<h4 style="text-align&#58;justify;">​Herstory International Festival kicked off with explosive sights and sounds at Soweto Theatre on Tuesday night, 2 August 2022. This all-women festival is led by award-winning playwright Napo Masheane and a host of other incredible women. It is true when they say “when women support each other, incredible things happen”, the glimpse of what we were graced with last night was an embodiment of women supporting each other. </h4><p style="text-align&#58;justify;"><br></p><p style="text-align&#58;justify;"><img class="ms-rtePosition-1" alt="MMC Harris.jpg" src="/media_/Newsroom/PublishingImages/Pages/2022%20News%20Articles/August/Herstory-International-Festival/MMC%20Harris.jpg" style="margin&#58;5px;" /></p><p style="text-align&#58;justify;">At the opening patrons were welcomed with a musical performance by Afazi Bengoma. They were then delighted with an excellent musical band directed by AusTebza, poetry, dance, “Elelloang” a one-woman show, a beautiful speech by Gail Smith and outstanding musical performances by Carline Borole as well as Buhleb​endalo. It certainly was an exciting time in theatre!<br></p><div style="text-align&#58;justify;"><br>&#160;</div><div style="text-align&#58;justify;">This festival comes at the start of women’s month where it is hosting 17 countries worldwide. These artists will also take part and showcase their talents. </div><div style="text-align&#58;justify;"><div><br>&#160;</div><div>&#160;</div></div><div style="text-align&#58;justify;">The Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development in the City of Johannesburg, Cllr Ronald Harris, wished all the Herstory International Festival participants and organisers the best. He said he hoped many people will go out and witness what women are doing on their own. </div><div style="text-align&#58;justify;"><div><br>&#160;</div><div>&#160;</div></div><div style="text-align&#58;justify;"><div>“On behalf of the City of Johannesburg, we would like to thank everybody involved and for putting us in the forefront of the theatrical map. We trust that our visitors will enjoy what Johannesburg has to offer, we hope that they will have a taste of pap and vleis and that they will take with them good stories about what it is all about,” said Cllr Harris.</div><div><strong><br></strong></div><div><strong><br>​03/08/2022</strong><br></div></div>

<h4>​​One of the City of Johannesburg’s most significant infrastructure developments in terms of scope and scale has received an entry into the 2022 Fulton Awards.&#160;The Watt Interchange, which lies on the Louis Botha Development Corridor, saw 100 000m3 of earthworks materials moved and 13 000m2 of shotcrete undertaken, making it a stellar entry for the 2022 awards.</h4><p style="text-align&#58;justify;"><br><img class="ms-rtePosition-1" alt="JDA Watt interchange.jpg" src="/media_/Newsroom/PublishingImages/Pages/2022%20News%20Articles/August/JDA’s-Watt-Interchange-project/JDA%20Watt%20interchange.jpg" style="margin&#58;5px;" />The awards recognise and honour excellence and innovation in the use of concrete in southern Africa. Previous JDA projects that have won a Fult​on Award include the Nelson Mandela Bridge and the Constitutional Court of South Africa. <br><br>The Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA), on behalf of the Transport Department in the City, implemented the construction of the Watt Interchange as an artery for the enablement of the Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) System Phase 1C trunk route operation.<br><br>The interchange forms part of the Rea Vaya operations from Sandton to Alexandra, along Rivonia Road and Katherine Drive, and the trunk route from Parktown to Alexandra, along Louis Botha Avenue.​<br><br></p><div style="text-align&#58;justify;">Once operational, the interchange will stand as a high-quality integrated public transport interchange, consisting of the following key elements&#58;</div><div>&#160;<br></div><div style="text-align&#58;justify;"><div>•&#160;Underground basement loading and off-loading bays;</div><div>•&#160;Commuter Information Area</div><div>•&#160;Designated trunk route</div><div>•&#160;Universally accessible facility</div></div><div><br>&#160;</div><div style="text-align&#58;justify;">Construction at the Watt Interchange included demolition of the previous bridge and the interchange at Watt Street, upstand concrete beams, allocation and relocation of services, construction decks and retaining wall construction.<br></div><div><br>&#160;</div><div style="text-align&#58;justify;">“We are excited to receive the honour as an entry for the 2022 Fulton Awards. The Watt Interchange is another example of how the JDA manages and facilitates developments efficiently. The innovation of Watt Interchange is an equitable, sustainable and resilient city,” said Siyabonga Genu, the Acting Chief Executive Officer at JDA.</div><div>&#160;</div><div style="text-align&#58;justify;">In keeping with the JDA’s processes and practices to support job creation and enterprise and skills development for disadvantaged groups of women and youth, a total of 31 local small business contractors. The project employed about 246 labourers from the local community.</div><div>&#160;</div><div style="text-align&#58;justify;">The City of Joburg’s Transport Department is the ultimate custodian of the infrastructure to enable the functionality of the BRT Rea-Vaya system, an investment in conjunction with the National Department of Transport. To realise the overall objectives of providing the required public transport facilities to South African citizens.<br></div><div>&#160;</div><div style="text-align&#58;justify;">Facts about the Watt Interchange project&#58;</div><div style="text-align&#58;justify;"><br>•&#160;Earthworks included over 100 000m3 materials moved</div><div style="text-align&#58;justify;"><div>•&#160;18 km of ground anchors, 10 km of soil nails, and 13 000 m2 of shotcrete installed. </div><div>•&#160;One of the City of Joburg’s most significant and complex infrastructure developments in terms of scope and scale</div><div>•&#160;The project included the construction of new BRT lanes and underground stations</div></div><div><br>&#160;</div><div style="text-align&#58;justify;"><strong><em>03/08/2022</em></strong><br></div>