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October Completion Date for Lilian Ngoyi Street Project

The City of Johannesburg’s Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) confirms that full-scale rehabilitation work has resumed on Phase 2 of the Lilian Ngoyi Street Rehabilitation Project following the resolution of recent operational cash-flow constraints. With payments now finalised and the contractor having regained momentum on site, the project has reached 72% completion.

To ensure the delivery of a fully upgraded, high-capacity arterial road and underground services network that meets stringent engineering and safety standards, the JRA has revised the target date for practical completion and the reopening of the road from the end of August 2026 to 31 October 2026. This is the earliest anticipated completion date and is contingent on the timely payment of service providers going forward.

The appointed contractor is currently on site undertaking critical upgrades to the road surface, stormwater infrastructure and sidewalk extensions on Lilian Ngoyi Street (between Ntemi Piliso and End Streets) as part of the second and final phase of the project involving the overall enhancement of the 1.8-kilometre stretch of Lillian Ngoyi Street.

This will align the road layout with the newly reconstructed 450-metre section (between Harrison and Wanderers Streets), which reopened to traffic in September 2025, following the July 2023 gas explosion.

The detailed scope currently underway includes:

  • Paving of the road and sidewalk;
  • Kerbing, base correction for intersections;
  • Excavation and installation of underground stormwater pipes;
  • Construction of stormwater manholes and kerb inlets; and
  • Installation of electrical lighting.

JRA CEO, Mr. Zweli Nyathi said, “Major works are anticipated to be completed ahead of the October rains and thereafter the construction and installation of bus stops, street furniture and landscaping work will be finalised. JRA assures road users, residents, businesses and other stakeholders of its efforts to ensure that the project remains on track without further delays beyond October 2026.”

The project is implemented in a phased approach to ensure minimal disruption to traffic and business activity, with localised closures on Lilian Ngoyi Street and partial road closures on adjacent roads effective until the end of October 2026, as part of our acceleration plan to complete the outstanding works.

The affected sections include the following:

  • Wanderers Street to Von Wielligh Street
  • Von Wielligh Street to Delvers Street
  • Delvers Street to Troye Street
  • Troye Street to Polly Street
  • Polly Street to Claim Street
  • Claim Street to Nugget Street
  • Nugget Street to End Street

The above sections will be closed progressively to facilitate the completion of the outstanding works. As each section is completed, it will be reopened to traffic accordingly. All intersections will remain operational during the sectional closures.

The City of Johannesburg’s Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Transport, Cllr. Kenny Kunene added, “The City is committed to resolving cashflow challenges to ensure service delivery continuity for all, enabling entities such as the JRA to successfully carry out the necessary road infrastructure projects which are vital for public mobility and economic activities.”

JRA extends its gratitude to motorists, residents and local business owners for their continued patience and cooperation as we finalize this critical connection route.

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The Wilds: Rebirth

The “rebirth” of The Wilds is one of the most heartening community success stories in modern Johannesburg history. It was spearheaded by local artist James Delaney and a dedicated group of volunteers starting around 2013. Delaney began by simply clearing dead wood and trimming overgrown paths on his own, but the project soon evolved into a massive public-private partnership. The most iconic addition to the park during this revival was the installation of over 100 laser-cut steel sculptures of animals. These brightly colored owls, giraffes, antelopes, and monkeys are perched in the trees and tucked behind rocks, turning a walk through the reserve into a scavenger hunt for “industrial wildlife.”

Today, The Wilds is a thriving, safe, and dog-friendly space that hosts yoga classes, art exhibitions, and thousands of visitors every weekend. It has become a symbol of “active citizenship”—the idea that the residents of Johannesburg don’t have to wait for the government to fix their city; they can take ownership of their own neighborhoods. The park is also a critical ecological corridor; in a city that is increasingly paved over, The Wilds provides a habitat for indigenous birdlife and insects that would otherwise struggle to survive in the “concrete jungle.”