Among these problems are the neglect of areas such as Alexandra and Soweto, including lack of tarred roads and street lighting; the lack of community facilities; not enough ambulances; a declining health system; lack of running water; poorly built houses; electricity problems; long delays in accessing welfare packages; unemployment, the need for job creation; as well as high crime levels.
These were some of the problems highlighted by 1 600 of the city's residents at the second annual general meeting of the Joburg Stakeholders' Forum at the weekend, where the executive mayor announced elements of the new 2003/04 budget of more than R10-billion
'We've made great strides in ealising our goals' |
The forum is held to give citizens the opportunity to voice their concerns about matters that affect them and which will be taken into consideration for the next budget.
Masondo said some of their complaints would be addressed in the 2003/04 budget.
Some of the capital projects he announced include:
Masondo acknowledged that the city was experiencing some problems which were similar to other big cities in the world.
These included urbanisation and pressures that come with migration, service delivery, positioning cities as agents of economic growth and development, and inner-city regeneration and rejuvenation.
The city, however, had made great strides in achieving its goals, the mayor said.
Evidence of this was the planned Revenue Shared Services Centre, the Joburg 2030 strategy, the launch of Open for Business, the rollout of an informal trading development pro- gramme, social packages for the poor, the provision of low-
income housing opportunities, and the establishment of the call centre Joburg Connect. Other improvements mentioned were a drastic cut in crime, efforts to curb the spread of HIV/Aids and the development of primary health-care services at municipal level.
Speaking about the proposed 10% to 13% increases in municipal services fees expected to be in place by July 1, Masondo said the hikes were part of a long economic development plan that would deliver a city that was run effectively and efficiently.
External factors like inflation, national government policies and international factors had influenced the hikes and could not be avoided, he added.
The city had absorbed cost increases for three consecutive years and could no longer do so, Masondo explained.
Publisher: Business Report
Source: Anna Cox
