The City of Joburg has embarked on an ambitious initiative aimed at transforming Johannesburg into a world-class city. On Tuesday, Executive Mayor Dada Morero spearheaded the launch of a “high impact” service delivery programme in Soweto, marking a significant stride in addressing the myriad service delivery challenges faced by residents.
Gathering with members of the Mayoral Committee and various municipal departments, Morero introduced the initiative designed to mobilise all sectors of the municipality simultaneously, targeting specific areas that require urgent attention. “Today we are here with members of the Mayoral Committee together with the entire departments. The intention today is what we call High Impact Service Delivery. This programme will be executed area by area with the intention to accelerate service delivery,” he stated during a media doorstep.
In Soweto, the team tackled pressing issues: potholes were patched, broken street lights were repaired, and substantial infrastructure projects were highlighted, including the ongoing refurbishment of water reservoirs. “We are addressing the water reservoir project which will be completed in July next year, ensuring that Soweto does not suffer from water challenges in the future,” Morero added, displaying a commitment to revitalising the area.
Despite the enthusiasm surrounding the initiative, some critics voiced concerns regarding the potential electoral motivations underpinning the programme. Morero was quick to deflect such claims, asserting that this is not the first instance of accelerated service delivery in Soweto and reassuring that the commitment to servicing the community remains steadfast. “What we are trying to do is to upscale and say this is the programme, let’s all come in, and do it at once to indicate to communities that there’s a lot of work that we are doing as the City of Johannesburg,” he said.
However, the mayor did express his frustration with Johannesburg’s aging infrastructure, which he admitted has struggled to keep pace with the city’s rapidly growing population. “We’ve got an infrastructure problem in Johannesburg which requires refurbishment,” explained Morero. “We need to raise capital, our own revenue, and also raise money in the market so that we can respond to infrastructure failures that we’re experiencing, especially in relation to water.”
Soweto has faced numerous challenges stemming from poor infrastructure design, and Morero highlighted the necessity for long-term solutions: “We need to replace the entire sewer reticulation in the area over time so that that challenge does not recur in Soweto.” His candid acknowledgment of systemic issues points to a concerted drive to not only address immediate concerns but also invest in the sustainable development of the city.