In the Loop November 2014

In the Loop10Issue No.

Nov 2014

Internal Newsletter

Joburg walks tall on global stage

In the Loop

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Contents

In the Loopn – 21

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Arts, Sports & Culture

Message from the Executive Mayor


City helping hand offers small businesses opportunities to grow

JPC opens up to customers

R1.9 billion Housing Project sparks revival of the South

Better infrastructure holds new promise for Diepsloot

Reading culture to be nurtured in City’s new Libraries

Service delivery snippets

Awards to spur on City’s creative housing initiatives

Professionals should join Public Sector, says Joburg’s young CA

SAP provides world class solutions for a world class African city

Plight of communities close to the heart of Activist Speaker

Restaurant menus to feature healthy food options

Go Jozi on a roll as more Joburgers get active

Uniting to win the war against stigma and discrimination

16 Days Campaign to challenge men to combat gender violence

Corridors of Freedom project scoops prestigious international award

Communities across Joburg to enjoy upgraded recreational facilities

Green Lungs offer Joburg residents “a Breath of Fresh Air”

Jozi@Work implementation soars to new heights

Good times lie ahead for Jozi sports

AcknowledgementsChief Editor:Nabintu Petsana - [email protected]

Editor:Thomas Thale - [email protected]

Contributor:Luyanda Lunika - [email protected] Maseng - [email protected]

Photography:Enoch Lehung - [email protected]

Cover Credits

Iconic landmarks of the City of Johannesburg:

The Joburg skyline, the Nelson Mandela Bridge

and Sandton City.

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Following its impressive performance at the recent OR Tambo Inter-Municipal Games, the City of Johannesburg looks set to take its 23 sporting codes to new heights.

Councillor Chris Vondo, Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Community Development says the City of Joburg Employee Sports Committee (COJESCO) is spear-heading plans to establish leagues for most of the sporting codes from next year. “This will help to improve the standard olay all round. We have a circle of people coming into the sports fraternity all the time.”

Leagues are to be set up within the City and outside with federations.

COJESCO will also be challenging metros outside Joburg to keep players match fit.

The City’s fortunes in sports have improved tremendously this year.

After uncharacteristically finishing third in the OR Tambo Games in 2012 and failing to make an impact last year, the City of Johannesburg has bounced back to reclaim the title it last won three years ago.

The City recaptured first place overall during the eighth edition of the competition, hosted by Sedibeng District Municipality in the Vaal in October.

“We took position one,” says the elated MMC Vondo.Twelve Gauteng municipalities took part in the games, initiated by the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) in 2006 to enable employees and councillors

of all Gauteng’s municipalities to come together and participate in various sporting codes.

For the City of Johannesburg, this annual spectacle is of significant importance in that it speaks to its Go Jozi Healthy Lifestyle Programme – initiated by Johannesburg Executive Mayor, Mpho Parks Tau – through which it seeks to deal decisively with chronic diseases and conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart ailments.

The City of Joburg proved too strong for the opposition this time around, winning most of the categories.

By the end of the tournament, Joburg was crowned the overall winner. Ekurhuleni came second and Tshwane third.Joburg came out tops in several codes, including women’s golf, darts, men’s morabaraba, action cricket, men’s ncuva, men’s race walking and road running, men’s soccer and mixed volleyball.

The other participating municipalities were Lesedi Local Municipality, Metsweding District Municipality, Midvaal Local Municipality, Mogale City Local Municipality, Westonaria Local Municipality, Efulweni Local Municipality, City of Tshwane and Merafong Local Municipality.

The games were named after and held in honour of the late African National Congress struggle stalwart Oliver Reginald Tambo.

The games also coincide with his birth month.

For more information on taking part in sporting activities in the City, contact Krishna Pather at 0714368030 or email him at [email protected]

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19MMC Chris Vondo with the triumphant Team Joburg celebrating their victory.

Good times lie ahead for Jozi sports

The implementation phase of Jozi@Work is set to shift into upper gear when the hosting of Regional Forums begins in the first week of December.

The Jozi@Work Regional Forums come after the Johannes-burg Executive Mayor Parks Tau led a successful Registra-tion Drive of cooperatives and other community based enterprises as legal entities in Alexandra earlier in November. Following the Jozi@Work Registration Drive across the City’s seven regions as the first phase of implementation after the September 30th official launch of the co-production programme, the Regional Forums will also be hosted in regions. Advertisements have already been placed in community media to give dates and venues of the various scheduled Regional Forums.

Jozi@Work Information Desks have also been set up in the City’s regional offices where most community members to end up at the Metro Centre in Braamfontein are referred to.

Mayor Tau says: “It is at these regional forums that community members who registered cooperatives or other various types of community based companies during the registration drive, and those who have existing enterprises, are going to be briefed on the kind of Jozi@Work contracts available in their respective regions.”

“These are the Jozi@Work contracts valued at just over R1 billion that we have been creating awareness about before we launched the Jozi@Work programme, which is designed to empower communities to partner with the City in improving the delivery of our services in their neighbour-hoods,” the Mayor says.

The Jozi@Work Awareness Campaign, which began in August this year, has reached more than 7000 people. Meanwhile, the Registration Drive saw more than 2000

new cooperatives and other community based companies assisted to register their enterprises with the Department of Trade and Industry so to be recognised as legal entities when doing business with the City.

In the current financial year, the Jozi@Work programme is expected to create 12 329 jobs in fields that include grass cutting, maintenance, repairs, as well as landscaping, refuse removal, recycling and cleaning. Mayor Tau says the City has already committed about R3 billion in the next financial year to see more work contracts issued under the Jozi@Work programme. This will see an additional 38 949 jobs created within the cooperatives and community based companies that would have been awarded Jozi@Work contracts.

20 – In the Loop In the Loopn – 1

Greetings Joburg Employees.

It is, indeed, a pleasant coincidence that as I pen down my first column for In the Loop, our collective efforts as ambassadors of a City-at-work to build a world-class African destination are paying off.

Through our Growth and Development Strategy Joburg 2040, we have shaped

a clear vision for our City. This is a vision that enjoins us to become a world-class African city of the future.

It calls on all of us to play our part in building a vibrant, equitable African city that is strengthened through its diversity, provides a high quality of life - as it forges a resilient and adaptive society.

