In the Loop March 2015

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In the Loop13

Issue No.

March 2015

Internal Newsletter

Joburg Open Winner: Andy Sullivan

In the Loop

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Contents

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Arts, Sports & Culture

Message from the Executive Mayor

All eyes now turn to Mayor’s Address and City Budget

Human Rights culture helps to build united City

Revenue staff open up to residents and customers

R20-million upgrade coming to historic Kliptown venue

Plight of Palestinian people in focus during Human Rights Month

JRA unveils new plan to curb vandalism of traffic lights

Incentives and smart devices will have positive ripple effect on power usage

City invests in R825-million substation to drive growth

Vote now to show your love for a ‘greener Joburg’!

New push for innovations in waste management

The time has come to ‘Connect @ your library’

Soweto Careers Expo connects youth with jobs and studies

Quality events are based on solid planning and team-work

Pedal Power to hit the Jozi streets as residents swap cars for cycle

Taking the lead to build more caring cities

Joburgers urged to take their food with just a pinch of salt

Call to conserve water, the stuff of life

Make way for the ‘Green Revolution’ as City switches to eco-fuels

DRUMbeat returns to Soweto for a single night

City’s art trove celebrates centenary

AcknowledgementsEditor:Thomas Thale - [email protected]

Contributor:Luyanda Lunika - [email protected]

Photography:Enoch Lehung - [email protected]

Cover Credits

New bridge to provide a safe and convenient link for “Great Walk” pedestrians

Full story on Page 7.

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19 City’s art trove celebrates centenary

The Johannesburg Art Gallery (JAG), one of the most recognisable buildings in the inner city, is this year celebrating 100 years since first opening its doors in 1915.

Its impressive art collection was started in 1910 while originally housed at the University of the Witwatersrand. Five years later, it was moved to its current location on the edge of Joubert Park.

The gallery was extended in the 1940s with the addition of the east and west wings. Its north façade was added in 1986. The current gallery consists of 15 exhibition halls and sculpture gardens. There are over 9 000 works of art but space constraints allows for only 10% of the exhibits to be on display at one time, while the rest remains in storage.

The Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development Councillor Chris Vondo says the JAG is the biggest art gallery of its kind in Africa. It contributes greatly to Johannesburg’s reputation as the continent’s premier cultural destination. “It attracts art lovers and connoisseurs from across the world and adds to the diversity of cultural experiences offered by the City.”

The art collection contains work by some of the world’s most renowned painters and sculptors including Picasso, Edgar Degas, Monet and Henry Moore. In recent years, the curators have taken important initiatives to expand its collection of contemporary South African artists, to add to the treasures of 18th and 19th Century European and British masters.

Significant collections of works done by local trailblazers such as Gerard Sekoto, Walter Battiss, Sydney Kumalo, Maud Sumner, Ezrom Legae and Pierneef are among good treasures housed at this building. These collections continue to grow due to

financial support of the City of Johannesburg, the Gauteng Provincial government and the private sector.

In addition to conventional art, the Gallery also features many traditional African pieces such as jewellery in the form of necklaces and bracelets, bead creations and works done by artists using rock, wood, tyres, wire, cement, clay and ceramics. Contemporary artists are further supported through the hosting of temporary displays featuring specific talents or themes.

MMC Vondo says the JAG can play a pivotal role in the regeneration of the CBD which has already benefited from the improvements to Park Station, the launch of the Gautrain, the conversion of office space into residential units and the City’s Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit system.

Admission to the Johannesburg Art Gallery is free and it is open to the public from Tuesdays to Sundays between 10h00 and 17h00.

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Arts, Sports & Culture

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South Africa’s finest jazz and hip-hop performers will be on stage for a one-night-only performance when the DRUMbeat concerts returns to the Soweto Theatre on 28 March.

Last year tickets were sold out well in advance of the event and organisers again expect more than 5 000 people to attend the show that will feature 12 groups performing across three stages at the Theatre.

Multi-award-winning jazz musician, Jonas Gwangwa, will be the headline act and he will be supported by some of the finest talents in the country such as AKA, MiCasa and Paul Hanmer. Born in Orlando East, Gwangwa attracted global attention while in exile, performing in the company of other South African superstars such as Hugh Masekela, Abdullah Ibrahim and Kippie Moeketsi.

He composed the score for the Oscar-nominated film, Cry Freedom, and, after his return to South Africa in 1991, wrote the theme song for Generations and the South African film production of Othello.

Over the past four years, DRUMbeat has become one of the most exciting opportunities to showcase the talents of emerging performers and this year’s show will be no exception.

SAMA award-winning AKA – the Prince of SA Rap – will be making his first appearance on the Soweto Theatre stage. He also has five SA Hip Hop Awards under his belt and has performed alongside international super-stars such as Kanye West, Big Sean and Kendrick Lamar.

MiCasa took the South African music scene by storm when they won three SAMAs in 2012, including Group of the Year and Record of the Year. At DRUMbeat the group will be performing some of the best-known hits from its latest album, Su Casa.

Jazz musician and composer, Paul Hanmer, is a regular on the Joburg music scene and has worked with artists such as Miriam Makeba, Ray Phiri and Jonathan Butler. His album, Accused No 1: Nelson Mandela, was recognised with a SAMA in 2006.

Other artists who will be on stage for the single perfor-mance are Toya Delazy, Cassper Nyovest, BCUC and Max-Hoba.

Tickets are already on sale at Computicket or at the Soweto Theatre in Jabulani.

• Lovers of choral music can look forward to a performance of UShaka kaSenzangakhona on 21 and 22 March in the Joburg Theatre. The choral work based on the story of the legendary Zulu King will be performed by the Gauteng Choristers, accompanied by an orchestra of 68 players.

South Africa’s “first lady of song”, Sibongile Khumalo, is among the soloist at these concerts that will coincide with the celebration of Human Rights Day.

For more details or tickets, contact the theatre at 011 877 6800 or on the website, www.joburgtheatre.com.

