The city of Johannesburg is on the brink of collapse, and its residents are looking for a change. Elsie Seletisha, a resident of Ivory Park, attended a pledge launch by Joburg DA mayoral candidate Helen Zille, where she promised to “get Joburg working” if elected mayor. Seletisha believes that Zille is the only hope for restoring the city, which she says is crumbling under the current ANC leadership.
According to Seletisha, things were better in Johannesburg when Herman Mashaba was mayor as part of the DA, but they have since deteriorated. She claims that the ANC has failed to deliver on its promises, and all the city has gotten from them is corruption. Seletisha said, “iJoburg ibolile (Joburg is rotten), we gave the ANC a chance to lead this city, but they have failed; all we have got from them is corruption.”
Fixing Joburg
Zille made five commitments that she said would be the priorities of her government if elected as mayor of Johannesburg. These include providing reliable, clean water and a steady electricity supply, as well as fixing roads and dealing with crime and lawlessness. Zille promised to stop the stealing and wasting of public money and to ring-fence the revenue that residents pay for essential services, so that the money is used to fix and maintain those services.
As noted by the South African government, the city of Johannesburg is facing significant challenges, including a lack of reliable basic services. Zille’s plan to partner with the private sector to invest in infrastructure could be a step in the right direction. She said, “Money collected for water must fix water. Money collected for electricity must fix electricity, not fund the ANC’s friends, family, blue lights and Johnnie Walker Blue.”
Priorities
Zille’s priorities include:
- Providing reliable, clean water and a steady electricity supply
- Fixing roads and dealing with crime and lawlessness
- Stopping the stealing and wasting of public money
- Ring-fencing the revenue that residents pay for essential services
- Partnering with the private sector to invest in infrastructure
The city of Johannesburg is at a crossroads, and its residents are looking for a leader who can bring about real change. As the local government elections approach, residents will have to decide who they want to lead their city. For Seletisha, the choice is clear: she believes that Zille is the only one who can fix Joburg.
