The Randburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) welcomes by-law enforcement initiatives by the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) in the Randburg CBD, but calls for consistency. The raids which were conducted on Thursday 4 December, were part of a broader city’s cleanup campaign which seeks to enforce bylaws as violated by illegal informal traders.
The Randburg CBD has over the years seen a decline in business activity, rise in crime and lack of enforcement which has lad to a decay forcing companies to exit the area.
Randburg Chamber CEO, Richard Ntjana, says a collaboration of the city’s entities is needed to successfully win the battle against lawlessness. “The City of Johannesburg shouldn’t just do raids but the municipality’s waste management, Pikitup, should manage their operations with weekly routine schedules. They have to introduce the measures to ensure cleanliness and the development of a continuous improvement process.”
“Special attention should be given to hotspots “attracting” litter, such as domestic waste collection points. Overflowing or dirty bins may cause users to become more negligent and litter more. Waste collection points, if not managed properly, will also induce more littering” he said
The decay of the Randburg CBD led to the establishment of the Randburg Precinct Management District (RPMD) in 2024, The aim of the RPMD is to revitalise Randburg CBD and create a clean and safer area for business owners, tenants, residents, property owners and visitors. It was established to create an inclusive community approach to addressing the issues of the area. While the initiative is still active a broader support is thus needed to keep it active and relevant to the needs of society.
Keeping cities clean is a challenge in South Africa, but collaborations between law enforcement and communities might be a step in the right direction.