From Johannesburg to Tshwane: Proof that revival is possible

BECOMING mayor of Johannesburg in 2016 meant confronting a depth of rot and neglect that no soul could have been prepared for, a decay that had driven the city of gold into severe distress.

- HERMAN MASHABA

Corruption was endemic, service delivery had all but collapsed, and the once-proud inner city had descended into dystopian scenes. Few believed that reviving Johannesburg was even possible. Every day brought another crisis demanding attention, but that reality meant it was impossible to lead a reactive administration that simply jumped from one emergency to the next. Rebuilding Johannesburg required one thing above all: a clear and credible plan. Across the administration, everyone understood that at the centre of this fight was a military-style focus, innovative partnerships with the private sector and a clear recognition that our work, for however long the administration remained in power, was to restore dignity to residents.

One of the centrepieces of this fight was the Inner-City Revitalisation Project, a model of public-private partnership that serves as the benchmark for inner-city turnarounds. By releasing 154 abandoned buildings to the private sector for redevelopment, with an additional 37 factories identified, the project was set to unlock an estimated R32 billion in investment, create over 22 000 construction jobs and deliver nearly 14 500 affordable housing opportunities. What set this initiative apart was that it merged ambition with reality, understanding that a municipal administration alone could not restore Johannesburg. Instead, the City sought to create an enabling environment where the private sector could invest with confidence.