​Teams from different city entities continued the accelerated service delivery programme in the inner city. Last week, from 8 to 10 September 2021, the programme landed in wards 58, 63 and 64 with the aim of giving the area a complete overhaul. Ward 58 covers Langlaagte, Homestead Park, Mayfair and Vrededorp and wards 63 and 64 which includes areas like Hillbrow, Berea and Bertrams. These areas have service delivery challenges.

City entities and departments moved from street to street repairing potholes, clearing rubble, picking up refuse, fixing burst pipes and street lights, disconnecting illegal electricity connections, inspecting and repairing vandalized infrastructure and enforcing by-laws. This programme, led by the Executive Mayor, Cllr Jolidee Matongo, and his mayoral committee members has been moving with speed in all city regions. Entities and departments on the ground were Joburg Water, City Power, Pikitup, JRA, Environmental Health, Joburg City Parks and Zoo, Social Development, Environmental Health and Building Development Management among others.

Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Housing, Cllr Mlungisi Mabaso who is responsible for oversight in Region F said “the visibility of the city’s departments and entities should be enhanced and sustained to ensure that the service delivery is brought to our residents”.

The accelerated service delivery campaign assumes an integrated service delivery approach. City departments and entities join forces to render a variety of services focusing on hotspots identified by the region and ward councillors. Pikitup picked up litter, cleared illegal dumping sites and swept streets using sweeper trucks and other heavy duty equipment. Joburg Water repaired about 16 leaking water valves, repaired six burst water pipes and found one suspected illegal water connection, which was referred to operations for further investigation.

City Power Maintenance and Protection Unit repaired street lights along 8th, 9th, 10th and Robinson streets in Mayfair and surrounding streets. It also inspected around 20 properties, most were compliant and six were found to have illegally connected electricity and were disconnected. JRA, repaired a number of potholes, and trenches, undertook unblocking of kerb inlets, road markings, reinstatements and road patching.

Environmental Health inspected 16 businesses and premises. Two supermarkets in Hillbrow were found to be operating without a valid Certificate of Acceptance (COA). One store was found to be selling expired goods, and had two illegal chicken farms in a basement. Statutory notices and fines were issued.

Social Development profiled homeless people and shared information about the city’s social services programmes. Officials went on a door to door assessment for food insecure households that require food parcels at the Mohlakeng informal settlement. Joburg City Parks and Zoo planted trees, cut grass, pruned trees and picked litter in public spaces. Building Development Management inspected 19 properties and found an illegal abattoir on Edith Cavell Street, Hillbrow, an illegal construction on Pretoria Street, illegal building of shacks and shops and were all issued with contravention notices.

“With this campaign we are trying to speed up the delivery of services to our communities and address challenges facing these hotspots areas,” said Region F Director Irene Mafune.

“The economic revival of the inner city is key to creating an inclusive and flourishing city for all our residents. We need to create an inner city that attracts investment and brings business back to the CBD,” Mafune said.

The campaign was supported by outreach programmes including public education and awareness by Citizen Relationship and Urban Management, Pikitup and Joburg Water.