The Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) has thrown its weight behind metro mayor Dada Morero’s inner-city cleanup campaign, which has seen parts of the CBD cleaned up and cleared of illegal traders.
Morero said the Clean City campaign is intended to restore civic pride and strengthen the enforcement of municipal bylaws to ensure cleanliness and order, which forms the foundation for innovation, investment and sustainable development.
“This is not about elections; it’s about delivering essential services and upholding accountability,” said the mayor.
He said the residents of Joburg had the right to a clean, safe and well-managed city. “That obligation does not change with the political calendar. Our focus is unwavering on sustainable solutions, not temporary fixes.
“We are rebuilding trust through tangible actions, ensuring every neighbourhood feels the impact of our responsive, people-centred governance. I extend my gratitude to the residents, law enforcement officers, and community leaders.”
The city, SA’s economic and financial heart, is responsible for 16% of GDP and employs 12% of the national workforce.
“The Clean City campaign is more than just a cleanup; it is a movement for renewal,” Morero said. “It reminds us that a cleaner city is a safer, more attractive and prosperous city. With our business partners we will build a Joburg that reflects the best of who we are.”
Joburg’s municipal government has been criticised for many delays in addressing infrastructure challenges, especially an ageing, unreliable water supply system. Heaps of rubbish are a blight on the inner city, while many pavements have become open-air markets for traders.
Extensive infrastructure blitz continues across Johannesburg
— City of Joburg (@CityofJoburgZA) October 22, 2025
The Executive Mayor, Councillor Dada Morero's #HighImpactServiceDelivery mandate is being executed daily, targeting critical infrastructure failures and service backlogs across Joburg's seven regions to deliver… pic.twitter.com/WDmHDHHWBQ
On an oversight visit to the city in March, President Cyril Ramaphosa noted it faced “enormous challenges, ranging from financial and governance instability to rapidly deteriorating infrastructure”.
Noting that the city would be hosting the G20 summit in November, he added, “When our visitors leave after the G20 leaders’ summit, let them leave inspired by what they saw and experienced in Joburg.”
Speaking to Business Day on Wednesday, JCCI CEO Bernadette Zeiler said the business sector welcomed Morero’s intervention in cleaning up the inner city but added it could have started sooner.
“It’s a welcome initiative … we are involved in this campaign … Joburg is a key and strategic city on the continent. It’s very important that issues of infrastructure upgrades are addressed,” Zeiler said.
Mayoral communications acting director Khathutshelo Mulaudzi said Morero wanted to encourage business leaders to participate in the campaign and would dedicate three days in November “to engage CEOs during the CEO cleanup launch”.
“Leading companies will be formally invited to join a long-term public-private partnership aimed at driving Joburg’s transformation.”
DA Joburg caucus leader Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku said though Morero’s campaign had garnered significant attention, “it’s important to note many residents and local councillors have long been advocating for improvements to our city’s upkeep. These requests, however, have largely fallen on deaf ears until the G20 came into the picture.
“The timing of this campaign, right before such a high-profile international event, raises concerns about its sincerity and sustainability. It feels like a missed opportunity to genuinely address the ongoing needs of our residents and ratepayers … , rather than a short-term initiative focused solely on impressing G20 visitors.
“That this cleanup is only being prioritised now, when the international spotlight is on us, speaks volumes about how low these issues were on the agenda before for the ANC-EFF-PA government of local unity.”
Kayser-Echeozonjoku continued: “Despite numerous calls for action over the years by councillors, the only time we see visible improvements is when it benefits visitors. We should be prioritising the long-term maintenance and care of our CBDs for the benefit of everyone, not just for a single event.”
