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I call on the new ANC-run Council to meet with the Eldorado Park community tomorrow, 8 October, to reassure them that the action steps that were in place to deal with their concerns will continue to be carried out.

I appeal to the ANC-Council to put people’s needs before political considerations.

Even though they have taken power through an illegal and illegitimate process we appeal to them to now do the right thing for the residents of Eldorado Park.

A spike in alleged gang-related shootings in Eldorado Park ignited a sit-in protest by residents who called on all spheres of government to develop an integrated intervention that would resolve the myriad of social ills that fuel the ongoing violence.

In my capacity as Executive Mayor, I responded to this appeal and personally engaged residents on the ground around the issues concerned. I committed to returning to Eldorado Park on Saturday, 8 October, with the Members of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) and Provincial Government to respond comprehensively to the broader Eldo’s community.

Within two weeks of the protests, the duly elected multi-party government had already developed an action plan which addressed specific issues tabled by residents.

My office led engagements with the provincial government and its departments in an effort to ensure that issues falling outside the City’s mandate were attended to by province, whilst also developing a collaborative strategy that would see both spheres of government working together to address the issues emanating from Eldorado Park.

I further wrote to President Cyril Ramaphosa appealing for his intervention in matters of policing, intelligence operations, prosecutions and the implementation of the National Drug Master Plan among others.

The logistical and operational plans around the public engagement set for 8 October were well underway and almost concluded when the City was plunged into political uncertainty following an unlawful Council meeting that saw Cllr Dada Morero unlawfully elected as Mayor on 30 September 2022.

This prevailing sense of uncertainty has extended to all corners of Johannesburg. communities who were awaiting answers continue to appeal to me for assistance and intervention.

I would want the community of Eldorado Park to know that as the Mayor of a multi-party government that cared, we were ready to commit to delivering the following:

• Implementing a cluster system in Region G which would enable integrated and targeted service delivery operations in Eldorado Park, and surrounding areas;
• Allocating 5 teams from City Power to address street lighting concerns for a period of a month, where after normal maintenance and spotting would resume;
• Identifying hotspots for the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) to undertake patching of roads, cleaning of Kerb Inlets and scoffing; and
• Deploying Joburg City Parks and Zoo to assist with grass cutting and maintenance of parks.

Furthermore, Member of Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Public Safety, MMC David Tembe, visited Eldorado Park to outline key interventions that will be put in place to assist in reducing and preventing crime in the area including:

• Deployment of 100 metro police officers working alongside the JMPD K9 Unit. JMPD Metro Police Nyala armoured vehicle to be stationed 24/7 at a strategic point to serve as a deterrent for criminal behaviour;
• A specialised undercover unit to form part of the deployment. These officers would have acted as agents of information, able to quickly contain and eliminate potential threats;
• Initiating a 22, 44 and 88-point system. This operation will see roadside checks happen simultaneously at identified hotspots at any given time;
• JMPD to launch smart roadblocks using automatic number plate recognition technology to uncover unpaid transgressions by road users. A mobile station is used to conduct these roadblocks; and
• COJ EMS to check non-compliant buildings, and create awareness and education on fire prevention.

These interventions were scheduled to take place for three months and then to be reviewed later.

We had also prepared a solid action plan with timelines to address issues around social services, the provision of assistance to SMMEs and NGOs.

As the Mayor of a multi-party government that cared, I was prepared to present these and other interventions to the community of Eldorado Park and had worked closely with the provincial government to compel their support for the community.

Go back to the residents and tell them what the City will do.

We have done the work for you, and there is no excuse to not respond in person to the residents this coming Saturday.

There are programmes that are driven as each new political administration enters office, and this is one such issue that should be above the political happenings of the Joburg City Council. The Eldorado Park issue should not be kicked one side because the politics of the day changed, although illegally.

The work of local government is and must always be about the people, not politics.

Issued by Dr Mpho Phalatse - DA Johannesburg Leader