One of City of Johannesburg’s oldest canals, has undergone an R8 million upgrade as part of the city-wide repair and rehabilitation of stormwater drainage systems.

The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) has embarked on the structural rehabilitation of the 2.65km Robinson Canal in efforts to minimize urban and residential flooding.

The project has been divided into three phases: Phase 1 of the structural improvements is 65% complete and is expected to reach completion at the end of June 2017.

“A systematic approach was adopted in carrying out repairs and rehabilitation of Robinson Canal.  Phase 1 which is estimated at R8 million focuses on repairs and rehabilitation of the open channel which services Region F, city and suburban. It extends from Main Street passing through Selby and Ophirton and ends on Lake Street.

“Repairs have been undertaken on the canal linings, rehabilitation of sinkholes, sludge and vegetation removal and gabion works, said Nonhlanhla Makhuba, Councillor, Mayoral Committee.

“Multiple defects were reported as part of initial site inspection, which required the scope of work to be divided into three phases.

According to the JRA, phase 2 of the structural repairs has been scheduled for the 2017/2018 financial year with capital expenditure budget of approximately R5 million. The second phase will focus on the six-month repair of the underground channel which will require a high level of safety due to the nature of trapped gases from the waste water in the lower lying structure.

The repairs to Robinson Canal were prioritised due to the increased risk of water contamination from grey water and industrial waste water that contains high toxicity levels which are harmful to humans and the environment.

“When waste water containing high levels of chemicals is not properly managed, it not only has a destructive effect on the walls of the canal but also releases harmful gases into the atmosphere, endangering the local habitat with increased carbon emissions,” said the JRA in a statement.

“Stormwater management is essential in ensuring the minimisation of urban and residential flooding. The impact of climate change has been evident with an increase in flash flooding in urban areas after sporadic torrential downpours since 2009 with most recent in late 2016 and early 2017. This has resulted in increased water volumes and a negative impact on the aging stormwater infrastructure across the City.”

The JRA is committed to transformation and creating employment through its Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP). Forty local labourers were employed for the duration of the project, while four emerging sub-contractors from the local community were hired, with the main contractor being female-owned.

Former Jozi@Work employees have been on the rampage recently, after their demands for permanent employment were turned down.

According to the waste management service provider the protests, which turned violent last week, are costing the company R50 000 per day.

“The additional R49.2 million which has been allocated to Pikitup through the adjustment budget in a bid to clean up our City is wasted, if we are to use these funds to clean up after criminals. This means that our residents in the inner city, and informal settlements, are being robbed of the services they are entitled to.”

Pikitup said that the three-month contracts signed by former Jozi@Work employees through the City’s Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), expired in May this year.

“We wish to reiterate that the we have been clear about the temporary and rotational nature of the contracts and have at no point stated or implied that anyone would be entitled to an extension, or that the three-month contracts would result in full-time employment,” the service provider said.

Vandalism and violence

According to Pikitup former Jozi@Work employees vandalised city property, looted shops, assaulted a Pikitup employee, and threatened and harassed many others for much of last week.

“Pikitup wishes to place it on record that its employees are not on strike. The entity has simply distanced itself from the incidences of vandalism, assault and hijacking of our trucks, perpetrated by former employees of the Jozi@Work programme,’ the company said.

Pikitup said they have reason to believe that the criminal behaviour was organised by a third party, as the company had seen footage showcasing how these individuals were systematically dropped off at various locations, after which they vandalise city infrastructure, turned over skips, hijacked waste removal trucks and dumped the waste in the inner city.

“As a result, Pikitup’s cleaning schedule has been severely disrupted, and over the course of the past seven days we could only attempt to clean the mess left behind, under the watchful eye of the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD), in an effort to protect our employees.

We will not be deterred from delivering on our mandate to keep the streets of Johannesburg clean. We are working closely with the JMPD and the Yeoville, Hillbrow and Central South African Police Service (SAPS), to ensure that our employees can work in safety, and that perpetrators are held to account,” the service provider concluded.

Refuse removal services have resumed in the eThekwini Municipality with striking Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) employees returning to work on Tuesday.

According to the municipality refuse removal services resumed after the Municipality gave all striking EPWP employees an ultimatum to report to work on Monday afternoon or face having their contracts terminated.

The municipality said it took the decision to give the striking waste workers an ultimatum after they failed to return to work when they agreed to do so at an extensive consultation held with the employees on Sunday.

The workers continued to strike demanding full time employment while preventing some Cleansing and Solid Waste Unit employees from executing their duties.

Working to clear the backlog

In a statement released on Tuesday the Municipality assured residents that all Cleansing and Solid Waste operations have resumed and strike action has been called off.

“Furthermore, human resource capacity has been increased to ensure that the refuse removal backlog is cleared by the end of this week,” the municipality explained.

“The City would like to apologise to residents and businesses for any inconvenience caused. Residents are also urged to exercise patience during this time as the City works around the clock to clear the waste collection backlog,” it concluded.

