THE City's Skills Strategy is moving forward to identify the skills that are already in the labour market and those that are needed, which it will teach to job seekers at its Andisa Skills Hub.

THE City has set up an advisory panel to look deeper into the complexities of setting up city improvement districts in residential areas.

THE credit upgrade reflects the metro strengthening operating performance, driven by a growing tax base.

AWARENESS campaigns to be held to inform the public about how the city’s Bus Rapid Transit system will affect them.

A GROUP of informal traders has completed the Grow Your Business course run by Wits university in partnership with the City of Johannesburg.

THE education department wants to provide quality education through focused initiatives and programmes over the next few years.

THE Joburg suburb is set to become a high density transport node through the latest Rosebank Urban Development Framework.

JOBURG WATER has been recognised for its work in conserving water, winning an award from the national Department of Water Affairs and Forestry for water conservation and water demand management in the domestic sector.

THE Joburg-based is seen as a response to government's call for increased private sector investment into initiatives that advance priority technical skills

ALTHOUGH it is not yet fully operational, the camera surveillance system keeping a beady eye on the inner city is already helping to stop crime.

ENERGY efficient buildings are the way forward to cut the use of fossil fuels and save natural resources.

FORCED migration is just one of the issues to be discussed at Joburg's climate change summit; but the main focus is on a low carbon economy.

EVERY clinic is to offer free antenatal care, monitoring women's pregnancies in an effort to promote healthy pregnancies and safe motherhood.

THERE have been several requests for city improvement districts to be set up in residential areas, and the City wants public comment on the proposal.

THE municipality has approved the establishment of the Lufhereng township and work is expected to begin soon

A massive transport hub and an international broadcast centre are some of the approved plans for the Nasrec precinct in preparation for the World Cup.

JOBURG'S emergency management services is leaving nothing to chance in preparing for the 2010 Fifa World Cup™, and is learning new lessons from the best in the field

THE province recently launched the Gauteng Tooling Initiative to recapitalise the dwindling tool making profession.

JOBURG'S Bus Rapid Transit network is on track, with most of the projects either in the design phase, or already being implemented.

PEOPLE will have to tighten their belts even further under the City's proposed new tariffs for water, electricity and refuse removal. Heavy users will be penalised

UNDER a council initiative to improve local government capacity, 28 councillors have completed a year-long course in municipal governance at the University of Johannesburg (UJ).

SUMMIT gives the province and its 14 municipalities an opportunity to take stock of what is still to be done to achieve the water and sanitation targets

THE launch of this programme is important as it in is line with two of South Africa's key objectives which is tourism promotion and investment in the country

THE autonomy and ability of municipalities to raise the necessary funds to meet local needs is at risk following proposals on rates ratios by the Department of Provincial and Local Government.

A NUMBER of oversight committees were now in place to scrutinise the work done by the executive and to hold members and officials accountable for their actions

ACCORDING to the proposed urban development framework, these two high-density business zones will become more people friendly, with an emphasis on public space.

EXECUTIVE Mayor Amos Masondo says the unqualified clean audit report shows that the City's financial management is in good hands.

GAUTENG MEC for local government Qedani Mahlangu recently hosted the first Kwanele Women Councillor Mentorship Programme meeting.

JOBURG officials have decided to allow for further submissions of comments on the revised policy on the naming and renaming of streets and other public places.

THE public spaces in Joburg's inner city suburbs of Yeoville, Berea and Hillbrow are set for a far-reaching facelift.

JOHANNESBURG named as the best metro in the country. It won three Vuna Awards, including Best Metro, the main prize, which carries a R2-million cheque.

A RECENT study has confirmed what has been suspected all along - Johannesburg is the continental h2er and economic hub.

THE city of gold has been named the best-performing metro in the province, beating its neighbours to the top spot at the annual Vuna Awards.

A PROPOSED new Employment Equity Plan focuses on working towards a fairer representation of all groups with an emphasis on disabled people.

STAKEHOLDERS have lent their support to Joburg's Inner City Regeneration Charter, which was signed at the launch of the charter partnership forum.

A COMPREHENSIVE list of all people in need of housing is to be created to keep the database up-to-date with changes on the ground.

A 100-member stakeholder group represented by all the key inner city role players will champion the revival of the hub of Johannesburg over the next five years.

JOHANNESBURG unveils a project which will see modern technology being used to collect and dispose waste at various strategic locations around the city.

