later, in Cosmo City, Region C's representatives gave an overview of the mixed-income housing project.
So far, 2 750 fully subsidised houses were occupied, and 349 partially subsidised units and about 3 000 bonded houses on the open market had already been transferred, said Lebo Sekela, the regional manager for housing.
The mayoral entourage took a drive through Cosmo City to see the progress of the housing, parks and schools.
"The houses look beautiful; but the only problem we are facing now is the rubble that is building up in these newly developed areas. We need to do something about that as a city," Masondo said.
Next up was the park in Wilgeheuwel Park, which was set up in just 24 hours, and Pikitup's Panorama Composting Plant. Then the group stopped for lunch at the Roodepoort Civic Centre, while the Joburg Pro Musica violinists played.
In the afternoon, the officials drove through the Roodepoort CBD and a Johannesburg Housing Company (Joshco) development. Region C's Frans Malherbe gave an overview and background of the area.
Joshco would provide 423 rental housing units by the end of the year, he said.
But the highlight of the day was the official opening of the culvert bridge in Bram Fischerville. The five-metre wide road and better storm water system "will allow residents and motorists to cross safely", Sekela said.
A new water reservoir will open soon in the town – again a project of the City's water utility, Johannesburg Water. It will serve about 11 000 households and will get water from Gauteng's water supplier, Rand Water.
"The project is hoped to be completed by November 2007," Sekela added.
Masondo and his officials also stopped at Doornkop. Looking impressed with service delivery in this area, he said, "The projects in this area are going very well and it is impressive to see people benefiting and taking good care of the services."
There are three housing projects in Doornkop - the Doornkop People's Housing Project, Doornkop Thulani Housing Project and Naledi Greenfield – where more than 900 houses have been completed and approved.
The last stop was the Tshepisong Library, where 30 children welcomed the mayor's party. Here Masondo heard the story of Cinderella, after which he gave away books to the children. "I am happy to see the culture of reading hasn't died," he said.
A highlight: the official opening of a bridge in Bram Fischerville
(Photo: Enoch Lehung, City of Johannesburg)
Steven Sack, the director of the City's art, culture and heritage services department, added, "We need to encourage children to read books written in their home languages."
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