If you regularly visit our website and social media platforms for news about our organisation - and possibly retweet -- you will already know that earlier in November, we were announced as the most popular and visited city in Africa by the 2014 MasterCard Global Destination Cities Index – for a second consecutive year.

More recently, the 2014 Good Cities Index by the United States based Good Magazine rated Johannesburg as the second most inspirational City in the world – which places us second only to Hong Kong in China.

Furthermore, contrary to popular perceptions about Johannesburg, the City is among the least violent in the world. This was affirmed by a recent list of the top 50 most violent cities compiled by the Mexico Citizens Council for Public Security and Criminal Justice. The list did not include Johannesburg.

These survey results are a reflection of our efforts in creating an environment that is a hub of progress, engagement, street life, defining moments, work life balance, and most of all, diversity.

Amid all these positive findings, it is important for all of us, both the elected leadership and members of staff, who form the backbone of the City, to be cognisant of how these awards give us reason to pause and cheer. However, this also demands that we strive to achieve even more, and restore trust and confidence in our City.

As civil servants, we need to direct our energies to enhancing perceptions about the City through excellence in the delivery of both basic services and customer service. This, however, requires that we acknowledge the current gaps in attitudes, turnaround times to alerts and complaints reported to us by the people of this City.

By doing this, we will be able to further advance our image and reputation where it matters most - among our citizens.

Cllr M.P. Tau

Councillor Mpho Parks TauJohannesburg Executive Mayor

Job Creation

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Executive Mayor’s Note

Executive Mayor Mpho Parks Tau explaining the finer details of Jozi@work to aspirant entrepreneurs.

Jozi@Work implementation soars to new heights

In the Loopn – 192– In the Loop

CorridorsEconomic Development


TThe “green revolution” envisaged by Johannesburg Executive Mayor, Parks Tau in his 2014 State of the City Address is gaining traction with a number of innovative environmental developments along the Corridors of Freedom.

More than R15-mlllion has been allocated to the Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo to upgrade parks and green spaces along the three existing Corridors.

“Our open spaces and parks are the green lungs of the City,” says Councillor Chris Vondo, MMC for Community Development. “They demonstrate our commitment to create and manage development in South Africa’s fastest growing City in an environmentally responsible manner.”A primary objective of the Corridors initiative is to create liveable spaces where City residents can live, work, play and relax within an integrated environment and in close proximity of work opportunities and amenities. Well-maintained parks and recreation areas contribute greatly to the quality of life of urban dwellers and foster social and cultural cohesion, says MMC Vondo. “Green open spaces become inclusive environments where residents from different background can meet, mingle and share experiences.”

For these reasons the City is investing in a number of new park developments and the upgrading of existing green spaces.

Along the Perth – Empire Roads Corridor there are two new parks under construction – one in Noordgesig and

another in Westbury – at a cost of R2-million each.Yeoville Park, a well-known landmark on the Louis Botha Avenue Corridor, is receiving a makeover while major upgrades to Rotunda Park on the Turffontein corridor in the southern part of the CBD will soon start.

A feature of all the new development is the provision of green outdoor gyms. City Parks has identified such exercise facilities as a priority in all existing parks under its management to provide residents and visitors with a world-class, outdoor recreational experience.

This will, no doubt, enhance the social impact of the parks on communities and contribute to the City’s wider initia-tives to promote healthy lifestyles and encourage residents to participate in activities that are conducive to their physical and mental well-being.

The green lungs bring obvious environmental benefits to the city’s landscape and its residents. This includes improved storm water management and natural soil and erosion control. The open spaces serve as important buffer zones between the built-up areas in the city and the natural environments. MMC Vondo says upgraded and well-maintained parks will also contribute to the safety of communities. Undeveloped and ill-maintained spaces tend to attract criminal elements but inviting green spaces draw people who have a stake in the future of their own communities.

Green Lungs offer Joburg residents “a Breath of Fresh Air”• Ranked No. 2 among 50 most inspiring cities

in the world

• Ranked No. 1 among 132 cities ranked in Africa

• Not among the 50 most violent cities in the world

Johannesburg has emerged as the second most inspiring City in the world, the most visited City in Africa and a city that’s relatively peaceful. According to the recent “Good City Index” conducted by United States based Good magazine, Joburg is second only to Hong Kong in terms of inspiration. The index names the 50 most inspiring Cities in the world, looking at a combination of factors, including Civic Engagement, Hub for Progress, Diversity, Street Life, Green Life, Connectivity, and Work/Life balance. It is billed as “a celebration of the 50 cities around the world that best capture the elusive quality of possibility”.

Recently as well, the Mexico’s Citizens’ Council for Public Security and Criminal Justice released a list of 50 of the most-violent cities in the world and, guess what, Johannesburg is not among them. Instead, the ranking features three other South African cities: Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Durban as number 20, 42 and 49, respectively.

These accolades come hot on the heels of Joburg topping the list of the most visited cities in Africa in the MasterCard Global Destination Cities Index that measures trends in business and leisure tourism across the world. The Index ranks 132 cities, using the number of total international visitor arrivals and their cross-border spending during their stay as a yardstick. Tourist arrivals in Joburg have risen by 5% over the past year, helping Johannesburg to retain its position as the

most visited City in Africa. Executive Mayor, Mpho Parks Tau, says these global rankings confirm Johannesburg’s status as a world-class African city, an economic powerhouse and the heartland of trade and economic activity on the continent. “We are proud to be the home of the most local and multinational companies in banking, finance and industry that are based here because of the world-class economic and social infrastructure that we offer.”

Johannesburg is expecting 4.3 million international overnight visitors in 2014, compared to last year's 4.1m visitors. International visitors are expected to spend an estimated R35.6 billion compared to around R34bn last year.

In a letter to stakeholders following the announcement by MasterCard, the Mayor noted it could not have been achieved “without your warm and welcoming smiles as City employees, residents and the professionalism of the tourism industry.”

He referred to Joburg’s successful hosting of global events in recent months such as the C40 Cities for Climate Change Summit, the high-level meeting of the Metropolis Organisation and the One Young World Summit that attracted the cream of the next generation of global leadership.

