Operation clean-up in Fordsburg
Ahmed Pochee, the Health portfolio administrator of Juned Pahad’s Ward 58, together with the Urban Group Inspectors, were seen on several occasions throughout Fordsburg, conducting site visits and making notes of problems facing the residents and businesses in the area.
Some of the problems included the upgrade of infrastructure, removal of old and illegal posters, missing drain covers, slumlord buildings, health hazards created by businesses and many other problems.
With Ramadan occurring in September, Ward activities along with planned site visits in Fordsburg and surrounding suburbs would be suspended.
The purpose of these visits is to ensure that the Urban Inspectors have a list of problems to work with during September, resolving as many as is possible, until Ward 58 activities resume in October.
Utilities such as the Johannesburg Roads Agency, PikitUp, Water Services, etc. were actively at work during September, after the Inspectors had communicated the problems to the respective departments. These maintenance jobs included fixing broken drains, replacing missing/broken drain covers, repainting infrastructure, repairing road surfaces, etc.
The Urban Inspectors have also issued written warnings to slumlords, and businessmen who have for months or years created unhealthy and unsafe environments, such as the Recycling Company on Central Road who has ignored the filth and rats that was being generated through his businesses, affecting the residents next to him.
With Fordsburg being a huge economic hub for businesses and the Fordsburg Square a strong tourist attraction, the Ward has taken serious steps to improve and maintain the area.
Pahad said “Government departments are intensely involved in upgrading Johannesburg, as it would have an impact on the tourists’ perception of South Africa. My ward would like to see Fordsburg fully revitalized for the 2010 World Cup, and therefore my ward members have put in much time and effort in sorting out every problem that is raised within the ward. Fordsburg will be set to attract foreign visitors and investors in 2010.”
Pochee says that he would be conducting more site visits from October and hopes that all identified problems would be resolved by the end of 2008.
Ahmed Pochee can be contacted on 083 883 6883.
Ahmed Pochee with Urban Inspectors on walk- about Fordsburg
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