Speaking at the Johannesburg City Council Cabinet meeting on Friday, Ramaphosa stressed that the city was the economic and cultural heartbeat of the nation, adding that if the city becomes a success then the nation will shine.
Image: kamogelo moichela / IOL Politics
President Cyril Ramaphosa continues to express his disappointment with the state of Johannesburg, saying he was sad to see his hometown, Chiawelo in Soweto, plunged into darkness and without proper roads.
Ramaphosa said it was disheartening to witness such, especially in a city that he grew up in and was so much more than just an ordinary city.
“It was the other day when I was going to Chiawelo in Soweto, and I drove through the city and the township, and it was like driving through a dark city.
“I longed to see the beautiful tours of my city through streetlights, but there were none,” he said.
Speaking at the Johannesburg City Council Cabinet meeting on Friday, Ramaphosa stressed that the city was the economic and cultural heartbeat of the nation, adding that if the city becomes a success, then the nation will shine.
“By the same measure, when Johannesburg struggles to overcome its challenges, the effects are felt across the whole country,” he said.
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With disappointment on his face, Ramaphosa said service delivery challenges in Johannesburg have become a norm.
“Water and electricity interruptions have become the norm. This has an enormous impact on the quality of life of citizens and the operations of businesses.
“Johannesburg today faces enormous challenges, ranging from financial and governance instability to rapidly deteriorating infrastructure,” he said.
“The road infrastructure faces tremendous challenges. These include vandalism of traffic lights, dysfunctional streetlights and rapidly deteriorating roads and bridges.
”The president said these were some of the challenges that were constraining the growth of the city.
Meanwhile, Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero promised Ramaphosa that they would work on improving the city to meet the standards.
IOL Politics