Uni-Cities, Strikes and Media Citichat 12 January 2001

CITICHAT No. 1/2001 - 12 January 2001


Uni-Cities, Strikes and media – (The Good The Bad and the Ugly)

The 'Good' the 'Bad' and the 'Ugly' seems to be an apt epigram for the 2000 to 2001 rollover.

The 'Good' is the level of energy that was flowing in the city by the end of the year past. Those who read my last three or four Citichats last year would understand what I mean. It has been many years since we've experienced the numbers of projects and processes completed, started or about to start as well as increased interest in the city and increased letting activity. A great way to end a year!

"Good" too is the fact that the long-talked about uni-city, whether one likes it or not, is now no longer talk. New structures, new Mayor, new broom, new Council, new Year! We'll all be watching with more than academic interest as to how effective the new approach is going to be. A great way to begin a year!

'Bad' can only be used to describe the security officers' strike in the city spanning the rollover of the calendar. Why don't trade unions wake up to the fact that democracy and the right to strike so long denied them is reduced to ashes when their members behave like animals, smashing, intimidating and assaulting those that may not wish to join their cause? Worse still, assaulting those who have nothing to do with their cause such as experienced by three of our cleaners. The city doesn't belong to the trade unions nor to their members, it belongs to all of us and their actions should be viewed with the same disgust that rape engenders. What I don't understand is that they are allowed to behave in this way irrespective of what they do to persons or to public and private property. We hear commitment to "zero tolerance" but see no hard evidence that like "freedom of association" they aren't just empty rhetoric.

'Ugly' can only be used to describe the incredibly negative article by Professor Keith Beavon ("The City that Slipped" - Sunday Times Lifestyle January 7). Written in the bitter style that seems to have become his trademark in recent years relative to the city, it is sadly lacking in the kind of vision that he accuses all and sundry of betraying. A real pity because it results in a warped perspective that detracts from so much of his valid commentary on the history of the decline of the city. Certainly his identification of mass rezonings to the north of the CBD as being supported by local and/or provincial government officials "prior to "black local government" is not only accurate but conveniently ignored by those who blame all our ills on the current administration. But, that's where he should stop because he is so clearly out of touch with what's happening on the ground.

He is also clearly out of touch with what is happening in other South African towns and cities as we all struggle to come not only to grips with the effects of our disastrous history, but also with the pressures of urbanisation that are certainly not unique to the Johannesburg CBD. This is borne out obliquely in his "to be fair" comment that Sanlam's decision not to invest in the CBD was actually a decision not to invest in any South African CBDs at this stage! Conveniently ignored is the fact that a number of the projects that he portrays as having been no more than wishful thinking (convention centres, international trade centres, lakes, libraries and five star hotels) were linked specifically to casino projects that the authorities in their wisdom (or rather lack of) decided should be everywhere but in the CBD.

Plans of twenty years ago that have 'yet to be brought to fruition' will thankfully never see the light of day because they are inappropriate relative to where we are today. Planning of twenty years ago was flawed because it was racially skewed, what we are wrestling with are relevant plans for a city that will emerge in the next five years as reflecting the demographics of the province in which it is located and the country as a whole. I guess this is what Keith perceives as a "neo-apartheid city"!

Let's end on 'Good"! In complete contrast to "The City that Slipped" was the article by TM Chan that appeared in the Mail & Gaurdian (December 8 to 14, 2000) entitled "Jo'burg: One of the Great Cities". The writer, an American, points out that "it doesn't take a rocket scientist to get down on Jo'burg" and then firmly puts his finger on the pulse and excitement of the city that academics like the good Professor never experience, the pulse and excitement that says "hey, the patient isn't dead, just re-inventing itself!" Not for a moment glossing over the problems, TM Chan puts a perspective on the city that reminds me of why I do what I do, quote - "this is a city where thieves break in to steal milk and lock the doors on the way out. It makes you want to laugh and cry at the same time. . It's ironic, distressing funny. In so many ways, Jo'burg is all about this bittersweetness. People are tough because the circumstances are tough. The sunsets are beautiful because the air is full of pollution and dust. Things are funny because they are heartbreaking. And it is this bittersweet intensity that is Joburg's most captivating quality, a magnetic tension that is at the core of this city where people from all over converge to battle for ground. NYC in its buzzy old days was a similarly bittersweet place full of struggling poor immigrants and hard-luck kids dreaming of big city lights. Now it's Joburg that has the buzz, the energy and the intensity that makes you feel like if you can make it here, well, you can make it just anywhere. It is an amazing city. No doubt one of the greats"- unquote.

Thanks, TM Chan and, oh yes, Happy New Year to you all!.