In The Loop- January 2017

Internal Newsletter

In the Loop Issue No.

35

January 2017

What’s inside:

Shaking hands on a progressive Joburg

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Contents

Arts, Sports & Culture

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Message from the Executive Mayor

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Future path for Joburg tracked in updated GDS 2040

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Parties bring festive cheer to city children

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City simplifies billing process to make Joburg better

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Festive crowd dances in the New Year

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People’s chamber almost ready for business

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Achievements for top city officials

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New parkade to ease visits to Joburg Zoo

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Stretching your rand in January

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New City Manager will focus on mayoral priorities

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Kudos to those who keep Joburg moving

Mayor pays tribute to long-serving colleague

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Classic tale of feuding gangs comes to Joburg stage

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New trails will add life to Braamfontein Spruit

Classic tale of feuding gangs comes to Joburg stage G

ang rivalry in the inner city has never been as glamorous as this – but the all-South African production of West Side Story, which hits the Mandela Theatre stage in January, promises to be one of the highlights of the local arts and culture scene in 2017.

The riveting story of two rival gangs in the Upper West Side of New York was first brought to the Broadway stage in 1957.

Four years later it was turned into a Hollywood hit that won 10 Oscars – including Best Picture – and launched the careers of future superstars such as Natalie Wood, George Chakiris and Rita Moreno.

The music, composed by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim, has endured through the decades and include classics such as “Maria”, “I Feel Pretty” and “Something’s Coming.”

Acknowledgements

Cover Credits

Editor: Thomas Thale - thomasth@joburg.org.za

Dr Ndivho Lukhwareni has assumed his task as Johannesburg’s new City Manager. He was welcomed by Executive Mayor, Herman Mashaba, who said he is looking forward to work with him in stopping corruption and fast tracking service delivery.

Contributor: Luyanda Lunika - luyandal@joburg.org.za Lesego Ngobeni - lesegong@joburg.org.za Mongadi Mafata - OupaMa@joburg.org.za Lesego Montsho - LesegoMon@joburg.org.za Photography: Enoch Lehung - enochl@joburg.org.za Anthony Fitzhenry - anthonyfitzhenry@me.com

The City Manager serves as the Head of Administration and Accounting Officer of Johannesburg.

We would like to hear from you…

In the Loop continues to grow from strength to strength in reflecting all aspects of the City of Johannesburg and its employees. We value your comments and your feedback on what we publish every month and what you would like to read in your own internal magazine. From the January edition we will publish letters and messages from readers and we invite you to write to us at email thomasth@joburg.org.za.

Please keep it short and topical – but, by all means, give us your opinion.

Thomas Thale – Editor

Inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet the musical explores the rivalry between two street gangs from different backgrounds, the Sharks and the Jets. Tony, a former member of the Jets, fall in love with Maria, the sister of the leader of the Sharks.

The simmering rivalry soon turns into open clashes between the competing gangs and, inevitably, ends in tragedy with the killing of Tony and an inconsolable Maria, left behind to mourn his death.

The South African production of West Side Story already had a very successful run in Cape Town and will be staged at the Joburg Theatre from 24 January to 5 March. The creative team of Matthew Wild, Charl Johan Lingenfelder and Louisa Talbot is working together to build on their previous successful partnerships with The Rocky Horror Show, Cabaret and Funny Girl.

The lead roles are played by award-winning performers, Jonathan Roxmouth (Tony) and Lynelle Kenned (Maria).

Top Billing presenter, Christopher Jafhta, plays the role of Bernardo, the leader of the Sharks and Stephen Jubber, will appear as Riff, the leader of the Jets.

What the critics say about West Side Story… “… super sensational and ultra-spectacular… will leave you breathless… a musical experience you will never forget…” – www.bizcommunity.co.za “… every bit a brilliant as any international production, if not better… a dazzling triumph…” – Daily Maverick “… the production of West Side Story is a tour-deforce…” – LitNet “West Side Story is hot, hot, hot…” – www.theatrescenecpt.co.za

What to watch out for in 2017…

• February – Unconditional Grace gospel concert – Roodepoort • March – The Great Gatsby – Joburg Theatre • March – Bonnie Tyler – Live on Stage – Joburg Theatre • April – An Evening with rising gospel star, Tshilidzi Budeli – Soweto • April – La Traviata, the ballet – Joburg Theatre • June – A Passage to Bollywood – Joburg Theatre • November – Pinocchio, the Ultimate Pantomime Adventures – Joburg Theatre

• The entire Cape Town season was sold out and organisers advise Joburg theatre lovers to book in advance, at the theatre or through Computicket.