THE City is ready to roll out 11 trial broadband networks in the run up to a citywide service that will bring Jozi several steps closer to being a fully fledged digital city.

THE Johannesburg Development Agency will be handing out Halala Joburg Awards to investment and development projects in the inner city.

THE department of urban management has implemented a new service system which aims to cut the time it takes to approve zoning and building plans to 24 hours for most applications.

INTERNATIONAL and local urban planners are calling for more cohesion between Johannesburg's northern and southern suburbs.

WITH a record-breaking budget of R25-billion for the 2007-08 financial year, the City of Johannesburg plans to pay specific attention to sectors critical to economic growth.

THE City of Johannesburg has announced that it has a strategy and the money to stop the rot in its tracks through a regional urban management plan for the inner city.

OPERATION Gcin'amanzi has been discussed at the C40 Large Cities Summit on climate change in New York, where Executive Mayor Amos Masondo was serving on a panel looking at saving city water.

FAST-TRACKINH the delivery of houses in the City of Joburg remains a challenge that needs to be urgently tackled, says the city's Executive Mayor Amos Masondo

INTERNATIONAL experts recently gathered for a one-day conference to share experiences and exchange ideas around intergovernmental co-operation as part of Gauteng's aim of developing a global city-region.

KEEN to build on the billions already invested in the regeneration of the inner city, Johannesburg is targeting black and female investors under the urban development zone tax incentive.

THE City of Johannesburg has welcomed the ruling by the Supreme Court of Appeal to set aside a court judgment preventing it from evicting squatters without providing alternative accommodation.

THE City of Johannesburg has embarked on a land regularisation process that has two main components. The first involves an audit of all council-owned property, while the second entails the implementation of a land release strategy.

THE Universities of the Witwatersrand (Wits) and Johannesburg (UJ) will collaborate on a series of projects to develop the City of Johannesburg and Gauteng, with a particular focus on projects for the Fifa 2010 Soccer World Cup and the Joburg 2030 projecty.

THE Bus Rapid Transport system is expected to revolutionise public transport in Joburg, with new buses, special lanes and new routes - all at a low cost.

Joburg's air quality management system and fire fighting innovations walked away with first place in the Centre for Public Service Innovation awards.

Liberation songs rang out at Johannesburg International Airport on Friday when Africa's busiest international gateway was renamed after Oliver Tambo, the anti-apartheid hero

Reducing the structure of the City, from 11 regions to just seven, will help to improve urban management and service delivery.

A conference is planned to discuss the information technology challenges facing the city for the 2010 Fifa World Cup. Interested parties will work together to seek solutions to any expected problems.

Joburg's RideSmart initiative aims to cut down on the number of cars and journeys on our roads, so saving the environment, by getting people to join lift clubs.

IN an attempt to collect all the cash owed to it, Joburg aims to set up a new company dedicated to recovering its bad debts. The public has been asked to comment on the plans.

THE Human Resource Development Strategy (HRD) to be launched by Gauteng Premier Mbazima Shilowa is expected to contribute to the province’s growth and development.

Speakers from various sectors took part in a colloquium to address ways of ensuring Johannesburg gets maximum, sustained mileage out of the 2010 World Cup.

THE main focus of this year's Joburg Business Week, held at Gallagher Estate, Midrand from 7-10 September, is on developing small, medium and micro businesses as the most efficient way to equalise the spread of wealth.

Johannesburg is set to draft a strategy to help migrants feel at home in the city, according to executive mayor Amos Masondo. Migrants to Johannesburg – who often struggle with adjusting to a new environment – will be able to find help via a help desk to be set up by the City's department of community development.

AN environmental management plan for most of the 80 kilometres of the planned Gautrain route has been formulated and is open to appeal until 18 September. The plan has been conditionally approved by the province, and now awaits scrutiny by the public.

Children in Thulamtwana, Orange Farm, burst into song when Johannesburg's executive mayor Amos Masondo arrived on his road show of the region.

Following its successful issuing of municipal bonds to institutional investors, the City of Johannesburg is now preparing to issue a R1-billion retail bond before year end, which will be open only to the residents of the metro.

Gauteng finance MEC Paul Mashatile is working on a development framework that will combine the plans of all 15 municipalities to co-ordinate investment and growth in the province.

THE Johannesburg leg of the Urban Age series of conferences investigating the future of cities worldwide addressed space and safety issues on many levels.

