Yesterday I paid an oversight visit to the community of Braamfischerville alongside the community’s local SANCO Executive Committee.
The visit came following consultations between my office, members of the SANCO Executive Committee and the Braamfischerville community, who invited me to see, first-hand, how previous administrations had failed to improve the lives of the community; robbing them of dignified lives.
Given the fact that SANCO has historically been considered an ANC aligned organisation, they’re willingness to engage with the new administration is indicative of a shared commitment to serving our residents, particularly those in poor communities.
During the visit, I was also accompanied by the MMC for Housing, Cllr Mzobanzi Ntuli, MMC for Economic Development, Cllr Leah Knott, MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services, Cllr Nico de Jager, MMC for Community Development, Cllr Nonhlanhla Sifumba, MMC for Health and Social Development, Dr Mpho Phalatsi, MMC for Transport, Nonhlanhla Helen Makhuba, and MMC for Corporate and Shared Services, Dr Valencia Ntombi Khumalo.
I was also accompanied by senior officials from the various departments within the City as part of the visit.
The visit gave the community an opportunity to meet with senior government officials in order to express some of their concerns.
Key amongst the communities concerns were:
- poor community safety due to no street lighting;
- poor road infrastructure and water drainage;
- poorly constructed RDP houses built on a flood line;
- flooding of sewer near residential accommodation;
- illegal mining activities taking place, causing pollution and unsafe hazards to local communities; and
- poor workmanship by private contractors on previously constructed housing projects.
I also had the opportunity to visit a family led by a young girl of 20, caring for 4 siblings after the recent loss of her mother.
In response to all this, I requested our City officials to immediately examine each of the community’s concerns and report back to my office within 14 days on interventions which can be taken to address the needs of the community.
This report will be shared with the SANCO Executive Committee and the community of Braamfischerville.
Working together with all sectors of society, I am sure we can bring dignity to all of the City’s forgotten people. My door is open to all persons and organisations who share in the vision of building a better Johannesburg for all residents.