Tshwane mayor unveils plans for city

Last Week Thursday, the Mayor of Tshwane Kgosientso Ramokgopa promised a government boulevard, increased service delivery, as well as a step up on the war against ‘Nyapoe’ a recreational drug which has been wreaking havoc in the townships in Tshwane.

Below are some of the other projects that the Mayor said the City of Tshwane would concentrate on during in his State of the City address 2014/15 that weren't as extensively covered in the press.

Ramokgopa said in the next eighteen months, the City would expand its free Wi-Fi project, and rollout approximately 600 additional Wi-Fi hotspots throughout Tshwane, prioritising institutions of learning.

He also said that the City would continue working on the viability of the Tshepo 10,000 project includes ensuring that 25 percent of all City contracts are awarded to SMMEs and cooperatives, representing marginalised groups.

Ramokgopa added that council approved the application of Symbio City land parcels owned by the City for use by private developers, using Section 14 of our Town Planning Scheme. He said that the City has undertaken drilling and geology testing to determine the extent of developable land as part of the broader Centurion Master Plan. 

In 2013, we announced the R6 billion plan of the City of Tshwane to redevelop the western part of the city including Schubart Park over the next five to eight years.

The West Capital Development Project, as a mixed-use development, consists of residential accommodation, which will include a student village, retail and commercial components, inner-city housing and healthcare facilities. In this regard, we have partnered with private sector developers.

Ramokgopa said during the address that this refurbishment would be in line with the City’s Vision of the West Capital Precinct Development and the Inner City Regeneration initiative. He said a contractor has been appointed to commence with the hoarding of the site and a security company to ensure that the site is secure has been appointed in line with the lease agreement.

The refurbishment cost is estimated at R900 million and will be concluded within 24 months.

The City will in June 2014 be announcing its carbon footprint, and use the number towards crafting and implementing policies aimed at the reduction its carbon emissions.