On the road July Edition In this issue: Soweto Bridges Upgrade Joburg cbd streets renamed Soweto 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 Johannesburg 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 South Africa 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 Union Buildings in Pretoria 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 2 Women’s League. On 9th August 1956, Ngoyi Appalled by the plight of black women, she was led a march along with Helen Joseph, 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 Albertina Sisulu 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 apartheid government requiring women to protest against pass laws 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 Rahima Moosa 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, Cape Town 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 Midhurst, West Sussex, confronted by police and fired on. He later died England and graduated from King’s College of his wounds in Baragwanath (Chris Hani 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 Freedom Charter at the Congress of the People in Kliptown 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.