For Immediate Release
07 March 2025
Johannesburg, South Africa – The Joburg Crisis Alliance (JCA) is calling for urgent national intervention to address the worsening crisis in the City of Johannesburg. Years of financial mismanagement, crumbling infrastructure, poor governance, and corruption have left the city on the brink of collapse, failing its residents and businesses.
The JCA, a coalition of civil society groups, business leaders, and concerned residents, has issued a strong appeal to President Cyril Ramaphosa and the national government, emphasizing that Johannesburg must be saved from:
1. Financial ruin: The city’s expenditure far exceeds its income, and funds are allocated to non-core services, leading to an unsustainable fiscal crisis.
2. Infrastructure failure: Water and electricity systems are on the verge of collapse, leaving residents and businesses without the necessary basic services, negatively impacting living conditions and economic activities.
3. Public confidence crisis: Ratepayers continue to pay for non-functional traffic lights, closed swimming pools, neglected roads, and shuttered libraries.
4. Corruption and maladministration: From the Bree Street disaster to the capture of municipal boards, misgovernance is rampant.
5. Governance chaos: The constant change of mayors and leadership has created instability, leading to ineffective decision-making and lack of accountability.
JCA’s Demands for Urgent Action
The Joburg Crisis Alliance is demanding a bold and immediate intervention by the President and national government, including:
1. Appointment of Competent Leadership
Urgent appointment of a competent City Manager (CM) and Chief Operating Officer (COO) through a transparent process is critical. A full competency review of all senior managers in the city and municipal
entities needs to be conducted. Furthermore, scrap or restructure municipal entity boards to include experts and civil society representatives.
2. Financial and Organisational Review
Review the budget and organisation with the aim to eliminate wasteful expenditure, strengthen supply chain management, prioritise water, roads and electricity infrastructure in the 2025/26 budget and to halt non-essential big-ticket projects until a full financial review is completed and proper mechanisms of accountability have been implemented.
3. Action on Corruption & City Capture
Joburg’s governance is riddled with political and personal graft networks, with assassinations of investigators becoming disturbingly common. The Alliance demands immediate enforcement of the findings from the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), the Public Protector, and the Khampepe Commission to root out corruption and restore accountability. It also requested the reinstatement of the Group Forensic and Investigation Services (GFIS) and action to be taken on previous findings by GFIS.
4. Restore Public Participation and Accountability
Immediate reform of public participation processes must take place to ensure residents have access to council meetings, decision-making processes, and key municipal documents. JCA believes that the implementation of a Service Delivery Charter with clear standards for service levels and the necessary accountability measures such as clear and transparent performance scorecards and dashboards and consequence management must be applied.
5. Expansion of High-Impact Service Delivery Operations
Extend the service delivery initiative beyond priority areas for the G20 Summit to all 135 municipal wards to restore services to the people. It is unacceptable for the City to be threatened to fix the City for a mere international event. The City must consistently and efficiently serve its people on a day-to-day basis across all its wards.
The JCA called for a launch of the SAVE JOBURG Campaign, spearheaded by civic groups to mobilise residents and business to help fix and clean up the City. JCA requested for the establishment of a City Dialogue Forum to develop a long-term vision for Johannesburg (2026-2031) with input from all stakeholders.
A Historic Opportunity to Reset Johannesburg
The Joburg Crisis Alliance urges the national government to seize this moment as an opportunity to reset Johannesburg’s governance and service delivery. President Ramaphosa has long spoken of the need for transformation in Johannesburg—now is the time for action. “Thirty-five years ago, the President himself engaged with leaders in the Central Witwatersrand Negotiating Chamber, advocating for change in Johannesburg. We now call on him and his government to act decisively in restoring this city to its former glory,” said the JCA.
The JCA remains committed to working with the City of Johannesburg, national government, and all stakeholders to ensure the city is saved and put on a path toward long-term sustainability and prosperity.
END
Issued by the Joburg Crisis Alliance
For media inquiries, please contact:
Anele Gcwabe
Communications Manager
Ahmed Kathrada Foundation
083-278-8832
anele@kathradafoundation.org