More information is available at: http://www.joburgtheatre.com/west-side-story-more-info/

Other cast members well known to Joburg audiences are Zolani Shangase, Tamryn van Houten, Thami Njoko, Elzanne Crous and Sibusiso Mxosana.

January 2017

In the Loop – 15

Message from the Executive Mayor

Employee News

Contents

Message from the Executive Mayor

Kudos to those who keep Joburg moving

we have made during the first four months of this new administration.

Working together with the administration and coalition and supporting parties, we have ensured that a number of important changes aligned with our ten point plan were implemented: 1

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utstanding performances in the City’s Transport Department were recognised at an awards function attended by the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Transport, Cllr Nonhlanhla Makhuba.

The ceremony held in December was the first time that the Transport Department celebrated outstanding performances through awards based on the City’s Performance Management System – PMS – which represents a model of leadership and employee management that is goal and outcome driven.

Let us unite for a better Johannesburg

Trophies, certificates and meal vouchers were handed over by MMC Makhuba and the Executive Director of Transport, Lisa Seftel. Staff members at Rea Vaya BRT stations were selected according to the best stations on the network and those working at the Johannesburg Roads Agency were recognised based on the PMS criteria.

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Colleagues, 2017 is a chance for all of us in Johannesburg to serve together to ensure that our goals are achieved.

The Department’s netball team which emerged as second runner up in the City’s league was also honoured for its outstanding achievement.

As a new administration, our success is dependent on working with a professional and dedicated public service; a public service committed to serve with pride. I need and expect the entire workforce, regardless of your political inclinations, to join me in turning the City of Johannesburg into a model city for South Africa. A city we can all be proud of in years to come.

Among the recipients who received awards from MMC Makhubo and Ms Seftel are: 1. Members of middle management – Eshanie Nowbuth, Charlotte Shelile, Sindiswa Mondi and Deliwe Mawela.

2. Senior management – Jeff Ngcobo, Ian Boyd, Edward Mosenyi and Charles Block.

3. The Thokoza Park BRT station operators.

4. Leo Obi, a roving officer at the BRT stations.

5. Westgate BRT – the best among the ‘slow stations’.

6. Boomtown BRT – the top performer among moderate stations.

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We can already look back with satisfaction on the significant progress

• Ensuring that the entire City adjusts its mindset to the environment of a seven party coalition government. This is the epitome of a robust democracy and we embrace the opportunities it affords for greater accountability and increased capacity for problem-solving.

• Running a responsive and pro-poor government. This City must and will listen to its people, and deal with them in a manner that is caring.

When we determine our budget for the 2017/2018 financial year, it will focus on the most deprived in our City.

• Establishing a commitment to growing Johannesburg’s economy at a minimum rate of 5% by 2021. We must create an environment that encourages investment and business development – especially small businesses – which can flourish and become employers of our people.

• Creating a professional civil service in which all 33 000 employees of the City are aligned to our ‘Service with Pride’ campaign.

• Continuing our battle against corruption. The success achieved by the internal investigations unit headed

by Shadrack Sibiya has shown our determination to be proactive in putting an end to the looting of resources that should be helping the poor and most vulnerable in our City.

• Drafting a list of all semi-completed housing units within the City that require work in order for our

people to take occupation of them.

• Producing an official housing list that is open, transparent and available to residents in government offices and on the City’s website. I have already received such a list and I am currently initiating an auditing process to ensure its integrity.

• Fast-tracking the delivery of title deeds to the beneficiaries of the City’s housing projects. A title deed is an important right to a property; it represents security and is a safety net for the poorest in our communities.

• Building on our successful pilot project to extend the operating hours at the Princess Clinic in Roodepoort. My intention is to expand this initiative to a number of other clinics across our city.

• Exploring ways to revitalise the Inner City of Johannesburg by focusing on infrastructure, crime and grime. We need to reclaim our inner city back from criminal elements and work together with the private sector to build affordable low-cost housing for our people.

The residents of the City voted for change and we must keep this in mind during every challenge we might face.

In everything we do, we must put the best interests of our residents first.

I look forward to putting in the hard work necessary to ensure that our residents get the best government, as they deserve.

Here’s to working together for a better Johannesburg in 2017.

