THE Democratic Alliance's 2010 Report Card is an unscientific and biased analysis on the City of Johannesburg.

The City of Johannesburg has made considerable strides since the first Mayoral term (2000-2005) to the second Mayoral term 2006-2011.

The City of Johannesburg has for the last eight years been conducting independent and scientific surveys to measure satisfaction levels with service delivery amongst households and businesses residing and operating in Johannesburg's area of jurisdiction. These surveys enable the City to identify key challenges and priority areas related to service delivery. These surveys are done by an independent institution.

The City received a clean qualified audit report in the year ending June 2007 and thereafter the City of Johannesburg established practices to ensure on going achievement of clean audits. A year later, in 2008 the City received its first unqualified audit since the establishment of the metropolitan form of government. This led to the City's third successive unqualified audit by the Auditor General from the year 2007 to 2009. We are hopeful that Joburg will receive another unqualified audit for the year 2010.

The City's current rating is:

• Moody's Rating Agency is Aa3.za
• Fitch Rating AA-(ZAF)

Put together the aforementioned mean: Double A Minus Investment Grade

The City continues to be committed to sound financial practices and management.

Looking back at the past year with regard to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, we can state with certainty and pride that Johannesburg has been the centre stage of South Africa's hosting of the best World Cup ever. Our City will always be associated with this magnificent event that brought so much honour and distinction to the African continent.

This is the contextualisation of Joburg's role in the 2010 FIFA World Cup:

• The kick off concert was held at Orlando Stadium on the 10th of June,
• The opening and closing ceremonies were held in Johannesburg on the 11th of June and 11th of July, respectively. 
• All together fifteen (15) matches were played at both Soccer City and Ellis Park; including the first and the final matches. 
• The Football For Hope Tournament was held in Alexandra Township from the 04th of July to the 10th of July. 
• The International Broadcasting Centre that operated for an uninterrupted period of eight (8) weeks was based here, 
• The FIFA 60th Congress and Presidential Banquet were held in Johannesburg as well as other parallel events in and around the City. 
• The unforgettable nation building Bulls' game was played at Orlando Stadium in Soweto as a build up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Other Indications of progress range from the introduction of Rea Vaya, the City's public transport legacy which has strengthened the public transport system in Johannesburg.

The indigent households receive a package of up to 15 kilolitres of free water per household per month and up to 150 kilowatts hour of free basic electricity. In addition, significant progress has been made in creating emergency shelter for residents in the Inner City.

The City's Greening Programme has exceeded expectations. To date we have planted more than 200 000. We continue to rehabilitate and green the Jukskei and Klipriver. We have secured the support of many partners who are willing to travel the journey with us to make the City of Johannesburg green, safe and clean. We also continue to green soccer fields, especially in the South. More than ten new parks were developed, and more parks and cemeteries were upgraded - clear evidence that the goal of a green city is being realised.

The City's work on HIV and AIDS is co-ordinated through the Johannesburg AIDS Council chaired by the Executive Mayor and constituted of Members of the Mayoral Committee and individuals drawn from civil society organisations and research institutions.

The City's Johannesburg Migration Advisory Committee chaired by the Executive Mayor and constituted of Members of the Mayoral Committee and individuals drawn from civil society organisations, other government departments and migrants across Johannesburg which was established in 2009, continues to grow from strength.

The visibility of policing has also been increased through an operational plan that focuses JMPD patrols at transport nodes, parks, and areas with high incidents of crime. In the area of social crime prevention, metro police officers have been trained in victim support skills.

The City established Section 79 Committees that coincides with the relevant political portfolios to provide political quality assurance and scrutiny on all the work undertaken in the City.

The City's efforts and achievements have been recognised and appreciated by other role players. They range from:

• Rea Vaya receiving the ITDP Sustainable Transport Award 2010 in Washington - 2010
• Joshco receiving the United Nations' 2010 Scroll of Honour Award for its holistic approach to providing shelter, which benefited almost 30 000 people around Joburg - 2010 
• The JDA was awarded the Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) Award for Innovation for 2010, for various art pieces developed by local artists at BRT/Rea Vaya stations. 
• The CoJ maintained its Blue Drop status, and achieved first place in 2010 for Blue Drop Excellence nationally. 
• The Soweto Equestrian Centre won the South African Mixed Vaulting Championship at a final held in December 2009 at Kyalami. 
• Joburg Water received an Isigidi Award for its Olifantsvlei Treatment Works as the best managed large facility in the country. 
• The Alexandra Renewal Project (ARP) received a Scroll of Honour Award from UN-Habitat on 5 October 2009. 
• JRAS received the Institute of Risk Management South Africa Award. 
• The ZK Mathews Award, for the best performing group of ANC Councillors - 2010 
• Best Youth EPWP Development Programme - 2009 
• Gauteng Health and Social Development - second best performing district in Gauteng - 2009 
• National Alfred Nzo Award on Research on Health Hazards caused by improper labeling of food - 2009

These Awards suggested that the City of Johannesburg must be doing something right. The Municipal IQ briefing #248 dated 14 October 2010 under the heading analysis in its review stated that, "Johannesburg has shown improvement in Customer Satisfaction, albeit unevenly between services, and for this the City can be proud of areas of improvement. But like any Metropolis in a developing country, its economic success acts as a draw-card for migrants who often fail to secure the better life that they sought, or at the very least wind up compromised in terms of crammed living conditions for a transitional.

The City of Johannesburg is well placed for innovation and best practice in all aspects of delivery and leadership.

In the City of Johannesburg, we will continue working with residents to ensure the delivery of essential services and strengthening accountability and transparency.

Statement issued on behalf of the Executive Mayor by Nkhensani Makhobela, City of Johannesburg, February 3 2011

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