R65BILLION ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE @KASIBCNEWS

Motorists and passengers across the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) face daily dangers when travelling along the city roads, having to dodge potholes and navigate the disintegrating roads. Despite these challenges, the City has only allocated R449 million to fix roads for the entire metro in the 2024/25 budget. While it will cost R65 Billion to repair the worst 1619km of roads across Ekurhuleni.

This represents 7% of what is needed to repair the worst roads.

This information was revealed in a reply to the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) written questions tabled to the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Jacob Mamabolo, in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL).

The last assessment of the condition of all roads in the CoE was conducted in 2019, referred to as the “Pavement Management System”. According to the reply, 8,245.53km of roads were assessed for their structural condition and were categorised as follows:

• Very Good 19.54%

• Good 12.97%

• Fair 37.27%

• Poor 9.98%

• Very Poor 20.06%

Since the 2019 assessment, the conditions of the City’s roads have deteriorated considerably, and the cost of repairs would have ballooned.

With the current budget set aside for road maintenance, the City cannot even keep up with repairing potholes and roads.

A DA-led Gauteng Provincial government would immediately assess the maintenance needs of all roads in the province and work with municipalities to ensure that they have sufficient money allocated for maintenance.

Ekurhuleni’s Crime Crisis @KASIBCNEWS

Today, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng East officially launched a petition to urge parliamentary intervention into Ekurhuleni’s crime crisis. The petition was made public outside the Primrose Police station, which has the highest murder rate in the metro with a horrific 127 murders per 100 000 residents.

Primrose itself holds an average murder rate three times the average murder rate in Ekurhuleni. With a population of 87 743 residents, this community is serviced by a mere 94 Police Officers and 10 support staff. This station is woefully under resourced. It should come as no surprise that 1638 murders were committed in the City last year.

To put it into perspective, that is one police officer for every 933 residents.

Former Police Minister, Bheki Cele, stated that the United Nations recommends a police-to-population ratio of one officer for every 220 people. He noted that South Africa's ratio was approximately one officer for every 383 citizens. He could not be further from the truth with regards to the Primrose Police station.

If the ratio of 220 residents for one police officer were a reality, the Primrose police station would have 399 police officers.

It is no wonder the residents of Primrose have been left defenceless against murderers with a staff shortfall of 76%.

As horrifying as the murder rate is in Primrose, the issue is similarly bleak across the metro:

Primrose – 127

Germiston – 120

Crystal Park – 86

Reiger Park - 83

Putfontein – 65

Zonkiziswe – 62

Tembisa South – 61

Tokoza - 59

Dawn Park 57

Actonville – 56

The DA’s petition will be taken to Parliament requesting that the Portfolio Committee on Police investigate the horrendous murder rate and the chronic lack of police officers and vehicles in the City.

Soweto Integrated Development Plan ( IDP )  @KASIBCNEWS

Residents of Soweto gathered at a packed Orlando East Communal Hall on Saturday, 12 April 2025, to share their views on the City’s draft Integrated Development Plan (IDP). The session formed part of the City’s ongoing public participation efforts to engage communities directly in shaping local development priorities.

The day began with visits to stalls hosted by various City entities. These stalls offered residents insights into service delivery initiatives and provided a platform for face-to-face engagements with City officials. Service-related queries were addressed by experts from relevant departments and municipal entities.

The Speaker of Council, Cllr Nobuhle Mthembu, in her opening remarks stressed the importance of public participation in refining the draft IDP, Budget, and proposed tariffs, emphasising that the process empowers communities to influence decisions that affect their lives.

Acting Executive Mayor Cllr Margaret Arnolds presented the draft IDP, highlighting key priorities for Region D. These include infrastructure upgrades in water, sewer, and stormwater systems; public environment improvements; investment in early childhood development facilities; and the establishment of centres to combat gender-based violence.

“This is your plan. Without you, we cannot do anything,” said Cllr Arnolds. “Now is the time to reframe the Joburg story—from what’s broken to what’s becoming. Yes, we face real challenges, but so is our power to fix them—from restoring primary infrastructure to investing in strategic capital projects that will transform high-impact precincts and elevate our inner cities to world-class CBDs.”

She also provided an update on progress made in ongoing capital projects. The road rehabilitation and stormwater infrastructure upgrade in Elias Motsoaledi (Ward 24) is 100% complete, while the construction of social housing in Nancefield (Ward 25) is 89% complete.

