Ramaphosa wants ‘filthy’ Joburg to return to former glory
President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday reiterated his disappointment at the declining state of Johannesburg.
Ramaphosa and his cabinet met with Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero and his mayoral committee to address issues leading to a lack of service delivery in the metro.
The meeting came a day after Ramaphosa’s meeting with the Gauteng provincial government.
The president told officials he believes there is every possibility that the country's economic hub could return to its former glory, which earned it the nickname ‘City of Gold’.
Ramaphosa said he was shocked at the state of the inner city during a surprise visit last week.
He also shared his experience during a recent visit to his family home in Chiawelo, Soweto, where he found the streetlights not working.
He described the feeling as “driving in the dark city”.
"One evening, travelling from Soweto, I wandered into the city late at night. I found the city filthy, the city was not clean.
"There was rubbish all over the show. I got out of the car and even went to some to the police officers and said to them this city looks torn, and they agreed,” he said.
On Friday, Ramaphosa announced the establishment of the Presidential Johannesburg Working Committee to accelerate service delivery in the city.
It comes as the city prepares to host the G20 leaders’ summit in November.
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