Herman Mashaba Executive Mayor

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14 – January 2017

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In the Loop – 3

Employee News

Economic Development

Future path for Joburg tracked in updated GDS 2040 Stretching your rand in January F

or many people, the month of “Jan, you worry” is long, painful and an exercise in regret after they overreached themselves during the festive season.

School fees, lunch boxes or “carry” and transport expenses make January an extremely hard month to navigate.

If you were called “Abuti Moreki” in December, in January you go around sporting a totally different name: “Broke Bro”.

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resh new perspectives on Johannesburg’s long term future will emerge from a process already underway to update the Joburg 2040 Growth and Development Strategy.

A draft new “strategy for progressive change” was approved by the Mayoral Committee and will be taken through a comprehensive process of community consultation in early 2017.

Executive Mayor, Herman Mashaba, says long-term strategies such as the Joburg 2040 GDS must be revised and updated regularly to take into account changing social, economic and political realities. The new City government – elected in September 2016 – has clear cut priorities and policies that differ from the past and will have an impact on the City’s future trajectory.

“A Johannesburg that works, is a South Africa that works.

To create freedom, fairness and opportunity we will get this City working by creating the economic enabling environment and social conditions in which investment grows and jobs are created.”

Mayor Mashaba says the revised GDS 2040 “will provide a picture of the City we want for our children, one generation from now.” It asks where we are; where do we want to be; and what do we have to do to get there.

The success of Johannesburg is not only important for its residents, but also for Gauteng and the rest of the country and the African continent, he says.

In addition, since the adoption of the previous GDS in 2011, the national and global environments have changed and future policies are influenced by strategies such as the Sustainable Development Goals (United Nations), the African Agenda towards 2063 (African Union), the National Development Plan (South Africa) and the Transformation, Modernisation and Reindustrialisation programme (Gauteng).

Consultation on the revised GDS will continue during the first two months of the year. Discussions will centre on critical themes such as economic growth, spatial planning, community safety, health, transportation and basic service delivery.

It is expected that the updated Strategy will be adopted by Council in March 2017.

Mayor Mashaba says “city development strategies matter.

Without a plan of action we cannot make our city work.

Without a vision of what we want, we cannot plan. The GDS provides the framework for how we spend resources in the future as we build a better place to live.”

6 Strategic Focus Areas

The revised draft of the GDS 2040 has already been shared with senior officials, stakeholder organisations and business organisations and residents. From these interactions a new, shared vision for a future Johannesburg has been formulated:

4 – January 2017

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Economic empowerment of the poor Inclusive economic growth A spatially just and inclusive city Quality services that are clean and green A new urban culture based on inclusivity and tolerance Building a capable city based on ethics and trust

But you need not slit your wrists and cry over the millions of litres of expensive wine or whisky you used to impress friends and family in Dezemba.

There are ways to salvage the situation and stop you from calling your in-laws for a loan to tide you over the next 20 days before payday.

By using these tried and tested tips, you will survive January and live to tell the tale. Don’t bash your head against the wall in regret over the festive season excesses:

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1. If you can, use public transport. Hop onto a Rea Vaya bus, Gautrain or taxi for your daily commute to work.

2. If you are used to Spur fare for lunch, for the month of January, don’t set foot there. Takeaways will burn a hole in your pocket. Pack a lunch instead. It’s cheaper and healthier.

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3. Get your colleagues to contribute towards morning bread and spreads for office breakfast.

4. Don’t throw away leftovers. Save them for the next day’s lunch.

5. Arrange with DStv to suspend your monthly debit order for January.

6. Wash your own car instead of taking it to the carwash.

7. Take shorter showers or shallower baths… and also help Joburg to save precious water.

8. Get fresh produces from friends and family who have vegetable gardens or, even better, start your own.

9. Remember not to repeat the same mistakes next December. Being broke is not funny.

10. From the end of February, start saving some money for use in January 2018.

In the Loop – 13

Service Delivery

Employee News

Achievements for top City officials A

new group of senior executives in the City of Johannesburg have successfully completed an advanced management programme offered by the Wits Business School.

Joburg’s regions Region A Diepsloot/Midrand

The course material is designed to offer City officials in senior- and middle leadership positions the opportunities to gain high-level exposure to modern practices in the fields of financial management and corporate governance.

Region B Northcliff/Randburg

Region C Roodepoort

Some 119 officials graduated from the eight months programme with a Certificate in Municipal Financial Management.