DRUMbeat returns to Soweto for a single night

Colleagues,

At the recent Annual General Meeting of our Municipal-owned Entities the Auditor General referred to non-compliance and lack of accountability as key weaknesses within the City of Johannesburg.

These issues have a negative impact on the quality of service delivery to the people of Johannesburg.

I believe all of us – leadership and employees – have to take responsibility for this perception

and collectively we have a duty to turn this around.

Last month I encouraged all employees to serve the people of our City with commitment and diligence. It is, therefore, no coincidence or surprise that I am now highlighting non-compliance and lack of accountability as areas of ongoing concern.

We are already addressing non-compliance through the steps we introduced to promote transparency in our business processes and transactions. The appointment of an Ombudsman, who takes office next month, demonstrates that we are leading by example. This office will ensure that all of us will be held publicly accountable for any acts of non-compliance.

In addition, I have, together with the City’s leadership, unveiled a plan to require of the City’s various entities to sign service level agreements. This should cascade through the system to the point where directors and managers hold employees accountable for non-delivery.

We can no longer accept that when an incorrect bill of a resident has been reported and a reference number obtained the issue remains unresolved for years while there are personnel employed whose job it is to resolve such cases in less than a week.

No employee should be able to walk into the Metro Centre or any of our municipal offices across the seven regions in the City in the morning, only to be untraceable by noon, or have work that has not been completed.

Employees contracted for operations and for implementation can no longer be allowed to compromise the standards of service delivery in this City. Directors and managers cannot just turn a blind eye to non-delivery by employees who report to them.

The service level agreements will apply to every employee – from a sweeper to the top manager or director. We can never sustain our reputation, locally and internationally, as a world class African city if there are no consequences for employees who have adopted a culture of non-delivery, but still draw a salary at the end of each month.

My appeal to you is to take your duties and responsibilities very seriously. Let us remain committed to the highest standards of customer care, ethics and professionalism as we continue to serve the best interests of Johannesburg and its citizens.

Cllr M.P. Tau

Councillor Mpho Parks TauJohannesburg Executive Mayor

Message from the Executive Mayor

The countdown has started to a wide-reaching process of public consultation that will culminate in the 2015 State of City Address and the delivery of the Budget for the next financial year.

The release of the City’s Annual Report and the announcement of an unqualified audit report by the Auditor General in February were the first steps in this process. This was followed by the Annual General Meeting of municipal-owned entities and the tabling of their reports at a meeting of the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC).

In the coming weeks this will be followed by:

• The Investor Roadshows covering businesses, Property owners, Academics, Faith Based Organisations and Key Account Holders • The tabling of the final Annual Report

• A briefing to the City’s top 1000 managers

• The launch of the public consultation process on the Integrated Development Plan – April

• The State of the City Address delivered by the Executive Mayor, Councillor Mpho Parks Tau, followed by the debate in Council – 6 May;

• The presentation of the 2015/16 Budget and subsequent debate – 26 May.

In his presentation to the MPAC City Manager Trevor Fowler said Johannesburg’s financial performance “continues to exceed our expectations and provides a solid base for investment in transforming our society.”

From a financial and governance perspective, the City is on the right track, Fowler said, noting that revenue collection for the previous financial year stood at R39-billion compared to total expenditure of R35.5-billion.

Four of the City’s entities – the Johannesburg Social Housing Company (JOSHCO), the Fresh Produce Market, the Johannesburg Theatre and the Roads Agency (JRA) – received clean audit reports.

Fowler emphasised Johannesburg’s progress in the implementation of its R100-billion investment in infrastructure and the Corridors of Freedom programme, designed to “re-stitch the City to create a new future.”

The chairman of the MPAC, Councillor Sol Cowan said the audit reports raised some issues of concern but it also pointed to progress made in stabilising the City’s financial health. He commended the leadership for tackling corruption with some 20 reported cases being investigated during the financial year.

In his presentation Floyd Rikhotso, Audit Manager in the office of the Auditor General, expressed concern about the losses incurred through the non-metering of electricity, unauthorised power users and water wastage in the City’s network.

There are issues that are being addressed through various city initiatives to replace ageing infrastructure, fix water leaks at household level, install pre-paid meters and take action against cable thieves and illegal power connections.

Rikhotso said that despite the areas of concern, the predominant good news was that the City’s finances are in excellent shape as demonstrated by the unqualified audit opinions handed down by his office in recent years.

All eyes now turn to Mayor’s Address and City Budget

Make way for the ‘Green Revolution’ as City switches to eco-fuels

In the Loopn – 192– In the Loop

Green InitiativeFinancial Sustainability

A futuristic scenario in which a large portion of Johannesburg’s vehicle fleet will be run on eco-friendly fuel is about to unfold over the next two years.

“The Green Revolution has started,” says the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Corporate and shared services, Councillor Mally Mokoena, echoing the commitments made by Executive Mayor Parks Tau in his 2014 State of the City Address.

At the core of the initiative are plans to start with the procurement of hybrid and electrical vehicles. This will supplement the current fleet and eventually convert more than a third of city-owned vehicles to use compressed natural gas (CNG), instead of petrol and diesel.

“We are determined to make Johannesburg one of the ‘greenest cities’ on the planet and reduce our carbon footprint,” says MMC Mokoena. “We are leading by example and hope that large vehicle fleet owners and private car-owners in Johannesburg, will also switch to environmentally –friendly fuels.”

Dr Shaun Ramroop, the Group Head: Shela & FCM says there will be two major interventions in the coming three years, to give momentum to the move towards greener fuel sources.

• The purchasing and leasing of new vehicles for the City’s fleet will favour electrically-powered or hybrid vehicles. A target of up to 15% of the city’s fleet within the next year has been set. The Joburg fleet includes cars used by the JMPD, council officials and maintenance staff as well as the trucks utilised by Pikitup.

• There will be a major programme to convert city-owned vehicles, so that up to 35% of the fleet

will be run on CNG by the end of 2015. The current fleet of petrol and diesel-powered vehicles will be gradually phased out.

