By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The City of Johannesburg Executive Mayor Dada Morero reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving the daily lives of Joburg’s residents.
Morero, along with MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services Department, Jack Sekwaila and Community Development MMC Tebogo Nkokou briefed the media on various issues affecting the city.
The challenges facing the City range from faulty traffic signals, potholes, the renaming of Sandton Drive and water supply.
Morero acknowledged the ongoing challenges with Johannesburg’s water supply but insisted that the city was addressing the issue. He clarified that the water shortages were not due to a lack of supply but rather infrastructure failures, particularly leaks and pressure management issues.
“Johannesburg Water has installed 125 noise loggers across the infrastructure in central Randburg and Roodepoort, which help detect leaks. By June, an additional 400 will be installed,” he said.
Pressure-reducing valves (PRV) have also been retrofitted with smart controllers to reduce water loss and improve distribution. “By December last year, we had installed 27 PRVs, with 100 more set to be retrofitted by June this year,” Morero added.
To address the water shortage in informal settlements, Morero said Johannesburg Water continued to provide stationary water tanks and roaming tankers. Additionally, the city was intensifying efforts to disconnect illegal water connections.
Johannesburg’s traffic signal infrastructure has been severely impacted by vandalism and theft. According to Morero, 194 intersections in the city and 60 provincial intersections have been affected, requiring extensive repairs.
“To address this, the Johannesburg Roads Agency is prioritising repairs at key economic corridors such as the Malibongwe Drive, the Winnie Mandela Drive and Witkoppen Road,” he said.
Security measures, including controller box locks and CCTV cameras, were also being installed at intersections to curb vandalism. The city was working with City Power and Eskom to ensure quicker responses to power faults affecting traffic lights.
Morero admitted that recent heavy rains had slowed down pothole repairs but assured the residents that the metro remained committed to fixing the damaged roads.
The municipality had also expanded its in-house asphalt production capacity to accelerate road repairs. Furthermore, efforts to clear blocked stormwater drains and repair damaged infrastructure due to recent rains were ongoing.
Addressing the controversy surrounding the proposed renaming of Sandton Drive to Leila Khaled Drive, Morero emphasised that the metro remained committed to diplomatic sensitivity.He said the resolution to rename the road was passed in 2018, during the DA’s tenure in government.
“The city is engaging with relevant stakeholders to assess diplomatic implications before any final decision is made,” he said. “Public participation is crucial and we encourage all voices to be heard.”
President Cyril Ramaphosa also recently stepped in, saying that the national government will engage with the City of Johannesburg through the Department of International Relations and Cooperation.
“The city affirms that all consultative processes, including diplomatic considerations, will be conclusively addressed to ensure the council’s decision aligns with national interests and fosters constructive international relations.”
Morero admitted that diplomatic policies will play a decisive role in the eventual decision.
“Johannesburg values its relationship with the United States and recognises the need to address sensitivities that may impact bilateral ties,” he said.
“The city has an obligation to prioritise healing diplomatic tensions and act in South Africa’s best interests. Solidarity with global causes, such as support for Palestine, should not be used to undermine our partnerships with other nations.”