Johannesburg's decline: the city of gold is losing its shine
Opinion
A pub in Rosettenville, south of Joburg, was looted and the furniture set alight in the street as residents marched in the aftermath of an anti-drug and prostitution campaign about eight years ago.
Image: Picture: Timothy Bernard Independent Newspapers
The city of gold is melting, and its illustrious sparkle is fading at an alarming rate. Johannesburg, once a beacon of hope and prosperity, is slowly suffocating under the weight of neglect and crime, sending a distress signal loud enough for anyone to hear.
Strolling through areas once bustling with life, now echoes of despair reverberate through the streets, affirming that the city is on the brink of collapse.
A meandering walk from End Street to Ntemi Peliso Street starkly reveals the disarray. Roller doors that once bustled with activity now stand permanently closed, an epitaph to well-known brands that have fled in the wake of rampant crime and decay. The exodus of businesses is no mere coincidence; it is a poignant reflection of government inaction, as leadership appears either oblivious or indifferent to the city's plight.
Diagonal Street, once the proud home of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, is now a shadow of its former self — a warning sign that rang clear when the coveted financial platform migrated north years ago. The few establishments that remain have resorted to selling toasted corn or peanuts, mostly hawkers eking out a living.
Pule Makgale
Image: Pule Makgale
Hustlers scour bustling traffic lights, desperately trying to engage with motorists and passengers in this prevailing atmosphere of despair.
The scourge of crime and neglect is not just confined to the Central Business District (CBD). Neighbourhoods such as Berea, Hillbrow, Kensington, Turffontein, Rosettenville, and Orange Grove — once the pride of Johannesburg in the 80s — now bear the brunt of decay. The once vibrant city now emits a foul stench, as some individuals choose public spaces to relieve themselves, leaving those walking with children filled with embarrassment and confusion regarding the moral disintegration around them.
As residents wander through the city, they must navigate perilous sidewalks, where paving bricks have been stripped away, and open manholes pose a serious risk of injury.
Recreation parks that used to be serene resting spots for city visitors have transformed into makeshift shelters for vagrants, standing in stark contrast to the lively environments they once were.
Scattered across the city, dilapidated buildings whisper tales of neglect and despair.
A troubling instance can be observed in Turffontein, where one building has become notorious for the infamous drug nyaope, indicative of a deeper societal issue.
Many houses in this area now lie in ruins, and those that remain occupied face a grim reality: hijacked or abandoned, they serve as reminders of a once-thriving community.
As the mayor of Johannesburg takes to the podium to address its citizens, the urgent question on everyone's mind is, “What is the broader plan for restoring our beloved city to its former glory?”
With residents dutifully paying their rates and taxes, the demand for more than mere words has never been more pressing.
The recent talk about city improvements cannot afford to be yet another superficial attempt aimed solely at pleasing international visitors during the upcoming G-20 summit.
Johannesburg deserves restoration, not just a facade of improvement. Can the mayor deliver the lasting change this city so desperately needs?
Pule Makgale is Content Manager for The Star