President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced the establishment of the Presidential Johannesburg Working Group to revitalise and rejuvenate Johannesburg and return it to its glory days. This came out during his meeting with the executive committee of the Johannesburg City Council at the Council Chamber in Braamfontein on Friday.
The meeting involved Members of the Mayoral Committees and their Executive Mayor Dada Morero.
Several Cabinet Ministers and their deputies as well as some Directors General and Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi also attended.
“This city is crying out for rejuvenation. It is a painful sight to go through the centre of the City and to see what it has deteriorated into,” says the president.
The president made the passionate plea for the city that is run-down and depleted after visiting the Johannesburg CBD at night, and seeing the filth and dilapidation of the city once revered as the World Class African City.
Recently, the economic powerhouse of Gauteng has lost some of its appeal due to, among other things, dilapidated infrastructure with defective traffic lights and streetlights as well as general lawlessness. To return it to its former glory, President Ramaphosa has mooted the setting up of the Presidential Johannesburg Working Group.
This multi-stakeholder mechanism is crafted to address critical service delivery, infrastructure and socio-economic challenges within the Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality with the goal of once again positioning the city as an investment and business hub.
Ramaphosa has explained the make-up of the Working Group, its roles and responsibilities.
“This would bring in all levels of government and the expertise of our stakeholders to accelerate service delivery, to stabilise the city’s finances and operations, and enable economic growth and job creation. So, we will be able to ensure the rejuvenation of the inner city in all its ramifications. Efforts must be taken to make it a livable, thriving and safe space for all citizens. We must work to ensure the inner city is primed to attract new investment and jobs,” says the president.
As it has happened in eThekwini, experts from the Presidency will come to the Johannesburg Municipality to work with the metro officials to revive the city. And this was to the celebration of City Executive Mayor Dada Morero, who said they have long requested the national intervention.
Morero singled out some of the issues they want the President to help them on to revitalise the city.
“Integrated public safety, strengthening collaboration between the SAPS, JMPD and other law enforcement to combat crime and other urban disorder. Technical support on infrastructure, assistance with national infrastructure funding, maintenance strategies and projects acceleration. Support for non-paying areas, collaboration with national and provincial governments to improve revenues and address non-payment challenges. The inter-governmental relations with national treasury and COGTA, facilitating policy alignment and securing sustainable funding for service delivery,” says Morero.
Both Ramaphosa and Morero dismissed suggestions that they are only cleaning the city for the G20 Summit, scheduled to take place in Johannesburg in November this year.
