The streets are clean (in parts of Joburg), the traffic lights are working again, the grass has been cut, the lawns trimmed, water shortages are minimal and (some) potholes have been filled in. Suddenly it feels like Jozi is a city that functions, one that comes close to competing for the world-class status it craves.
Even the short and bashful Joburg mayor Dada Morero is walking tall, chest-pumping and visible again. If you have lived in South Africa’s economic heartland for the past few years, you know instinctively that this is not the city we have come to know.
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But before we get carried away, we need to be reminded that this was all a spruce-up for the G20 Leaders Summit taking place this weekend. With more than 40 world leaders and their delegations descending on the city, Johannesburg had to put its best foot forward. This was a show for visitors.
Remember when President Cyril Ramaphosa complained about the condition of Johannesburg in March?
“One or two of the G20 meetings that I attended here were not very pleasing. The environment that one observed was not a pleasing environment. I say this so that we can improve immensely,” Ramaphosa said at the time.
He urged the city and the provincial government to up their game.
“As South Africans, we are proud people. Let us get that self-pride that we have to lift us, so that we present a G20 that will wow people, so that when people look at what we offer ... they must just say, ‘wow, this is how South Africans do it’,” he said.
Since then, Morero has been hard at work, trying to change the image of the city.
But revamps before major events like these are not unique. All major cities care about their global image and strive to leave a good impression on visitors. A clean, well-maintained city projects an image of competence, pride and modernity. On the other hand, urban decay, litter and neglected infrastructure can tarnish the city’s image and reflect poorly on its ability to host important events. The obvious intended benefits are to attract visitors to return for holidays and to make a good impression for possible future investors.
But this leaves a bitter taste in the mouth for the ratepayers whose money is used for this purpose. Joburg residents are rightly questioning why this city has been left to deteriorate over the years while it is clear that the capacity to clean and maintain it exists.
While it is not the whole city that benefited from the clean-up, Morero and his team have demonstrated that where there’s a will, there’s a way. The best they can do is visit every nook and cranny and continue the revamp even after the visitors are gone.
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Ratepayers already pay an arm and a leg for services and they are entitled to basic service delivery from the city authorities.
It is unsustainable to present the best face of the city to the world, but to fail those who live in the city and pay for its upkeep. Otherwise, it all feels like putting lipstick on a pig.