Allocations will be made in the 2015 Budget, to start with the implementation of both programmes. Dr Ramroop says the initial capital costs might be higher but the programme will eventually lead to significant savings for the City because of the lower costs associated with CNG fuels.

The City will work closely with the engineering department at the University of Johannesburg and the Vaal Technikon to ensure the successful fleet conversion programme.

South Africa’s first filling station with CNG pumps opened in Langlaagte last year and a number of taxis have already converted to this fuel source, through a programme initiated by the Gauteng Provincial government.

• What is CNG? – Compressed natural gas is used as an alternative fuel to petrol or diesel. It is safer than other fuel sources because it is lighter than air and disperses quickly when released. Worldwide there are already 15-million vehicles that run on CNG and several of the top car manufactures have started with the production of bi-fuel cars. It is estimated that owners of CNG-powered vehicles can save up to 40% on running costs.

• What is a hybrid vehicle? The world has seen a distinct shift towards vehicles that can be run on either conventional fuel (petrol or diesel) or alternative power sources such as electricity, natural gas or solar power. Hybrid vehicles are cheaper to run, achieve better fuel economy and emit fewer harmful CO² gases into the atmosphere.

In the Loop – 318 – In the Loop

Financial Sustainability

Coming from a dark history in which human rights were not only curtailed but were also trampled upon with impunity by the powers that be, the month of March presents all South Africans with the opportunity to pause and reflect on past and present human rights violations.

It gives them a chance to start building a strong human rights culture for future generations. Being victims of human rights abuses for many decades themselves, South Africans have a duty to work towards ensuring that all violations are not repeated, considering what the late former president Nelson Mandela once said: “To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity”.

March 21 was declared Human Rights Day and an official public holiday by the democratic government after assuming power in 1994. This was largely in commemoration of the 69 marchers who were shot dead by apartheid authorities, while protesting against pass laws in Sharpeville on 21 March 1960.

It is significant to note that the day is commemorated alongside two other important human rights-related days: the International Women’s Rights Day on March 8 and International Consumer Rights Day on March 15.

Although the latter two are not public holidays per se, they speak strongly to the need to strengthen all elements of human rights in South Africa. Women’s rights and consumer rights are essentially human rights

and should be treated as such. They form an integral part of the human rights space.

Women continue to be subjected to abuses in South Africa, despite enjoying political freedom. Consumers continue to be denied their rights by food producers, big business and unscrupulous groups and individuals despite protection by the country’s laws. Examples of such violations include anti-competitive behaviour such as collusion by corporates.

March 21, 1960 was a day that shocked the world and made the international community realise just how brutal apartheid was. It showed the extent to which apartheid architects were prepared to go to protect their ill-gotten privileges.

The City of Johannesburg’s decision to give increased prominence to women’s rights and consumer rights during Human Rights Month is important. It broadens the inculcation of the human rights culture that everyone seeks to create.

To this end, the City has put together a series of events including workshops, to conscientise residents about the significance and importance of these three days.

Says the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Social Development, Councillor Nonceba Molwele: “Among other things, we will embark on a number of awareness campaigns. This will be either through workshops or the media. We want to conscientise our people and build a community that is conscious of the rights of others.”

“Ultimately, we want to inculcate a sense of social cohesion, which is why we engage in programmes and acts that are designed to instil awareness in people’s conscience.”

Building a strong human rights culture and promoting social cohesion will enhance our democracy and contribute to the creation of a great and successful country.

Opinion

Human Rights culture helps to build united City

“Without water, there is no life,” says Member of the Mayoral Committee for Development Planning and Urban Management , Councillor Ros Greeff, as the City prepares for a “war on water leaks and wastage”.

National Water Week is observed from March 16 to 22 and Johannesburg is determined to redouble its efforts to conserve this vital resource.

MMC Greeff has called on all residents and water users in the City to handle water responsibly and to eliminate costly wastage.

“Everything comes to a standstill if there is no water,” she says. “National Water Week will serve as a timely reminder to communities in Johannesburg to keep conservation uppermost in their minds.”

She urged Johannesburg residents to monitor their municipal accounts and to look out for unusually high

consumption patterns. This may be an indication of leaks in the system and must be reported to regional offices or Johannesburg Water, without delay.

A dripping tap can waste up to 30 litres of water an hour.

If this continues over a period of a year more than 10 000 litres of water will simply disappear down the drain.

The water challenge facing the city and the rest of the country is receiving the highest attention. During the 2015 State of the Nation Address, President Jacob Zuma urged all South Africans to conserve water, telling the nation on February 12 that “every drop counts”.

Statistics released by the National Department of Water and Sanitation show that South Africa, an arid and water-scarce country, loses R7-billion a year as a result of unaccounted for water.

To mitigate this challenge, President Zuma announced that the Department intends to train 15 000 artisans or plumbers to fix leaking taps in their communities.

Within Johannesburg, the activities around Water Week will create awareness among communities about the importance of water and provide consumers with helpful and practical tips to conserve the resource.

Last year the National Department donated rainwater harvesting tanks to 15 schools in Alexandra to encourage learners and residents to establish food gardens.

These gardens will use rainwater that often goes to waste to grow fruit and vegetables and, thus, also contribute to poverty elimination and foster food security.

MMC Greeff says water conservation does not only refer to tap or household water. It also means protecting, rehabilitating and improving water environments such as streams, wetlands, waterways, beaches and estuaries.

Call to conserve water, the stuff of life

Resource Sustainability

Cut down on the salt in your meals and enjoy a healthier lifestyle. This is the message that will be conveyed to Jozi residents and City employees during the World Salt Awareness Week this month.

The aim is to encourage communities to avoid adding salt and spices when cooking meals and to break the habit of adding salt to food during meal times.

“A reduction in salt intake leads to lower blood pressure and, eventually, to a lower incidence of strokes and heart attacks,” says the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Health and Social Development, Councillor Nonceba Molwele. She is leading the City’s campaign to create a greater awareness about the need to switch to lower-salt diets.