“Johannesburg continues to claim its proud place as one of the world’s top destinations and the unrivalled leader on the African Continent. The unwavering commitment from all our stakeholders, leadership, employees, residents and the business community will ensure that we maintain these high performance standards.

“This will not escape the attention of the world,” says Mayor Tau.

Councillor Chris Vondo, MMC for Community Development.

Small and emerging businesses in Johannesburg are getting a vital hand-up from the City with the creation of a hub that offers office space at affordable rates.

Located at 58 Marshall Street in the CBD, The Business Place is a partnership between the City and the private sector to create an environment which enables emerging businesses to grow and prosper.

This will add stability to their business costs and increase their prospects of successful participation in a highly-competitive environment.

“The success of the hub is critical for balanced growth in Johannesburg,” says the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Economic Development, Ruby Mathang. “We are aware of the reality that small businesses have the biggest potential for growth and create much needed jobs.”

The Business Place offers small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) office space at nominal rates. Its strategic location within the CBD means that these enterprises are now located close to a wide range of service providers in the field of finance, banking, information technology, marketing, legal and human resources.

The facility also offers its clients shared infrastructure and services which reduce their cost of doing business such as internet access, photocopiers, boardrooms and canteen facilities.

“The primary idea is to bridge the gap that exists between businesses run from home – mostly in the townships – and those operated from an established business environment,” says the City’s Director for Sustainable Employment Facilitation, Tsholo Mogotsi.

In addition to the affordable office space the expertise available at the hub, through the City, supports the emerging businesses to succeed in their fields of operation. Where a specific service is not readily available at the hub, it is sourced and brought in-house.

“Through this on-going renewal process we provide our clients with a complete menu of services required to run a successful enterprise,” says Mogotsi.

Christopher Parkin, the Chief Operations Officer of The Business Place, says it has signed contracts with various service providers who have established help desks at the venue to ensure assistance is readily available to the SMMEs.

One of the companies that has already moved to the office complex is K G Mashigo Attorneys, a firm of legal practitioners and conveyancers. “The Centre has provided us with space to grow,” says one of the firm’s partners, Lindiwe Ingwane.”

“Your address and the environment in which you operate are vital to your ability to grow and attract business,” says Ingwane. At 58 Marshall Street the City has now established this important address.

City helping hand offers small businesses opportunities to grow

In the Loopn – 318 – In the Loop

Economic DevelopmentCorridors

Sports and recreational facilities, swimming pools and libraries across Johannesburg are undergoing major upgrades through a R41.8-million allocation during the current financial year.

These projects will bring tangible benefits to communities who use these facilities for relaxation and social activities. Security features are being improved and measures are being introduced to prevent vandalism and the destruction of property that benefit society at large.

“Communities must be aware of the fact that they are the ultimate owners of these facilities,” says the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development, Clr Chris Vondo.

Financial expenditure on these facilities has increased by a whopping 500% compared to the previous financial year. Some 32 facilities have been identified for potential refurbishment and eight will receive priority attention because of their unique potential to foster inclusion and promote social cohesion.

• The Alexandra Stadium is receiving the lion’s share of the funding with R4-million being disbursed to fix it up and bring it to the standards at other similar facilities;

• The Noordgesig Swimming Pool is another major beneficiary through an allocation of just under a million rand. The Yeoville swimming pool and recreational centre and the Newclare aquatic facility receive similar injection of funds.

• Patterson Park and the sports complex in Orange Grove – along the CBD – Alexandra Corridor –will be revamped to the tune of R20-million.

• R10-million is being injected into the refurbishment of the Union Sports Complex in Newclare and an additional R6-million goes towards improvements at the Bosmont complex.

• The Brixton and Bosmont libraries are receiving upgrades at costs of R2-million and R1-million respectively.

• Coronationville is benefiting from a R1.8-million upgrade of its swimming pool and library.

Among the improvements that are taking place are steps to safeguard the facilities against vandalism. Where required security measures such as fencing, adequate lighting, burglar bars, security doors and CCTV cameras are being installed. This is in line with the City’s broader approach to create safer environments through pro-active initiatives that address crime, grime and lawlessness.

Vondo says his department is working closely with sports councils, federations and associations in the respective areas to gain insight into their needs, but also to measure the utilisation of the redeveloped facilities. One of the objectives of the refurbishments is to ensure that these facilities are accessible to the entire communities resulting in their maximum utilisation.

Communities across Joburg to enjoy upgraded recreational facilities

In the Loop – 174 – In the Loop

Economic Development Corridors

JPC opens up to customers

The interactive platform that the Johannesburg Property Company (JPC) has come up with to resolve customers’ property-related queries has proved to be a phenomenal success.

Every Wednesday, the JPC – the City of Johannesburg’s property arm – holds “Open Days” at its Braampark, Braamfontein offices during which enquiries from all the City’s seven regions are being attended to by the Regional Managers or their representatives of JPC who attend to clients for four hours – from 9am to 1pm –responding to property-related queries.

From the beginning of July 2013 to the end of September 2014 – a total of 2 739 customers attended the “Open Days” and have had all their enquiries being attended to, according to Engela Nieuwoudt, the JPC’s Manager: Client Servicing Unit.

The “Open Days” are also used as a platform to discuss new proposals and to provide residents with feedback on their enquiries as well as information on enquiries that have already been submitted.

“This also gives JPC’s officials the opportunity to engage

with customers and residents in an interactive manner,” says Nieuwoudt.

The enquiries posed by the customers pertain to issues such as leases and sales of commercial and residential properties; parking; servitudes; sanitary lanes; encroachments; community facilities such as churches, crèches and sports facilities; outdoor advertising; user agreements and access to information.

“Open Days give the Regional Managers and the Client Servicing Unit the opportunity to explain in detail the responses, fees and costs involved [in some of the transac-tions], and follow-ups on outstanding enquiries. This also builds a relationship between the customers and our Regional Managers,” she says.

“The aim of our unit is to ensure speedy and effective resolution of customer enquiries. It also ensures effective communication, cooperation and accurate information sharing between the JPC and external stakeholders – the community, councillors, business enterprises and non-governmental organisations,” she says.

Nieuwoudt adds that the overall experience of the customers who attend the “Open Days” is positive. These interactions, she says, also help to improve JPC’s service delivery.

