By Alec Hogg
Geography can be tyrannical. Or seriously beneficial. In the case of my latest trip to Johannesburg, it’s very much the latter. After almost a year away, I’ve been less distracted this time. This has provided space to pay attention, to listen closer and ask more relevant questions.
There has been a definite swing for the worse in the mood of those obsessed with the headlines. That is to be expected as those losing their grip on levers of political power grow increasingly desperate. But on-the-ground there is abundant evidence that the IRR’s research on race relations is accurate. People are getting on just fine. That buffoon from the Spur is an aberration.
As an outsider it is also easier to pick up green shoots of improvement. A pipe burst in our area required the water mains being shut off. But this time instead of being left to wonder, there was an SMS informing residents about it. Plus the water was thoughtfully switched back on for the evening before the fix was done the next day.
On a broader scale, the increased activity among municipal maintenance teams is palpable. And with a further 1,500 municipal policemen being recruited, something concrete is being done to rein back Joburg’s crazy drivers. For the outsider, these are clear signals that new Mayor Herman Mashaba’s team are starting to get traction. Hope springs.
