The City of Johannesburg (CoJ) has welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s call for the city to urgently focus on resolving long-standing challenges, including financial sustainability, inner-city renewal, urban safety and promoting digital and economic growth, as well as the preparatory work for the G20 and U20 summits.

The city highlighted the two-day Cabinet oversight visit to Gauteng and Johannesburg, led by the President, last week, which showcased support aimed at addressing the city’s most urgent challenges.

The support was prompted by the executive mayor’s letter in February, reaching out to the President for technical and political support in the city owing to rapid urbanisation compounded by infrastructure and service delivery and financial sustainability challenges.

Central to this support is the establishment of the Presidential Johannesburg Working Group, designed to provide coordinated support to the city over the next two years, it points out.

The Working Group will focus on seven key areas critical to stabilising and revitalising Johannesburg.

First, governance and financial sustainability – aiming to restore political and administrative stability, strengthening capacity, and securing financial health through support from National Treasury and the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.

Second, electricity and energy, with a focus on furthering the City Power Turnaround Plan to upgrade infrastructure, reduce losses and introduce alternative energy solutions.

Third, safety and security, pushing to strengthen law enforcement and urban safety, with improved coordination between the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department and South African Police Service and robust urban management.

Fourth, inner city rejuvenation – pursuing revitalisation of the historic central business district through better safety, infrastructure renewal, housing development and economic growth.

Fifth, water and sanitation, with the implementation of the Johannesburg Water Turnaround Strategy to safeguard water supply, reduce losses and improve service delivery.

Sixth, infrastructure, including roads, transport and waste management – seeking to address maintenance backlogs, upgrading critical networks and improving waste collection and public spaces.

Seventh, human settlements and social development – aspiring to accelerate delivery of housing, upgrading informal settlements and improving living conditions for vulnerable communities.

Following the President’s engagement with city leadership, stakeholders from business, civil society, labour and academia participated in a session to raise their concerns and offer collaborative solutions.

The stakeholders inputs reaffirmed the importance of public-private partnerships to ensure shared commitment to Johannesburg’s renewal, the city highlights.