‘Johannesburg cannot be a bargaining chip’: Zungula’s plan to fix the city

Johannesburg cannot remain a mere bargaining chip in coalition negotiations, insists Vuyo Zungula, the leader of the African Transformation Movement and a mayoral candidate. He aims to reopen the Metro Centre within his first 100 days in office. Zungula argues that frequent changes in leadership have weakened accountability and disrupted policy continuity, stating, "Johannesburg cannot continue to function as a political bargaining platform at the expense of its residents."

He advocates for professionalising the municipal administration via merit-based appointments and a coalition agreement focused on service delivery rather than political disagreements. Zungula proposes written coalition agreements with clear service delivery aims, shared performance targets, and dispute-resolution mechanisms. As the ATM, he is ready to collaborate with parties committed to clean governance and stable institutions.

However, political cooperation should never permit compromising accountability or protecting underperforming officials. Zungula highlights water, electricity, sanitation, waste collection, and road maintenance as immediate priorities. He pledges to strengthen revenue collection, eliminate wasteful spending, and combat corruption.

Zungula emphasizes that investor confidence hinges on a functioning city, stating, "Investor confidence begins with a functioning city." Additionally, he aims to professionalize the administration, make procurement transparent, and hold municipal entities accountable to rebuild trust among businesses and investors. Zungula also wishes to reduce administrative delays, support small businesses, and improve commercial and industrial areas to foster an investment-friendly environment.

His economic vision concentrates on transforming townships into economic hubs rather than relying on opportunities concentrated in established commercial centers. He pledges to reopen the Metro Centre first, followed by an infrastructure recovery program, a comprehensive review of municipal expenditure, and a public service delivery monitoring mechanism.

Zungula admits that Johannesburg's issues cannot be entirely resolved within 100 days but insists residents should witness a noticeable change in city management, problem resolution speed, and public official accountability.