Real Estate Investor Magazine South Africa February/ March 2020 | Page 3

CITY OF JOBURG in which everyone works, lives an FUTURE Makhubo’s Q U E to ST quest turn Johannesburg’s new mayor has Joburg into a a mission: to transform SA’s financial capital into an inclusive city where of everyone can work, live and play city the future N AT I O N A L S U P P O R T “I’ve held discussions with the president and the He on says he’s out the big premier and impressed both of bringing how Joburg enlisting the help of the other tw could benefit from the international investment drive the country has government embarked on. – We want the and nat provincial City to become the beneficiary of that drive,” says transform Joburg into an investm Makhubo. ‘I’ve held discussions with the He has also started and a conversation to and reassure the premier, impressed o potential investors and the City’s long-suffering benefit R100 from the in residents that there Joburg are plans could to mobilise billion funds to tackle the infrastructure backlog investment drive the country has and accelerate service We delivery and he City insist to that become he want the the never gets into a fight he won’t win. A return to basics and tougher by-law enforcement are some of the arsenal the newly appointed City of Johannesburg Executive Mayor, Councillor Geoff Makhubo, will deploy in his war against crime and grime in the country’s financial capital. that drive,’ says Makhubo. “There’s no one who’ll invest in a city full of crime and grime, a city where there’s no security in the FIGHTING CRIME AND supply of power and water, no reliability of billing. He right. has One also of started a conversatio So, the basics must be the priorities of this Government of potential Local Unity investors that I’m leading and the City’s is to ensure that we turn Joburg into a safer and residents that there are plans to m sustainable city. R100 billion to tackle the infrastru “This means turning and Joburg into a smart city by accelerate service delivery. harnessing technology to police and prevent crime, Makhubo insists he never gets installing cameras, profiling suspect individuals in the various inner cities Joburg from Midrand, he of won’t win. ‘There’s no one who Roodepoort, Randburg, CBD the Lenasia a Joburg city full of and crime and grime, a c CBD, launching proactive instead of reactive policing there’s no security in on the in the different wards and deploying resources a supply needs basis.” and water, no reliability of billing basics must be right.’ Another arrow in Makhubo’s bow is the Joburg 10 Plus approach, which entails “10 Bobbies on the beat”, metro police officers SM A R T patrolling A N D a S ward, U S TA I N A urban inspectors and environment inspectors, park ‘One of the priorities of this gove wardens among others. “It’s an integrated approach local enforcement, unity that I’m leading is to to ensure there’s strict of by-law there’s visible policing, and people don’t do as they please that we turn Joburg into a safer a and circumvent our by-laws,” says Makhubo. tainable city,’ says Makhubo. means His face lights up as he ‘This becomes more turning animated Joburg in when he talks about red tape technology and city cutting by harnessing to accelerating the ease of doing business in the City crime, installing camera of Joburg. “All over the prevent world, cities are competing suspect individuals the variou for the attention of a finite number of investors. in The cities that succeed are of those that have drastically cut Joburg – Midrand, Roodepoor red tape and improved the ease of doing business. Joburg CBD and the Lenasia CB GEOFF MAKHUBO Executive mayor of the City of Johnnesburg F R   “I was talking to a businessman at the recent SA proactive instead of reactive poli Open golf tournament different and he shared his frustrations wards, and deploying re with delays from the City of Joburg regarding a a needs piece of city-owned land where basis.’ he wants to invest R4 billion. Think about the multiplier effect of the investment,” he says. V I S I B L E P O L I C I N G rom ensuring that residents and eturning to basics and to implementing Another arrow in Makhubo’s bow businesses are billed correctly “Economic Development and Development guaranteeing municipal work- Planning and Joburg the Mayor’s office (ward-based need tougher that by-law enforcement are two departments of the 10 Plus p to work together on this. We must cut the waiting ers perform the what they are included paid to do, weapons in the arsenal approach, where there are ‘10 bob time for rezoning approval, land use applications, Makhubo is in a race to turn the fortunes appointed City so of Johannes- the and beat’ or certificates. metro police officers p issuing of environmental health of that the the City newly of Johannesburg around burg executive – councillor Geoff a ward, in addition to urban and e that it can become a mayor more inclusive city “We also need to invest in the ageing infrastructure, of Makhubo the future in which everyone works, – will deploy in his war against and of park wardens, am get the private sector inspectors, to match the City Joburg’s lives and plays. crime and grime in SA’s financial capital. integrated to R100 billion investment ‘It’s fund an rand for rand, approach and an engaged citizenry. wait for things From residents businesses there’s Don’t strict by-law enforcement He says he’s ensuring taking out that the big guns by and get to deteriorate, raise issues and play your part to enlisting the help of the to other two tiers are billed correctly guaranteeing that muni- resolved. visible don’ get problems This is policing, your city and too,” people he of government, provincial and national, workers perform they are concludes. paid to do, please and circumvent our by-law to cipal get Joburg to become an what investment Makhubo is in a race to turn the fortunes of to the mayor. magnet. 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