Johannesburg has scooped another international award to recognise the innovative Corridors of Freedom initiative that is transforming the City’s urban landscape.

Mayoral Committee Member for Development Planning and Urban Management, Councillor Roslynn Greeff, received the 2014 Excellence in Planning Award in Durban recently. The accolade was presented at the Planning Africa Conference which brought together local and international delegates and experts in the urban planning environment.“Winning the award and being recognised by international delegates put Joburg on the map, once again,” says MMC Greeff.

“The City is being recognised for having the most progressive planning department in South Africa – and, possibly throughout the African continent. I am immensely proud of this recognition,” she says.

Hosted by the South African Planning Institute the biennial conference serves as an important platform for the exchange of knowledge about current and future planning issues among the continental and international planning community.

The award was handed over to Johannesburg Executive Mayor, Mpho Parks Tau at a recent meeting of the Mayoral Committee and prominently displayed together with other accolades won by the City over the years.

Johannesburg’s leadership in the introduction of Corridors

of Freedom is proving to be one of the most innovative concepts yet in the South African urban environment. The spatial programme initiated by the City is designed to break down the legacy of apartheid planning patterns and redesign a modern and progressive Johannesburg into one, united city.

Through targeted initiatives the City is also addressing the legacy of the past through spatial transformation and ensuring that all Joburgers have an equitable right to the City and a definitive stake in its future.

Johannesburg is at the forefront of an urban revolution where it is building a new city along and around mass transit corridors to create housing, jobs and social opportunities within the same, shared urban space.

MMC Greeff, the Executive Director of Development Planning and Urban Management, Yondela Silimela and director, Herman Pienaar presented papers at the conference highlighting specific unique elements of the Corridors of Freedom initiative.

“The Corridors of Freedom project has reached the implementation stage,” says Greeff. Over the next two years it will be cast in stone and become a recognisable feature of an emerging, progressive Johannesburg.

“Our next objective is to win the ‘Demonstrable Implementation Award’ that will be presented at the next Planning Africa Conference, scheduled for 2016,” says MMC Greeff.

Herman Pienaar, Director of Development Planning and Urban Management and MMC Roslynn Greeff with the award won by the City for its Corridors of Freedom initiative.

Corridors of Freedom project scoops prestigious international ward


Service DeliveryHuman & Social Development

The South of Johannesburg is undergoing a remarkable transformation through city-led housing and infrastructure developments and a boom in the property market.

Describing it as “a jewel on the City’s crown,” Johannesburg Executive Mayor, Mpho Parks Tau, said people who used to say “the south is long dead and buried had better wait and see.”

He was speaking at the launch of a R1.9-billion mixed housing development in South Hills, one of the biggest projects of its kind ever undertaken by the City. The launch was attended by members of the business community, city officials and hundreds of residents at Moffat View Extension 4. The City is to invest R750 million in the form of grants and subsidies for the project, which is expected to be completed within six years.

The housing development, located about 6km from the Johannesburg City Centre is a partnership between the City, Standard Bank, property developers Calgro M3 and residents. The objective is to reduce the housing backlog in the inner city and surrounding areas.

The project is an integral part of the City’s Corridors of Freedom initiative and is earmarked for development to reverse decades of apartheid planning and turn Johannesburg into an inclusive city with safe access to affordable forms of

transport such as the Rea Vaya bus system and free Wi-Fi hotspots.

Mayor Tau said the 5 327-unit housing development will contribute to the City’s objective to stich Johannesburg together by cutting across various income groups and class. It will be bringing together communities in a prime geographical area closer to economic opportunities and transport nodes.

The provision of housing for the poor and middle-to-high income groups is a deliberate move by the City to foster cohesion. Fifty stands were set aside for sale to residents who want to build their own homes.

Mayor Tau noted that not all people qualify for bonds or housing subsidies. He said: “This is why some people lost their life savings by paying unscrupulous landlords who had illegally portioned off council-owned land. It was heart-breaking to see bulldozers flatten people’s homes.”

As a result of the substantial infrastructure development projects planned for the area – especially Rosettenville and Turffontein, Mayor Tau said property ownership was expected to boom.

Mayor Tau further said: “There are massive opportunities for property owners to benefit from the redesign of the South. Additional rights will be granted upfront, turning property owners into property developers.”

The role of men in combating abuse and violence against women and children will be a prominent feature of this year’s 16 Days of Activism campaign which gets going from the 25th November.

This year marks the 23rd anniversary of the global 16 Days of Activism: No violence and abuse against women and children and the City is ready to step up its awareness campaigns in all seven regions.

The MMC for Health and Social Development, Nonceba Molwele, says “16 Days” is but one element of a broader Women’s Development Strategy in place in Johannesburg through which gender issues and the socio-economic development of women are being addressed.

“We are, actually, committed to a 365 Days of Activism Campaign,” says MMC Molwele. “We have brought gender issues into the mainstream of the city’s activities and continue to raise awareness about violence and abuse committed against vulnerable sectors in our society.”

The 2014 campaign is strongly influenced by a comprehensive process of consultation that took place in August.

Forums for Men were established in each of the regions of the city and through a process of dialogue, their opinions were aired on why they perceive themselves to be disrespected at home and within communities. The purpose of the forums is to assist men in handling aggravating situations and to send out the message that “real men don’t abuse.”

According to MMC Molwele, the issues raised at the Men Forums include alcohol and substance abuse; unemployment

and financial pressures; unfaithfulness; lack of communication; low self-esteem, cultural beliefs and customs and lack of support to the families.

A similar process of consultation conducted among women revealed comparable perceptions about why they are not respected, but also added issues such as cheating; controlling attitudes; religious abuse; peer pressure; lack of education and insecurity among men towards women who are independent.

MMC Molwele says the information gathered during the Forums and the Letsema process in September will enable the City to fine-tune its interventions that are aimed at curbing violence against women and children. The “burning issues” identified by both men and women will assist the City to provide information and support which can strengthen the family fibre and improve interpersonal relationships.

The 16 Days campaign provides a platform for the City, a wide range of faith-based and community-based organisations and NGOs, to share new and effective strategies to combat gender-based violence. A partnership with the NPA will also strengthen the message.

A number of Male Ambassadors have been identified to become high-profile partners of the campaign and sustain the City’s Men as Safety Promoters programme.

