Founded in 1886 after the discovery of gold in the Witwatersrand region, Johannesburg was once fondly called the “City of Gold”. It became a major centre for gold mining, with its surrounding areas producing almost half of the world’s gold output by the early 1900s. Today, Johannesburg’s mining industry remains an important part of its economy and cultural heritage, and the metropolis is still home to Rand Refinery, the world’s largest gold refinery, established in 1920.
But all that glitters isn’t exactly gold. These days, Joburg seems to be violently ricocheting between bad and worse. To some degree, this makes perfect sense as it is not unmarred by the country’s gruesome history of racial segregation. Even after its end, the legacy of apartheid remains at the root of the city’s many issues.
It wasn’t until the end of apartheid that Joburg saw its first black mayor, Isaac Mogase in 1995. Since then the city has seen a succession of controversial figures, such as Herman Mashaba, the founder of the hair product company Black Like Me who served as the Mayor of Johannesburg from 2016 to 2019. Mashaba announced his resignation on 21 October 2019, citing differences with the opposition.
Photograph by Thomas Bennie
It should come as no surprise then that Thapelo Amad, the most recent Mayor of Johannesburg, also resigned today. Gauteng Premier and ANC provincial chairperson Panyaza Lesufi announced the resignation, stating that Amad had resigned with immediate effect following intense consultation. Lesufi thanked Amad for demonstrating selfless leadership and preserving the interest of the local government.
The embattled mayor was facing a motion of no confidence, together with the council speaker, Colleen Makhubele. Amad, a member of Al Jama-ah, a Muslim minority political party, is the first Muslim to serve as mayor of Johannesburg. Being an imam with a degree in Islamic sciences, the 41-year-old had initially inspired immense hope during his short tenure.
But inevitably, Amad eventually came under fire after an interview with the SABC, where he claimed to have secured an R9.5 billion prospective loan to solve service delivery issues in the city. His resignation came amid a sea of allegations of corruption and mismanagement and after only three months at the helm.
Image courtesy of Internet archives
Amad had been elected interim mayor of Johannesburg in January 2023 with the support of the African National Congress (ANC). He had served as the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Development Planning in the short-lived administration of ANC mayor Dada Morero. The DA‘s Gauteng chairperson, Fred Nel, accused the ANC/EFF/Patriotic Alliance coalition of manipulating Amad for personal gain. Nel presented the DA candidate – Mpho Phalatse, who he claims has a proven track record of understanding the needs of Joburg residents.
The DA does have a point – Amad is a disappointment, but he is not the issue. Though Phalatse is an appealing candidate, being the first woman to serve as mayor of Johannesburg – she too was ousted in a vote of no confidence. The party fails to acknowledge that the issue here is systemic.
The truth is, the city has long been plagued with poverty, crime, corruption, and poor governance. These problems have resulted in sustained disparities in wealth and access to essential services, with poverty and unemployment further contributing to crime rates. Johannesburg’s high unemployment rate was worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. By 2020 the unemployment rate had reached 31.2% in the fourth quarter, with the national average at 32.5%.
Photograph by Keenan Constance
With slogans like “Always striving for service excellence” and “A world-class city”, the city’s leadership seems to be feeding its constituents a steady diet of falsehoods. Corruption and mismanagement in government are undeniable reasons behind Johannesburg’s failure to deliver, leading to a lack of trust in local officials and a general sense of malaise. Despite purported efforts to address these issues, many municipalities still struggle to deliver basic services, especially to marginalised communities.
Still, Johannesburg has huge potential, being the economic and financial hub of South Africa and arguably the African continent. It boasts top-rated universities, research institutions, and hospitals. It is home to many museums, galleries, and cultural institutions, and is renowned for its music, culinary, and sports industries. These enormous assets make it a prime breeding ground for future leaders.
The city’s issues existed before Amad and will doubtless linger long after him. Simply replacing him is not the answer. Jozi’s future depends on leaders who are brave enough to dismantle the broken system. As we face the worst of the world’s new shift towards the right, and the looming effects of climate change, we need leaders who will guide us through what might be even more challenging times ahead. Soon enough, once the youth has come to terms with having to lead themselves – bad leadership will have to be a scene of the past for this sturdy city of gold.
Photograph by Clodagh Da Paixao
Photograph by Gregory Fullard