A R1,2-billion municipal bond issued by the City of Johannesburg was oversubscribed, signalling continued investor confidence in the city.

Johannesburg's Executive Mayor Amos Masondo has announced the City's 2006-7 R21-billion budget.

THE City is undergoing some major changes. However, no disruptions are anticipated as the adjustments will be at the top level of City government.

Johannesburg's Executive Mayor Amos Masondo has announced the City's 2006-7 R21-billion budget.

Following lengthy and thorough consultation and participation processes with all stakeholders over the past few months, Executive Mayor Amos Masondo will announce the City's budget on Wednesday, 24 May 2006, at the Council Chambers in Braamfontein.

THE City is undergoing some major changes. However, no disruptions are anticipated as the adjustments will be at the top level of City government.

THE City has helped more than 120 000 indigent residents by writing off more than R1,5-billion in arrears as part of its Municipal Services Subsidy Scheme.

THE three municipal bonds issued by the City of Johannesburg have met with such success that the Metro is now helping other municipalities.

Looking to past achievements and future challenges, in his State of the City address Executive Mayor Amos Masondo was confident Johannesburg was on a successful growth path.

AMOS Masondo was elected executive mayor of the City of Johannesburg, for his second consecutive term, during the first meeting of the City council on Thursday, 16 March.

"Orlando Ekhaya will be the place that everyone wants to see," said Johannesburg Executive Mayor Amos Masondo at the launch of the R1-billion development set to revitalise Soweto's economy.

THE Alexandra Extension 7 housing project was launched by handing over title deeds to 60 residents, who now have homes of their own. Hundreds more are set to benefit.

Johannesburg – Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa delivered his state of the province address on Monday 13 February, assuring citizens that “a better Gauteng is possible and in the making”.

Reathusa, the second phase in the City's poverty alleviation campaign, was launched by Executive Mayor Amos Masondo.

SILAS ZIMU has taken over the hot seat at City Power, which is tackling power outages and upgrading its infrastructure. Zimu will be acting chief executive from February, taking over from Kenneth Mohlala, whose five-year-term has come to an end.

IN the last five years the City of Johannesburg has scored notable achievements in terms of service delivery and development, despite having its fair share of challenges.

THE City is planning to take out a long-term loan of R320-million from a French agency to finance the installation of water meters in Soweto.

IN its efforts to improve service delivery in health care, the Gauteng provincial government has decided to take over ambulance running functions from local authorities.

Residents have until the end of January to apply for the writing-off of their arrears under the municipal services subsidy schemed.

WITH its Air Quality Management Plan, Johannesburg has adopted a set of air quality guidelines to keep the city's air clean and easy to breathe.

Minister praised Joburg Water's Operation Gcin'amanzi, which is saving billions of litres of water in Soweto.

THE City of Johannesburg has written off R510 million owed to it by account holders who qualify for the municipal services subsidy scheme.

THERE are several initiatives under way across all spheres of government to build adequate housing in Gauteng for people living in informal settlements and backyard shacks, by 2009.

THE first bond to be issued by the City of Johannesburg under a pioneering public borrowing programme was 3,8 times over subscribed, and should serve as a model for other municipalites.

THE City of Johannesburg is set to establish a new structure to take charge of its billing and revenue functions. The new unit will be set up as a municipal service entity in terms of the Municipal Finance Management Act.

Johannesburg has targeted informal settlements and is working with the provincial government to build houses for the thousands of families who live in backyard shacks and informal settlements.

SEVEN banks will oversee the City's programme to raise funds through bond issues over the next five years. The issues are guaranteed success as the underwriters will buy whatever is not snapped up by the market.

THE city has launched a project to upgrade Johannesburg's ageing electricity network - while Business Day reported that government is considering a once-off capital injection of around R800m to reduce frequent power blackouts.

Johannesburg has warned defaulters that it will be 'vigorously pursuing business and communities' in an effort to recover outstanding debt, according to Mankodi Moitse, acting director of finance and economic affairs.

THE R1-billion unsecured bond issued by the City of Johannesburg in April has scooped the coveted Bond of the Year Award from the Bond Exchange of South Africa (Besa).

THE City of Johannesburg is to receive R5-million from a trust fund set up by black economic empowerment company Peu Investments to uplift business and facilties in Soweto.

