The Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg Dr Mpho Phalatse says the City administration and its multi-party government has hit the ground running, allocating R171m to the redevelopment of Alexandra.
The Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg Dr Mpho Phalatse has committed R171 million towards the redevelopment of Alexandra.
She made the commitment during an address at the Alexandra Business Development and Investment Summit held at the Mea Culpa in Kew as a funding platform of the We Love Alexandra Community Makeover Project. The project is the brainchild of the Sandton-based South Africa Day but run by its Alex chapter
The summit attracted various community and business leaders from Sandton who were led by SA Day chairperson Kevin Wakeford, CEO Dr Bheki Shongwe and the SA Day chief strategy officer and executive chairperson at Impact Investment Group Chris Hart, who also doubles as the chief fundraiser for the makeover project.
Phalatse said the City will deliver its first budget speech since coming to power on May 25 and committed R171 million towards various development projects and upgrades to landmarks in the township, including the long-awaited rebuilding of the iconic KwaMadala Hostel.
“It has been an exciting and busy time for the nine-partner multi-party government of the City, which has had to hit the ground running because the patience of our six million residents has worn thin,” the mayor said.
“The people of Alexandra, like many across the City, are looking for hope, change and opportunities, and we could not wait for a new financial year to roll out a programme of action.”
She added that the Mayoral Priorities Programme was no different to the aims and ambitions of the makeover project which seeks to rebuild this 110-year-old community. The makeover project seeks to embark on the cleaning and beautification of the township, upliftment projects for the community, facilitating business investment and economic development, thereby reducing crime in order to improve economic opportunities.
According to the mayor, there is a clear alignment between the work of the makeover project and government’s hopes for Alexandra. The City plans to allocate R10 million for the building requirement of KwaMadala, commonly known as Madala Hostel, and another R10 million for the Helen Joseph Hostel. Other projects in Alexandra include the replacement of sewer mains and the refurbishment of the Be Safe Centre at a cost of R5 million each, as well as R121 million for various BRT projects.