MyJHB

Stuff from Johannesburg

Ekurhuleni: Oh what a circus, oh what a show!

Dear Editor

The ANC and EFF in Ekurhuleni cannot even agree amongst themselves on the way forward, much less pick a new mayor.

The ANC infighting and the EFF’s flip-flopping in Ekurhuleni has left the Council in limbo and sets service delivery back once again. The coalition of corruption and confusion were quick to stand together to vote out DA Mayor Tania Campbell but like the proverbial dog chasing a bus, they had no idea what to do with it once they caught it.

The council meeting was postponed after the ANC could not get enough of its caucus to agree to vote for an EFF mayor. While this squabble was going on, ActionSA which has been working hard to bring the EFF on board in Ekurhuleni were again left in limbo after they turned their backs on the DA but didn’t get what they hoped for from their new ANC and EFF friends.

The cost to the residents of the Metro is terms of money spent on a council meeting where the ANC/EFF couldn’t agree on who to propose as mayor as well as the time wasted that could have been spent on dealing with critical issues that the residents want addressed, is yet another example of why neither the ANC or the EFF should be trusted with the reins of government.

The DA will continue to fight for the residents of Ekurhuleni who deserve better that the shambles on show in the council chambers today. Voters should take a long hard look at the chaos caused by the political games played by the ANC and EFF and the steep financial cost resulting from this.

The DA is the only party that can ensure a stable and working government.

Regards

Solly Msimanga
Leader of the DA in Gauteng

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Sophiatown: The Lost “Paris of the Transvaal”

Sophiatown’s golden age was the 1940s and 50s. It was a dense, vibrant, and often dangerous neighborhood, characterized by “backyard” rooms, shebeens (illegal speakeasies), and a sophisticated social scene. It was the birthplace of Kwaito’s ancestors and the legendary “Marabi” music—a blend of traditional African rhythms and American ragtime. The streets were home to the most iconic figures of African literature and music: Miriam Makeba found her voice here; Hugh Masekela received his first trumpet from a local priest; and the writers of Drum magazine, like Can Themba and Bloke Modisane, used the neighborhood as their muse. They dressed in Fedora hats and double-breasted suits, channeling the style of Hollywood gangsters and Harlem intellectuals, creating a world that was cosmopolitain, intellectual, and radically multi-racial.

However, the “Bohemia” of Sophiatown was an existential threat to the National Party’s vision of total racial separation. The government viewed it as a “black spot” in a white area. In 1955, the state launched Western Areas Removal Scheme. On the morning of February 9th, 2,000 heavily armed police officers moved in, forcing families into trucks at gunpoint. They were relocated to the newly established matchbox houses of the South Western Townships (Soweto), 20 kilometers away. The resistance was led by figures like Trevor Huddleston, the Anglican priest whose church, St. Joseph’s, still stands today. Despite the slogan “Ons dak nie, ons pola hier” (We are not moving, we are staying here), the bulldozers were relentless.