It is ironic that with the G20 summit around the corner, Kempton Park’s central business district (CBD) is suddenly getting a lot of attention as part of the Ekurhuleni Metro’s so-called “CBD Revitalisation Programme” led by Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza.
The Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Roads and Transport Planning, Andile Mngwevu, paid an oversight visit to the CBD on Friday.
Kempton Park’s CBD did not decay overnight, though. Its current state is the result of years of neglect, poor management, and failure to enforce municipal bylaws and maintain infrastructure.
Residents and business owners have been calling for intervention for a long time, but so far, their concerns have fallen on deaf ears.
Friday’s crackdown on municipal bylaw violators, which led to shop closures, arrests and seizures, is a positive step, in principle, but it has to be part of a sustained strategy across the entire Metro, not just where the cameras are rolling.
So, the Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) would like to know what is being done about the Metro’s other CBDs, such as Germiston, Boksburg, Benoni, Springs and Brakpan, which are decaying at the same rate, but saw no interventions.
It appears that the focus is solely on Kempton Park because of its proximity to the O.R. Tambo International Airport, which makes it visible to international visitors during the G20 summit.
The Freedom Front Plus warns the Metro against prioritising superficial image management to create a good impression over ensuring sustainable service delivery.
The party insists that the Metro see to it that this Revitalisation Programme grows into a lasting and expansive restoration initiative.
It should include, among other things, the consistent enforcement of bylaws across all CBDs in Ekurhuleni, regular repair and maintenance of infrastructure, and visible policing coupled with collaboration to make CBDs safer.
In addition, law-abiding traders and businesses that are already doing their part to keep the economy going should be provided with the support they need.
Residents and business owners deserve cleaner, safer and investment-friendly CBDs every day, not just when the world is watching.
