Many moons ago London had Oxford Street and we had Eloff Street in Johannesburg. The two iconic streets were home to everything trendy ranging from high fashion to dining. In fact, up to the 1970s both streets were outstanding symbols of prestige and quality of the two cities’ retail districts with high-value properties.
As for Eloff Street – it was not only Johannesburg’s retail mecca but also offered an atmosphere of city pizzaz where the city slickers not only shopped but won the hearts of many doe-eyed lasses overwhelmed by their style, street cred and urban charm.
Unfortunately while Oxford Street remains Europe’s largest shopping destination – attracting over 200 million visitors annually, Eloff Street is hurtling down a dark alley towards its nightmarish future of becoming part of the many other commercial ruins within the city due to perennial neglect. As it is, those driving in and out of the city on the South end of Eloff Street are forced to endure the misfortune of having to navigate around what used to be an “ordinary” porthole turned into a dystopian-like crater – rather testing exercise given the fact that the route has to be shared with our ubiquitous mini-bus drivers and some of our African compatriots to whom road signs are mere suggestions. Compounding this rather disconcerting situation are recent reports that the Johannesburg Road Agency (JRA) responsible for the design, maintenance, repair and development of our road network is headed by a narcissist with an allegedly bought honorary degree. According to media reports – while we see the city’s historical landmarks like Eloff Street turning into an infrastructural nightmare – there is a bloke heading the Agency who insists on being addressed as “Doctor” on the strength of a possible fake honorary doctorate.
This information can only be an overload for the Johannesburg residents who are still trying to decipher the impact of Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s recent announcement that the Gauteng provincial government has agreed to be responsible for 30% of Sanral’s R43-billion debt relating to the erection of the much-hated e-tolls. Of concern, in this regard, is whether Gauteng does actually have the chance to pay 30% of Sanral’s debt and also continue footing the at least R3 billion annual maintenance bill. This is a major concern because reading from the city of Johannesburg’s decaying infrastructure both the City and the Gauteng provincial government seems to be living from hand to mouth. This could see them raiding the pockets of the already financially distraught Joburg citizenry.
Unfortunately, the antics of the head of an Agency supposed to “be run on strictly business lines and build more roads that are maintained within its existing budget” do nothing to allay the fears of the already financially overburdened motorist. How can they have any confidence in someone who – in such a critical state of affairs that both the City and the Province find themselves – is suspected to be nothing more than just an egoistic narcissist seeing his position as a platform for ego-tripping? His antics can only add to the fervent call for a professionalised public service. It’s either that or the citizens of our beloved City must be afraid … very afraid.
Lekota is a former Sowetan political editor