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Councillor's corner March

Ward 90 News

Ward 90 Cllr. Ian M. Ollis

Ward 90 News 2008/03
Bontle ke Botho award winner 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007

Dear Residents

We have an epidemic of potholes, long grass and street light problems in the northern suburbs at the moment and as the councillor for ward 90 I would like to focus on these 3 areas of concern to clean up our beautiful ward. Please note all of these items on your street that need attention and report them to one of the call centres - All hours - (011) 375 5555 or office hours Sandton (011) 881 6053. The city's own customer survey shows that levels of satisfaction are declining. Service delivery MUST improve in Johannesburg and you can help by contacting one of the call centres. Report, report, report. The call centre is relatively quiet after office hours, but be sure to get a reference number!

1. Street lights on during the day - report to city power and get a reference number
2. Street lights off at night - report to city power and get a reference number
3. Potholes not repaired - report to JRA (Johannesburg Roads Agency) and get a reference number
4. Long grass needing cutting - report to City Parks if it is a park or open space or to JRA if it is on the median in the middle of the road. Get a reference number!
Please note that I have already sent in 7 typed pages of items needing attention, but the wards these days are so big that ward councillors do not travel down every street regularly enough to see all of the problems.

POWER CRISIS
An Extract from the DA electricity Crisis Newsletter "You have the Power" Copies of the full newsletter as well as back copies can be found on the website: www.dajhb.co.za ESKOM HALTS NEW DEVELOPMENTS: "All new construction projects countrywide that are bigger than a residential home will be blocked by ESKOM for the next four to six months," News24 reported recently. New townhouse complexes, petrol stations, factories and all other construction projects where electricity provision needs to be obtained from ESKOM in advance, will be delayed by up to six months.

Taking a step backwards, no project approved in the next 4-6 months is going to require power on the turn. Depending on the size it could take at least a year before they really need the power. So what about some of the strategies being put in place over the next year to 18 months which should have paid off by then?

In his alternative address to the City Cllr Mike Moriarty of the DA pointed out that it seemed that the need to service growth as well as current needs was being overlooked. So please ESKOM and Mayor Masondo go back and do your sums again. And if we need another gas turbine then we must have it. And you have the year or two to provide it. Refusing to approve proposed developments for 4-6 months on a blanket basis is actually nonsense and we will be telling them so "

TIPS on how to survive in this situation can be accessed on the DA website or The ESKOM special website http://www.poweralert.co.za For more information on planned power outages, contact the following DA Councillors: Denis Hunt 083 800 2144 Laurette Van Zijl 082 330 0593 Mike Moriarty 082 492 4410

THE VALUATIONS ROLL AND NEW RATES FOR JOHANNESBURG:

Johannesburg property owners now have the opportunity to check the provisional valuations role to ensure that the finalized valuation of their property is realistic. From 1 July 2008 all municipal taxes will be based on this new market related value, as opposed to the land value, which was used as a tax basis in the past.

Many properties were incorrectly valued on the draft valuation role, which was published last year, some many times higher than their realistic market value. Such incorrect valuations can result in rates being levied several fold higher than the current rates. Property owners who submitted comments on valuations on the draft role last year should also check whether any adjustments were made to the value of their property as a result of their comments. While the provisional valuation role has been on the website since 20 February, the objection period runs for 90 days from 27 February 2008. Objections will however be addressed as they are logged.

The new valuations role as well as objection forms can be accessed on the Council's website www.joburg.org.za and are also available for examination at the 10 municipal pay centres around the City. Go to the 2nd floor, B Block, Region E People Centre, West Street, Sandwown (Behind the Sandton Library) Objections must be submitted on the prescribed form and receipt will be acknowledged in writing. Within 30 days of receiving advice from Council on the outcome of their objection, property owners who are not satisfied may lodge an appeal with the valuation appeal board. OBJECT: valuationenquiries@joburg.org.za FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: CLR VICTOR PENNING CELL : 082 490 1171 E-mail: victorpenning@telkomsa.net

CARTE BLANCHE RATES REVELATIONS APPALLING
On Sunday March 2, 2008, the television programme Carte Blanche aired a segment that covered the pending assessment rates increases that will be levied by the City of Johannesburg. The focus of the segment was on the new municipal valuation roll, which also contributes to the increase.Cllr Mike Moriarty, leader of the DA in the City of Johannesburg said, "The information aired on Carte Blanche gave the impression of an appallingly crude attempt at redistribution of the rates payment burden. Indeed, the DA has continuously opposed the rates policy on the basis that it is not proper to decide a rates policy without first assessing its impact. However, on Carte Blanche it was revealed that Soweto valuations were nowhere near the average market value and in the most part, the valuations are between 30% and 50% of the average sales prices of houses there. This means that Sowetans will only pay 30-50% of the assessment rates that are due. The shortfall will then be passed on to the rest of the city. We are taking up this matter with the ANC in the strongest terms. We are also conducting our own investigation. Call Cllr Mike Moriarty on 082 492 4410. The email address below is the head of valuations, Mr. Werner Savari. Could any resident unable to access the municipal valuation roll on the website please advise him accordingly. His address is werners@joburg.org.za

