The Municipal elections will happen soon, and the participating political parties should address issues in Johannesburg urgently. Johannesburg is a rubbish dump, the CBD, and surrounding areas are Hillbrow, Yeoville and Joubert Park are dangerous, annoying, and there is a grave concern for safety. It is not safe to travel in Johannesburg independently and not to enter these areas after the sun goes down. Johannesburg is a city of crime and contrasts.
The biggest issues that need urgent attention are:
Crime: It is ridiculous how dangerous the situation has become. Every day there are reports of murders, robberies, hijackings, house break-ins, smash and grabs and gang-related crimes. Not a day goes by without hearing of a brutal rape case, a shootout in a public area, or something equally horrifying. Reported incidents of cases in affluent areas tend to make the news headlines and in poorer areas, the atrocities take place daily are often not even known.
Corrupt Police: This is a serious matter, and political parties need to stop the corruption within the police service. Most officers are more than willing to take money from people for minor offenses. If the police force honored their work, crime might be brought under control. There are plenty of police officers who are doing an excellent job, but can only do so much. Political interference, the lack of motivation and resources and poor work conditions all contribute to a failing police force.
To lessen the crime, there would have to be a clean-up of police stations which are already under pressure and understaffed. The police need more resources to improve and fight crime. The government does not give the necessary resources because the police are not making a huge dent in the crime statistics. The entire justice system needs an overhaul. Many police officers are frustrated when criminals are released due to bribery or some technicality. The prisons are under pressure and do not have the capacity to rehabilitate offenders. Criminals enter prison, make a call and return to the streets more dangerous than before.
Vandalism: Another massive problem and linked to the crime. The metal thieves stealing cables is ridiculous. Cable being stolen from lighting poles, traffic lights, and drainage covers. It is a serious problem and causes havoc.
Litter: City parks and rivers are dumping sites. It is gross and unsightly, some parts of the city are so filthy it is unsafe to inhabit. The council of Johannesburg, under the ruling African National Congress (ANC) government, has delayed taking action to clean up the streets. The city does not have sufficient public facilities, and the few that do exist are in a dilapidated condition; unhealthy, dirty and foul smelling.
Taxi Accidents: The responsibility of sixteen lives are in the hands of a taxi driver and yet there is no accountability. Taxi drivers are frequent rule-benders, often obstructing traffic dangerously with little concern for other drivers. There are so many accidents that happen each and every day, and most times a taxi is involved. Of course, other drivers raise the stakes further by driving more aggressively than defensively.
Beggars and hawkers: A stop at a traffic light in and around Johannesburg will be an opportunity for a beggar asking for money. These beggars and hawkers tend to make people uncomfortable and threatened. With the risk of being hijacked, people need to be aware of the surrounding and not to trust anybody. There must be a solution, and the government should intervene. The city is crowded with unemployed people who have nothing better to do than commit petty crimes or start a business selling goods to other desperate people eager to save some money. Vendors cook food on the pavements to sell to hungry people dirt cheap.
Service deliveries: The service deliveries in Johannesburg and around South Africa are pretty much rubbish. The lack of enthusiasm by municipalities has diminished vastly over the years, and perhaps people do not complain too much. Rather people have become accustomed to the shoddy work and infrastructure surrounding the city. There is a definite need to raise the quality of living for residents of Johannesburg.
With the municipal elections happening soon, the political parties will have to ensure that there is a strategy in place to attend to the urgent needs of the city. However, each and every election the public receive a promise of major service revamps yet little is done. Perhaps it is time for the public to look into the best municipalities in South Africa and vote for a party that can make a difference.
South Africa Today – South Africa News
