JOBURG MAYOR FAMILIAR WITH EBONY AND IVORY PARK PROBLEMS

Last week Thursday the 20th of February 2020, the City of Johannesburg Executive Mayor, Geoff Makhubo, along with MMCs visited the Ivory Park North Hall to listen to the problems of the people. The event was the first of many ‘Mayoral Imbizos’ that the City will host across Johannesburg. Makhubo’s administration is calling itself the “Government of Local Unity”.

The Ivory Park North Hall was packed with both young and old. The hosting of the Imbizo was the culmination of a hive of activity that kicked off with the opening of the first 24-hour clinic in Ebony Park, followed by a community outreach programme that included visits to local early childhood development centres and surrounding businesses, environmental health inspections and an engagement with healthcare practitioners.

In Ivory Park, Mayor Makhubo said the new administration was not unfamiliar with problems around Ebony and Ivory Park and further noted that bulk infrastructure was taking a strain as developments in the area were happening at a much faster pace while municipal services lagged behind.

“I cut my political teeth in this area. In my young days, we used to do work in Ivory Park. We are aware of both the old and new issues. I want to assure you, bahlali (residents) that no concerns will be ignored by the Government of Local Unity.
“The development of infrastructure in Ebony Park and Ivory Park must top the agenda at the forthcoming Integrated Development Plan meeting. Electrification of informal settlements in the area will certainly be accelerated.

“A sewer replacement programme needs to be started as a matter of urgency. We need to ensure that storm water drainage maintenance and road upgrades are included in the next IDP in order for budget to be implemented,” said Mayor Makhubo to resounding applause.

One of the residents, Joyce Sidikanelo, complained that her area had been without electricity for months and Eskom was not in a hurry to resolve the problem. She also complained about rampant crime in the area and the slow response from law enforcement agencies.

In his response, Mayor Makhubo reassured Sidikanelo and other residents that City Power and Eskom were improving their working arrangements so that electricity issues could be resolved speedily. He added that with the implementation of the Joburg 10 Plus programme, more Metro Police officers will be deployed in different wards of the City to improve visibility and stop criminals in their tracks.

He added that more Imbizos will be held with residents throughout the municipality and urged residents to look after the newly opened clinic, which did not belong to the government but to local residents.

35% of Ivory Park consists of informal settlements. During the Q&A Ivory Park issues raised by residents included: land invasion, illegal structures, electrification of informal settlements, upgrading of gravel roads, rapid land release, billing, job opportunities and turn-around time regarding service delivery.

Makhubo further confirmed that the construction of the Ivory Park Swimming Pool is underway.