Region D Greater Soweto

Region E Sandton/Alexandra

The top students among the graduates were:

Ms Selma Lloyd, Group Finance.

Region F Inner City

• Dumisani Sibiya – from the Transport Department • Hamilton Charles – from the Joburg Market • Quentin Green – from City Power The graduates received their certificates from Ms Pumla Mkele, the Manager for Education & Training Quality Assurance (ETQA) at the Local Government Sector Education Training Authority (LGSETA).

Mr Mpho Kau, Johannesburg Roads Agency.

The next group of officials will start their training in February 2017.

Mr Mbali Mchunu, Group Human Capital Management.

Region G Ennerdale/Orange Farm

City simplifies billing process to make Joburg better T

o further streamline the City’s billing system, residents will from February 1 be billed according to the region they live in.

The cherry on top is that residents can now choose their billing date. They will now have the option to choose any date between the 15th and 28th of the month to manage and settle their accounts.

“What regionalisation does is to afford Group Finance the opportunity to streamline how and when we sent out meter readers. It also talks to customer centricity. This will give us insight on how to bill each region and flag problems way before they become insurmountable.”

“Now that it will be done per region, there will be better coordination and the improved efficiencies will be reflected in more accurate billing statements.”

Residents will be kept up to date and informed about when meter reading is conducted and when the City bills them. If there are any questions, residents and colleagues in the City are free to call 0860 562 874 or interact with the City on Twitter and Facebook.

“When the process gets rolled out, residents might initially get two billing statements from the City,” says Sikwane.

“They should not panic. The system will iron itself out and they should continue paying their rates. ”

Group Finance’s Regionalisation Project Leader, Lovey Sikwane, says it is a ‘win-win process’ for the City and residents.

Ms Toivo Mohapi, Integrated and Community-based Planning.

– January 2017 2016 2012 – September

Mr Shaun Govender, Group Finance.

Inthe theLoop Loop –– 55 In

Human and Social Development

Good Governance

People’s chamber almost ready for business

Festive crowd dances in the

New Year

The chamber will be paperless, saving the council money as the agenda will be flighted on screen for all councillors to see.

“The electronic voting system will also allow us to stop the show of hands. But I need to emphasise that penalties must be paid by all concerned for the delay in completion of the chamber,” adds Cllr Da Gama.

The drum-shaped chamber includes a ‘people’s square’ where meetings will be held in a transparent and visible manner. The precinct will have a garden of remembrance, with a golden roof and glass plates to resemble the City of Gold.

The new chamber cost R340-million to be completed and 40 small and emerging enterprises participated in its construction.

About 20% of the budget went to local companies and individuals recruited from all the City’s regions.

Green design is a first for SA

Cllr Vasco da Gama, the Speaker of the Joburg Council.

The state-of-the-art Council Chamber has received a fivestar design rating from the Green Building Council of South Africa. This is the first municipal building in the country to receive this high award in the ‘public and education building’ category.

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oburgers celebrated the arrival of 2017 in a festive mood with the regular Carnival through the streets of the City and a star-studded concert in Mary Fitzgerald Square.

Executive Mayor Herman Mashaba donned a festive outfit to lead the carnival procession through Hillbrow, Braamfontein and Newtown. He was joined by the MMC for Community Development, Nonhlanhla Sifumba and they also visited the New Year celebrations taking place at the Soweto Theatre.

More than 20 000 party-goers packed into the square to celebrate the countdown to 2017. Superstar singer and Idols judge, Kelly Khumalo, topped the line-up of artists which also included, King Monada, Arthur Mafokate, Chomee and DJ Speedsta.

Speaking to the concertgoers Mayor Mashaba predicted that “2017 will be a big year for the City of Johannesburg. We are committed to turn Joburg into a city that we will all be proud of.”

A Green Star rating represents a holistic approach to sustainability. The sustainable use of energy and water is taken into account as well as the quality of the indoor environment, resource-efficient material selection and quality processes.

According to the global consulting company, WSP, the chamber also achieved a rating in the socio-economic category, making it only the second project in the country to receive this accolade.

Helen Botes, Chief Executive of the Johannesburg Property Company (JPC), which is driving the project, says the chamber “is intended to be a landmark for the city”.

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ity of Johannesburg councillors will be moving from cramped spaces to the new state-of-the-art and energy-efficient Council Chamber in a couple of weeks.

