​Thembisa Shologu
The City of Ekurhuleni has delivered over 42 773 housing units and 26 543 serviced stands through its 16 Mega Projects.
This was announced by Mayor, Mzwandile Masina during the State of the City Address (SoCA) at the Council Chambers, Germiston on Wednesday 24 March.
Mayor Masina said the City found solace in the knowledge that the bulk infrastructure that has been built to date provided Ekurhuleni with housing potential that cuold yield an estimated 210 000 housing units.
"This is indicative of the fact that not only do we prioritise human settlements in what we do, but that we have also set out to exceed the ambitious target that we had set for ourselves.
"Equally prioritised in the last five years has been the electrification of informal settlements, re-blocking and the general improvement of living conditions in these areas.
"In this regard, we have electrified 40 informal settlements; we increased the number of mobile chemical toilets from 1:10 to 1:5; and we have re-blocked 46 informal settlements, which means that we can now rollout incremental services in these areas," said Masina.
Since 2016 to date, the City implemented the following Massive Infrastructure Investment programmes amongst others:
Facilitating the implementation of strategic urban development (SUD) to unlock the R300 billion investment pipeline, so far, an estimated R80 billion has been unlocked; and
Facilitating the implementation of the SEZ programme in the City, unlocking about R7 billion; 

"The Rand Value of investment attracted over five years by the current administration include; Prasa-Gibela, Teraco Data Centre, ACSA expansion programme, S&J Industrial Investment, Riverfields investment along the R21, Industrial/manufacturing Investments such as GZI can manufacturing, and Komatsu. 

"The City has so far Invested R800 million since the 2016 to date in bulk infrastructure to open up development along the area of the R21 Corridor," he said.

Masina said the Municipality has made significant strides in the implementation of the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act, 2000 and its regulations with the total procurement expenditure at almost R44 billion to date is for open bids as well as quotations. 

"Of this amount, R10 billion of the procurement opportunities benefited women and R331 million went to people living with disabilities. ​

"Awards made to Historically Disadvantaged Individuals (HDIs) amounted to R19.4 billion and youth owned companies (both young men and women) accessed procurement opportunities worth R5.7 billion," said the Masina.  

In addition, through the Aqua Leap programme, 29 new reservoirs are being built across the City.  Five have been completed and another 10 will be completed by June 2021. 

 "This intervention will add 417 mega litres of storage thus increasing our water storage capacity from 24 hours to 36 hours," added Masina.