During the awareness campaign – from 16 to 22 March – the City will join the global community to advocate a reduction in the salt content of food.

Public Health Deputy Director, Elionora Lebethe, says Johannesburg is actively implementing legislation signed by Health Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, in 2013 to make salt reduction in the food industry mandatory.

Food suppliers and manufacturers are required to reduce the amount of salt used in the production of bread, breakfast cereals, margarines, savoury snacks, dry soup and

processed meat. Initial reductions will be introduced in 2016 with further measures enforced from 2018.

MMC Molwele says a report published by Statistics SA in 2012 shows that diseases associated with a high salt content in diet are among the leading causes of death in the City. Among these conditions are hypertension (ranked 10th), cerebrovascular disease (5th), and Ischaemic heart disease (7th).

“We want to create awareness about the dangers of a high salt intake… and change behaviour,” she says.According to Lebethe, studies show that reduced blood pressure resulting from a lower salt intake can prevent up to 2.5 million deaths world-wide every year. The SA Heart and Stroke Foundation says the average South African consumes up to 11 grams of salt a day – which is double the recommended amount.

A reduced salt intake should form part of healthy lifestyle choices and be accompanied by regular physical activities, weight control, good nutrition and no smoking. A combination of these activities will prevent and control most chronic lifestyle diseases, including hypertension, heart diseases, strokes and many forms of cancer.

Lebethe said the health guideline is not to consume more than 5 grams of salt per person, per day. Processed food already contains added salt which means that the sprinkling of extra salt during meal preparation or at the tables, result in consumers exceeding the safety guidelines.


Service Delivery Healthy Lifestyle

Revenue staff open up to residents and customers

Residents of Johannesburg and City customers will have ample opportunities over the next four months to raise billing issues directly with the relevant officials.

Staff and officials of the Group Finance’s Revenue Shared Services department will host open days to attend to the enquiries of residents and ensure that the issues they raised are satisfactorily resolved.

The process kicked off at the end of February at the Roodepoort Civic Centre in Region C and continues on Saturdays until the end of June.

Councillor Geoff Makhubo, the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Finance, says the open days provide a one-stop solution on billing issues to residents and also create a greater awareness among communities about the services and products offered by the City.

“It demonstrates our resolve to be a ‘customer-centric city’ and builds on the many improvements made to the billing system since the launch of the Step Change programme in 2012.”

“Residents across the City now have confidence in our management of our finances and this is also reflected in the unqualified audit reports and the interest among the investor community in Johan-nesburg’s municipal bonds.”

Kgamanyane Maphologela, the department’s Director of Communications and Stakeholder Management says the coming open days will build on the very successful interactions with the public in previous years.

A number of service delivery departments will also have a presence during the days to talk about and answer queries about their activities. “This will enable us to meet our mission of excellence and customer-focused delivery,” says Maphologela.

Open days are held between 08h00 and 15h30 and debit and credit card facilities are available at the venues. The first event took place on February 28 at the Roodepoort Civic Centre.

• On 28 March an open day for region E will be held at the Sandton International Convention Centre, 161 Maude Street.

• Region G will host two open days on May 2. One takes place at the Lenasia Civic Centre, off Rose Avenue in Lenasia and the other at the Eldorado Park Civic Centre, 4064 Link Crescent.

• Regions F and D’s open days are scheduled for May 30 -- at the Johannesburg City Library in Market Street (F) and also at the Noordgesig Library (D), corner of North and Central Roads.

• Residents and customers of Region A will have the opportunity to engage with the City at the Ivory Park Community Service Centre in Makaya Drive on June 27.

Joburgers urged to take their food with just a pinch of salt


Human & Social DevelopmentEconomic Development

R20-million upgrade coming to historic Kliptown venue

The Walter Sisulu Square of Dedication in Kliptown, Soweto will receive a comprehensive revamp in anticipation of the 60th Anniversary of the adoption of the Freedom Charter by the Congress of the People.

The Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) – the City’s infrastructure development entity – will upgrade the Square at a cost of R20-million.

The refurbishment is expected to be completed in time for the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Charter on 26 June 1955.

According to JDA’s chief executive Thanduxolo Mendrew, the refurbishment is aimed at boosting investor and community confidence in the area. He says the move would turn the Square into an “attractive place of work and leisure” for residents, tourists, street vendors, office workers and shopkeepers.

“The concept is to change the character of the Square from a hard open space into public gardens. This will involve introducing soft land-scaping in the form of trees, grass and flower beds, improved lighting, children’s play areas and public seating,” says Mendrew.

The Square’s architecture reflects various elements of the era, politics and the people. “It is full of symbolism and meaning and is surrounded by the memories of ‘actual people’ who were involved in making history, thus making the rest of Kliptown an ‘echo museum’,” says Mendrew.

It is one of four squares in Johannesburg and offers both local and international visitors an array of options: history, shopping, entertainment and accommodation. The Square has become one of the most frequented places in the country and is an ideal venue for corporate and social events.

On 26 June 1955, more than 3 000 Congress of the People delegates from all corners of the country gathered on the Kliptown site to adopt the Charter. The Square is named after the former ANC Secretary General Walter Sisulu, a key figure in the anti-apartheid struggle and a prominent delegate at the Congress of the People.

What was little more than a dusty field in 1955, was declared a national heritage site on 26 June 2005. This was during the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Freedom Charter. The Freedom Charter remained the cornerstone of ANC policy and is widely regarded as the foundation of South Africa’s Constitution.

Former President Thabo Mbeki lit a flame of freedom to mark the opening of the Square. A multimillion rand development project was followed by the construction of an open-air monument and museum along a market-place, hotel, offices and multipurpose centre.

Mendrew says the new upgrade would make the Square more welcoming to residents and visitors, encouraging people to visit the gardens and spend some time in them. He added that this would “not only be part of their daily lives but also used on special occasions”.

Taking the lead to build more caring cities

Johannesburg is at the forefront of a global initiative to create more caring cities and provide an inviting urban environment for residents and visitors.

