The Gathering 2026: Power to the people — Communities step up as municipalities fail
From lighting up the Nelson Mandela Bridge to reopening a Joburg Library and contesting local elections, communities are finding different ways to reclaim their cities and hold the government to account.
In 2026, the annual The Gathering event brought together four civic leaders to discuss the actions taken by communities in response to failing municipalities. Mayfair, a Johannesburg neighbourhood, served as a case study for associate editor Ferial Haffajee, who observed the deterioration of public spaces and municipal services while her mother lived there. Instead of waiting for the government to fix the issues, communities stepped up and began taking matters into their own hands.
Jozi My Jozi Group CEO Bea Swanepoel championed a "coalition of the willing" approach, where residents, businesses, and partners collaborate with the government to implement practical improvements. One of their first projects involved restoring lighting on the Nelson Mandela Bridge, which had become a dangerous crossing for students. The bridge was transformed with a solar-powered LED system, becoming a symbol of hope during frequent power outages.
Civic action in Johannesburg also focused on pressuring the government to respond to community concerns. The Joburg Crisis Alliance's coordinator Yunus Chamda stressed the importance of protest action when the city fails to listen. The alliance successfully advocated for the reopening of a Joburg Library through public protest and book donations, drawing public attention to the issue.
Meanwhile, eThekwini Ratepayers Protest Movement chairperson Asad Gaffar took a different approach by preparing to contest the upcoming local government elections. He criticized the current government's failure to address community concerns, pointing to rising service tariffs and corruption as key issues. Gaffar's movement aimed to win around 10 council seats in the November elections, believing even a single seat would be significant in using its power.
In Cape Town, Mission for Inner City Cape Town co-founder Tim Harris described a reclamation project focused on transforming the inner city area hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. Over 400 businesses had left the region, prompting the co-founder and his team to build a public-private fund to unlock Capetonians' vision for the space.
Harris emphasized the importance of acknowledging constraints and leveraging potential within them, as well as drawing inspiration from a legacy of resistance against apartheid. He also highlighted a broader failure of leadership, arguing that many South African leaders were too self-conscious to seek help, which initiatives like his aimed to fill.
Regardless of their varied approaches, all panellists agreed on the necessity of citizens not waiting for the government to act.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Maverick's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
