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The Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Cllr Kabelo Gwamanda, delivered his maiden State of the City Address (SOCA) at the Constance Bapela Council Chamber today, 06 June 2023. 

“It is with humility and determination that I now share with you the current state of our progress, acknowledging that we find ourselves at a performance level of 66% at the end of the third quarter. While this number may not meet our initial expectations, it is essential to recognise the significant strides we have made despite the challenges we inherited,” said Cllr Gwamanda.

He noted that upon assuming office, the leadership was faced with a fragile state of finances that demanded immediate attention. It necessitated aligning the priorities and rebasing the budget to lay the foundation for sustainable growth and development.

He said that by diligently reviewing the budget, re-evaluating expenditure and generating more revenue, the city has taken steps to ensure that all funds are utilised efficiently and effectively. It has also engaged in extensive consultations with stakeholders, listened to the needs of communities, and allocated resources accordingly. 

“This rigorous process has allowed us to realign our priorities, focusing on key areas such as infrastructure development and refurbishment, actively engaging with our citizenry, and facilitating job creation opportunities. Although progress has been steady in the three months of the GLU (Government of Local Unity), we acknowledge that there is still work to be done,” said Cllr Gwamanda. 

Importantly, he said Johannesburg continues to battle a number of developmental challenges including the persistence of spatial inequality with disparities in access to services and opportunities visible across different areas, unemployment rates remaining high which is threatening the livelihoods of many residents, a lack of affordable housing that has led to the proliferation of informal settlements, exacerbating the living conditions of the poor, and of course the increasing rate of crime and gender based violence, transportation inefficiency which limits mobility and economic productivity and there are still gaps in service delivery, affecting access to water, sanitation, energy, and waste management. 

He said loadshedding also remains one of the biggest threats to the safety, security, economy and liveability of the City. “Providing reliable and sustainable power supply to our residents and businesses in the City is one of the foremost priorities of the Government of Local Unity and receiving our urgent attention through City Power.”

Mayor Gwamanda said that the City has recently mandated City Power and the City Manager, through Council, to extend our Power Purchase Agreement with Kelvin Power Station by another three years, ending in October 2026. 

The City currently purchases 87% of its power from Eskom and Kelvin supports us with the balance of 13%. 

In terms of the water challenges, Cllr Gwamanda said that the current infrastructure challenges contribute to water shortages within the City. 

“These issues remain high on my agenda, and I will continue to work with the Mayoral Committee and the City administrators to find sustainable, long-term solutions to the infrastructure problems plaguing the City. Joburg Water is investing to build and upgrade the bulk water infrastructure,” he said. 

The City will also implement a geyser installation training programme in all regions of the City, targeting 140 residents as part of the comprehensive skills development strategy.

Cllr Gwamanda also pointed out that the city is hard at work finding ways to create jobs, empower women and fight the rising crime rate. 

He said that to tackle high levels of crime, the Public Safety Department, in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies, is dedicated to reducing crime and promoting safety throughout the city. 

“Fighting and defeating crime is a top priority for the Government of Local Unity. To bolster our efforts in fighting crime, we plan to recruit approximately 2 000 Crime Wardens.”

“Through the multidisciplinary operation led by the Public Safety department, we will restore the rule of law in the Inner City and ensure the safety of all who live or work in the Inner City. We have since introduced a new initiative and partnership with the private sector that will give our JMPD, access to over 5,000 smart CCTV cameras to allow us to monitor, track and trace crime suspects and perpetrators across the City,” he explained. 

He said that in pursuit of job creation the City has made job creation and opportunities a top priority, with a specific emphasis on supporting Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) and entrepreneurs. SMMEs and entrepreneurs are crucial in absorbing labour and developing, growing, and improving the health of the urban economy.

The City of Johannesburg will, this year, finally heed the call for a restructured and capacitated Youth Directorate, in order to consolidate and enhance youth development in the City. 

Additionally the mayor noted that guided by the GDS 2040, intergovernmental relations are critical to the operationalisation of the city’s 11 strategic priorities which will take the city a step closer to being World Class African City.

The current 11 priorities are Good governance, Financial Sustainability, Energy Mix, Sustainable Service Delivery, Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment, Job Creation and Opportunities, Safer City, Active and engaged citizenry, Sustained economic growth, Green economy, and Smart City. 

“Through the District Development Model ours is to ensure that we work closely with the provincial and national spheres of government to create synergy and coordination in resolving the challenges that face our City. From our fight against crime, to our ability to provide reliable and sustainable water supply,” he said.  

Cllr Gwamanda said the Government of Local Unity is committed to taking a proactive approach in addressing the challenges facing the City. Through strategic planning, collaboration, and citizen engagement, the city is laying the foundation for a brighter future. 

“Together, with the collective efforts of the capable MMCs, residents, businesses, and civil society, we will create a legacy that reflects the hopes, dreams and aspirations of all the inhabitants of Johannesburg.”

Issued by the City of Johannesburg