Young experts from important world cities met recently in Rosebank to discuss practical measures that can be introduced to make cities more inclusive and welcom-ing.

The Metropolis Caring Cities Initiative grew out of the global conference of Mayors from major cities hosted by Johannesburg in June 2013. The City’s Executive Mayor, Councillor Mpho Parks Tau is the Co-President of the Metropolis Network which speaks on behalf of 120 world cities that have a population of more than one million.

The Deputy Director of Strategy and Research, Zayd Ebrahim, says like other caring cities, Johannesburg is taking conscious actions to be more inclusive, hospitable and supportive.

The recent conference was attended by delegates from Berlin in Germany, Mashhad in Iran, Mexico City in Mexico, Guangzhou in China, Ramallah in Palestine and the Argentinian capital of Buenos Aires.

The mandate of the meeting was to develop a “Care Barometer” to determine the elements that reflect a caring city; formulate policies that highlight the role of the youth in building caring cities and to develop a mobile application that can be used to monitor and track progress.

Nine dimension of a caring city were identified:

• access to basic or essential services;• acts of citizenry;• mobility and accessibility;• identity, culture and context;• the natural environment;• protection of the vulnerable; • inclusion; and• civil protection.

Ebrahim says the emphasis on the role of the youth resulted in very productive discussions on the role of technology as an enabler of citizen engagement. This will stimulate behavioural change and create a more caring approach towards urban life among cities and their residents. A mobile app to be introduced to measure the successful implementation of the Care Barometer will be a useful tool.

As project leader, Ebrahim coordinates the activities of the initiative which is scheduled to meet again in May in Buenos Aires. Three further contact sessions over the next two years will monitor the achievement of mile-stones and ensure endorsements and buy-in from the cities that belong to the Metropolis Network.

“We are confident that this initiative will confirm Johannesburg’s leadership role in the fields of innovation and lead to pro-active discussions and initiatives that will help us to build more caring cities on a global scale,” says Ebrahim.

Plight of Palestinian people in focus during Human Rights Month

The City of Johannesburg’s solidarity with the rights of the Palestinian people will be celebrated during Human Rights Month this year.

The mayor of Ramallah, the capital of Palestine, Musa Hadid, and a high-powered delegation will be in Johannesburg as guests of Executive Mayor Councillor Mpho Parks Tau, and participate in activities on 21 March, Human Rights Day.

The City’s Director of Social Development, Wandile Zwane, says the days leading up to the celebrations will be known as “Palestinian Week of Solidarity,” and a number of activities are planned to highlight the plight of the Palestinian people and their struggle for state-hood. This will include a number of workshops and films that document the history of the region and the back-ground to the Palestinian struggle.

Johannesburg has strong bonds with the City of Ramallah. Last year Mayor Tau was one of the keynote speakers at an international conference of local authorities in solidarity with the people in the region, under the theme “United for Palestine.”

At the time he drew on Johannesburg’s own experience in democratic local governance since 1994 and the lessons that can be offered to the Palestinian government, including the adoption of an agenda for transformation and the participation of communities in decision-making.

Zwane says issues around migration will also feature prominently in this year’s celebration of Human Rights Month. This comes against the backdrop of violent acts perpetrated against Somali and Pakistani shop owners in Gauteng earlier this year.

Some of the attacks have been interpreted as bordering on the violation of basic human rights and, says Zwane, the City wants to use this opportunity to reflect on what is happening within society. “Our main objective is to foster and inculcate a sense of social cohesion.”

The month of March presents a number of opportunities to celebrate human rights.

• March 21 is a national celebration to mark Human Rights Day. It is held on the date, 55 years ago when apartheid police fired on anti-pass law protestors in Sharpeville, killing 69 marchers and wounding 178.

• International Women’s Day is celebrated on 8 March. This is a global event commemorated since 1911, this year under the theme of “Make it Happen.”

• Consumer rights will also be on the city’s radar screen in 2015, says Zwane. The rights of consumers are safeguarded through various piece of legislation emanating from Section 9 of the Constitution which guarantees protection against unfair discrimination.

Pedal Power to hit the Jozi streets as residents swap cars for cycles


Healthy Lifestyle

Joburg’s efforts to promote cycling as the most desirable form of transport are gaining traction. A wide range of initiatives are planned for 2015 to turn it into one of the world’s most cycle-friendly cities.

The Cycle Jozi Week from 17 to 22 March will launch a number of activities designed to encourage citizens to convert to “pedal power” as they swap their car keys for bicycle helmets. Activities planned for the coming months will eventually culminate in the EcoMobility Festival to be held in October.

The highlight of the Cycle Jozi Week will be the staging of the Freedom Ride from Alexandra to Sandton on Sunday 22 March to coincide with the annual celebrations of Human Rights Day. Last year’s event attracted more than 4 000 cyclists on the route between the Nelson Mandela Bridge and Soweto. This time organisers say they expect even larger numbers to pedal through the City’s streets.

Johannesburg’s Mayor, Councillor Mpho Parks Tau, can rightly be described as the City’s “First Cyclist”. As an avid cyclist, he has been leading the charge to promote cycling and walking among City residents as viable alternatives to motorised forms of transport.

In addition to the obvious health benefits associated with exercise, cycling also promotes other City objectives such as social cohesion; improved mobility and traffic flows; a reduction in carbon emissions and the broader movement towards a greener and more eco-friendly Johannesburg.

To achieve this transition, the City has already initiated the construction of a number of dedicated cycle lanes and improved sidewalks across Johannesburg. A five-kilometre

development in Orlando is complete, while the route linking Alexandra with Sandton and a 20km stretch in Ivory Park will be finished in 2016. Lanes within the Inner City will be built on an ongoing basis.

The MMC for Transport, Councillor Christine Walters, says the City is working closely with cycling organisations and activists to plan the roll-out of future infrastructure. Cycle safety and awareness about the rights of cyclists among other road users are regarded as the top priorities.

During the year, the City will also introduce initiatives to make bikes more available to disadvantaged communities and launch bike sharing and rental schemes to promote its popularity among Joburg residents.

