Economist.com Cities Guide: Johannesburg Briefing - November 2005

News this month

Losing their sting?

The future of the Scorpions, the South African police’s elite crime-busting unit, is under a cloud. Created in 1999 to target corruption and organised crime at the behest of Thabo Mbeki, South Africa's president, the unit has an impressive record—Winnie Mandela, Nelson Mandela's former wife, and Tony Yengeni, once chief whip of the ruling African National Congress (ANC), have both been convicted thanks to its efforts. But in October, a commission held hearings to determine whether the Scorpions should remain unchanged, be incorporated into the police force or be disbanded.

The Scorpions have enemies in other law-enforcement agencies, who have criticised the unit for stepping on their toes. It also seems that the sacking of Jacob Zuma, South Africa's former deputy president, in June was a scalp too far for the Scorpions. Mr Zuma's many supporters maintain his prosecution—he appeared in court on corruption charges on October 10th and faces trial next year—is politically motivated. However, South Africa's public, fed up with graft, likes the Scorpions. A decision on the unit's future now rests with Mr Mbeki himself.

A spooky business

The sacking of Mr Zuma on corruption charge, is casting a long shadow. War within the ANC between supporters of Mr Zuma and Mr Mbeki may have begun interfering with state institutions and, potentially, national security. In October, some commentators believe, such competing loyalties affected South Africa's main spy agency, when Ronnie Kasrils, the intelligence minister, suspended Billy Masetlha, the boss of the National Intelligence Agency, and two other senior managers, for the allegedly unauthorised surveillance of Saki Macozoma, a businessman and leading figure in the ANC. An investigation is under way.

Mr Macozoma is regarded as an ally of Mr Mbeki, and e-mails that implicate him in a plot to tarnish Mr Zuma have emerged, though Mr Kasrils has dismissed them as a hoax.

An expensive ticket to ride

October brought some bad news for the Gautrain, the much-delayed rapid rail-link between Johannesburg and Pretoria, South Africa's capital. Trevor Manuel, South Africa's finance minister, announced that the project would now cost 20 billion rand ($3 billion), nearly three times its 2002 budget. Changes in the train's route after an environmental impact assessment, and increased land and insurance costs, were among the reasons given for the rise.

Still, the Gautrain is eagerly awaited in Johannesburg. It is expected to reduce road congestion and boost the local economy by creating much-needed jobs. Construction is due to start early next year and be completed by the 2010 football World Cup, which South Africa is hosting. But the timetable may yet be derailed by an ongoing court battle between squabbling members of the Bombela consortium, which won the Gautrain tender earlier this year. Two of the companies in the consortium are claiming to be the rightful representative of the black empowerment component—the shareholding reserved for black investors—in Bombela.

Auto addiction

It was a brave idea, but ultimately it flopped. Johannesburg's no-car day on October 20th, part of a national campaign, was called by the city's authorities in an effort to ease the traffic congestion that bedevils Johannesburg, especially during rush hours. Officials urged locals to leave their cars at home and travel by public transport. But the call went largely unheeded, with traffic jams as bad as ever.

South Africa's appalling urban public-transport system lay behind the apathy. In Johannesburg, the bus and rail systems are in a terrible state, so the few who own cars (which nonetheless clog the city's inadequate road network) are reluctant to give them up, while carless households—73% across the nation, according to a 2003 survey—are forced to use expensive and unsafe shared minibus taxis. Johannesburg's authorities plan to revamp the aged bus fleet over the next few years, adding new bus routes, more frequent services and a licensing system for the minibuses. But the day that Johannesburgers can be persuaded out of their cars is probably a long way off.

Get out of town

Johannesburg's run-down city centre has long been a blight. But the city council is ramping up its efforts to improve it, with a scheme to force the owners of dilapidated buildings—known as “slumlords”—to clean up their act. In October, the council's Inner City Task Force announced that it had closed 25 dangerous or crumbling buildings over the past 16 months, and forced other slumlords to fix their properties.

The city is targeting derelict buildings that contravene city regulations (many have been turned into illegal accommodation), with collapsed sewerage systems, pests, no waste management, no fire-fighting equipment and decaying fire escapes. The scheme is part of a wider effort to regenerate downtown Johannesburg. Its decline has pushed many companies to relocate to offices in the northern suburb of Sandton.

Good investment

Some of Johannesburg's students have a new role model: Sir Richard Branson, a British businessman and founder of Virgin, an international conglomerate. On October 26th, the CIDA City Campus, a local university offering business degrees to poor students, opened the Branson School of Entrepreneurship, which aims to help qualified students start and manage their own businesses. The school, a collaboration between Virgin and CIDA, will also offer modules in social entrepreneurship. Sir Richard attended the opening of the school in downtown Johannesburg where, with trademark flamboyance, he left his footprints in concrete at the entrance.

The new school is a boost to CIDA, already a shining example of educational creativity. Started in 2000 with no equipment and 250 students, it graduated its first class in 2004. Students pay a small fraction of other universities' tuition fees, but cut administrative costs by helping with cleaning, computer maintenance and administration. South Africa’s big businesses fund CIDA and some of their top executives teach there.

Catch if you can

November 2005

“The Art of Charf”

Until November 12th 2005

With this engaging love story, Paul Slabolepszy, a popular South African playwright, strays from his usual theme of sport. Gloria van der Vyfer, an Afrikaans-speaking “agony aunt” (advice columnist) and matchmaker is losing her clients to internet dating services. But things change when Cedric Tidbury, a recently divorced plumber seeking the perfect wife, walks into her office. With his shorts, red socks and sandals, he is exasperatingly hard to market. Elize Cawood and Wilson Dunster (pictured), a real-life couple, offer a heart-warming portrayal of two middle-aged people finding love.

Liberty Theatre on the Square, Nelson Mandela Square, Sandton. Tel: +27 (011) 883-8606. See the theatre's website. Bookings via Computicket.

More from the Johannesburg cultural calendar