Following the presentation, residents engaged in a robust dialogue with City leadership, voicing a wide range of concerns. These included inadequate stormwater drainage, crime, insufficient high mast lighting, limited access to health facilities, poor maintenance of public spaces, challenges with the Extended Social Package (ESP), youth unemployment, and human settlements issues.

Themba Ndlovu from Ward 26 expressed concern about the allocation of RDP houses, stating that some are occupied by foreigners while South Africans remain on the waiting list. Gogo Maria raised a concern about access to Expanded Social Package services, noting that many elderly residents don’t have smartphones and are unable to use digital platforms. A youth leader highlighted the lack of long-term job opportunities for young people, he also asked how local youth would benefit from the upcoming G20 Summit.

In response, the City leadership acknowledged the challenges raised and committed to addressing residents’ concerns as part of the IDP refinement process.

Cllr Arnolds also made a call for civic responsibility, urging residents to pay for municipal services to support sustainable service delivery. “Please make sure you play your part and pay your rates and taxes so that the City can have enough revenue to roll out capital projects in your community.”

 

RAND SHOW 2025  @KASIBCNEWS  

The Rand Show 2025 is proud to announce the return of one of its most impactful and empowering offerings — the Public Sector Hall, which will once again take centre stage in Hall 5 of the Johannesburg Expo Centre from 17 to 21 April 2025.

This dedicated space will host a wide range of government departments, public sector institutions, and oversight bodies, offering direct access to essential services, expert advice, and community support – all at no cost to visitors.

Whether you're seeking assistance with pensions, voter registration, water services, health screenings, or access to social support systems, the Public Sector Hall is designed to help you connect face-to-face with the people and departments that serve South Africa every day.

Government and Public Sector Departments Participating in 2025:

Gauteng Department of Health

South African Social Security Agency (SASSA)

South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI)

Rand Water

Johannesburg Water

Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC)

Road Accident Fund (RAF)

CRL Rights Commission

Office of the Pension Funds Adjudicator

FAIS Ombud

National Financial Ombud

These organisations will be on hand to provide information, advice, and immediate assistance in a welcoming and accessible environment.

Empowering Visitors with Real Support

One of the standout features of this year's hall is the collaboration between the Gauteng Department of Health and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), which will be offering free health screenings to all Rand Show visitors. 

This public-private partnership underscores the show's commitment to wellbeing, access, and social upliftment — ensuring that a visit to the Rand Show can be more than just fun; it can be life-changing.

"This is a deeply important part of the Rand Show," says Adele Hartdegen, CEO of The Rand Show. "It's where government becomes truly accessible. Our visitors can speak directly to public service providers, and many walk away with real resolutions, answers, and opportunities."

From resolving disputes with financial institutions to understanding your rights, accessing health and water services, and registering to vote — the Public Sector Hall is here to serve.

Rand Show 2025 Details:

Venue: Johannesburg Expo Centre, NASREC

Dates: 17 – 21 April 2025

Times: 09h00 – 19h00

Tickets are available at www.randshow.co.za or Ticketpro and at the door

ESKOM TENDER RENEWABLE ENERGY  @KASIBCNEWS 

The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, welcomes Eskom’s recent issuance of a tender to establish a separate renewable energy business unit. 

This significant step reflects Eskom’s dedication to accelerating renewable energy deployment and supporting South Africa’s transition to a cleaner, more sustainable energy future, consistent with the nation’s Just Energy Transition (JET) objectives and commitments under the Paris Agreement.

On 31 March 2025, the Minister granted conditional emissions exemptions to Eskom’s coal-fired power stations, underscoring the urgent need for prioritisation of renewable energy integration. The establishment of this independent subsidiary, structured to operate with agility and encourage public-private partnerships, directly addresses those conditions. 

It positions Eskom to capitalise on South Africa’s abundant solar and wind resources, enhance competitiveness, and secure green financing, while contributing to improved air quality and reduced carbon emissions.

The Minister acknowledges Eskom’s proactive approach and calls for a transparent, competitive, and inclusive tender process that fosters opportunities for local and international expertise. The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment will closely monitor the initiative’s progress to ensure alignment with South Africa’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the 2050 net-zero emissions target, as well as the stringent conditions imposed on Eskom on 31 March 2025 that support compliance with the Minimum Emissions Standards (MES).

The Minister further encourages Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and the private sector to actively participate, driving innovation and investment to bolster renewable energy capacity. 

Through collective effort, South Africa can build a resilient, inclusive, and environmentally sustainable energy sector that upholds the constitutional mandate to protect the health and well-being of all its citizens.