On the road July Edition

In this issue:

Soweto Bridges Upgrade Joburg cbd streets renamed highway upgrade Alternative manhole covers to counter theft and vandalism JRA empowers Joburg citizens at the Rand Easter Show Careers Expo links youth with opportunities Go healthy go Jozi Mobility made eco-friendly

Customer Call Centre: 0860 562 874 Roads Agency [email protected] www.jra.org.za @MyJra Soweto Bridges Upgrade

The JRA is in a process of has an opening wide enough updating three of the four low to accommodate the 1:50 year laying bridges in Soweto. The flood condition. The scope also bridges are Nxumalo, Mahalefele, includes the construction of Leselinyana and Mzilikazi. Over approach roads, earth retaining Kinini - Leselinyana Bridge: CONTRACT 103/2014 Al- the previous years, Soweto structures, storm water drainage lasso Construction CC at a budget of R33 044 629.00 residents experienced flooding systems, where required, paving during the rainy season because of sidewalks as well as installation of the nature of these bridges. An of street lighting. The intention of estimated amount of R120million these projects is also to enhance has been budgeted for this the labour component to support project. the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP). The main aim of the project is to upgrade the road over river The bridges are being constructed bridges so that it facilitates in Region D Ward 36 Mofolo Nxumale Bridge: CONTRACT 104/2014 Allasso Con- easy movement of vehicles Central and Ward 38. struction CC at a budget of R32 805 680.25 as well as pedestrians when the river is in high flow or flood condition. The work to be executed under these contracts comprises demolishing the existing bridge, which is a culvert system and replacing it with a bridge structure, which

Zulu-Mahalafele Bridge: CONTRACT 105/2014 Civilcon (Pty) Ltd at a budget of R33 154 840.88

1 Joburg CBD streets renamed Sauer Street in Joburg CBD now renamed Pixley Seme

The City of Joburg has renamed some of the busiest (now the Northfield Mount Hermon School). He roads in the Johannesburg CBD after struggle attended Adams College which was part of the heroes to commemorate the 20th anniversary of mission. our democratic transition. He was a founder and President of the African National Congress. He was the first black South “The renaming will enable all Johannesburgers African lawyer. At 17 years of age Seme left to increase their identification with the names to study in the U.S., first at the Mount Hermon and historical significance of public spaces and School and then Columbia University. In 1906, contribute to our broader objectives to build an his senior year at University, he was awarded the inclusive society with a shared future,” said City of Curtis Medal, Columbia’s highest oratorical honor. Johannesburg Mayor, Councillor Parks Tau. He subsequently decided to become an attorney. He was called to the bar at the Middle Temple in The decision to rename four streets in the CBD, one London before returning to on the eve in Alexandra and one in Orlando West was taken by of the creation of the Union of South Africa in 1910. the Mayoral Council during its meeting in September He was also a journalist, author member of the 2014 after an extensive public consultation process. SANNC and he launched the SANNC newspaper, The renaming initiative gained momentum last year Abantu Batho. Seme died in June 1951. when the Freedom of the City was awarded to four Struggle activists who led the well-known Women’s Bree Street has been renamed to Lilian Ngoyi March to the in in 1956. Street

The renamed streets are as follows: Lillian Masediba Ngoyi “Ma Ngoyi” was born on the 25 September 1911. She was the first Sauer Street has been renamed to Pixley Seme woman elected to the executive committee of the Street African National Congress, and helped launch the Federation of South African Women. Pixley Seme was born on 1 October 1881 in Natal, the son of Isaka Sarah (nee Mseleku) Seme. He Ngoyi joined the ANC Women’s League in 1952. graduated from Mount Hermon School, MA, in 1902 A year later she was elected as President of the

