Many towns and cities throughout South Africa have deteriorated dramatically. Local government is in trouble in many areas, and with municipal elections looming in 2026, there might well be many government changes.
Also, with the arrival of coalition throughout government and the unlikelihood of majority parties in most areas, local government is destined for a significant shakeup.
From President Ramaphosa to ordinary citizens, there is an increasing impatience with poor service delivery, filthy streets, parks, open spaces, traffic lights that do not work, potholes, water problems, and sometimes no electricity for weeks.
The president “visited” Johannesburg, (in which he lives), and was shocked at the filth and degradation, as well as the failed and failing infrastructure. He must regret his invitation to members of the G20, which is an intergovernmental forum comprising 19 countries, the European Union, and the African Union, to hold its annual conference in Johannesburg.
The ANC has appointed senior members of the party to oversee the work of the metros, a sign that the government has no or little confidence in the ability of those elected to run the cities to do so adequately.
The president has also appointed a special task team to try to put things right in Johannesburg in time for the G20 November Summit. They will attempt to restore the lost lustre of Johannesburg, (a “world-class African city”), and avoid embarrassing South Africa. One wishes the president, his task team, and the political supremo’s good luck.
Meanwhile, citizens of all or no political persuasion, have started taking the matter in hand. One of the most impressive efforts is the Reimagine Randburg campaign, initiated by Roy Andersen and Lucinda Harman. Roy is a very prominent businessman, a retired major general in the part-time forces, and among many other posts, a former president of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.
He and the effective and hard-working Ward 102 city councillor, Lucinda Harman, put their heads together, and after a visit to Springs to view a similar initiative, launched Re-Imagine Randburg. This is a citizens' initiative and in the third month of the campaign, there has been a remarkable and heart-warming response from business people, the Blairgowrie Residents’ Association, sports clubs, hotels, and ordinary residents.
Some successful meetings have been held and many people have committed themselves to the Reimagine Randburg campaign.
A one-week, or one-month commitment to cleaning up pavements, traffic islands, roads, eyesores, and rubbish dumps, to name a few, is not what is required. A long-term commitment to being responsible for keeping a small area in front of a shop or a hotel or one’s business premises, or donating some time, is what Lucinda and Roy envisage will make all the difference on a sustainable basis.
Some businesses, like Lite-Glo, have responded enthusiastically. They cleaned up their entrances, pavements, and traffic islands in Bram Fischer Drive, and challenged MacDonald’s, their nearest neighbour, to do the same.
MacDonald’s did nothing, so Lite Glothemselves went across the road and cleaned up the weeds and grass on the pavement and traffic island in front of MacDonald’s. They then, to great amusement, put on their website before and after pictures and suggested that they should get fries for the cleanup.
This spirit of friendly rivalry is catching on, and Lucinda and Roy were mentioned by Premier Lesufi in his SOPA speech.
Suddenly, one hears of other, similar efforts in parts of Johannesburg. Our citizens need to take ownership and do their bit in re-imagining areas that have deteriorated so badly. Don’t wait in the hope that someone else will do it.