MEDIA RELEASE 26 October 2006 THE CITY OF JOHANNESBURG HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS WITH SERVICE DELIVERY ACROSS A WIDE SPECTRUM OF ACTIVITIES OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS, SAYS MR MAVELA DLAMINI, THE CITY MANAGER The City of Johannesburg has made significant progress with service delivery across a wide spectrum of activities over the past 12 months, says Mr Mavela Dlamini, the City Manager. Mr Dlamini says the City has just completed its annual process to evaluate the performance of senior managers according to detailed criteria contained in their contracts. The full reports were considered by the Mayoral Committee during a three-day Budget Lekgotla at Magaliesburg this week and confirmed by the City Council at the Johannesburg City Chambers today (Thurs 26/10). "This review process enabled us to take detailed stock of the wide range of services that the city provides to residents of Johannesburg," says Mr Dlamini. "And we were able to measure the performances of senior management against a comprehensive scorecard of expected deliverables." Management experts and academics from outside the city administration were brought in to provide objective inputs into the evaluation process. The experts includes: Dr Ralph Mgijima (also a member of the Public Service Commission), Seadimo Chaba (formerly with Provincial Public Works Department and recipient of the Boss of the Year Award), Zwelibanzi Mntambo (former Director General of Gauteng Province who is with and involved in a number of BEE businesses) and Prof Patrick Fitzgerald (Director of the School of Public Administration at the University of Witwatersrand University and head of the Wits Business School). "I am pleased to report that the city's top management is delivering on the expectations. We are responsible for an annual budget of more than R21-billion and we are providing services to a population that is growing by more than six percent per year. This presents us with a many unique set of challenges. I believe we have responded satisfactorily and must also push harder to raise the bar to be able retain the high standards demanded by a World Class African City," says Mr Dlamini. Among the highlights in service delivery that are reflected in the performance scorecards of senior management are: Housing: The issuing of a number of title deeds in both formal and less formal townships which far exceeded the original targets The process of identifying new stands for future housing development which is ahead of schedule Corporate services: Customer service satisfaction in the city which rose by 84,3% - above the targeted 80% level The reduction in the time taken to finalise disciplinary cases related to fraud and corruption from the targeted 30 days to an average of 14 days The city has achieved a 81,8% success rate in the winning of court cases instituted against it A reduction of 12,2% achieved in the city's monthly telephone bill through creative use of technology in monitoring private calls Operations: The 2006 local government elections coordinated effectively within the city and no logistics problems experienced An implementation plan for the 2010 Soccer World Cup drafted and approved by the Mayoral Committee Health: Very successful awareness programmes on key health issues such as substance abuse and maternal and childhood health launched and sustained in the city. A number of new programmes introduced by the Johannesburg Aids Council focusing on HIV and Aids and their impact on the city Environmental health campaigns conducted throughout the city, inspections to public conveniences stepped up and the number of fines issued to transgressors having increased JMPD: The average time taken to complete licensing, vehicle registration and learner testing showing a measurable improvement 6 884 by-law offenders successfully prosecuted in the municipal court for trading in non-designated areas – more than double the target of 3 000. A 14% reduction in the number of business burglaries in areas covered by CCTV. The number of vehicles tested for roadworthiness far exceeding the targets Social Development: A number of corporate social responsibility partnership launched together with the private sector and community organisations – especially targeting Aids orphans and child-headed households The number of residents accessing the Municipal Services Package exceeding the original targets set to reach 48 000 Both the number of street children reunited with their families and the number of children attending school having increased nine to 45 More than 14 000 children now benefiting from food programmes aimed at children affected and infected with HIV/Aids. Inner City: Targets exceeded for the successful prosecution of owners of unsafe building as well as the illegal usage of buildings in the CBD The Inner City Clean-up Project launched and implemented with considerable success All targets related to sewer and water maintenance, the upgrading of street lighting, the management of refuse collection and the provision of parks and leisure facilities in the inner city met or exceeded. Service delivery: The percentage of dwellings in the city who now have access to basic level of water services having reached 98, 7%. A total of 22 537 new households connected to the electricity grid The city's response time to attend to queries or complaints with regards to water, electricity and sanitation reduced to below targets The number of electricity outages experienced in the city reduced to 106 with regards to bulk outages and 1 248 for medium voltage outages The 95% target for the reparation of reported potholes on city streets achieved Emergency Management: The targets for the advanced training of operational staff in fire fighting and rescue services exceeded A 2010 Emergency Preparedness Strategy completed The targeted response time for emergencies exceeded. Sixty-eight percent of patients requiring priority treatment are attended to within nine minutes and 75% of fire and rescue calls responded to within nine minutes. Mr Dlamini says he is especially pleased that all the city units reporting directly to the office of the City Manager have received unqualified audit reports – an indication of a significant improvement in financial management. "We have made significant progress in the quality of service delivery during the past 12 months," he says. "However we will continue to raise the bar and set challenging new targets for senior management in the city. "In this way we are ensuring that the people of Johannesburg receive value for the money they pay towards service delivery in the city," says Mr Dlamini. Mr Dlamnini said areas of concern include the attainment of a favourable clean audit report for City and its Municipal-Owned Entities (MoEs). "We have worked very hard towards this goal and all managers, at all levels, will be stretched even further towards realising this goal. There will be no place for passengers on our team". He said the new scorecards for 2006/07 will focus mainly on improved service levels and meticulously diligent performance in resource management. The City Manager thanked all other staff where efforts have resulted in the good performance of their managers. "At the end of the day, these achievements are also a reflection of how well our frontline staff and foot soldiers do their work," added Mr Dlamini. Ends. Issued by: Nthatisi Modingoane Media Liaison Officer CITY OF JOHANNESBURG Tel: (011) 407 7354 Fax: 403 3494 Cell: 082 467 9228 E-mail: nthatisem@joburg.org.za