WHAT IS BEHIND THE RAPID DETERIORATION OF THE JOBURG CBD?

By Ml Luqman Skink, INX Prime news and current affairs editor

A concerned Johannesburg resident has started an X page to detail the devastating regression of the city of gold, showing its decline by comparing areas from 10-15 years ago to what they have become today. As the images went viral the owners of the account called for the urgent intervention of national government, with most people in the comments agreeing.

We were keen to interrogate the issue with one of South Africa’s leading urban and economic development experts, Lael Bethlehem. Lael is currently a partner at Genesis Analytics and from 2005 to 2010, she was the CEO of the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA).

Bethlehem said that cities typically develop over time, and need long-term planning anchored by a stable political and administrative leadership that pass budgets to fund its maintenance and growth over the years. In the case of the Johannesburg Metro, there have been multiple changes in leadership in a merry-go-round of musical chairs.

The chaotic era of coalition politics began in earnest after the 2016 local government election which saw Joburg’s first DA mayor, Herman Mashaba quit after just two years in the job. What followed has been a series of mayors from the Democratic Party, the ANC, and even a party with only one council seat, Al-Jama’ah.

Bethlehem explained that in order for a city to thrive, it needs a leadership that is committed to its growth who have the vision and inspiration. ”But the lack of commitment, care and concern by the city’s political leadership is a result of what we are currently seeing in Johannesburg today.”

HIJACKED BUILDINGS A CRUCIAL PROBLEM

Bethlehem said that hijacked buildings are a problem to every segment of society from those who live in them, to people in buildings next to them and society at large. Hijacked buildings are unsafe zones that even police do not venture in, and if they keep spreading, they scare off investors who wish to plough money into the city.

”The main thing about hijacked buildings is that it is a tough problem to have. Nobody wants to have to deal with a hijacked building. But if you run the City of Joburg, it is a problem that you must solve.”

HUMAN RIGHTS VS CLEANING THE CITY

South Africa’s constitution affords everyone the basic right to shelter so whatever changes happen in city by-laws must take human rights into consideration. People cannot be simply thrown into the streets.

”The presidency or the national treasury should assist cities in dealing with hijacked buildings because it’s a big job and cannot be handled by the City of Johannesburg alone. But it must be done and they are not getting the help they need.”

’AFFORDABLE HOUSING A SOLID INVESTMENT’

Bethlehem said despite its issues, the city of gold is still full of people who care about it and help its growth. ”On any given day, one can come across a new restaurant, a new creative design quarter or new businesses run by people who care about Joburg and who want to help it.”

She explained that in Johannesburg, the demand for affordable housing is huge because people want to live here, leading to a vibrant affordable housing industry. ”There is a fantastic affordable housing industry in Johannesburg including the investors that created Jewel City in Jeppestown with at least 1,000 stunning affordable housing units available right in the middle of town.”

Bethlehem pointed out that the most important priority for the political and administrative leadership of the city should be to spend on maintenance and attract new investment.

DADA MORERO’S R1 MILLION IDEA

While Bethlehem agreed with the concept of a competition to reward people to come up with the best ideas for improving the city, she believed the R1 million to be spent by Joburg mayor Dada Morero is quite a lot of public money to be used on gimmicks.

”For me, the problem is not really about ideas; what is needed is honest, proper, committed day-to-day government in the city of Johannesburg.”

What must the City of Johannesburg’s administrative and political leadership do to improve conditions in the city that is at the heart of the South African economic hinterland?