POLITICS

ActionSA registers gains in Joburg budget

Party will continue to champion important issues such as illegal immigration control, insourcing etc.

ActionSA Registers Gains in 1st Multiparty Government Budget 

27 May 2022

On Wednesday the 25 May 2022, the first budget of the Multi-party Government in the City of Johannesburg was tabled before council. As second largest party in the City of Johannesburg Council, ActionSA has registered budgetary gains in line with our 2021 Local Government Election promises.

In March, a draft budget was tabled in Council for public participation. Following this, ActionSA identified issues non-negotiable items to be added the draft budget, which were subsequently included and agreed to.

 The following are some of the highlights:

The Transport Department was allocated budget for the following projects:

  • The Inner-City roads infrastructure capital budget allocation of R110million
  • Refurbishment of Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) depots
  • Filling of 43 critical JRA vacancies
  • Tarring of gravel roads in Tshepisong in Region C
  • Construction, tarring and upgrade of roads in Zandspruit in Region C
  • Klipfontein View gravel roads upgrade project
  • Plant and equipment to service JRA depots that perform resurfacing of roads city-wide
  • New roads construction and upgrades in Kaalfontein Ext.2
  • Tarring of gravel roads in wards 77, 80 and133
  • Additional budget for storm-water projects

The Public Safety Department was allocated budget for the following projects:

  • Construction of a JMPD pound to aid with revenue collection
  • Electronic law enforcement project through e-citation
  • Procurement and maintenance of fire engines
  • Deployment of traffic wardens in a phased-in approach over a period of 4 years for zonal policing & and the Buya Mthetho Programme
  • Professionalising of security services through the provision of tools of trade and other capacity building programmes

The Economic Development Department was allocated budget for the following projects:

  • Inner-City Economic Development Initiative
  • Informal Trade Permit System and Data Intelligence Dashboard
  • Funding allocated for Youth Skills Development
  • Funding allocated to operationalize the Expanded Public Works Programme jobs database
  • Funding for the establishment of additional Opportunity Centres
  • Funding allocated for revamping of informal trade stalls within the inner-city

These are some of the projects that have been allocated funds in this new budget cycle. ActionSA reaffirmed their commitment to accelerate service delivery in the new financial year.

We are happy that our inputs relating to the skills audit; the commencement of institutional review as well as the office of the deputy mayor are so included into the IDP.

Furthermore, ActionSA will continue to champion the prioritization of important issues that include illegal immigration control; insourcing of cleaners and security guards; and the Inner-City Rejuvenation Programme. These are not only important issues, but they are also the priorities of this multi-party government to which all partners agreed to in the coalition agreement.

We are also pleased that 2 items for ward 23 are now approved on the IDP. The Glenanda Clinic and the Mulbarton Taxi Rank will be formalised.

We urge residents to help the City to protect public infrastructure and to report vandalism and theft to the relevant authorities as the City strives to do as much as possible with limited resources.

Statement issued by Funzi Ngobeni, ActionSA Johannesburg Caucus Leader, 27 May 2022