Author: Silver Sibiya
The City of Joburg is targeting about 82 buildings in the CBD for ‘expropriation’ to conversion into low cost housing units. The metro started expropriating vacant land and building in 2017 and had already converted seized structures into homes to accommodate millions within the so-called gap market – people earning too little to afford a mortgage and too much to qualify for an RDP house. This week Skosana Court, in Jeppestown was the site of a launch and visit by the MMC for Housing Mlungisi Mabaso who said the Department of Human Settlements will continue identifying bad buildings, acquire them…
Civil-rights movement Khulumani Support Group says it wants President Cyril Ramaphosa to acknowledge its members as victims of apartheid and to facilitate payment of reparations for their suffering. The group of 150 elders mostly women have been camping at the doorsteps of the Constitutional Court in Braamfontein for two months demanding compensation for human rights violations perpetrated against them by the apartheid regime. 54-year-old Group Organizer Noma-Russia Botane told Newsnote on Tuesday that the government has so far avoided dealing with their demands. “For years we’ve been pushing to get someone to give us answers but no one wants to…
The ANC in Tshwane is demanding that the municipality improve service delivery and is accusing it of charging residents “exorbitant and ridiculous amounts” for services based on estimates. The branch took its demands to the streets on Friday by marching to the municipal offices and demanded better services for the residents. The regional chairperson, Eugene Modise decried lack of service delivery and accused the DA-led municipality of incompetency and corruption. “We know that since the DA and its coalition partners have been in administration their quality of service have declined to unacceptable levels. The street lights are not working, potholes…
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has pledged R650 million through the Township Economic Development Act (TEDA) and promised that his administration will use this fund to empower women to fight Gender-Based Violence. Lesufi said this at the launch of 16 Days of Activism Against Women and Children in Jabulani Soweto last Friday. “You need to empower women economically so they can stand on their own as this government that I have the honour to lead. We passed the law in parliament last year and this year we’ve taken a decision to implement that law, that law is called the Township Economic…
The ANC in the City of Joburg has been forced to admit it won’t be back in power by Christmas. This emerged at a council seating in Braamfontein on Thursday where the motions were brought against Mayor Dr Mpho Phalatse by minority parties – the AIC and the ATM. ANC caucus leader Dada Morero conceded they will look to take the power back early next year. “The motion won’t be going in by December hopefully we think it will come back early next year “At around 12pm today the instruction was given to withdraw a motion to process the conclusion of…
For the second time in a month, the City of Johannesburg council has voted against the borrowing of a R2 billion short-term loan from the Development Bank of Southern Africa. During the Ninth Ordinary Meeting on Wednesday, 137 councillors voted against it while 130 voted in favour. The motion to borrow money that would go towards the city’s operational costs and was to be paid back in June 2023, was first tabled on 11 November wherein it was rejected. Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) responsible for Finance, Julie Suddaby argued that the loan is necessary to keep the City’s cash…
Residents of the Floyd Shivambu Informal residents in Rabie Ridge near Midrand, who have connected electricity illegally have lambasted City Power for cutting off their electricity, especially in the middle of school exams. City Power accompanied by the JMPD yesterday disconnected non-paying residents who are said to owe more than R4 million through illegal connections. It was a day of sorrow for the residents who hurled insults at the technicians who were removing 14 000 kg tons of electricity cables. Furious resident Dikgeto Diteo said their children will be severely prejudiced due to the disconnections. “You [City Power] should have…
Motswako Media Group (MMG) chairperson Tebogo Pooe said the launch of the new apps for You FM, is the first of its kind in the country and will set the commercial radio station, based in North West, apart from others.He was speaking on Friday during the station’s 3rd Birthday Celebration at the Hartebeespoort Dam attended by media, advertisers and other stakeholders. You FM is a subsidiary of MMG which has been in existence for over 20 years. Pooe said the launch of new apps You Chat and You Connect is a big milestone as other radio stations’ apps are just…
The family of a 76-year-old Soweto grandmother who passed away when her house caught fire on Wednesday night, is blaming electricity blackouts for the incident. The family said Nomzinishi Cele from Zola, lit a candle after she was left alone in the house before it caught fire. Cele’s grandchild Kwazi, explained the circumstances that led to her death. “My grandmother has left us because of the fire caused by a candle. I won’t say much about the incident but she left us in the worst way possible. She was staying with one grandchild and my uncle, so on Wednesday just…
This week the Ekurhuleni Mayor Tania Campbell announced the list of the new Members of Mayoral Committee (MMC) for the municipality that has been plagued by political squabbling and lack of service delivery for its residents. Following the withdrawal of ActionSA from the executive on Tuesday Campbell swiftly introduced her members today at Germiston Civic Centre. Campbell said the new MMC’s are urgently attending to service delivery issues which have hit the city badly. Here is the full list of the MMC’s:MMC for Finance: Fanyana NkosiMMC for Health and Social Development: Jennifer GloverMMC for Transport Planning: Mabekenyane ThamahaneMMC for Water,…