Some participants in the 16 Days of Activism campaign have been linked with business organisations and income generating projects so that they can move from dependency on abusive partners to economic self-reliance.

16 Days Campaign to challenge men to combat gender violence

Executive Mayor Mpho Parks Tau and Housing MMC, Dan Bovu launching the South Hills housing development

R1.9 billion Housing Project sparks revival of the South

Awareness about AIDS and the progress made by the City in forming a united front to fight against HIV will be the major themes of a two-week long campaign culminat-ing in World AIDS Day on 1 December.

This year’s programme, initiated by the Johannesburg AIDS Council (JAC), will demonstrate the City’s commitment to “win the war” against HIV and AIDS and showcase its achievements.

In line with the themes of World AIDS Day 2014 the focus will be on stigma and discrimination and reach out to the most important constituencies in the City through advocacy and awareness activities. The programme will run over two weeks with events planned in all seven regions of the city.

- ONS PHOLA HIER – is the title of an initiative aimed at sex workers to create dialogue between them, the city leadership and the JAC; to speak about the challenges they face and to address concerns about discrimination and law enforcement.

- Out of school youth will be the focus of the TJOVITJO activity taking place in Orange Farm. The event will comprise of a mixture of sport – soccer, netball, basketball and volleyball – and arts – theatre, poetry and music – connected through dialogue. The City will provide information about the various support packages available to this group, which is considered to be the most at risk, and health screening will be available at the venue.

- MAN 2 MAN is the theme of a special outreach designed to encourage responsible behaviour among workers in the transport sector, especially the taxi industry. The Sandton City Mall and the adjacent taxi rank will be the venues for activities with messages focusing on “sugar daddy” behaviour which poses great risks to members of society, especially young women;

- The support of faith-based organisations will be mobilised in the TSHEPA THAPELO activities that will encourage members from a range of religious denominations to stand together in the fight against stigma and discrimination. Members of the Mayoral Committee and civic leaders will visit churches, mosques and temples to spread the message.

- The BUA campaign recognises the need to communicate with children at a young age and improve the levels of understanding about HIV.

- The more than 30 000 city employees will be the target group of an activity that will emphasise healthy lifestyles and food security. Hand-to-Mouth will highlight the successful introduction of food gardens in households and employees will be encouraged to adopt a family close to where they live and provide support and advice on food security and healthy living.

World AIDS Day 2014 objectives:

• Encourage the involvement of Johannesburg residents in promoting a human rights-based approach towards people who are infected and affected by HIV and AIDS;

• Increase awareness about positive practices that reduces and eradicates stigma and discrimination;

• Increase involvement in innovative and inexpensive healthy living and food security;

• Promote greater public awareness and participation about the services provided by the City and civil society.


Service Delivery Human & Social Development

Major upgrades and increased city investments in infrastructure are bringing new hope to the residents of Diepkloof, the rapidly growing township on Johannesburg’s northern edge.

Once considered as a mere relocation area for informally settled households from Diepsloot and Alexandra the area has seen major improvements in public infrastructure since 2007, and more is to come.

The City’s commitment to the spatial integration of Diepsloot with the rest of Johannesburg was underlined by the recent announcement by Executive Mayor, Mpho Parks Tau that future plans for the extension of the Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit System will definitely include Diepsloot. This will be part and parcel of Johannesburg’s longer term vision to build Corridors of Freedom based on well-planned transport spokes and hubs.

This plan will provide the township community with access to basic services, better transport and more income-generating opportunities.

“We can’t continue re-entrenching apartheid; we should build a city of the future. All communities should be able to access transport to the city or even stay in the city or the area of work,” Mayor Tau said at an imbizo with civic and business leaders.

The imminent completion of the first phase of Ingonyama Road Ext, one of the main access links into Diepsloot, demonstrates the extent of the transformation taking place. The Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) is responsible for the management and facilitation of these projects. Earlier improvements to the public and business environment included upgrades to the taxi rank, the construction of two pedestrian bridges and pathways to link the bridges with the road.

The current phase, to be completed during the 2014/15 financial year comprises the paving of sidewalks, storm water upgrades, kerbing, road surfacing, the planting of 200 new trees and the installation of 80 street lights. Detailed designs for Phase 2 of the multi-year project are also being drawn up.

The City’s investment in public infrastructure serves as a catalyst for the private sector to fund development initiatives. Among these are the Steyn City lifestyle development, a major industrial park by Century and the construction of a new shopping centre and mixed-used area.

"The implementation of the Ingonyama link road extension will instil further confidence amongst property investors because it demonstrates the City’s long-term commitment to make Diepsloot viable,” says the Johannesburg Development

Better infrastructure holds new promise for Diepsloot

MMC Nonceba Molwele leading from the front in efforts to fight the Aids scourge.

Uniting to win the war against stigma and discrimination

The Go Jozi initiative is gathering momentum with a growing number of Joburgers joining the quest to improve their health through exercise and responsible lifestyle choices.

The Healthy Lifestyle Street Fair will visit Poortjie in Orange Farm on 29 November and South Hills on the 6th of December to mobilise community participation in the Go Jozi Programme.

This follows on a very successful Street Fair in Alexandra where residents turned up in large numbers for a day of fun-filled activities. At the Altrek Stadium Go Jozi laid on activities for everybody to participate including a 5km fun walk, aerobics, netball, tennis, five-a-side soccer and traditional Zulu dancing. Residents also had the opportunity to undergo health screening.

Wandile Zwane, the Group Head of the Social Development Department says he was especially encouraged by the participation of young people in the activities. “Healthy eating and physical activity are known to benefit elderly people. But incorporating this into a social setting with young people is especially valuable,” he says.

The Street Fairs are among the activities that form part of the Healthy Lifestyle Programme initiated by Johannesburg Executive Mayor, Mpho Parks Tau. The programme encourages

residents to eat healthy and engage in physical activities such as running, cycling or walking to reduce the risk of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity.

Zwane says it is “all systems, go” for the events in Poortjie and South Hills. Members of the public will again be able to participate in activities such as a 5km fun walk, cycling, an aerobics marathon and the citywide weight loss challenge.

Based on the popular “Biggest Loser” concept the challenge is designed to encourage residents to shed excess kilos through a combination of exercise and sensible dieting. The competition starts at ward level and then extends into regions and, eventually, covers the entire City.