IN an effort to remove confusion over land use rights, Johannesburg is in the process of formulating an integrated land use management system that will create a single zoning scheme for the whole of the city.

Johannesburg has engraved its name on the history books as the place where city h2ers from throughout the world united in committing themselves to sustainable development.

"THE effort of creating sustainable cities must also be located within the drive by the African Union to ensure horizontal integration of African economies" - speech by Minister SF Mufamadi.

Johannesburg Water (JW) issued an ultimatum to defaulting government institution who have accumulated arrears of R80-million: pay up within a week or face cut-offs.

THE City of Johannesburg granted former president, Nelson Mandela, the freedom of the city award on Friday 23 July at a ceremony in the Orlando communal hall in Soweto.

THE R1-billion municipal bond issued by the City of Johannesburg attracted bids totalling R2,3-billion, making it 2,3 times oversubscribed.

THE city of Johannesburg has allocated a massive R1,97-billion to capital expenditure in the 2004-2005 financial year, almost double the R1,1-billion allocated last year.

THE City of Johannesburg is on track to issue a second municipal bond to raise R1-billion, which will help restructure its debts and finance its capital expenditure.

A ground-breaking agreement signed by the City of Johannesburg's health department and five private medical practitioner groups means that they will work together to deliver community services and cut costs for those without medical aid.

THE City of Johannesburg has set up a steering committee to investigate how best to restructure the provision of electricity in terms of a government decision to regionalise electricity provision through six Regional Electricity Distributors (REDs).

AS part of a drive to involve ratepayers in decision-making processes, the City of Johannesburg will, over the next two months, invite communities and various interest groups to help formulate the budget and identify priorities for capital expenditure.

Joburg's launch of the first municipal bond under new legislation received an overwhelmingly positive response from the market as investors jostled to get a piece of the cake on Tuesday and was hailed as an "historic moment for the City of Johannesburg".

THE City of Johannesburg's Better Buildings Programme - read fixing up its slums - is fast moving into gear. Driven by the Johannesburg Property Company, new strategies are being adopted to bypass the many hurdles that have stymied previous attempts to reverse inner city decline.

Joburg residents who default on payment for services can expect to be left in the dark: the council's new credit control strategy, which aims to streamline the process of the termination of services and legal action in respect of defaulters, has kicked in with great success.

A comprehensive sales and marketing plan to expand tourism in Johannesburg is at present being formulated through a series of workshops being held by the City and the private sector.

THE recently adopted City of Johannesburg's Integrated Transport Plan (ITP) was handed over to Khabisi Mosunkuthu, Gauteng MEC for public transport, roads and works last week. The plan, which was adopted by the city council in August, guides transport planning between 2003 and 2008.

Tabling the consolidated midterm report of municipalities in Gauteng, MEC for Development Planning and Local Government Trevor Fowler said the province showed an overall improvement in municipal services, treasury and financial management.

THE City of Johannesburg will launch a municipal bond issue next year in a move that is the first of its kind in SA, according to Business Day. It is expected to create a much needed municipal bond market as the council strives to eradicate capital spending backlogs of R10bn.

THE establishment of tourism as a key economic sector for Johannesburg is the key goal of the Johannesburg Tourism Company which was officilly launched this week. The City plans to pump R12-million into the company over the next three years.

Construction on the multi-million rand Gautrain project - the express train that will operate between Johannesburg and Tshwane - will begin in May next year

FITCH Ratings, an international ratings agency, announced on Friday that it has upgraded the City of Johannesburg's long-term rating from (BBB+), signalling adequate ability to repay debts to (A-) signifying strong credit risk.

"THE inner city can never be replaced as South Africa's national asset and public and private sector confidence is dramatically returning to the CBD", the Johannesburg CBD Perception Survey 2003 has found.

THE City of Johannesburg has raised its operating budget from last year's R11,1-billion to R13-billion for this financial year while the capital budget has been set at R1,1-billion.

Johannesburg will provide services in clinics and community health centres on an agency basis on behalf of the Gauteng health department.

THE City of Johannesburg has recorded a financial surplus for the third year in a row, following four years of deficits that peaked in 1997/98 at R338m.

A delegation from the City of eThekwini is in Johannesburg to learn about managing a city in a rapidly changing environment. Sipho Cele, the deputy manager of the eThekwini council and also head of the delegation, said they are here to learn how the city had reorganised its administrative structures.