Despite massive clean-up efforts, Johannesburg CBD remains overwhelmed by litter and neglected infrastructure.
In a monumental effort to revive Johannesburg CBD, municipal entities recently reported the removal of 1 million kilograms of trash from the inner city over the past four months. Despite the scale of this clean-up, many residents argue that it has barely scratched the surface of the city’s persistent waste management and infrastructure problems.
A Massive Cleanup with Limited Impact
Since early 2024, Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero spearheaded a series of weekly service delivery drives under the banner of “Reimagining Joburg through the eyes of residents.” These efforts involved not only cleaning operations but also addressing issues like vandalism, hijacked buildings, and by-law infringements.
Among the most notable accomplishments, Pikitup cleared 1,000 tonnes of waste from hotspots such as Marshalltown while conducting regular street sweeping and emptying skip bins. Yet, this success seems marginal when juxtaposed with the fact that greater Johannesburg produces around 1.6 billion kilograms of waste annually.
Additionally, multi-departmental teams worked to restore basic infrastructure: the Johannesburg Roads Agency cleared over 150 stormwater drains and repaired more than 100 potholes. City Power tackled over 500 streetlights and disconnected 200 illegal utility connections. Yet, as notable as these achievements are, locals say they fail to address the root causes of decay.
Residents Still Not Convinced
Despite these efforts, many residents and community leaders remain skeptical. Zark Lebatlang, a resident and ActionSA PR councillor, voiced his concerns, suggesting that while the clean-up looks promising in photos, the long-term impact is barely noticeable. He attributes much of the litter problem to spaza shops and informal traders, which he claims are not sufficiently regulated.
Lebatlang believes that aggressive measures are needed to empower residents to take ownership of their environment, including fining non-compliant shop owners and educating the community about maintaining cleanliness.
Law Enforcement and Structural Issues
Cleaning up the litter is just one piece of the puzzle. The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department conducted 36 joint law enforcement operations, inspecting 331 properties and identifying 517 by-law infringements. This led to the closure of some non-compliant buildings and the confiscation of illegal goods.
However, Lebatlang remains critical of the city’s approach, pointing out that the current interventions merely “scratch the surface” of the problem. He emphasises that without a comprehensive strategy addressing both crime and urban decay, the city will continue to struggle.
The Way Forward
The efforts to clean up Johannesburg CBD mark a commendable step toward restoring its former vibrancy. However, addressing the underlying challenges — from enforcing environmental regulations to empowering communities — is crucial to making a tangible difference. As it stands, the city’s clean-up efforts may feel like a temporary band-aid on a long-festering problem.
Also read: Johannesburg Water Spends R100K Weekly to Clear Foreign Objects from Sewer Lines
