Piles of rubbish, power cuts and potholes: anger grows over Johannesburg’s run-down infrastructure
The problems run deep in South Africa’s largest city. Will voters punish the ANC in next week’s local elections?
TL;DR
- Johannesburg is experiencing a crisis of public services, with overflowing rubbish, frequent power cuts, and water shortages affecting residents.
- The city's infrastructure is in a state of disrepair, with a significant spending backlog and a quarter of water lost to leaks.
- Residents, including those in affluent areas, are facing severe disruptions to daily life, resorting to desperate measures to secure basic necessities like water.
- Public discontent is high, with citizens expressing anger and frustration at local government officials during public meetings.
- Experts and reports suggest that widespread corruption and governance failure are key drivers of the city's infrastructure problems.
- Ahead of the local elections, the Democratic Alliance is campaigning on these issues and appears to be leading in opinion polls, potentially unseating the ruling ANC.
- Political analysts highlight the complexity of coalition politics in Johannesburg, which could hinder the DA's ability to form a governing majority.