Vision to make inner-city jewel in crown of Joburg
OVER the years, Joburg’s innercity has suffered gross neglect, resulting in the flight of capital to the upmarket Sandton and Rosebank. This can largely be attributed to a lack of political will in the city’s previous administrations, which resulted in the degeneration of the CBD, accompanied by crime, grime and drugs. Historic buildings have been abandoned or hijacked, dirt has piled up and crime has spiralled out of control. Previous efforts to rejuvenate the city have been halfhearted and ineffective – trumpeted to loud applause but never yielding the promised results.
Revitalisation is pivotal in the quest to unleash Joburg’s economic potential and realise a minimum target of 5 percent economic growth. An environment needs to be created in which small businesses can flourish and create permanent jobs, with low-cost housing being established close to work opportunities.
I consider the inner-city to be a jewel in the crown of Joburg. A blemished jewel, but one that can be polished to herald a new era of economic growth, job creation and affordable accommodation.
A couple of weeks ago I sat down with nearly 100 investors, developers and businesspeople, all of whom are committed to turning the city into a safe, vibrant and prosperous space for people, business and other institutions.
It was the largest gathering of the sort in many years and highlights their faith in the new administration’s commitment to dealing decisively with the challenges.
I was astonished to learn of the contempt with which they had been treated by the previous administration. Fundamental basics of local government have let them down for years, coupled by an unresponsive government that ignored their desperate calls for assistance.
But let me make one thing clear, it is the poor that have suffered the most as a result of the poor administration of the past.
I was stirred into action after reading a publication, Kidz Chron- icle, which included messages addressed to me. A Grade 6 pupil wrote: “Sir, please with all your might, please develop the broken buildings to make schools or jobs.”
Another wrote: “The inner-city has got deep secrets. It stinks in there because toilets are not clean, there are mice and rats and sometimes dead bodies.”
Most concerning was one’s exposure to people who “inject themselves with drugs every morning when I go to school”.
No one, and especially not our youth, should be exposed to such trauma. It is an utter disgrace that this has continued unabated for so long.
In the past week it was widely reported that the inner-city is the most dangerous place in Joburg.
While acknowledging it is the poor who suffer the most, I wish to state that the city can be business-friendly and pro-poor at the same time. In fact, the two must go hand-in-hand if we wish to stimulate economic growth, create jobs and deliver better services to residents.
A city that is business-friendly attracts investors and entrepreneurs and this leads to the creation of much-needed jobs.
The inner-city is of considerable historic and cultural value. Not only does it contain valuable old assets, but it provides an abundance of opportunities which must be unlocked.
Inner-city areas and urban heritage assets provide important opportunities for public and private investments.
We are taking action against crime, grime and urban decay to make the CBD attractive to residents and investors alike.
Together, with relevant stakeholders, a plan for the revitalisation will be developed within the next three months. Our vision is centred on bringing people and businesses back into the city, ultimately benefiting the poorest residents.
This plan will be centred on three pillars: crime prevention, upgrading and maintaining infrastructure, and cleaning our streets.
The Department of Public Safety and the JMPD are finalising a plan which will see the enforcement of by-laws and increased visible policing.
We will upgrade and maintain infrastructure, take action against owners of abandoned or poorly managed buildings, and encourage “ripple effect investments” that can lift an entire area.
We have set out to identify buildings that can be converted into affordable social housing. We are also investigating the possibilities of turning other buildings into affordable retail space to stimulate the growth of small business.