The decision to build the new facility was taken because there was not enough space in the existing meeting place. The “iconic African chamber” will now accommodate 361 councillors and 158 members of the public and journalists who will be able to observe proceedings.

“We’re waiting with bated breath for the completion of the chamber because it will ensure all councillors are comfortably accommodated. The media and the public will also have much bigger room in which to follow proceedings,” says Speaker Cllr Vasco da Gama.

6 – January 2017

The chamber will be adorned with uniquely South African artistic totems. Earlier, the JPC hosted workshops in all seven regions and asked residents to design totems that best represent their communities. The response was overwhelming, with 500 entries received.

Out of this, 135 made the final cut. Art works inspired by Joburg community stories will be featured on windows and walls of the chamber. The winners were awarded cash prizes of R5 000 each.

“The express purpose of the competition was to tell unique stories of Johannesburg communities in visual form,” says Botes.

The new Council Chamber is the first phase of the City of Johannesburg’s space optimisation -programme which seeks to create a better link between elected representatives and communities and improve the quality of service delivery.

In the Loop – 11

Service Delivery

Human and Social Development

New parkade to ease visits to Joburg Zoo

Parties bring festive cheer to city children U

nderprivileged children and families in flood-ravaged communities had reasons to smile this Christmas during charitable initiatives organised by the City.

“We wanted to show the little ones that they can dream beyond their current situations and can achieve anything in life if they work hard.”

The Speaker of Council, Cllr Vasco da Gama, and the Junior Mayor of Joburg, Teddy Mathekga, hosted a special Xmas party for some 80 orphans and children from poor families.

Cllr Michael Sun, the MMC for Public Safety, entertained more than 200 Alexandra children who were left destitute when their houses were swept away during the recent floods.

The kids were treated to a sumptuous lunch and performances by 2015 Idols star, Mmatema Moremi and the acapella group, Complete.

The children received an assortment of gifts including blankets, clothes, sweets and mielie meal from the City and the South African Chinese Language Education Foundation.

New animal species coming soon Moodley urges employees of the City and visitors to Joburg to continue visiting the Zoo despite the minor inconvenience caused by the construction.

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“People should come out in their numbers to visit the City’s favourite family destination. The new parkade will enable the Joburg Zoo to accommodate ever-increasing visitor numbers and will contribute to the quality of the experience.”

isitors to the Joburg Zoo can look forward to a hassle-free saunter among the exotic and indigenous animals in the new year, as construction of a multi-storey car park nears completion.

Moodley says visitors to the Zoo can look forward to new arrivals in 2017 including new species of animals such as orangutans and giraffes.

Each year, the Zoo welcomes over half a million visitors and, through the years, parking space has become inadequate.

People resorted to parking along the streets in the neighbourhood, often blocking driveways especially on weekends.

‘Animals of the Amazon’ is one of the most exciting current exhibitions and includes a variety of rare species of reptiles, amphibians and exotic snakes.

The shortage of parking space had also led to an increase in the number of informal security guards and vehicle break-ins and theft. This has become a predicament for the Zoo management.

The Joburg Zoo plays a crucial role in numerous conservation projects around the world, which focus on caring for rare and endangered species. The 54ha reserve has more than 2 000 animals belonging to 380 species.

Construction of the new parkade began earnestly in July 2015. However, it had to be halted midway soon afterwards when contractors exhumed a historic refuse heap on the construction site.

Over R17-million was allocated for the first phase of construction.

A further R20-million will be spent on the second phase, which is scheduled for completion in November 2017.

Spokesperson for Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo, Jenny Moodley, says the multi-million rand parkade will consist of a parking deck for over 600 vehicles and parking will initially cost R15 a day.

Moodley says construction of the new parkade was necessitated by the surge in the number of visitors to the Zoo in recent years.

Visitors to the Zoo can park at the Military museum whilst construction forges ahead, she says.

10 – January 2017

• The Joburg Zoo is situated on the corner of Jan Smuts Avenue and Upper Park Drive in Parkview. More information is available at http://www.jhbzoo.org.za/ and bookings can be made by calling 011 646 2000.

In the Loop – 7

Human and Social Development

Service Delivery

New City Manager will focus on mayoral priorities

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A well-managed trail along the spruit will help to minimise conflict from various users, ensure its well-being and optimise its use by residents of the City.

ohannesburg’s new City Manager, Dr Ndivho Lukhwareni, has assumed his position as chief executive of southern Africa’s largest city in the economic heartland of the African continent.