Cycle Jozi Week, from 17 to 22 March, will focus the attention on non-motorised forms of transport through a range of activities:

• Organised cycle rides at the Universities of Johannesburg and the Witwatersrand and from Fourways, along William Nicol Drive, to Diepsloot;

• A two-day seminar in partnership with the SA Institute of Civil Engineering to discuss the construction of cycle lanes;

• The hosting of the National Cycle Cities Conference at the Orlando Stadium;

• The monthly Critical Mass Ride starting in Braamfontein;

• The Freedom Ride from Alexandra to Sandton. Registration for this event has already started and more details can be found on https://www.facebook.com/FreedomRideJozi

Human Rights


Jozi@WorkService Delivery

JRA unveils new plan to curb vandalism of traffic lights

Johannesburg’s reputation as a host city for top quality events is underpinned by a wide-ranging framework that places a strong emphasis on safety and compliance with the City’s bylaws.

Organisers of events that attract more than 2 000 participants or spectators must submit detailed plans to confirm that they meet the requirements of the City and conform to all applicable legislation and regulations.

“We are known as the venue of choice in South Africa to host global sports competitions, cultural festivals, music performances and exhibitions,” says the Director: Events Management, Bongi Mokaba. “We welcome new events that can cater to the diverse tastes of Johannesburg’s population and go out of our way to work with organisers to ensure successful hosting.”

The City has established a Joint Operations Committee (JOC) which is representative of all relevant departments and municipal-owned entities to coordinate events and assist organisers in their planning and hosting.

The safety and health of spectators and residents are among the top priorities but the City also has a respon-sibility to protect Johannesburg’s reputation and ensure that there are no disruptions to normal service delivery.

The JOC meets every week with event organisers and has drawn up a comprehensive checklist that sets out the applicable regulations and ensures coordination between the planners and the City. Among the most important issues required are:

• Disaster management – there has to be floor plan of the venue which indicates evacuation routes, approval of temporary structures and confirmation of public liability insurance;

• Electricity – applications for additional power must be submitted and City Power informed if generators are used;

• Emergency Services – details must be provided on issues such as available medical services, fire prevention and the use of pyrotechnics. The City offers the support of fire engines, ambulances and response vehicles but this must be organised in advance.

• Environment Health – organisers must produce the required health certificates from caterers if food is being served, comply with noise regulations at outdoor events and have a waste management plan in place;

• Metro Police – requests for support from the JMPD for general security and traffic control on public roads must be submitted in time. Any road closures must be approved by the Johannesburg Roads Agency;

• Water – organisers must ensure that there is adequate water available and discuss possible options with Johannesburg Water;

• Waste removal – Pikitup is only responsible for the cleaning up of public areas such as streets;

• Public transport – buses can be hired from Metrobus and Rea Vaya but organisers need to complete an indemnity form.

Quality events are based on solid planning and team-work

The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) is soon to enlist the involvement of local communities though the services of cooperatives registered under the Jozi@Work Programme, as part of a comprehensive plan and ongoing initiatives to protect traffic lights and other infrastructure from rampant vandalism and theft.

Every year the City of Johannesburg loses millions of rands through vandalism of its traffic lights, equipment and other infrastructure.

Darryll Thomas, the Head of the JRA’s Mobility & Freight Department, says the agency is at present embarking on a tender process to engage teams under the Jozi@Work empowerment and job-creation programme to be “our eyes and ears on the ground to assist in curbing vandalism of our equipment”.

Thomas says some of the teams will also undertake minor road repairs that do not require highly technical skills.

“Theft and vandalism have cost the City millions of rands every year. Week in and week out, vandals would leave nothing standing as they cut down our traffic signal poles, steal the cables and smash stormwater inlets to steal the metals. We have been spending up to R400 000 a month replacing this vandalized equipment.”

He says members of the public can also play a role by reporting incidents of vandalism and theft via the JRA Call Centre on 086 562 874, Find and Fix mobile app or email address [email protected].

The agency is at present also employing various other measures to arrest the scourge of vandalism.

Security systems comprising vibration sensors and CCTV cameras linked to a private armed response security company, have helped to significantly reduce the incidences of theft and vandalism, especially in the Wemmerpan area.

Creative app praised in Parliament

High praise for the JRA’s creative use of technology to identify and fix potholes was recently expressed by the Minister of Cooperative Governance, Pravin Gordhan.

Speaking in Parliament during the debate on the State of the Nation Address, Gordhan said the Roads Agency serves as an example of good governance practices in local government in the country.

He referred to the fact that JRA’s Find & Fix mobile application won the award for “Application of the Year,” by global technology company, Microsoft. Road users and residents can download this free app and use it to report potholes and monitor progress as the JRA proceeds to fix them.

Incentives and smart devices will have positive ripple effect on power usage

Innovative new technology and wide-ranging incentives for households will enable City Power to better manage demand for electricity and reduce the possibility of load-shedding.

City residents will be able to cut their energy bills by shifting their power consumption to off-peak periods while the roll-out of ripple controls will further reduce the strains on Johannesburg’s power network.

City Power MD, Sicelo Xulu, says Johannesburg will become the first municipality in the country to introduce a tariff system that incentivises households to change their consumption patterns and benefit from lower tariffs during off-peak periods. The time-of-use tariff system will kick in from July.

Electricity consumption in the City is at its highest in the early morning and between 17h30 and 20h30 when people return from work and switch on energy-sapping implements such as geysers, stoves, dishwashers and washing machines.

If this high power usage can be switched to off-peak periods in the late evening it will have a significant impact on electricity consumption. Ripple control devices are fixed to household geysers and will enable City Power to remotely switch off geysers at times when the demand for power is high and the capacity of the network to deliver is under strain.

This is a proactive measure introduced by the City to encourage responsible electricity consumption and reduce the need for general load-shedding that affect all households, says the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Environment and Infrastructures, Cllr Matshidiso Mfikoe.

More than 200 000 homes in the City have already been fitted with ripple control devices and they are being rolled out to new developments and through the retrofitting of existing houses.

