The electricity crisis in Johannesburg is worsening by the day. Over the past two weeks, residents in many parts of the city either experienced prolonged power cuts themselves or knew someone who went through the ordeal.
But the power issue is just one of many service-delivery challenges making the country’s “world-class African city” a less pleasant place to live, work and do business in.
These problems range from regular water cuts to potholed roads and out-of-order traffic lights. The dysfunction is a symptom of Johannesburg’s unchecked decay, decried even by President Cyril Ramaphosa when he visited the CBD recently.
The urban entropy negatively affects not only the quality of life of the city’s residents, but also its economic fortunes, given that it threatens current and future business investments
The urban entropy negatively affects not only the quality of life of the city’s residents, but also its economic fortunes, given that it threatens current and future business investments.
During his visit to the inner city, Ramaphosa announced the deployment of a working group to assist ineffectual mayor Dada Morero and his equally impotent mayoral council to turn the city around.
The public response to this intervention has been sceptical — and justifiably so. For too long, the government has been long on promises but short on delivery.
However, when one considers a similar intervention in eThekwini, all may not be lost.
By all accounts, a turnaround is under way in what used to be South Africa’s prime holiday destination. This is attested to by, among other stakeholders, the Durban business community, which says it has noticed a change for the better.
Certainly, based on their track record, it is clear Morero and his council are in over their heads — which makes Ramaphosa’s proposed intervention all the more urgent.
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