MANGANG LOCAL MUNICIPALITY

 

REPORT ON PROGRESS AND CHALLENGES ON INNER CITY REGENERATION AND LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Presented by : M J Matlole

Date: 2005/08/30

IDP as anew planning development tool

 

Before

The RSA Constitution(1996)

The White Paper on Local Government (1998)

Municipal Structures Act (2008)

Municipal Systems Act (2000)

Municipal Finance Management Act (2004)

IDP is a response to this inherited legacy of separated development

It is informed by the need comply with the developmental wishes of the new democratic state

It's overall aim is to contribute to the realisation of a better life for all in South Africa.

Legislative Context of IDP

Urban planning after the South African War 1901 (Recognition of Township Law, 1894)

Urban planning arising from the depression of the 30's (Slams act, 1934).

Urban Planning during and after second World War (IDC, Demolition of District Six)

Late apartheid planning-1985 (White paper on Urbanisation 1986, R293 Towns)

MLM IDP and local economic development

The following objective has been set in terms of the Mangaung Local Municipality's Integrated development plan.

"the Mangaung CBD is vibrantand an intgrated centre for the community, providing key service, visited during day and night, with active investment by key private and public sectors."
Plans for Transforming the Apartheid City

Implementation and upgrading of the South Eastern access route to the Bloemfontein CBD (Mangaung Activity Corridor).

Expansion of the Bloemfontein CBD to the east over the railway line.
Greenfields development to the south of the Bloemfontein CBD.

Social housing within the CBD.

Inner City Regeneration and Urban Renewal.

Compilation of a Comprehensive CBD Masterplan .

Fields of Endeavour.

Town Planning

Architecture

Economic Development

Security

Engineering

Marketing

 

Deliverables

CBD Land Use Plan

Report on Building Survey

Perspective on new Projects

Business Survey Report

Status Quo Report on CBD Economic Development

Inner City Regeneration and Urban Renewal Programmes (2)

CBD Economic Development Plan

CBD Security Plan

CBD Parking Plan

CBD Pedestrian Plan

CBD Public Transport Plan

CBD Municipal Services Plan

CBD Waste Management Plan

CBD GIS Update

Communications and Marketing Strategy Plan

Urban Development Programmes

CBD Development Programmes

Intergration of the CBD with the Westdene /Willows/Parkwest areaand the recreational precinct (Kings Park/ Loch Logan area)

Establishment of Business Improvement Districts (BID's)

Provision of an efficient and reliable public transport system.

Improve access to CBD for all modes of transport by reducing transport congestion problems.

Greening of Hofman square.

Enlarging the CBD easwards over the railwayline.

Increase the residential density in the CBD.

Pedestrianise certain routes within the CBD.

Urban Development Zone (UDZ)

To facilitate Urban and Inner City Renewal /Revitalization

To improve overall quality of inner City environment (physical development, social and environmental regeneration.

INCENTIVE: Accelerated Development Depreciation Allowance

Pedestrianization of Elizabeth Street

Objectives

Improved pedestrian access to the Bloemfontein CBD

Pedestrian linkage between the Bloemfontein CBD and Free State Soccer Stadium

Improved pedestrian safety and level of service along Elizabeth Stree between the CBD and the Sports Stadium.

Estimated cost: R1.8m

Implementation expected to commence in January 2006 pending allocation of funds by the National Treasury.

Mangaung Activity Corridor

Project Objectives:

To establish a public transport activity coridor link between the Bloemfontein CBD and the Previously disadvantaged South Eastern sector of the city.

To create a safe and pedestrian friendly environment and non motorized transport facilities.

To create economic upliftment of the South Eastern Sector of the city.

Estimated cost: R42 m . Project currently being implemented and is expected to be completed in April 2006.

Challenges encountered in renewing the Mangaung Urban Centre

Combantting crime in the Bloemfontein CBD

Uplifting the general perceptions regarding the CBD.

Nature, Size and Demographics of the CBD

 

Black

Coloured

Asian

White

Total

Male

1437

201

78

997

2713

Female

1321

223

33

1310

2887

Total

2758

424

111

2307

5600

Pedestrianization of Selbourne Avenue

Projecti Objectives

To upgrade and intergrate the currently fragmented Public Transport facilities into a multi-modal public transport interchange.

To expand and develop the Russell square taxi Rank as the main transfer mode at the CBD end of the Mangaung Activity Corridor.

Initiatives of Combating Urban Poverty and Assisting the Urban Poor.

MIIU study found an avarage 67% of households live in poverty (40% earn less than R1000 and 27% unemployed)

Only 5 300 households had registered as indigent in 5 years

Indigent registration did not achieve the desired results

A pro-poor policy was adopted in 2003.

Application of the policy

Households with land value of R12 500 and improvements of R30 000qualified automatic.

78 000 households benefited

Write-offs of R169m in rates and sanitation fees in 2003/04.

Water and electricity write-offs of R130m in 2004/05.

Exemption from payment of rates, free sanitation and refusal removal.

6kl water and 50kwh electricity.

R2m funding to assist household falling outside the pro-poor but are actually poor (means test).

Financial Support

Financial support for full implementation the strategies for the upliftment of the CBD is insufficient.

Other support required

Finalization of a policy on incentives to facilitate CBD upliftment iniciatives

Role of Private Sector Investments

To form part of Mangaung's Policy on Incentives

Role of small business ( SMME's )

 

Mangaung Economic Development Strategy includes programmes on SMME development which includes:

Establishment of a small business network

Construction of a series of one stop SMME Development Centres.

Provision of structures /facilities where SMME's in the region can get easy access to finance.

Provision of formal market areas where informal traders can trade their products and services.

Crime prevention in City Centre

Crime Prevention in the Bloemfontein CBD is prioritized as a separate chapter in the Mangaung CBD Master Plan.

Collaboration with other stakeholders through Mangaung Compact, with pilot project of CCTV underway.

Historical and Cultural Identity

The historical and cultural identity of Mangaung CBD will be preserved through a special programme as indicated in the CBD Development Master Plan, inter alia referring to identification, preservation and restoration of historic CBD buildings.

Employment opportunities in the process of reshaping the CBD

Extended Public Works Programme through the use of labour intensive construction methods

State Readiness: 2010 Soccer World Cup

A multi stakeholder forum has been established and is working onnumerous programmes as determined by LOC, including:

Stadia

Hospitality and accomdation

ICT network

Transportation system

Safety and Security

Emergency Services , Disaster Management and Medical facilities

Volunteer Programme