Expect new approach in Jozi

JOHANNESBURG'S newly elected mayor Parks Tau wants to review the developmental strategies the city has employed in the past five years

In his first speech yesterday as mayor at the opening council meeting since the local government elections, Tau said: "Both management and staff will be aware of the fact that they will be held accountable for the quality of their service delivery.

"Joburg is more than tarmac and concrete, and more than wire and pipes. It is also about socio-economic development and transformation.

"You should expect this administration to focus very strongly and introduce measures and programmes to address issues of social exclusion and underdevelopment.

"It is our commitment to continue to change the spatial structure of a divided city of the past," Tau said.

He said the principles that underpinned the 2006 Growth and Development Strategy will remain the cornerstone of the city's vision but "I believe the time has come for us to have a fresh look at the strategy".

"This will be an inclusive process in which we intend to involve all communities and stakeholders to enable us to redefine our priorities across the entire spectrum of city activities and programmes," Tau said.

"The process will culminate in a city-wide stakeholders summit later this year where the outlines of a revised strategy will be discussed and adopted.

"In the next few weeks the incoming mayoral committee will undertake a process of translating our commitments into concrete plans of action. This will also be reflected in the city's budget for the 2011/2012 financial year."