JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng — As the political jostling for a new mayor intensifies in Johannesburg, the foundational vision of transforming the metropolis into a “World Class African City” remains a central benchmark for success. Amos Masondo, the former mayor who originally championed this ambitious blueprint, maintains that the goal of global competitiveness is still entirely achievable despite the severe urban challenges of today.
In the early 2000s, the municipal mandate was clear: benchmark the economic hub against top-tier global metropolises. The strategy was meticulously designed to harmonize rapid economic expansion with spatial integration and elevated service delivery. Today, however, residents and analysts frequently point to crumbling infrastructure, inner-city deterioration, and political turbulence as evidence that the original master plan has stalled, leaving the metropolis looking like a shadow of its former self.
Addressing the current state of the city, Masondo argues that surrendering to decay is not an option. He emphasizes that municipal leadership carries a profound responsibility to future-proof the metro.
“We have a responsibility to develop the city of Johannesburg and position it in such a way that it is able to compete with key cities,” Masondo stated. He stressed the necessity of implementing futuristic improvements, noting that continuous urban rejuvenation is the only way to ensure the city compares favorably to the best international destinations. “When you reach that stage where things don’t look well, you need to ensure renewal,” he added.
Looking back at his decade in office from 2001 to 2011, Masondo’s administration left a highly visible, physical mark on the city’s largest township, Soweto. The local government successfully tarred more than 300 kilometers of gravel roads in record time, meeting a strict deadline to finish the surface road upgrades by December 2005. Furthermore, his tenure saw the launch of the municipality’s Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) network, an innovative transit framework that subsequently served as a model for other South African cities.
As the “City of Gold” navigates its current struggles, the contrast between its golden aspirations and present-day realities prompts critical questions about execution and governance. With political factions currently jostling to install a new mayoral leader for the metro, a growing chorus of voices suggests that the decisive, forward-looking leadership style characteristic of Masondo’s era is exactly what the populace is craving to reverse the decline and finally realize the dream of a world-class African city.
