Stop playing political games and fix the City of Gold
John Major always had a tough act to follow, succeeding one of the 20th century’s most outstanding, if flawed, politicians in Margaret Thatcher. The Iron Lady was a hard nut to crack and stands tall in history. We may venture nonetheless that hers was the wrong side, opposite the global giants who shaped contemporary history.
One Major cartoon that might spring to the mind of students or observers of his era is a series that depicted him having lost his underpants in the chaos of contestation for the premiership. In the end, he finds the said piece of garment, puts it over his pants and hilariously goes on to display a double victory sign in celebration of warding off the challenge to his occupancy of office.
Why this unsolicited history, you may ask yourselves, dear readers? Well, the symbolism of a politician celebrating what no doubt amounts to a pyrrhic victory played itself out in the council chambers in Braamfontein, the seat of governance of Johannesburg. The iconic City of Gold is now arguably in its worst state in years.
Johannesburg is the site where many dreams were born and curated. They either came true or left the dreamer with such a bloodied nose they dare not dream again. Yet many dusted themselves off more than once and pursued theirs to fruition. Some even witnessed those who succeeded before them go on to bite the dust.
Since its inception in 1886, Johannesburg has been the driving force behind a city region that became an economic powerhouse not only of the country but also of Sub-Saharan Africa and the continent, helping drive its development.
Now, the man at the helm of this fading great city faces a challenge akin to the kind of turbulence Major often faced. On Wednesday, Mayor Dada Morero was confronted with a motion of confidence as frivolous as they come and duly emerged victorious when all was said and done.
His ANC comrades burst into song in celebration of the defeat of their perennial enemy, the DA, understandably. The underpants are back atop the suit pants.
But ours here is to lament the fact that people who should be preoccupied with restoring the city to glory seem to have little problem with playing games such as the kind we witnessed on Wednesday.
Johannesburg is a city in desperate disrepair, and no time should be wasted on anything but fixing it. Everywhere the eye lands, there’s no shortage of signs of decay. Street lights are not working, road markings have faded, and it appears there are more traffic lights out of order than in working order. Some have, unbelievably, been sawn off and carted away. Don’t get us started on the potholes.
It all points to a failing city, which is not something great to be said about the very economic heartbeat of the nation.
Even in its sorry, dilapidated state, Jozi remains a magnet for people chasing dreams big and small in their millions. We doubt that will change anytime soon.
What it needs are city fathers (and mothers) occupied with making a success of Joburg once again, rather than people playing political games far removed from the daily realities of the long-suffering resident.
