Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has come under fire for supposedly running a PR campaign in an effort to clean up and eliminate litter in Joburg.
The public backlash followed after the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) joined forces with the City Of Johannesburg and civil movement, Jozi My Jozi, to clean up some parts of Hillbrow at the weekend.
The clean-up campaign is part of the Central Business District (CBD) Revitalisation programme aimed at rejuvenating CBD areas in the province in terms of pollution and crime.
As Joburg is notorious for being infested with grime and piles of litter, the programme, launched in August, is focused on improving lighting, security, and cleanliness in the city.
Spokesperson for the GPG, Vuyo Mhaga, told the media that the programme is expected to expand across municipalities in the province to ensure locals enjoy the benefits of a safe and clean environment.
The GPG is currently working with the Joburg municipality.
“It’s about cleaning, it’s about safety. It is about making sure we fix hijacked buildings. You know that the city, together with the province, is starting to work and plan together.
“We are currently working with the City of Johannesburg, and we will be going to Ekurhuleni, we will be going to the City of Tshwane and other districts to make sure we rejuvenate because we have kind of neglected those CBDs for the longest of time,” said Mhaga.
He explained the GPG is on a rollout with the metro to revitalise infrastructure in Joburg in order to reclaim its position as the leading economic hub.
Fifty buildings that are believed to be in a dilapidated state have been identified by the provincial government that are in need of a revamp.
“The provincial government is going to be working with the city to invest in the infrastructure of Johannesburg, as I have said there are a lot of buildings that are not in a really good state.
“The City of Johannesburg has already identified who the owners of these particular buildings are so that they speak to them to make sure we rejuvenate them. The Gauteng Government has already identified about 50 of those buildings and obviously would need rejuvenating,” said Mhaga.
Lesufi wrote on X that Joburg was getting “a facelift” after the clean-up programme had concluded.
However, the premier was under the spotlight by social media users, with many stating he was driving a PR stunt.
“PR stunt. This should be done everyday. Now we must clap hands like seals cause you are sweeping and in a month, the sh*t will be back because you lot don’t understand consistency unless there is looting involved,” said @Jolly_toe.
https://x.com/jolly_toe/status/1857586355842253108?t=OINfwP95q7Xjb23Ne86cCw&s=19
“You black leaders can’t govern period. Instead of just deporting these illegal foreigners and keep the city clean, here you are getting impressed by stupid PR,” said @Facts_For_SA.
https://x.com/Facts_For_SA/status/1857470964134465996?t=OINfwP95q7Xjb23Ne86cCw&s=19
“The things you do for cameras? If you want to clean the CBD, you have to deal with illegal trading first. Those people are responsible for the filth in Jozi,” said @spmdletshe.
https://x.com/spmdletshe/status/1857364342292762864?t=OINfwP95q7Xjb23Ne86cCw&s=19
“Maintenance and sustainability will be highly appreciated instead of two minute marketing gimmicks. I walk in the JHB CBD everyday, it is scary, dirty and smells horribly,” said @PrinceLeshiba29.
https://x.com/PrinceLeshiba29/status/1857364059215061037?t=OINfwP95q7Xjb23Ne86cCw&s=19
Meanwhile, others urged Lesufi to enforce stringent by-laws to eliminate littering and the mass deportation of illegal foreigners.
“Let’s start by enforcing by-laws; have campaigns that encourage the people of Johannesburg to clean their streets. It’s no use cleaning today, then tomorrow it is the same problem,” said @ZWalaza37347.
https://x.com/ZWalaza37347/status/1857390029741461830?t=OINfwP95q7Xjb23Ne86cCw&s=19
“We need street wardens who can monitor by-laws on the streets permanently– people do not respect the law. Clean on one day and the people will go mess up that same spot the next day. Please also raise the fines for illegal dumping. Linked to this issue are also illegal street traders,” said @UnityInSA.
https://x.com/UnityInSA/status/1857391310811930929?t=OINfwP95q7Xjb23Ne86cCw&s=19
“Try cleaning out illegal foreigners, you will literally solve 95% of all the trash in the CBD,” said @TheRealPholosho.
https://x.com/TheRealPholosho/status/1857657933493887252?t=OINfwP95q7Xjb23Ne86cCw&s=19
The Star