Entry forms are available from the offices of local ward councillors and the overall winners stand in line to walk away with fantastic prizes.

Nomsa Nkosi, the Manager in the Social Development Department says the programmes on the days are designed to approach lifestyle choices “in a holistic manner, catering for physical, emotional, social and mental wellbeing.”

The Healthy Lifestyle Programme is also promoted at early childhood development centres and among faith-based organisations, traditional healers, the youth, the elderly, sports and social clubs as well as restaurants and canteens.

The doors to learning were opened wider for residents of Ivory Park and Rabie Ridge in northern Johannesburg with the opening of the newly-refurbished Lord Khanyile Library.

The state-of-the-art facility now has new look following a R1.5-million revamp which includes full electrification and the installation of a 3m security system. Ample parking space has been provided, the floors have been tiled, the perimeter fence painted and the ablution facilities improved.

Councillor Chris Vondo, the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development says the library adds to city’s growing portfolio of libraries designed to stimulate a culture of reading among residents – both adults and children.

There are currently 87 public libraries within the city, but MMC Vondo, is of the opinion that the number of these facilities must be extended because of the growing number of children entering primary school.

The Lord Khanyile library is situated on the border between Rabie Ridge and Ivory Park and easily accessible to local communities in the North. This is the third library in the area to be renovated and will definitely alleviate the pressure on the other two facilities. Residents now have a choice which of the three libraries they want to visit and utilise for reading or studying purposes.

Prior to the revamp the library attracted 36 000 visits a year and 1 989 books were used. The expectation is that these figures will show a substantial increase because of the user-friendly nature of the new facility.

MMC Vondo appealed to parents and educators to encourage a culture of reading among the youth in their communities. Reading will help to broaden their knowledge and equip them for the challenges of a modern society. Experience has shown that once children get used to reading it becomes a very positive habit.

According to him parents must inculcate reading behaviour in children from as young as three years because that is the right age to start reading and set the youngster on the path of lifelong learning.

In the past 12 month period libraries in the city recorded a total of 2.6-million visits and 1.5-million books were used.

The Lord Khanyile Library is the latest in a string of facilities that have been revamped by the City of Johannesburg over the past two years. Upgraded libraries have alsobeen provided to:

• Emndeni; • Orange Farm;

• Lenasia; • Diepkloof Zone 1; • Diepkloof; • Jabavu;

• Diepsloot • Yeoville; and

• Slovoville • Sandton.


Service DeliveryHealth & Lifestyle

People of Alexandra get ready for the fun filled day dedicated to healthy lifestyle.

Go Jozi on a roll as more Joburgers get active The new libraries are fostering a culture of reading in communities across Joburg.

Reading culture to be nurtured in City’s new Libraries

Owls chasing rats out of Ivory Park

The owls released in Ivory Park by the City have proved effective in fighting rat infestation. The City introduced the barn owls in 2011 because they are the natural predators of rodents. The Barn Owls are part of Region A's Integrated Rodent Management Strategy. To date, 11 owlets have been released in the area by the Pest Control Section of Region A which falls under the Health Department. “All our pest control staff have been trained at Johannesburg Zoo to deal with owls and have become amazingly competent in this regard,” says Member of the Mayoral Committee for health, Nonceba Molwele.

The people of Melville embrace by-laws

Visible by-law enforcement in the Melville area is resulting in higher levels of compliance and greater satisfaction among business owners and residents.

In terms of the Integrated and Visible Service Delivery Outreach Programme inspectors from various City departments and agencies visit a specific area to iron out infrastructure-related challenges and check on adherence to municipal bylaws by businesses.

They address practical issues such as restaurants or pubs operating without licences, vagrants who damage public property and food that are prepared under unsafe conditions.

Councillor Amanda Forsythe who represents Ward 87 commended the City’s for ensuring a visible presence of municipal personnel on the ground.

Rolling Up their Sleeves for a Cleaner Turffontein

Kliprivier Road in Turffontein was the recent scene of a major clean-up operation with councillors, city officials and volunteers rolling up their sleeves to create a better environment.

Led by the MMC for Development Planning and Urban Management, Cllr Ros Greeff, the “eco-warriors” targeted the stretch of road between Rifle Range and Turf Club Street for their cleaning operations.

Many of the residents cooperated with the team and were provided with refuse bags while Pikitup conducted an audit of bins in the area and removed the rubbish that were collected on the day.

Tarred Roads to Improve Lives in Ivory Park

More than eight kilometres of gravel roads in Ivory Park are being given asphalt surfaces as part of R229-million investment in infrastructure in the suburb.

“The new infrastructure will significantly improve living conditions and connects the community to economic activities and opportunities,” says the MMC for Environment and Infrastructure, Councillor Matshidiso Mfikoe.

The roads upgrade will include surfacing, paving, kerbing and lighting and provide local residents with job opportunities and access to new skills.

Owls chasing rats out of Ivory Park

The owls released in Ivory Park by the City have proved effective in fighting rat infestation. The City introduced the barn owls in 2011 because they are the natural predators of rodents. The Barn Owls are part of Region A's Integrated Rodent Management Strategy. To date, 11 owlets have been released in the area by the Pest Control Section of Region A which falls under the Health Department. “All our pest control staff have been trained at Johannesburg Zoo to deal with owls and have become amazingly competent in this regard,” says Member of the Mayoral Committee for health, Nonceba Molwele.

The people of Melville embrace by-laws

Visible by-law enforcement in the Melville area is resulting in higher levels of compliance and greater satisfaction among business owners and residents.

In terms of the Integrated and Visible Service Delivery Outreach Programme inspectors from various City departments and agencies visit a specific area to iron out infrastructure-related challenges and check on adherence to municipal bylaws by businesses.

They address practical issues such as restaurants or pubs operating without licences, vagrants who damage public property and food that are prepared under unsafe conditions.

Councillor Amanda Forsythe who represents Ward 87 commended the City’s for ensuring a visible presence of municipal personnel on the ground.

Rolling Up their Sleeves for a Cleaner Turffontein

Kliprivier Road in Turffontein was the recent scene of a major clean-up operation with councillors, city officials and volunteers rolling up their sleeves to create a better environment.

