By Staff Reporter
City of Johannesburg mayor Dada Morero has launched an accelerated service delivery operation in the Inner City as part of the Inner-City Revitalisation Programme.
Launched on Thursday, the initiative is aimed at tackling various service delivery challenges across Region F, encompassing all 11 wards.
Central to this operation is enhancing collaboration among municipal entities such as City Power, Joburg Water, Pikitup, Johannesburg Roads Agency, Joburg City Parks, and Zoo.
The initiative, themed “Re-imagining Joburg through the eyes of the residents,” targets critical issues exacerbated by vandalism, illegal water and electricity connections, unauthorised advertising, dumping, parking, trading, and other social and economic concerns.
Morero said key challenges identified in the region include high in-migration pressures, widespread illegal dumping, a perceived high-risk inner city image, housing backlog leading to illegal land use, increased building occupation and hijacking, urban decay, aging infrastructure, inadequate maintenance of social amenities like clinics and recreational facilities and sprawling informal settlements.
As part of the operation, City Power seized over 250kg of illegally connected ABC cables from six inner-city business properties, addressing the significant issue of electricity theft, which costs the city an estimated R30,000 in daily revenue losses.
Morero said illegal connections not only compromise Johannesburg’s power grid stability but also endanger public safety and disrupt essential services to residents and businesses.
“City Power has deployed specialised teams for meter audits, traffic light repairs, and resolving unplanned power outages in the Inner City,” said Morero.
“Pikitup teams are active across various wards, engaging in street sweeping, mechanical street washing, clearing illegal dumping hotspots, emptying skip bins, and conducting regular refuse collection rounds.”
Morero added that Joburg Water has deployed teams to address 69 service requests, including burst pipes, underground leaks, damaged fire hydrants, leaking meters, water shortages, leaking valves, sewer blockages, and cleanups.
“Focus areas also include pavement and road reinstatements,” said Morero.
Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) focused on Ward 129, clearing blocked stormwater inlets along Lillian Ngoyi Street and utilising a jetvac at Lillian Ngoyi and Nugget Streets to clean heavily obstructed drainage systems compromised by oil and debris from suspected illegal motor mechanic activities.
JRA also addressed blocked kerb inlets, with some requiring extensive pipe replacements.
Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) has also deployed regional teams to clear, prune, and remove overgrown vegetation along main routes, ensuring safer and cleaner public spaces.
“Park rangers are actively removing abandoned structures and clearing heavily littered areas, contributing to the inner city’s overall revitalisation. This intensive six-week operation aims to enhance the daily experience of Joburg residents and will expand to other city regions following its initial phase in the Inner City,” said Morero.
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