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Women’s League. On 9th August 1956, Ngoyi Appalled by the plight of black women, she was led a march along with , Rahima pivotal in the formation of the Federation of Moosa, Sophia Williams-De Bruyn, Bertha South African Women and with the organisation’s Gxowa and of 20,000 women to leadership, spearheaded a march of 20,000 the Union Buildings of Pretoria in protest against women to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to the government requiring women to protest against on August 9, 1956. carry passbooks as part of the pass laws. She was arrested on a charge of high treason in Lilian Ngoyi was also a transnational figure December 1956, then banned in 1957 and was who recognised the potential influence that acquitted in 1961. Helen Joseph died on the 25 international support could have on the struggle December 1992 at the age of 87. against apartheid and the emancipation of black women. She was arrested in 1956, spent Noord Street has been renamed Sophie de 71 days in solitary confinement, and was for a Bruyn Street period of 11 years placed under severe bans and restrictions that often confined to her home in Sophia Theresa Williams-de Bruyn was born Orlando, Soweto. She died on the 13th March in 1938, in Villageboard, a mixed area in Port 1980. Elizabeth that had different nationalities living side by side. She started primary schooling in Jeppe Street has been named the Villageboard and went on to attend the Saint Street Patrick Catholic School in the North-end Port Elizabeth. Rahima Moosa was born in the Strand, on 14 October 1922. She attended Trafalgar Sophie was a member of the Textile Workers High School in Cape Town. As a teenager, Rahima Union in Port Elizabeth. She was also a founding and her identical twin sister, Fatima became member of the South African Congress of Trade politically active after they became aware of the Union (SACTU. In 1955, she was appointed as unjust segregationist laws that ruled South Africa. a full-time organiser of the ‘Coloured People’s In 1943 Rahima became the shop steward for the Congress’ in Johannesburg. Cape Town Food and Canning Workers’ Union. She later became the branch secretary for the On the 9th August 1956 she led the march of 20 union and more active in labour politics. In 1951 000 women on the Union Buildings of Pretoria she married Dr. Hassen “Ike” Mohamed Moosa, along with Lilian Ngoyi, Rahima Moosa, Helen a fellow ANC comrade and Treason trialist. She Joseph and Albertina Sisulu to protest the moved to Johannesburg with her husband and requirement that women carry pass books as together they had four children. part of the pass laws. She is the last living leader of the march. Rahima Moosa was listed by the apartheid regime despite becoming ill after a heart attack in Thabeta Street in Orlando West has been the 1960s. Sadly she died on 26 May 1993, only renamed Hastings Ndlovu Street a year before South Africa became free in 1994. Hastings Ndlovu was a 17-year old learner President Street has been renamed Helen at the Orlando North Secondary School who Joseph Street was among the first victims killed by the police on June 16, 1976. He led a group of students Helen Joseph was born on the 8th April 1905 toward the bridge in Khumalo Street where they in Easebourne near , West Sussex, confronted by police and fired on. He later died and graduated from King’s College of his wounds in Baragwanath ( Bara) London, in 1927. She came to South Africa in Hospital. 1931. She served in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force during World War II as an information and Japie Vilankulu Crescent in Alexandra has welfare officer. After the war and her divorce she been renamed Lion Crescent trained as a social worker and started working in a community centre in a Coloured area of Cape Japie Mangoeng Vilankulu passed away on the Town. 17th June 1976. It is believed he was the first victim in Alex who was brutally killed by the police In 1951 Helen took a job with the Garment during the height of June 1976 riots. He was one Workers Union. She was a founder member of the of the “Young Lions” of the struggle who led the Congress of Democrats, and one of the leaders student uprising in Alexandra. who read out clauses of the at the Congress of the People in in 1955.

3 Soweto Highway upgrade

The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) is The scope of work included subsoil pipe, currently resurfacing many roads in all Seven traffic accommodation, milling and inlays as Regions of the City of Joburg. well as paving. All work was done off peak hours to avoid inconveniencing road users The design lifespan of a road is normally 30 and at least one lane was left for traffic to years, but factors such as traffic (loading), flow at all times. drainage system, floods etc. contribute on how long the road can last. Most of the tarred roads around Joburg had reached this threshold and This project has improved movement of needed resurfacing. traffic and the risk of vehicle damage has been alleviated. The Soweto Highway is one of the areas that have been recently resurfaced at a budget of The JRA would like to thank road users for R9.3m. The resurfacing started from N17 to Carr their patience during the road works and Street in Soweto, covering a distance of 10.1 apologise for any inconvenience caused. lane km.

4 Alternative manhole covers to counter theft and vandalism Grid cover (left), grid inlet and cover for manhole (centre), grid inlet and cover for stormwater drain (right)

The JRA has introduced alternative non-metal JRA is experiencing huge financial losses due manhole covers and drainage grates as part of its to theft of its steel roads infrastructure assets enormous fight to save the City of Johannesburg namely manhole covers and frames, kerb inlet (CoJ)’s road assets from rampant theft and covers, water meter covers, sewer manhole vandalism. covers, channel posts and guard rails, traffic poles, bridge hand railings and so forth. Over the “As an entity entrusted with the road assets of the past 12 months, 3200 missing manhole covers City of Johannesburg, the JRA is implementing were reported to the JRA. Stolen manhole covers an initiative to replace all cast iron and steel cost the JRA a substantial amount of money, manhole covers and drainage grates with during the 2013/214 financial year alone, the JRA alternative materials such as ductile iron, plastic, spent R2.9 million on covers. fibre glass and polymer. The new materials will weigh considerably less (approximately three This spate of infrastructure theft and vandalism quarters less) than the existing covers which can is a direct sabotage and devaluation of the City’s weigh in excess of 140kg, are more robust, carry infrastructure assets and poses a safety hazard the JRA branded logo, have no significant resale to road users. The missing covers on walkways value and comply with JRA and SABS standard and roads creates a huge problem for pedestrians specifications. The JRA piloted the alternative and other road users including small children manhole covers in selected areas city-wide and who have fallen into the manholes and storm the results proved positive. The specification water channels and have been fatally injured. As has been approved and we are now procuring an interim measure, once the JRA is notified of the alternative products,” confirmed JRA Acting open manholes, it barricades the area to secure Managing Director Mpho Kau. the hole and warn the community.

