The City’s Citizen Relationship and Urban Management (CRUM) directorate in Region F has just concluded a wide-ranging service delivery blitz to address lingering urban decay, illegal dumping, illegal electrical connections, highjacked buildings, and leaking sewer and burst water pipes. CRUM also tackled vandalism and theft of infrastructure, potholes, illegal traders, vagrancy, and more.
Irene Mafune, the Regional Director, says City Power and City Parks managed to address approximately 100% of issues reported, with Regents Park, Joubert Park, Berea, Bertrams, Malvern, Jeppestown, City and Suburbia, Paarlshop, Fordsburg, and Ormonde spruced up.
The largescale service delivery operation was designed to address issues reported by regions as part of the Responsive Service Delivery Initiative (RSDI) in various hotspots across Johannesburg.
Among these hotspots are the Hillbrow Health and the Braamfontein Precincts, as well as Berea, Cyrildene, Bezuidenhout Valley, West Turffontein, and Regents Park.
Mafune says various departments and entities had their hands full attending to service delivery shortfalls in the quarter that just ended, with City Power disconnecting illegal electricity connections on Hunter Street in Bertrams and fixing streetlights.
City Parks cleaned and trimmed grass at Evan Parks and Edith Cavell Park.
The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA), on the other side, patched the road on 1st and 2nd Street in Bezuidenhout Valley, while the Region’s Augmented Field Services (AFS) staff cleaned Kruger Street in Paarlshop and other areas.
The Environmental Health Inspectorate examined more than 20 businesses and spaza shops, issuing noncompliance notices.
Building Development Management (BDM) inspected properties and discovered illegal backroom construction, issuing contravention notices. Pikitup used sweeper trucks to pick up litter, clear illegal dumping sites, and sweep streets.
The Gauteng Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Environment (GDARDE) joined forces with the region and brought on board the Bontle Ke Botho cleaning teams to assist in clearing illegal dumping and other waste-related issues.
“This emphasises the point that collaboration with other spheres of government is key in delivering services to our communities,” says Mafune.
With the launch of the #WarOnWaste campaign by the MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services (EISD), Cllr Jack Sekwaila, who is also a ward councillor for Ward 64, Region F is making great strides to clear illegal dumping and other waste-related issues, Mafune adds.
“Capacity within the entities remains a challenge as it impacts the percentage of service delivery calls resolved in the region. The non-participation of other service delivery departments is another issue that should be addressed speedily,” she notes.
“Working hand in glove, the City is making huge strides, and the plea is for communities and stakeholders to work closely with the municipality for the betterment of the region,” she urges.
Written by Dudu Lushaba
12/04/2023