Waste workers in the eThekwini Municipality’s Outer West Region have once again downed tools despite the City’s ultimatum aimed at getting waste collection services up and running after recent strike action.

The municipality on Tuesday announced that refuse removal services had resumed with striking Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) employees returning to work. The good news was however short lived for residents living in the Outer West Region with the municipality announcing on Wednesday morning that EPWP workers decided to strike once again.

The City says that negotiations are ongoing to resolve the issue and action is being taken with a contingency plan in place to address the backlog in the region.

The Affected areas include Kloof, Cato Ridge, Monteseel, Hammarsdale, Gillitts, Hillcrest Centre, Crestholme and Inanda Road.

Rest of the city back on track

Meanwhile the municipality says normal waste collection has resumed in affected parts of the City. “Workers from the Cleaning and Solid Waste Unit will be collecting waste in areas whose waste collection day is today.

Once this is completed they will work to address the backlog by collecting waste that had been scheduled to be collected on Monday and then proceed to collect waste that was due to be collected on Tuesday in affected areas.

Residents are encouraged to take their waste out even if their collection day has passed as staff will be working hard to address the backlog caused by the strike.”

The initial strike action saw EPWP workers demanding full time employment while preventing some Cleansing and Solid Waste Unit employees from executing their duties.

Photo: UNEP GRID-Arendal/Peter Prokosch

Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs Barbara Thompson is calling on South Africans to get involved in the protection and conservation of wetlands in the country.

Speaking ahead of the annual World Wetland day celebrations Thompson said wetlands are an important part of the ecosystem, as they provide a number of benefits, not only to the natural environment, but also to the people’s livelihoods.

From wetlands to wastelands

These benefits include the reduction of flooding, replenishing of drinking water, filtering of waste, and provision of urban green spaces.

She said the benefits become more crucial as the number of people living in cities continues to increase.

“In urban areas, wetlands act as crucial ‘green lungs’ for the cities by improving water quality and serving as reservoirs, containing run-offs from roads, drains, roofs and storm water drains.

Despite their vital role the department noted that urban wetlands have largely been regarded as wastelands, with their importance and functions not being fully understood.

Working for wetlands

Working to counteract this the department through its Working for Wetlands Programme which is implemented through the government’s Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) methodology has improved more than 80 000 hectares of wetland area, while providing 17 575 employment opportunities.

The programme, which focuses on rehabilitation, restoration maintenance and protection interventions to ensure healthy wetlands, has also provided 180 753 days of training in both vocational and life skills. Teams that form part of the programme are made up of a minimum of 60% women, 20% youth and 2% people with disabilities.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) arrested 20 striking Jozi@Work contract workers responsible for disrupting Pikitup services through vandalism and intimidation.

Pikitup and its workers, contracted through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), have not been able to collect waste in Alexandra since Monday 29 January 2018, due to violent protest action by previous Jozi@Work workers whose temporary contracts expired in December 2017

Nico de Jager, MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services, held a meeting with the MMC for Public Safety Michael Sun, Chief of Johannesburg Metro Police Department, David Tembe, COO of Pikitup, Christa Venter, members of the SAPS, managers of City entities as well as representatives from Alexandra and surrounds to discuss how Pikitup could resume its services.

During the meeting, JMPD officers and SAPS were instructed to enforce the law and arrest anyone found guilty of vandalising City property or intimidating workers.

“Our law enforcement agencies cannot and will not become complicit bystanders while the destructive behaviour of a few cause chaos,”De Jager said.

Pikitup has resumed with service delivery with the assistance of JMPD and SAPS. The waste group has also successfully applied for an interdict against the protestors to protect their infrastructure and staff.

“We will not be held ransom by lies and hooliganism of a few at the expense of thousands,” De Jager.

The Johannesburg Roads Agency has set aside R15 million for a project to overhaul sidewalks and install traffic calming measures across five wards in Region B.

As part of the City’s Community Based Projects, a site inspection of Wards 69, 86, 99, 102 and 117 has been carried out to assess the conditions of sidewalks and need for traffic calming measures.

With the help of local communities and Ward Councillors the JRA has identified a list of streets in need of traffic calming measures, maintenance, reinstatements and construction of new sidewalks.

The 12-month labour intensive construction works is expected to start in April 2018 and aligns to the Expanded Public Works Programme in creating job opportunities for the local community according to JRA’s Acting Managing Director, Goodwill Mbatha.

“A total of 30% of the contract value will be used to empower and train SMME’s, purchase of materials and supplies, hiring of local construction plant, compliant service providers as support companies and sub-contractors. The appointment of Community Liaison Officer is in the process of the being finalised,” he noted.

The agency says interventions to maintain rehabilitate and construct sidewalks will ensure the accidents and risk posed to pedestrian and non-motorised roads users are reduced.

