Economist.com Cities Guide: Johannesburg Briefing - February 2006

News this month

Gravy plane?

The new year has started badly for Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, South Africa's deputy president, appointed last year after Jacob Zuma, her predecessor, was sacked because of corruption charges. She has been embroiled in a controversy surrounding her use of a South African air-force jet for a trip to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with her family during the holidays, at a cost of between 400,000 rand and 700,000 rand ($67,000-117,000) to South Africa's taxpayers.

Confusion surrounds the reason for the trip. The government first declared that it was a holiday, but then explained that some work was involved. It hardly helps that a friend of Mrs Mlabo-Ngcuka went along for the ride, and that the UAE government footed part of the trip's bill. The South African government maintains that it has done nothing wrong, but the political opposition parties to the ruling African National Congress (ANC) are having a field day. Trade unions have also called for new rules to regulate the use of public facilities by government officials.

On the trail

Campaigning is gaining momentum for South Africa’s local elections, scheduled for March 1st. On January 8th, the ruling ANC launched its manifesto with a promise to spend over 400 billion rand on infrastructure over the next five years. The Democratic Alliance (DA), the ANC’s main opposition, launched its own manifesto on January 28th, which emphasises fighting corruption and improving management and services in local government. The poor performance of some municipalities in delivering water, electricity, sanitation and rubbish collection led to some violent protests in various districts last year.

In Johannesburg, Amos Masondo, the city’s mayor, is expected to be nominated again as the ANC's candidate. The DA has issued a scorecard criticising his performance, but his backers have pointed to better services and financial management on his watch. Thanks to Mr Masondo, they say, Johannesburg has grown faster than the national average and more than 98% of residents now have access to basic services, such as water and electricity. They also give the mayor credit for the gradual regeneration of the city’s derelict downtown. Locals may agree: last year, 68% of residents said they were satisfied with municipal services, compared with 64% in 2004.

The eye of the storm

Heavy summer rains hit Johannesburg during the first half of January, causing severe problems in the city's sprawling townships. The Diepsloot informal settlement and the township of Alexandra were particularly hard hit when the Jukskei river burst its banks, washing shacks away and leaving hundreds homeless.

The city's authorities immediately launched a relief operation. There have been some long-term plans to provide proper housing for the residents of Johannesburg's informal settlements, and one high-profile project has been under way in Alexandra for a few years now. But the floods have brought the size of the problem into focus: over 200,000 households are still on waiting lists for council housing, and many claim regeneration is proceeding too slowly and ineffectively.

Farewell, Anton

South Africa's business community lost a giant on January 18th with the death of Anton Rupert, a tycoon and conservationist, aged 89. From modest beginnings, Mr Rupert became one of the richest men in the world. He first built his empire on cigarettes, later expanding to luxury goods, with brands such as Rothmans, Cartier and Montblanc in his international stable. He was also a respected conservationist, taking a role in the founding of WWF, an international environmental organisation, and a generous patron of the arts.

Although he was a member of South Africa's old white establishment, Mr Rupert evolved with the times. Once a member of the Broederbond—the secret society that included the most powerful figures in Afrikanderdom—he eventually came to oppose apartheid. He adopted what he described as “loyal resistance”—opposing the system but without open confrontation—in his support of racial integration and promoting blacks within his businesses. Mr Rupert was famous for his modesty and simplicity, and shunned the limelight.

Back to school

As South Africa's students began another school year, there was much talk about the “matric”, the final high-school exam for the class of 2005, as it was the first to be educated under a democratic, non-apartheid government. Of the students who sat for the exam, about 68% passed, down from 70.7% in 2004, falling short of the education ministry's objective of a 70% pass rate. Only 17% of all students earned results good enough to enter university. Gauteng, the province which includes Johannesburg, ranked fourth out of South Africa’s nine provinces, with 75% of its 136,882 students passing the exam.

Education is a hotly debated issue in South Africa, absorbing a large slice of the national budget. The country's economy is harmed by the general shortage of skills among its citizens. But the quality of training is regarded as inadequate to correct the problem. One of the most controversial topics is school fees, still paid by students despite the ANC government's long-standing promise to make education free for those in the poorest regions. The government has made this a priority for the coming budget year.

Catch if you can

February 2006

Picasso and Africa

February 10th–March 19th 2006

This Picasso extravaganza—the largest exhibit of his works ever assembled in Africa—examines the parallels between his works and African art, from which he drew considerable inspiration. Organised with the support of the French Institute of South Africa and the French Embassy, the show includes more than 60 of Picasso's paintings, drawings and sculptures, from sources including the Musée Picasso and the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the artist's family and various South African collectors.

A book has been published to accompany the event, with essays from the French and South African curators and illustrations of all exhibited works. The show will travel on to Cape Town.

Standard Bank Gallery, Corner Simmonds and Frederick Sts, Johannesburg. Tel: +27 (0)11 631 1889. Open: Mon-Fri 8am-4pm; Sat 9am-3pm. The gallery has exhibition information.

More from the Johannesburg cultural calendar