The City of Johannesburg, South Africa’s economic hub, would partner business and labour to ensure that the global economic meltdown’s potential damage to the city’s economy was kept at an absolute minimum, executive mayor Amos Masondo said on Thursday.

In his State of the City address, he said that the key economic goals for Johannesburg included job creation, and transformation, as well as the facilitation of provisions for decent employment opportunities, and market-led integrated skills development plans.

Other key goals would be the creation of an investment friendly environment, in order to increase foreign direct investment, as well as the facilitation of economic growth, underpinned by a vibrant small- medium-sized and microenterprise sector.

Masondo said that the city should also aim to defend and grow its position as South Africa’s economic hub.

Key programmes to achieve these goals would include the completion of the roll-out of the Johannesburg Broadband Network project, the transfer of about 14 000 properties through the land regularisation project, as well as a 100% occupation of the Soweto empowerment zone.

The City of Johannesburg’s strategy fell in line with efforts made by the ruling government in response to the crisis.

“The South African government is responding, among others, by growing services that help poor communities, continuing to create more jobs through the expanded public works programme, and by spending over R780-billion on large infrastructure projects over the next three years.”

Masondo added that the city of Johannesburg had the responsibility to reinforce these efforts, and not merely rush into revising its 9% economic growth target downwards.

“We have a responsibility to align our programmes in a way that enhances the overall efforts of government to address the country’s complex challenges,” he added.

BUSINESS UNUSUAL

One of the key programmes that city would be implementing for the remainder of Masondo’s political term was the formalisation and regularisation of informal settlements. This would be done in partnership with the Department of Development Planning and Urban Management, as well as the Gauteng Department of Housing.

Masondo said that it was the aim of the city that, by 2014, residents in hazardous locations would be moved to safe locations, while dangerously overcrowded settlements were dedensified.

Settlements that were appropriately located, should also be formalised or regularised.

In the matter of public transport, Masondo stated that Phase 1A of the Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) would be concluded by June this year, and would include a route from Regina Mundi to Ellis Park. Phase 1B was set to start operating in time for 2010, and would include a route to Sandton.

In addition to the implementation of the BRT, there was an ongoing imperative to improve all public transport operations. This included modernisation of Metrobus, formalisation and improvement of taxi ranks around the city, and supporting the taxi industry to convert their licences and improve their services. Masondo noted that taxi ranks that were scheduled for improvement in this, and the next financial year, included Midrand, Cosmo City, Jack Mincer and Kazerne.

“In addition, we are working on a 2010 transport operational plan building on the existing park-and-ride strategy for big events. This operational plan will ensure that there is limited congestion during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and visitors can move easily to matches, to recreational and hospitality venues, and between cities,” Masondo added.

The key challenges for the 2010 FIFA World Cup included the international financial climate, which was leading to price escalations, as well as the need to balance the needs of the events, with the legitimate expectations of the communities.

Masondo stated that key programmes which would lead to the two major soccer events, which would be hosted by the city, included the actual opening and closing ceremonies for the Confederations Cup as well as the World Cup, and ensuring the effective successful coordination and hosting of the world cup.