“In addition, the overall improvements will add to the aesthetic appeal of the community streets and will encourage a more active lifestyle by residents. The introduction of traffic calming measures aims to reduce road user accidents, drivers will become more conscious of installed speed humps and will drive at reduce speeds,” the agency explained.

The Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development (DID) has signed an agreement that will provide built industry skills and practical training opportunities to youth in Soweto, Johannesburg.

Through the initiative 2 900 Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) beneficiaries who were unable to participate in the economy due to their lack of skills, will be afforded another opportunity to “go back to class”.

According to DID MEC Jacob Mamabolo the programme, which came about as a result of  partnership between the DID, the Department of Higher Education and Training and the University of Johannesburg, was recently piloted by training 50 beneficiaries in different trades including electrical, painting, plumbing and tiling among others.

Empowerment through upskilling

“These skills make them attractive to the labour market and allows them to start their own business,” Mamabolo said.

During the pilot, beneficiaries were put to the test when they were deployed to five schools where they renovated school toilets that were in a state of disrepair. Under the guidance of DID’s artisans and UJ’s Resolution Circle professionals, the beneficiaries repaired toilets, drainage systems and plumbing issues at the schools.

“We came to realise and appreciate that releasing EPWP beneficiaries without any recognised skills will be to return them back to poverty, back to difficult and worse conditions of life. We felt terminating them without proper training is not helping the current situation of youth unemployment in our Province,” said Mamabolo.

The home of artisans

The tripartite partnership has also established the Moses Kotane Skills Centre which is an internal DID academy that will help further train EPWP beneficiaries so that they get recognised qualifications before exiting the programme.

“We will use our Infrastructure Project Pipeline to ensure that the youth in Infrastructure residing in our beautiful Province can look to our DID as the ‘Home of the Artisans’. We will also use our Infrastructure Project Portfolio to ensure that all youth that want opportunities for practical experience in various Infrastructure degrees have a place to do their practical training,” said Mamabolo.

The City of Ekurhuleni is set implement an Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) that will train water stewards.

The programme will see 300 youth enter a three-year apprenticeship intended to create sustainable artisanal jobs and phase out dependency on external contractors who undertake the installation, repairs and maintenance of water meters in the City.

A two part programme

Through a partnership with Technical and Vocational Education and Training Colleges (TVET) and the City of Ekurhuleni, beneficiaries will exit the programme as qualified artisans; having obtained a trade test certificate and a vocational qualification simultaneously.

The programme has two components, mainly; a six months theoretical/practical plumbing apprenticeship training at an accredited TVET college integrated with twenty-four months experiential training within the City of Ekurhuleni Department of Water and Sanitation.

Addressing water use efficiency

The City of Ekurhuleni has identified water governance as an immediate remedy to improve water use efficiency, and reduce Non-Revenue Water in the municipality.

Non-Revenue Water in the City of Ekurhuleni is currently standing at 34.7% and the long-term target is to reduce this figure to 20% by 2023 in line with the City’s water demand management strategy.

Tackling revenue loss

Mayor Mzwandile Masina notes that city is continuously investigating ways to exploit the potential of the demographic dividend in the City.

“This initiative is a targeted programme aimed at rebuilding the plumbing skills base for water stewards whilst creating work opportunities for the youth. Such an effort is required in order for the city to decisively deal with metering and the resultant lost revenue for the Municipality.”

The City of Cape Town has allocated an additional R115 million for clean-up operations as part of its efforts to maintain the beauty the mother city has become renowned for.  

This comes after calls from residents for the City to keep a lid on grime in and around the city.

Commenting on the announcement executive Mayor Dan Plato highlighted that while the City has allocated the extra funds for clean-up efforts it is going to need the assistance of residents.

“While growth and development are indicators of success, they come with a greater need to keep a hand on the health and physical appearance of our shared spaces. We want the street you live in and the park your children play in to be clean and safe,” he explained.

Budget breakdown

In the tabling of the adjustment budget in January, an additional R115 million was allocated towards cleaning up our communities which will be used as follows:

• R56 million will go towards additional cleaning of informal settlements
• R14 million is allocated for the recruitment of Expanded Public Works Programme workers who will assist with community clean-ups
• R20 million is allocated to the Area Cleaning Division in our Solid Waste Management Directorate, specifically for services in our poorer areas
• an additional R25 million is earmarked for the Recreation and Parks Department which will go towards grass cutting and maintenance across all wards

A team effort

“The city’s Solid Waste Management Department works hard to ensure that high levels of cleanliness are maintained. Our staff removes residents’ refuse and EPWP workers keep our streets clean. However, it is also the responsibility of residents to throw their refuse in bins and not illegally dump waste on the side of the road or in open spaces,” Plato said.

“We want this clean-up to be a team effort and something which creates pride within communities,” he added.

Plato noted that he will be visiting a number of communities in the coming weeks to make sure the City is spending its budget effectively and efficiently and I’ll be picking up litter, sweeping streets, and making sure that illegal dumpers are caught and fined.