City Power estimates that between 50 and 80 MW of electricity can be saved through ripple control resulting in a reduction of strain on the network. Ripple control is used worldwide as a demand-side management measure and can also be introduced in emergency situations.

Save energy and help to keep the lights on

If you are not using it, switch it off!

This is City Power’s advice to consumers as the need to save energy grows increasingly critical.

March is Energy Month in Johannesburg and City Power calls on residents to save power and help decrease the possibility of load-shedding.

There are a number of practical steps consumers can take to lower their electricity consumption and also cut down on their monthly electricity bills:

• Insulate your geyser with a blanket or other material to conserve energy;

• Take a shower instead of a bath;

• Switch off lights in unoccupied rooms;

• Use energy efficient light bulbs or compact fluorescent lights

• Clean your lights and bulbs regularly because dirt reduces the amount of light emitted

• Electric frying pans and microwave ovens use less electricity than a stove;

• Always use lids on pots and pans and do not use pots with distorted bottoms

• High temperatures are only required at the start of the cooking process. So turn the heat down as you proceed;

• Use a kettle rather than a pot to boil water; • Boil only as much water as you require, but always ensure the kettle element is covered with water;

• Ensure that fridge door seals are in good condition;

• Do not put hot food or liquids in the fridge;

Soweto Careers Expo connects youth with jobs and studies

Employee News


Economic Development

As the Soweto Careers Day and Expo grows in size and impact, the 2015 event in Orlando East promises to be the most successful ever.

More than 6 000 learners, students, graduates, unemployed youth and 60 exhibitors are expected to participate in the two-day event starting on March 24, hosted jointly by Johannesburg City and Careers Incorporated.

“We are bringing the youth of Johannesburg together with major employers and educational institutions,” says the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development, Councillor Chris Vondo.

“The young people will receive information about future career options and companies will, in turn, be able to promote their brand and recruit potential employees who fit their requirements.”

Kgupi Gunguluza, project director of Careers Incorporated says this year’s expo will focus on green technology and green careers. The theme aims “to instil innovative minds” among the young participants.

The Gauteng Education Department has come on board and organisers are also working closely with the Department of Energy, Skills Education and Training Authorities (SETAs), universities and colleges, together with the National Youth Development Agency.

Learners are given information about careers and educational opportunities in information and communications

technology, construction, engineering, mining, energy, banking and financial services, hospitality, tourism and the public service.

Gunguluza says the Expo, which is in its 8th year, targets youth between the ages of 15 and 25 – especially learners in the final stages of high school and third year students at tertiary institutions.

It also serves as an information platform for the youth who are able to broaden their horisons with regards to career options and goals in both traditional employment and self-employment arenas.

Schools in Johannesburg use the Soweto Expo to supplement its career-guidance courses and build capacity among teachers who are responsible for such counselling services.

Gunguluza says the Expo is a vital bridge to link high school education and future studies at universities or Further Training and Education (FET) colleges. It also connects tertiary students with the work environment.

“The youth will have the opportunity to rub shoulders with major employers and education institutions that will have representatives at the venue to explain course requirements and possible career options,” he says.

Employers use the Soweto Expo to provide information about the activities of their companies, communicate directly with their targeted audiences and have person-to-person contact with young people looking for employment opportunities.

The Expo helps to reduce the cost of recruitment for employers and enable them to build relationships and networks with other organisations and individuals who attend the event staged at the Orlando Communal Hall.

Smart City

The time has come to ‘Connect @ your library’


Service DeliveryHuman & Social Development

The role played by libraries in Johannesburg to provide communities with access to information and promote a culture of learning will be highlighted during the annual South African Library Week.

Under the theme of “Connect @ your library” there will be activities aimed at the broad spectrum of Joburg residents, from pre-schoolers to senior citizens, at each of the 87 libraries in the City. Library Week takes place from 14 to 21 March.

Councillor Chris Vondo, the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development says Library Week is an excellent opportunity to focus on services offered in an era where information has become a valuable and necessary commodity.

“Our libraries connect people to each other and serve as a portal to knowledge and information. They also provide access to print and electronic resources.”

Johannesburg’s libraries have, in recent months, become a vital cog in the “Smart City” programme. Through various ‘eLearning’ initiatives, communities and visitors to the libraries are offered support with access to educational opportunities.

In line with the City’s priority to support schools and lifelong learning, the libraries offer a number of popular programmes that cater for the requirements of all age groups:

• the Ready to Read programme targets pre-school learners at more than 160 crèches and early-childhood development centres;

• Story Skirmish and Battle of the Books are fun activities that involve primary school children. More than 400 schools participate in these annual programmes designed to improve reading skills;

• Science Scuffle promotes science, technology, engineering and maths among older children and introduces them to the role played by libraries in accessing information.

MMC Vondo says the City’s libraries “want to be active community partners in the development of an informed and educated nation”. Access to libraries is free and the facilities are also used to provide safe spaces for children to relax, listen to stories and participate in holiday activities. Staff members often assist learners with homework or school assignments. They also help them to get access to information relating to career and study opportunities.

Library Week also serves as a “fine free period” during which community members can return overdue books, without paying a penalty. Residents are encouraged to visit their local libraries during this period and participate in various activities.

More information about libraries and the services they offer can be obtained from Maryna Moolman at 011 226 0935 or [email protected]

City Power – the City of Johannesburg’s power utility – is spending more than R824 million to build a new substation in Sebenza, northeast of Johannesburg, to increase its capacity and strengthen power supply in one of the fastest growing areas in the city.

The areas to benefit from the multimillion rand infrastructure investment are Alexandra, Gresswold, Sandringham, Athol-Oaklands, Rosebank, Melrose, Parkhurst, Midrand and Modderfontein.

Work on the 400/275/88kv substation – which started in December last year – is being carried out by CONCO Energy Solutions, a division of Consolidated Power Projects.

CONCO, which is headquartered in Midrand, has almost three decades of electrical construction experience in sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on its core business as a full turnkey electrical procurement and construction contractor.

