• Slow economic growth ( a weak Rand , income inequality , and unemployment etc .)
• Poor service delivery ( slow response times , service delivery breakdowns , inadequate service delivery culture )
• Poverty and inequality ( income inequality , food insecurity , overpopulation in poorer communities )
• Environmental decay ( climate change , scarcity of natural resources , lack of landfill sites for garbage )
• Corruption ( diverting money away from service delivery )
• Inadequate police visibility ( due to limited powers and resources )
• Social disconnect ( the need for cohesive and inclusive communities )
• Informal economy ( the need to “ engage and include the informal economy and not marginalise it ” to reduce dependence on welfare )
Mashaba maintains that to establish an inclusive , modern and prosperous City for all , economic revival of the Inner City is needed : “[ Revitalising our inner city ] is pivotal in our quest to unleash Johannesburg ’ s economic potential , and realise our target of a five percent economic growth by 2021 ,” says Mashaba . His vision includes bringing people and businesses back to the heart of the City , through tackling crime , drugs and pollution , and ultimately curbing the current capital drain to other parts of Johannesburg .
As per the Executive Mayor ’ s inaugural State of the City Address ( SoCA ), the City has developed a 10-point plan for revitalising and uplifting Johannesburg . Mashaba feels the achievement of a minimum 5 % economic growth rate over the next five years is possible if the right infrastructure is stabilised and protected .
The Johannesburg Future City Model paints the vision of a compact , inclusive , connected , resilient , and generative city in the years to come .
On the cards for the CoJ are upgrades of major economic roads ( such as the M1 towards the City ) and the tarring of roads in previously disadvantaged areas , informal settlements and hostels ( to effectively address a lack of services in these areas ). Bridges are to be completed and an official housing waiting list is to be developed with the Housing Department . A list of semi-completed housing units is also to be developed , and the delivery of title deeds is to be fast tracked . Revenue collections will also be increased to support infrastructure developments in poorer communities .
Five ‘ pillars ’ have also been identified to help bring about change .
FIVE PILLARS FOR CHANGE
• PILLAR 1 : Grow the economy and create jobs
• PILLAR 2 : Enhance quality of life by improving services and taking care of the environment
• PILLAR 3 : Advance pro-poor development that provides meaningful redress
• PILLAR 4 : Build caring , safe and secure communities
• PILLAR 5 : Institute an honest , responsive and productive government
RESOURCES
Cape Town Central City Improvement District , City of Cape Town , City of Johannesburg , City Commentary , eNCA , Education & Training Unit , Enquirer . net , Huffington Post , IOL , Knight Frank , South African Property Review ,
Transport for Cape Town , TUHF
18 JUNE 2017 SA Real Estate Investor www . reimag . co . za