Chantelle Fourie-Shawe

4 Feature www.randburgsun.co.za State of the City Chantelle Fourie- The programme was scrapped with the aim of achieving a minimum of 5 per cent annual economic growth. "This programme was a wolf in sheep's clothing. In principle it was good, but like so many good principles, the Jozi@Work programme had a dark underworld," he said. Mashaba also vowed to make the tender process open and transparent, saying that corrupt parties were happy with the closed tender process. Earlier this year, City Council voted to amend the Supply Chain Management Policy that effected the open tender process. "Bid adjudication meetings are now held in rooms open to the public, media and all interested parties," concluded Mashaba. The Soca debate took place on 5 May. JOBURG – Herman Mashaba on 3 May, nine months after the 2016 municipal elections, gave his first State of the City Address (Soca) as the City of Johannesburg's mayor and revealed that R10 billion had been lost to corruption during the previous administration. This was disclosed in his 10-point plan for the economic hub of South Africa which he drafted along with senior administration, coalition leadership and, although not a coalition partner, Mashaba made clear, the Economic Freedom Fighters' leadership. "I can confirm that over 300 cases are currently being investigated gated and the total monetary value alleged leged to be lost or misused as a result of fraud and corruption is over R10 billion," ion," he said. Since the appointment off Shadrack Sibiya to the Anti-Corruption ion Unit es last year, 30 City employees have been arrested, 91 Mayor Herman suspended and three seniorr Mashaba officials resigned. delivers his Corruption within the first State el, capacity support agent level, of the City n essentially the middle man Address. kers,, between the City and workers, was the reason cited by Mashaba for scrapping the at Jozi@Work programme that provided short-term work opportunities. This decision n was met with anger by the ANC who, along with the EFF, asked what would happen to the 8 000 people employed d by the programme. Week ending 12 May, 2017 WHAT HAD THE NEW ADMINISTRATION BEEN UP TO SO FAR 2016 3 August The Democratic Alliance and its coalition partners take the City of Joburg leadership 22 August Herman Mashaba is elected as the mayor 26August Mashaba announces his 10 Members of the Mayoral Committee 13 September Mashaba gives his acceptance speech, announces plans to grow economy by 5 per cent 14 September 2 000 title deeds handed over 4 October 10-point plan • Ensure the administration embraces the nature of the new coalition government • Run a responsive and pro-poor government with a focus on redress • Achieve a minimum of five per cent economic growth by 2021 • Create a professional civil service that serves residents with pride • Ensure corruption is public enemy number one • Produce an official housing waiting list • Produce a list of all incomplete housing units • Fast-track the delivery of title deeds • Initiate an extended public clinic hours pilot project • Revitalise the inner-city of Johannesburg. Opposition on Mashaba’s Soca Chantelle Fourie- T&C AUDIT JOBURG – Although the official debate on Mayor Herman Mashaba's first State of the City address (Soca) took place two days after, on 5 May, opposition parties expressed their concern over certain aspects of the guiding 10-point plan. The African National Congress (ANC) Joburg spokesperson, Jolidee Matongo said the Democratic Alliance (DA) and its coalition government have not delivered on its 10-point plan. Barring the pilot project for extended clinic hours and five per cent economic growth, the party criticised the apparent lack of action on all other points. Matongo said that nothing has been done to revitalise the inner-city and no semi-complete housing list or official housing waiting list has yet been produced. He slammed Mashaba for cancelling the Jozi@Work programme, saying it condemns 8 000 people involved to unemployment. The previous ANC administration was blamed for the new DA-led administration's inherited faults. Mashaba said these include a R170billion infrastructure backlog, high unemployment and a 300 000 housing-units backlog. He even expressed concern over the R360million Council chamber from where he delivered his speech, saying it could have been used to build roads, clinics or houses. Matongo said the party supports the fight against corruption. "However, under Mashaba, Johannesburg has become a police state where Metro police are used to suppress residents. In the nine months Mashaba has been chasing corruption ghosts, we are yet to see tangible evidence of investigations done," he said. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) who, despite not being a coalition partner, helped vote the DA into power in Joburg and other municipalities across the country in a bid to oust the ANC. The party's chief whip, Silumko Mabona, said the party's official response to the mayor's address will be tabled. 29 fire engines are returned to the roads in under a month 6 October A skills audit within the administration is announced 27 October New City manager Dr Ndivho Lukhwareni appointed 31 October Pilot project to extend clinic hours launched 7 November 10-point plan and billing regionalisation announced 9 November General Shadrack Sibiya appointed to head City’s Anti-Corruption Unit 21 November Refocused K9 Narcotics and Tactical Unit launched 28 November New Early Childhood Development project launched 1 December Mashaba delivers his first 100 days in office speech 2017 15 January Unit uncovers licensing department fraud 27 January Open tender process approved in Council 29 January Reintegration of municipal owned entities announced February Mashaba announces the end of Jozi@Work 7 February An investigation into alleged fraud at City Power starts 23 February Adjustment budget approved in Council 6 March Fraud at Joburg Market investigated 13 March Five more clinics extend their hours 15 March No-joint policy at traffic light intersections launched 17 March Entities’ new boards announced 23 March 24-hour Metro police traffic hotline launched 28 March R88 million ‘war’ on potholes starts 30 March Integrated Development Plan and Budget for 2017/18 tabled in Council 5 April Joburg placed under review for downgrade after national downgrade 6 April Electrification of some informal settlements start 30 April Metro police starts recruiting additional 1 500 officers 3 May State of the City Address delivered in new Council chamber