According to the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Infrastructure Services and Environment, Councillor Matshidiso Mfikoe, the timing was crucial as growth in the designated supply area had significantly increased without any upgrade of ageing power infrastructure being undertaken.

The resultant high electricity demand, MMC Mfikoe said, led to the power grid in the area becoming constrained, hence City Power’s move to give a boost to the electricity infrastructure.

The project is scheduled to be completed in December 2017. An extra 1 000MVA is expected to be added to the utility’s currently installed capacity on completion.

The new substation is located near the Kelvin Power Station in Sebenza, Kempton Park and is aimed at

improving the quality, reliability and capacity of power supply to the northeastern region of Johannesburg.

“The Sebenza Substation project will also stimulate the much-needed economic growth in Johannesburg, one of South Africa’s major economic hubs. Part of the project’s initiative is to take some of the load sitting at the Prospect Substation to the Sebenza Substation. Economic numbers confirm that Johannesburg’s growth and development has a direct link to Gauteng and the South African economy at large.” MMC Mfikoe explained.

MMC Mfikoe said as a result of the investment, power outages would be minimised while output would be maximised.

The new substation will allow City Power to construct new substations to relieve load on existing substations. This will allow the utility to do preventive maintenance with minimal outages.

MMC Mfikoe said a similar project was being mooted for the south of Johannesburg.

City invests in R825-million substation to drive growth

Johannesburg’s leadership role in the fields of green initiatives and energy savings has been recognised by the world’s most respected environmental organisation.

The City was selected as a finalist in the global Earth Hour City Challenge organised annually by the World-wide Fund for Nature (WWF). The efforts of more than 160 cities on five continents were considered by WWF experts but only 44 metros were included on the final shortlist.

An expert jury will now review actions and commitments submitted by the finalists and announce a sustainability leader per country and a global winner on April 9 in Seoul, South Korea. Members of the public – including residents of Johannesburg – will also be able to vote for their favourite city in a global online campaign. (see below)

Johannesburg Mayor Councillor Mpho Parks Tau says the City’s selection as one of three top-performing cities in Africa is evidence of the City’s success to create a more sustainable future for its growing population in an urban environment.

“Joburg was the first city in Africa to launch a green bond to the value of R1.5-billion on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange to fund green

initiatives,” he says. “This bond, which was over-subscribed by more than 150% will be used for future programmes such as the installation of 43 000 solar heaters in households across the city.

This will not only lead to substantial energy savings at a time when the national electricity grid is under severe pressure, but also ensure the long term sustainability of Johannesburg,” says Mayor Tau.

Johannesburg hosted the prestigious C40 Climate Leadership Summit of megacities in 2014 where Mayor Tau noted that the City is investing R110-billion in infrastructure, including climate change initiatives. Making the announcement about Johannesburg’s shortlisting, the WWF’s project leader, Carina Borgström- Hansson said the competition recognised the reality that cities are leading the way towards a fair, climate-resilient future. This is an exceptionally important year because all world leaders will gather in Paris in December to make global commitments towards reducing the reliance on fossil fuels and switch towards sustainable energy sources.

The WWF is at the forefront of these initiatives. Earth Hour was first launched in 2007 when hundreds of millions of people in 160 countries around the world were motivated to switch off their lights for 60 minutes. This marked a symbolic gesture of concern about the harmful impacts of climate change.

Since then, the campaign has grown into a broader initiative which includes the annual Earth Hour City Challenge.

Five actions you can take to support Joburg in the global Earth Hour Challenge: • Visit the Johannesburg page on the “We Love Cities” website http://www.welovecities.org/en/johannesburg/

• Vote for Johannesburg as your favourite city and fill in the easy details required;

• Tweet your love for Jozi at #welovejohannesburg; • Submit your tips on how the City can become even greener and find more sustainable energy solutions;

• Support the WWF’s Earth Hour event on 28 March by switching off your lights at the designated hour.

Vote now to show your love for a ‘greener Joburg’!


Resource Resilience

Innovation and technology advances in waste management and recycling will be important themes at the second Johannesburg Waste Summit organised by Pikitup later this month.

Johannesburg’s Executive Mayor, Councillor Mpho Parks Tau will open the two day event at the Sandton Convention Centre on March 24. The theme is: “Jozi@Work - a Dimension Shift towards Innovative Waste Management: Join the Conversation.”

Councillor Matshidiso Mfikoe, a Member of the Mayoral Committee for Environment and Infrastructure Services, says the summit is held at a time when Johannesburg is fast running out of landfill space to manage waste and is in urgent need of innovation and the application of cutting-edge technology.

“It will be a platform where we exchange ideas and disseminate information about new advances in the field of sustainable waste management practices and how they can be applied in Johannesburg.”

Pikitup will use the summit to provide a progress report on the implementation of its waste management strategy. It will also offer an overview on opportunities that are available to communities to become involved in waste collection and recycling initiatives.

The City’s Jozi@Work programme singles out separating and recycling of waste at landfill sites as among the top areas for community participation in the City’s new approach to job creation and small business empowerment.

MMC Mfikoe says the City is also looking forward to continue its discussions with the private sector and the research community on technology and scientific methods for waste management. This will include:

• initiatives to involve communities in recycling and reusing activities;

• addressing the local realities of poverty, inequality and unemployment;

• sustainable exploitation of food co-products and related biomass;

• energy recovery from biomass and waste;

• collaboration and public-private partnerships to stimulate the redevelopment of existing projects.

MMC Mfikoe says the Summit will be an opportunity for all participants in the waste management cycle to discuss proposals across a broad range of activities.

These include recycling, technical innovation, education and job creation in the green and blue economies.

Technology providers, manufacturer and developers of alternative waste management technology such as Collect-a-Can and the Packaging Council of South Africa will be offered exhibition space at the Convention Centre to demonstrate their products.

New push for innovations in waste management

Green Initiatives

In the Loop March 2015

Documents

Transcript of In the Loop March 2015