My family were residents of Tshwane for nine years before we decided to return to Johannesburg two years ago. It made sense to move back to the concrete jungle. Me and my better half work in the Joburg area. We had had enough of sitting in the N1 traffic. Don’t tell me about the Gautrain – it only saved us time, but not money.
Though living closer to work has been bliss – especially for my wife, who now drives only five minutes to work – moving back to Johannesburg is a decision we have lived to regret.
There have been times when we have had dry taps for days. One morning, we were turned away from two filling stations in the neighbouring suburbs that refused us access to their water. We have begged for water from security guards in shopping centres. We have had to chase water tankers down President Fouche Road.
The reality of the intermittent power supply has not been any better. We have had to change tyres and five wheels that had been damaged by the growing number of potholes in the city. The quality of life in Johannesburg has been on a dramatic decline since I moved here 18 years ago. That is why, instead of moving back to Nasiphi Moya’s City of Tshwane, I have a keen interest in who has a viable plan to fix Joburg.
I thoroughly enjoyed my chat with Helen Zille on Monday on why she wants to be the mayor of Johannesburg. She said all the right things – how she will make sure residents have access to water, electricity and timely rubbish collection.
But fixing Joburg will not be easy. It is a city that has been allowed to deteriorate for such a long time that it requires a serious overhaul. It will not happen overnight, and I’m not certain if Zille, at 74, has the time. But having a formidable name like Zille presenting her plans at least a year before the local government elections will do wonders for the DA.
Those who have counterproposals to Zille’s should consider stepping up now before she convinces the electorate that she has all the answers to our problems.
The Patriotic Alliance has forwarded the name of its deputy president, Kenny Kunene, as its mayoral candidate. History has taught me not to be dismissive of this candidate, as our electorate has proven not to be swayed by someone’s shady past.
If the people of KwaZulu-Natal voted for Jacob Zuma – probably the worst president we ever had – what could stop Joburgers from choosing the Sushi King?
ActionSA will most likely field its president, Herman Mashaba, a former mayor of the city. There were really no improvements to the lives of Joburgers during his tenure as mayor, but he remains popular in the city, and his xenophobic stance on migration remains his biggest selling point.
Other players, such as the EFF and the IFP, have not indicated whose names they are likely to throw in the hat. However, I doubt that Julius Malema has ambitions of inheriting a troubled city like Johannesburg, and the IFP has a shortage of big names who could compete with Zille.
What about the ANC? Well, if statements attributed to mayor Dada Morero are to be believed, the party is deep in slumber. Morero told the public broadcaster that the ANC – which is on a sharp decline according to recent surveys – will stick to its outdated tradition of choosing mayoral candidates.
Morero said the ANC process will start only in March next year with the announcement of the candidate selection guidelines. That will be followed by a drawn-out process that includes a meeting of the national executive committee and branch general meetings.
By that time, Zille could be miles ahead of anyone who comes late in the race. The ANC needs to understand that it does not have a God-given right to govern. Voters are long past the liberation hangover. The search is on for leaders who demonstrate an eagerness to work to improve the lives of the people and who have a strong record of doing so.
If Zille can convince them she is the woman for the job, by the time the ANC mayoral candidate selection process finishes, she would be a shoo-in. The ANC does not have a shortage of quality leaders and could easily look around its NEC for a perfect candidate to give Zille a run for her money. It could also recall some of its veterans from retirement. Methinks a Zille vs Naledi Pandor contest could make the Joburg race more interesting.
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