100 days of progress under new administration

On 1 December the Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg (CoJ), councillor Herman Mashaba celebrated 100 days in office by giving a progress speech.

In the municipal elections on 3 August, the voters unseated one government and elected another, for the first time in the democratic history of the CoJ. According to Mashaba, some people might be worried about the so-called instability of a coalition government when, in fact, the opposite is true. “With so many different political parties there will be a diversity of solutions to our many problems, making our government stronger – just like the voters wanted,” said Mashaba.

The most important thing the new administration has been focusing on, is the change that leads to job creation, service delivery and the end of corruption. But, the residents need to know that some changes can be done instantly while others might take time to take effect.

It is a fact that the new administration has achieved many of the changes proposed, but it is important for residents to know what still needs to be done. The new administration will be focusing on long-term solutions for the socio-economic challenges being faced.

According to Mashaba, these are the most important things they will be prioritising:

– Employment is not only the great liberator of people, it alleviates poverty. Businesses will receive incentives to establish themselves in close proximity to the CoJ so that employment opportunities can be created. “But I maintain that government’s role is to help people up and not to hold them down in a cycle of dependency. Our aim must be to provide a hand up, and not an eternal hand out,” Mashaba said.

– To move Johannesburg forward, it is essential to change the approach to budgeting. Mashaba said, “Service delivery cannot be an afterthought once we have budgeted for luxuries, nice-to-haves and non-essentials.”

– There are big plans in the pipeline to review the service delivery model in Johannesburg and bring about fundamental change. One of the plans to fast-track service delivery is for all city entities to be absorbed into the Municipality.

– In a plan to structure and empower regional structures to become service delivery hubs in the city, a plan will be set in motion to decentralise the billing process.

– A review of the housing backlog will be done to change the way it is being addressed. Currently, there is a backlog of about 300 000 houses needed and only 3 500 units being constructed annually.

Mashaba concluded by saying, “It is without doubt the greatest honour of my life to have the opportunity to serve our City and its residents. I intend to use every day that I am tasked with this important responsibility to make this City and its people realise their true potential.”

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