The City of Johannesburg is tackling service delivery challenges within the inner city through a high-impact programme recently launched by Executive Mayor Councillor Dada Morero.
Under the theme “Reimagining Joburg through the eyes of residents", the initiative addresses critical issues such as vandalism, illegal utility connections, illegal dumping, unregulated trading, hijacked buildings, land invasion, and homelessness.
As part of the Inner-City Revitalisation Programme, multi-departmental teams have been working across Region F's 11 wards for the past 11 weeks. Their efforts include a clean-up operation to clear illegal dumping, building inspections, repairing potholes, fixing streetlights, unblocking stormwater drains, public education and by-law enforcement.
Key achievements
- The Law Enforcement Task Team conducted 36 joint operations. A total of 331 properties were inspected to ensure compliance with city by-laws. A total of 517 infringements were detected and regulated. The properties inspected comprised of licensed premises, mini supermarkets, corner shops, vehicle repair shops and several high-rise buildings which have been converted into shopping centres. Inspections led to the closure of non-compliant businesses, including licensed premises, and the seizure of illegal goods. Many buildings were found operating without approved plans or with illegal utility connections.
- City Power & Joburg Water: City Power has repaired over 500 streetlights, disconnected over 200 illegal electricity connections, recovering millions in owed revenue.
- Joburg Water repaired burst water pipes, leaks and leaking valves, sewer blockages and disconnected illegal water connections.
- Pikitup: Removed 1 000 tonnes of waste in hotspots like the MTN precinct and Usindiso building, while conducting street sweeping and emptying skip bins.
- Johannesburg Roads Agency: Cleared over 150 stormwater drains, fixed and patched 100 potholes, and addressed vandalised traffic signals.
- City Parks & Zoo: Cleared overgrown vegetation along major routes and removed abandoned structures.
- Social development: profiling of displaced individuals with some relocated to city shelters and a handful successfully reunited with their families.
Challenges and priorities
The inner city struggles with overpopulation, ageing infrastructure, hijacked buildings, illegal street trading, homelessness and illegal settlements. There is an urgent need for sustainable solutions, including:
- Regulating informal trading through permits and demarcated spaces.
- Auditing and rehabilitating “bad buildings".
- Strengthening partnerships with the private sector and law enforcement to attract investment.
Moving forward
The programme, supported by a public awareness campaign is ongoing, with measurable targets set for the coming weeks. The goal is to restore the inner city's functionality while ensuring long-term sustainability and aiming to attract investment.
“We are reshaping the inner city block by block, street by street," said Mafune. “Though challenging, we are seeing progress and remain committed to delivering for our residents."
Written by Dudu Lushaba
09/05/2025
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