Helen Zille at the DA anti crime march! On the 8th March 2008 the DA hosted an anti crime march from the Brixton Recreation Centre through Brixton and Vrededorp and ending at the Cottesloe Church whereby a memorandum was handed over to representatives of child protection, housing, social development and the liquor board.Helen Zille, DA leader lead the March to show her solidarity with the citizens of Joburg in their fight against crime, drugs and violence against women and children.

OPENING OF COUNCIL
On 26 February 2008 Cllr Moriarty of the DA urged the mayor to review his plan to: "Deliver the world class city by 2010" Cllr Moriarty lamented that "In spite of the fact that for 7 years, the Mayor has declared commitment to various priorities, including `batho pele', the inner city and HIV/AIDS and despite some successes that the Mayor has claimed, the city is unarguably not world class. Citizens are beset by load-shedding, besieged by violent crime and many are still waiting for that `better life for all' that was promised all those years ago."

The Mayor delivered his opening of Council speech reviewing the city's progress. Much of the speech was overshadowed by the power crisis. The Mayor also highlighted progress towards 2010, but I confess I did not find this year's speech particularly inspiring! In response, the DA felt that the mayor failed to deal in a satisfactory manner with the real issues felt by residents in our city and the need for a overhaul of service delivery, crime fighting and debt collection. Cllr. Moriarty responded by calling for the Mayor to resign. In this debate on Friday 7th March, the Mayor indicated that crime was not the number one priority of the City. The DA indicated that it had no confidence that the Mayor could turn Joburg into a world class African city before the World Cup in 2010.

CRIME FIGHTING
Having met with the provincial police commissioner, the Parkview Police and Metro Police, asking them to do more, we have been subjected, in Ward 90 to yet more violent crime. I am sorry to have to report on the brutal murder of Julian Lap, a committed and longstanding member of the Ward 90 Ward Committee. Julian's wife remains in a critical condition in the Milpark hospital. I attended a memorial service at St. John's and a funeral service held a Trinity Methodist Church in Linden. Our hearts go out to Julian's son, also Julian Lap.
In response to the rising crime, I requested the intervention, yet again of our MP, Sheila Camerer. Sheila tabled a private members motion on this issue in Parliament and read out the names of those in ward 90 who have been murdered in the past two years, calling on government to do more, and pointing out real shortcomings when it comes to crime prevention.

Comunities in Ward 90 are also responding with specific initiatives. The residents associations of Parkmore, Craighall and Craighall Park, Parktown North, Sandhurst, Hurlingham and Parkmore B123 are all in the process of setting up new security programs and in many cases opting for City Improvement Districts to manage their suburbs in a more professional manner. I would urge all residents in ward90 to support these initiatives and to get involved with your residents association.

JOHANNESBURG'S ROADS ARE DETERIORATING
The Democratic Alliance in the City of Johannesburg is challenging the city administration on a number of issues specific to roads. Our councillors will keep up the pressure to get these things right. In the meantime we will use the MONSTER POTHOLE competition to ensure that pressure is maintained for an improvement. By this competition we aim to: Identify where there are major or long-term problems; Embarrass council officials into doing their jobs; and have a little fun. Is there a pothole out on some Joburg street that's really bugging you NOW IS YOUR CHANCE TO MAKE YOUR POTHOLE FAMOUS; In the DA's JOBURG'S MONSTER POTHOLE CONTEST.

Most of us have a pothole we love to hate. Maybe because it's so big. Or because it's been there so long. Or because when you ride over it makes your CD jump or damaged your car? The DA will publish the best (or worst) picture on our website (dajhb.co.za) and send all the details to the City Council to make sure it gets fixed. You could win a DA T-shirt and a plastic bucket and spade to help you fill in your monster pothole. We will also deliver a bucket and spade to the Head of the Joburg Roads Agency in case he needs help doing his job. E-mail your photo, street address and reasons why that pothole is YOUR monster to monster@gpl.gov.za

Cllr. Ian M. Ollis

Ward 90
Johannesburg
Tel: 011 881 6016
Fax: 011 884 2691

011 375-5555 City all-hours complaints line.
Region E Peoples Centre 011 881-6053 or 011 881-6065 during office hours.

This site was last updated on May 8, 2008