Due to the market value of the metals in manhole Mpho Kau said the JRA condemns illegal scrap covers and drainage grates, they have become metal dealers who are complicit in the increasing the targets of thieves and vandals. The problem assault on the City’s infrastructure and urges with theft is global and generally worsens when unsuspecting dealers to examine the metals the price of scrap metal is high. The City and the before accepting them.

5 JRA empowers Joburg citizens at the Rand Easter Show

Every year the City of Johannesburg hosts an Citizens were made aware that they now exhibition at the Rand Show to engage directly have power to effect change through these with members of the community about service communication channels. delivery issues and to showcase the different departments and entities within the City. This The JRA furthermore, had an opportunity to year the exhibition took place from the 3rd to the interact with the community on various issues 12th of April. The Johannesburg Roads Agency, regarding service delivery. People were provided Johannesburg Water, Joburg Market, Pikitup and with material explaining the JRA’s objectives the Johannesburg Public Safety were among the and strategies towards development, and how municipal entities and Departments present at citizens can actively engage and contribute the Rand Show. towards the achievement of these goals. People were able to come directly to the JRA stalls at the For the JRA, the main purpose of the exhibition exhibition to report service delivery matters. JRA was to educate and inform people on what the staff members were there to assist in logging JRA does and its role in the City, also to promote calls and directing citizens to the correct entities the communication channels like the social concerning their queries. media, hotline and the new JRA App called Find and Fix, which enable a person to report road defects using a smart phone.

6 Careers Expo links youth with opportunities A learner perusing through a JRA folder at the Career Expo

The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) of scarce skills. Moreover, it links graduates and participated in the 8th Annual Soweto Career unemployed youth with employment prospects in Day and Expo held in Soweto, Johannesburg, on different sectors. 4 and 5 March 2015. It was hosted by Careers Inc. in partnership with the City of Johannesburg. Exhibitors at the expo included government departments, private companies and institutions The JRA and other entities of the City have of higher learning. The JRA used the occasion always been part of the career exhibitions. to inform learners and young people in general Platforms like this provide the JRA with an about the JRA’s bursary scheme, internship opportunity to interact with the youth and educate programme and general career opportunities. them about various opportunities available in the Both the internship and bursary programmes organisation. It is also a great platform to position cater for diverse fields of study, such as civil the JRA as an employer of choice and to attract engineering, accounting, communications and youth to the organisation enabling them to make HR, among others. informed career choices, especially in the fields

7 Go healthy go Jozi Young and old taking part at the Go Jozi event

On 27 March 2015 the City of Johannesburg These included a 5km walk, aerobics challenge, held a third revolving annual community event netball games and a soccer match. to promote healthy living. The event, known as Go Jozi, was hosted in Region A and B. Region In addition to the fitness games, tests were A’s festivities took place in the Lord Khanyile conducted and information shared on high blood Precinct, Ivory Park, while Region B had fun at pressure, male circumcision, HIV & AIDS and the Rivelea Recreation Centre. other health issues. The healthy living outreach was also graced by Community members, including the elderly, came pupils from various schools, who also participated out in large numbers to participate in the various in the activities. activities which organisers had in store for them.

8 Mobility made eco-friendly Member of Mayoral Committee for Tranport Christine Walters at the launch of Eco-Mobility

The Sandton City has been earmarked for the more affordable. A seamless transport system City of Johannesburg’s Eco-Mobility Festival in where people can switch from the Gautrain to conjunction with the ICLEI Local Government the Metrobus or Rea Vaya, to taxis, cycling and for Sustainability as well as residents, workers walking, will significantly reduce the volume of and visitors to the Sandton CBD. The Festival private transport usage in the City.” will promote eco-mobile solutions for travel and also showcase how transport into Sandton will Research shows that the number of commuters be reconfigured. in Sandton is increasing at more than 3% every year. Reliance on single-passenger vehicles Throughout the Festival, certain roads will be means increased carbon emissions, which closed to vehicular traffic, thus requiring citizens worsens the scourge of climate change facing to walk, cycle or use public transport. the world today. The City has budgeted more than R1.8 billion to improve the Sandton CBD through the “It’s very important that we encourage a shift introduction of the Rea Vaya public transport, from the dependence and reliance on cars to widening the sidewalks to make it easy for people other eco-friendly choices of transport, because to walk and creating cycle lanes for cyclists. at the rate we are developing and growing, the City and Sandton will never cope with the In October 2015, the City will host the Eco- congestion. Throughout the Festival it is going to Mobility Festival throughout the month as a model be difficult for motorists to access the selected of what Sandton is heading towards. Speaking at roads. We want people to walk, cycle and use the launch of the Eco-Mobility Festival, Member public transport,” said Johannesburg Roads of Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Transport Cllr. Agency (JRA) Operations Manager: Freight Christine Walters said: “The City of Johannesburg Movement Sipho Nhlapo, reiterating the words is taking the lead with the extension of Rea Vaya of Johannesburg Mayor Cllr. Parks Tau who said rapid bus network into the northern suburbs and in his State of the City Address, “the reliance by Alexandra and the provision of infrastructure that Jo’burg commuters on single-passenger vehicles will make walking and cycling easier, safer and is an inefficiency we must confront”.

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