PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has described the state of infrastructure in Johannesburg as archaic and that its electricity challenges have turned it into a dark city as he launched his administration’s intervention into the municipality.

On Friday, Ramaphosa and members of his Cabinet met City of Johannesburg officials in the council chambers in Braamfontein in an attempt to tackle the challenges it faces.

He said the national government would intervene through a structure similar to the Presidential eThekwini Working Group, which was established a year ago.

”I established the Presidential eThekwini Working Group with the support of local stakeholders in the district development model (DDM) style. This included businesses, civil society, national and provincial government as well as labour,” Ramaphosa said.

In the country’s ailing economic hub, he said the government would implement this collaborative approach as part of the DDM.

”We are proposing the establishment of Presidential Johannesburg Working Group to have the same effect. We are going to rebuild Johannesburg, to take Johannesburg back to its glory days, but we are going to work together because we are now going to do real, effective work,” Ramaphosa promised.

“This would bring in all levels of government and the expertise of our stakeholders to accelerate service delivery, stabilise the city’s finances and operations, and enable economic growth and job creation.”

Ramaphosa explained that the reason for setting up a Presidential Johannesburg Working Group, similar to that of eThekwini was that the coastal city is being turned around.

“So turnaround time has arrived, and we are now going to work and restore the glory of this city (Johannesburg).”

Ramaphosa also described a recent trip to Soweto, where he grew up, where he was reminded of the state of Johannesburg.

”It was the other day when I was going to Chiawelo in Soweto, and I drove through the city and into the township. It was like driving through a dark city, and I longed to see the beautiful contours of my city through street lights, but there were none,” he explained.

Ramaphosa said these are just some of the challenges that are constraining growth in the country’s economic hub, which affects factors that attract investment.

”As the largest metro in the country, responsible for 16% of South Africa’s gross domestic product, Johannesburg is integral to the economy as a whole. It is the economic and cultural heartbeat of our nation. In the end, Johannesburg’s success is the nation’s success,” he explained.

In addition, Ramaphosa said the municipality’s infrastructure was archaic as it was built in the apartheid days many, many years ago.

”It needs to be attended to. A special focus of our efforts should be the rejuvenation of the inner city,” he urged.

Johannesburg mayor Dada Morero declared the city was ready to host the G20 Summit in November after Ramaphosa raised concerns about its state.

”Mr. President, rest assured we have heard you. From now on, watch the space. We will not disappoint you any further. As the people of Johannesburg, we are ready to host the G20 Summit,” he undertook.

Morero said it is not true that the City of Johannesburg is only providing services because of the G20 Summit.

”As the City of Johannesburg, we are going through difficult times. Difficult times do not necessarily mean a crisis,” he said.

loyiso.sidimba@inl.co.za

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Johannesburg Crisis: Ramaphosa launches Presidential Working Group to tackle infrastructure collapse