Led by the MMC for Development Planning and Urban Management, Cllr Ros Greeff, the “eco-warriors” targeted the stretch of road between Rifle Range and Turf Club Street for their cleaning operations.

Many of the residents cooperated with the team and were provided with refuse bags while Pikitup conducted an audit of bins in the area and removed the rubbish that were collected on the day.

Tarred Roads to Improve Lives in Ivory Park

More than eight kilometres of gravel roads in Ivory Park are being given asphalt surfaces as part of R229-million investment in infrastructure in the suburb.

“The new infrastructure will significantly improve living conditions and connects the community to economic activities and opportunities,” says the MMC for Environment and Infrastructure, Councillor Matshidiso Mfikoe.

The roads upgrade will include surfacing, paving, kerbing and lighting and provide local residents with job opportunities and access to new skills.

Service delivery snippets

Employee News


Service Delivery Health & Lifestyle

Nutritious food has been placed at the top of Joburg’s health menu through a collaboration with some of the City’s best-known restaurants and food outlets.

Johannesburg Executive Mayor, Mpho Parks Tau, will launch the Nutrition Pledge with participating restaurants on 29 November in which they jointly commit to serving healthy food and support the City efforts to encourage healthy lifestyles.

Some 20 restaurants and chains have already indicated their support for the programme and more will follow as the Social Development Department continues with its efforts to promote the Pledge.

The City’s objective is to vigorously promote healthy lifestyles and combat illnesses associated with bad nutrition such as obesity, diabetes and coronary disease.

The South African Chefs Association is certifying compliance and the School of Hospitality and Tourism at the University of Johannesburg is responsible for the minimum standardsWandile Zwane, the Executive Head at the Department of Social Development, says the City is encouraged by the support it has received from the hospitality sector since Mayor Tau’s announcement of the initiative during the 2014 State of the City Address.

The Nutrition Pledge will create a ‘win-win’ situation for both the City and participating restaurants. To recognize their support for the programme the food outlets will receive a special plaque that can be prominently displayed and used for promotion purposes.

Messages of support from the Mayor and the City will be crafted and the commitment to the Nutrition Pledge can be mentioned on menus and other marketing material. The utilisation of the messages and the City of Johannesburg’s logo will enable participants to stand out among their competitors.

Contact details of the participating restaurants will be captured on promotional and marketing material prepared by the City. This will be inserted into information packs handed to delegates attending conferences and exhibitions in Johannesburg and also be available at conference and convention venues.

Restaurants supporting the Healthy Lifestyle Pledge

• Anka’s Restaurant – Marshalltown;• Adega Restaurants• Booysens Hotel;• Casa Portuguese at Little Italy – Glenanda;• Chaf Pozi – Orlando;• Disoufeng Pub – Dobsonville;• Food Lovers -- Diepkloof• Hard Rock Café -- Sandton• Istanbul Kebab – Fordsburg;• Jimmy’s Killer Fish and Chips – Southgate;• Restaurant Vilakazi; Orlando West• Stages - Joburg Theatre, Roodepoort and Soweto Theatres• Lapa La Rona Catering Services; Orlando• Ocean Basket; all regions• Sakhumzi – Orlando West;• Thaba Ya Batswana – Klipriviersberg; • Ubuntu Kraal – Soweto;• Vinis Restaurant – Bedfordview;• Wimpy Fast Food Restaurants;• Rodizios Restaurants

Restaurant menus to feature healthy food options

Despite occupying the most senior position in the Johannesburg Council, Speaker Constance Bapela remains an activist at heart.

In addition to her hectic schedule of presiding over the meetings and proceedings of the City’s legislature, she still creates the time to remain involved in a myriad of communty- based activities. She is especially passionate about her involvement in a back-to-school programme which assists children from underprivileged backgrounds to improve their lives. Every year she donates books, learning material and uniforms to a school she has adopted. “We encourage young people to improve their education so that one day, too, they might become public representatives.”

Growing up in Alexandra the socio-economic conditions in the township compelled Speaker Bapela to become active in the liberation struggle at an early age. She was expelled from school for her political activism and eventually spent more than four years in the Joburg women’s prison for her leadership role in student organisations and the Alexandra Women’s Congress which she helped to found.

Having served as councillor since 1995, Speaker Bapela is one of the country’s most experienced and knowledgeable

voices in local government. But the undoubted highlight of her career was when she was elected by her peers to lead the City’s legislature in 2011.

She believes part of her role is to ensure that the voices of all Joburgers, especially poorer communities, are heard in the council’s activities.

“I am passionate about young people, women and grannies whose needs inspire the programmes we run,” she says. “If women are not empowered economically there’s no future for our society.”

As Speaker, Bapela is chief custodian and guardian of the legislative arm of council and presides over council meetings to ensure they are conducted in accordance with the rules and procedures and in an impartial manner.

She is also the custodian of the Councils broader mandate to ensure public consultation, involvement and participation in the affairs of the municipality.

“My role is to ensure there is on-going engagement between the council and communities. We encourage active participation by citizens and value their views on how we can improve governance in the City,” says Speaker Bapela.

She says juggling her role as council speaker and being an advocate for women and young people’s empowerment – especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds – comes naturally to her because she’s passionate about human development.

Despite a diary that is overflowing with official engagements, Bapela still finds time for community and welfare activities and in her role as a mother of three and wife of Deputy Minister Obed Bapela. She is also currently enrolled at the London University, studying towards a Diploma in Local Government Policymaking.


Housing

The national recognition for Johannesburg’s housing achievements will bolster the City’s determination to continue providing quality and creative housing solutions to benefit all its residents, says the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Housing, Councillor Dan Bovu.

He was speaking after the Mayoral Committee took receipt of seven of the prestigious Govan Mbeki Awards annually presented by the national departments of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and Human Settlements.

Named after a stalwart of the struggle for fundamental human rights in South Africa – including housing opportunities – the Govan Mbeki Awards recognise the role played by local governments in this respect. They are bestowed on municipalities and other role players to promote, inculcate and encourage a culture of excellence in the housing sector.

Reacting to the unprecedented achievement of scooping seven of the 16 awards on offer, MMC Bovu said the City will always strive to deliver the best housing products for its residents.