In announcing his appointment, Executive Mayor, Herman Mashaba, referred to Dr Lukhwareni’s distinguished track record in local government and state-owned enterprises and his impressive academic achievements, including a Doctorate in Business Leadership from Unisa.

Dr Lukhwareni succeeds Mr Trevor Fowler who has served as City Manager since October 2011.

The trail is very popular with locals, particularly fitness fanatics.

However it has in recent years been marred by several social and environmental issues, including criminal activity, neglect, pollution and environmental ruin.

Landiwe Mashige, the ICM Manager at City Parks and Zoo says the ultimate objective is to implement a long-term conservation plan for the spruit to preserve it from degradation and other environmental hazards.

The Braamfontein Spruit is a largely natural stream which flows unhindered, with parklands on most of its banks. It is the longest and most popular of the City’s rivers.

“A maintenance plan is in place, which includes river trail maintenance, reed control, the cleaning of litter and debris and the management of invasive species,” says Mashige.

Executive Mayor Herman Mashaba expressed confidence in Dr Ndivho Lukhwareni when he welcomed him as the new City Manager of Johannesburg.

“He has a keen mind, enormous experience and the abolity to put our programme of action into effect. He is a true civil servant and the right person to take forward our drive to professionalise the civil servce,” says Mayor Mashaba.

In his new position Dr Lukhwareni is the Head of Administration and the Accounting Officer of the City.

He is responsible for ensuring that the City complies with its legal responsibilities and for overseeing the implementation of Council decisions.

A valuable community asset The ever popular Braamfontein Spruit begins in Berea and has two major tributaries – the Westdene Dam and Albertville.

From Berea the stream runs through Pieter Roos Park in Parktown, down Empire Road and then towards the German School in Auckland Park. The stream then flows towards the Parkview Golf Course, where sections of it are canalised.

Under his leadership the City will focus on the agenda of the newly elected Council as outlined by Mayor Mashaba in his Ten Point Plan.

Mayor Mashaba emphasised that the Council unanimously approved Dr Lukhwareni’s appointment and expressed his confidence in his abilities. “I look forward to work with him as we run a City that will stop corruption, fast track service delivery and stimulate job creation for our people,” he said.

It also runs through Parkhurst, where it meets the second small tributary, the Westdene Spruit.

Dr Lukhwareni served in senior positions at the City of Tshwane since 2004 including as Deputy City Manager responsible for service delivery and transformational management for the past four years.

He has expressed appreciation for the comprehensive handover process facilitated by Mr Fowler since the local government elections in August last year.

lans for the rehabilitation of the Braamfontein Spruit are being taken forward with the appointment of a consulting company to develop a trail management plan for runners, walkers and cyclists along its meandering banks in the new year.

Mayor pays tribute to long-serving colleague O

The stream flows through the western edge of Parkhurst, heading towards Delta Park, and then travels through the northern suburbs towards its confluence with the Sandspruit at Sunninghill Park.

The Braamfontein and Sandspruit merge at Leeuwkop Prison in Sunninghill, where it meets the Jukskei River catchment, before gaining volume and width as it flows into the Hartbeespoort Dam, in the North West.

To ensure the Spruit accommodates runners, cyclists and walkers, without conflict, City Parks and Zoo will source funding to design a long term trail management strategy, which will include signage, educational campaigns and monitoring of users.

“The new plan will have definite trails for each user group, signage, slow down zones where the paths cross and will be supported by a programme to educate trail users,” says Mashige.

She says the plan hasn’t been implemented yet because consultations are still taking place with stakeholders and funding is still being sought.

The City is also working closely with resident associations adjacent to the Spruit to support clean-up operations, spruit day celebrations and indigenous tree planting. This includes a multi-stakeholder blitz to address illegal waste and sort out waste materials along the spruit,” she says.

New trails will add life to Braamfontein Spruit

ne of Joburg’s most dedicated public servants, Ms Ingrid Gretchen Grové, was hosted by Executive Mayor Herman Mashaba to recognise her career of 47 years in the City.

Mayor Mashaba said he was humbled to meet Ms Grové “who has devoted her life to the City” since she joined the administration in 1970.

In her current position as Assistant Director in the Finance Department she is responsible for the management of the municipal accounts of the City’s staff members.

8 – January 2017

In the Loop – 9