EKURHULENI mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza says their objective is to rebuild the city.
Speaking at the first State of the City Address in Germiston, Ekurhuleni, on Tuesday, 30 April, Xhakaza said their focus will be security, proper roads, housing, job creation, water and sanitation, and energy.
He said the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) needs to work with other security agencies to fight crime, especially in the crime spots areas in Ekurhuleni.
"We don't need to show mercy to criminals who are operating daily on the streets.
"This has to stop, and metro cops should be visible to ensure the safety of the people," said Xhakaza.
He said they will create 16,000 jobs to maximise the Youth Skills Development of young people.
"With the acknowledgement that employment is the main bridge between economic participation and improved living standards, we have concluded that a responsive employment environment is the key requirement for sustainable social transformation.
"We have since decided that there is a need to elevate the role of corporate social investment, social entrepreneurship, and impact investing in the mainstream of the economy and discourse," said Xhakaza.
Ekurhuleni mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza says their main objective is to rebuild the city during the State of the City Address in Germiston, on Tuesday, 30 April. Video by Happy Mnguni @dailysunsa pic.twitter.com/OxXm3IhY8i
— happy mnguni (@happy_mnguni) April 30, 2024
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The mayor added that they would unveil 1 400 beneficiaries of this programme next month.
"We need to communicate with our communities, but importantly, as we do that, deliver, there are critical attributes that are required from us.
"We built a one-day united council if there's areas of financial performance we must perform and the overall impact full-service delivery we must perform," said Xhakaza
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, former Ekurhuleni mayor, Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Mondli Gungubele and other dignitaries attended the event.
Gungubele said the mayor tackles issues of basic services.
"In his speech, he demonstrates the focus of service delivery.
"The electrification of informal settlement is an important key to ensure the children and community who live in those areas get such services," said Gungubele.
ActionSA caucus leader Siyanda Makhubo said they welcomed the mayor's address.
"We note that several promises have been made specifically on service delivery in infrastructure investment, economic development, and servicing some of the needed infrastructure.
"We see the state of the city and the address as something towards the right direction. However, we are asking the question whether the mayor has the capacity in his executive he chose to return the same MMCs," he said.
