The Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Finance, Dada Morero clearly signalled the City’s commitment to future of Johannesburg, tabling a R80.9-billion budget for 2023/24, including a R7.6-billion capital expenditure budget.
Addressing councillors, dignitaries, citizens and the media at the Metro Centre, Constance Bapela Council Chamber on Tuesday, 13 June 2023, the budget speech was themed, Let us make the impossible possible by making Joburg a centre for economic growth and development.
The Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) is a wholly owned area-based development agency and development facilitation role on behalf of the City of Johannesburg.
The JDA received an allocation of an operating expenditure budget of R119 million and a three-year capital budget of R1.3 billion to continue with its agency work for various city departments and entities’ development work across the city.
The JDA’s projects includes both projects that have been conceptualised within JDA and projects that have been proposed by separate departments and municipal entities.
The budget speech saw the Transport Department allocated a multi-year capital budget of R1.6 billion. Projects include R625 million for the continued investment in Rea Vaya phase 1C infrastructure to bring it to operational readiness.
The JDA has played a in the roll-out of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and associated infrastructure from phases 1A and 1B. The agency will continue with works for phase 1C as part of its Accelerated Public infrastructure Delivery Programme.
The Transport Department allocated an operational expenditure budget of R2.5 billion will see the opening of the JDA implemented Johannesburg International Transport Interchange.
The Community Development allocated an operating budget of R1.4 billion and a three-year capital budget of R238.7 million for the construction and upgrading facilities.
Projects currently being implemented by the JDA on behalf of Community Development include the Drieziek, Kaalfontein and Matholesville Multi-Purpose Centres, the Chris Hani Sports Complex to name a few.
Clinics play a significant role in the development and have implications for overall better living standards of residents.
A total of R337.6 million is allocated for the three year capital budget, and will be utilized towards capital works on a number of clinics including Zandspruit, Freedom Park, Hikhensile, Protea South which will be implemented by the JDA. The new Naledi Clinic and the two-storey,1870m² Turffontein Clinic are also under construction.
The Social Department received an three-year capital budget allocation of R307 million which will see the JDA continue with the implementation of the Refurbishment of the Yetta Nathan Community Centre, Louis Botha Co-Production zone for social interventions, and Betrams Multi-Purpose Centre.
The JDA’s Strategic Economic Node Delivery Programme focuses on projects in the inner city and precincts along the TOD development corridors, such as the Roodepoort TOD as well as in Lenasia and Jabulani. Most recently the JDA completed the public environment upgrade of Main Street (in and around the ABSA Towers) as part of the Gandhi Square East Precinct urban development framework.
The Development Planning Department received a capital budget of R302 million over the medium term and R180 million towards Precinct improvement projects in areas such as Mayfair, Fordsburg, Brixton, Jabulani, and Inner City (High Court, Newtown, and Health) Precincts. Work will continue the Inner-city Partnership and the Soweto strategic area framework.
Some of the most notable precinct development project spearheaded by the JDA include Constitution Hill, which is anchored by the Constitutional Court and built next to the notorious Old Fort Prison complex, the award winning Jewel City precinct upgrades and the Braamfontein precinct which saw the area revitalised into a student hub.
Some of the most notable precinct development projects spearheaded by the JDA include Constitution Hill, a Constitutional Court built next to the notorious Old Fort Prison complex, the award-winning Jewel City precinct upgrades, and the Braamfontein precinct which saw the area revitalised into a student hub.