“We are consistently looking for ways and products that will satisfy our constituency – the residents of Johannesburg. As a City, we are pathfinders when it comes to delivering to the needs of our people,” he said.

Johannesburg is one of the metropolitan municipalities in

the country that have been awarded a Level 2 accreditation status following an independent evaluation by a panel of experts.

The criteria used in the evaluation included the quality of the product, innovative ways of housing delivery, the housing subsidy scheme that is in place as well as progress made on the housing needs register.

The 10 000-unit development in Fleurhof in western Johannesburg was singled out for recognition. The City and Calgro M3 Developers jointly won the award for the Best Finance Link Individual Subsidy Programme (FLISP).

The City also received accolades for its remarkable integrated development initiatives, impressive social housing interventions and unmatched informal settlement upgrade programme.

MMC Bovu said the City continues to lead South Africa in innovative housing solutions, including a new project to cater exclusively for military veterans, the first of its kind in the country.

“We are consistently looking for ways and products that will satisfy our constituency – the residents of Johannesburg. As a City, we are pathfinders when it comes to delivering to the needs of our people,”

Know your leader

Councillor Constance Bapela, Speaker of Council and leader of the legislature.

Plight of communities close to the heart of Activist Speaker

It's all smiles for Councillor Dan Bovu, MMC for Housing and Patrick Shao, Acting Director: Policy and Research in theDepartment of Housing, as they celebrate the City's impressive performance at the Govan Mbeki Awards.

Awards to spur on City’s creative housing initiatives

“We need world class system solutions if we are to realise our vision of being a world class African city,” says Richard Nene, Director Applications Development & Support Services and Programme Director: SAP Upgrade: Prerequisites Implementation.

The new SAP Upgrade: Prerequisites Implementation serves as a proof-point of the City of Johannesburg’s ongoing efforts to provide world class services to all its stakeholders, in particular its residents, employees and partners. The upgrade will enhance Human Resources; Supply Chain Management and the City’s billing environment, inclusive of all Municipal Entities (MEs).

This three year project is born out of the City’s strategic decision to leverage its investment in SAP solutions to underpin the Smart City programme and Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) vision. “The solutions this upgrade will provide needed to be informed by business needs, for it to provide the solutions and benefits wanted by business,” explains Nene.

Expected benefits to business include:

• User accuracy that enables effective change management and training

• A single view of our customers

• Use of a single platform

• Improved turnaround times

• Improved reporting to provincial and national departments

The Human Capital Management core module is being piloted in the first phase of the programme implementation as some components are critical for the rest of the enterprise system and business, and will impact all managers and employees later on when the additional functionality of Employee Self Service (ESS), Management Self Service (MMS) and mobility solution, Fiori (allowing remote access and functionality through the internet and mobile devices) are implemented.

This enterprise wide Human Resource solution will enable Group Human Capital Management to provide strategic services and functionality that was previously not possible, and will improve operational efficiencies and effectiveness in support of business and the strategic objectives of the City.

City employees will also benefit from the electronic leave new processing and all employees will have access to their payslips.

An enterprise wide governance framework (Core City & MOEs) has been put in place to ensure the required inputs from business are captured and inform the programme plan. “To achieve our goals, we rely on and need buy-in from our internal stakeholders. We have gone to great lengths to ensure we garner the required buy-in from executive management leadership,” says Nene.

“I cannot stress enough how important it is for business to be fully involved in the SAP Upgrade: Prerequisites Implementation. Our role is to enable business, but we cannot achieve the necessary progress without their participation.”

With global trends, in particular Smart Cities, heavily reliant on effective systems solutions the City of Johannesburg is clearly on the right track to becoming a world class African city.

Look out for future updates to find out how you can contribute to making this programme a noticeable success.

SAP provides world class solutions for a world class African city

Young professionals should increasingly look at career opportunities in the public sector, especially local government, if they want to make positive contributions to South Africa’s development.

This is the view of Luyanda Gidini, a young Chartered Accountant who is daily putting his words into deeds in his role as a Specialist in the City of Johannesburg’s Governance and Reporting Unit.

He was recruited to the public service through a programme of National Treasury which assigns young professionals to complete their articles at local government or national departments. However, it was an easy choice for Gidini to join the City on a permanent basis, after he qualified as a CA in early 2014.

“There is so much good happening in Johannesburg that goes unreported,” he says. “We are helping to change people’s lives for the better, delivering services, contributing to economic development…

“World-class African City is more than a slogan,” he says.

“It is a reality.”

At Governance and Reporting Gidini finds himself at the coalface of the City’s activities. The Unit plays a central monitoring and steering role across all departments and entities and serves as the secretariat for many important decision-making bodies. It also looks after the City’ shareholder interests in the municipal-owned entities such as City Power, Pikitup and Joburg Water. One of the projects that excites him the most is Johannesburg Executive Mayor Parks Tau’s initiative on a Service Standards Charter for the City. The Unit’s function is to work with departments and entities to develop a menu of services and timeframes for delivery that clients can expect. “If we commit ourselves to fill a pothole or fix a water leak within a specified number of hours, we must be able to deliver on those promises,” says Gidini.

For the 28-year old Gidini, who grew up in Midrand and achieved his academic qualifications through the University of the Witwatersrand one of the biggest challenges is to find enough hours in the day to devote himself to both his career in the City and follow his passion to promote the study of accountancy among young black learners.

He describes the City of Johannesburg as “a driven environment” with numerous dedicated officials working long hours to ensure residents receive quality services across the mandate of local government. “There are huge expectations from government and we have to attract young professionals and intellectuals to join the public sector and make their contributions,” he says.

In this regard Gidini quotes the words of the father of the independence movement in India, the Mahatma Gandhi to “be the change that you wish to see in the world.” It is, perhaps, no coincidence that Gandhi developed most his pioneering political and social ideas while living in Johannesburg, exactly 100 years ago.

“There is so much good happening in Johannesburg that goes unreported,”

“We are helping to change people’s lives for the better, delivering services, contributing to economic development…

“World-class African City is more than a slogan,” he says.

“It is a reality.”


Employee News Employee News

Luyanda Gidini, CA and Specialist in the Governance and Reporting Unit.

Professionals should join public sector, says Joburg’s young CA

Documents

In the Loop November 2014