Ramaphosa Pledges Swift Action to Address Johannesburg’s Service Delivery Crisis
Image source: News24
President Cyril Ramaphosa has assured the residents of Johannesburg that the government is focused on promptly addressing the city’s service delivery issues. He spoke to the community during a stakeholder meeting at the Johannesburg City Council Chamber on Friday afternoon.
Earlier that same day and on Thursday, the President and the National Executive undertook an oversight visit to Gauteng. “As a resident of Johannesburg myself, I understand the worries expressed regarding the deterioration of services and infrastructure,” he noted.
“Over the past two days, National Executive members have engaged with Gauteng’s leadership and the City of Johannesburg about the challenges they are encountering and the measures being implemented to address them. We are committed to promoting cooperation among the three levels of government to quickly tackle these problems. While similar assurances have been made in the past, the scale of the issues demands that we intensify our efforts at this moment,” he emphasized.
The President highlighted various difficulties the city is facing, including inadequate road conditions, the closing of public facilities like the Johannesburg Library, and delays in infrastructure projects. “Through the Department of Cooperative Governance, National Treasury, and the Provincial Government, we are assisting the City of Johannesburg in stabilizing its governance and financial operations. We must overcome service delivery backlogs and begin tackling the infrastructure deficit,” President Ramaphosa declared.
Regarding the formation of the Presidential Johannesburg Working Group, which was announced earlier that day, President Ramaphosa clarified that the group will consist of government representatives and stakeholders. A comparable initiative was initiated in KwaZulu-Natal with the creation of the eThekwini Presidential Working Group in 2024, with the intent of revitalizing Durban as an investment and tourism center.
“Our experiences in eThekwini bolster our confidence that this model is effective in addressing the challenges facing Johannesburg. Last month, the Presidency held talks with the City of Johannesburg, the province of Gauteng, and several social partners to establish the Presidential Johannesburg Working Group. There is considerable support from all parties involved for this intergovernmental structure, which will improve collaboration and utilize the expertise and resources of all stakeholders in Johannesburg,” he explained.
The working group will initially concentrate on governance and financial stability. “Our objective is to enhance the internal governance and financial management of the city by restoring institutional capacity. Our next focus will be on water and sanitation, followed by electricity. We intend to stabilize critical infrastructure by increasing maintenance, boosting funding, and assessing the entire value chain,” President Ramaphosa clarified.
“Moreover, we will place particular emphasis on public spaces and the beautification of the city. Specific initiatives will involve repairing road networks, restoring street lighting and traffic signals, and enhancing waste collection throughout Johannesburg,” he added.
In addition, efforts will also aim to strengthen law enforcement and urban safety, expedite housing provision, and initiate an inner-city revitalization project. “We have established a timeline for accomplishing these objectives. This should not be prolonged. This Working Group will provide regular updates to the Ministers and myself. We cannot proceed as if things are normal; we must recognize the crisis at hand and address it with the required resources, timelines, and accountability measures,” he stated.
The President urged stakeholders to partner with the government in restoring the city to its former glory. “The government cannot achieve this alone. Involving a broader range of stakeholders in the Working Group will facilitate collective accountability for the set objectives and accelerate our efforts. In the upcoming weeks, my team will reach out to business, labor, civil society, and academia regarding their respective roles in the Presidential Johannesburg Working Group.
“Johannesburg is a city celebrated for its resilience, innovation, and hope. Let us move forward with determination, unity, and a shared commitment to ensure that no one is overlooked,” President Ramaphosa concluded.
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