Neil Fraser
June 20, 2003
Great party on Gandhi Square, I hear, last Friday evening when the Kaizer Chiefs/Acer partnership launched their 'cyber centre'.
Evidently comprises an internet café plus a major computer training facility at first floor level that will be operational in July. Members of Kaizer Chiefs (one of South Africa's leading football clubs for our overseas readers) will be offered training at varying costs depending on level of membership of the club.
Later this year a Kaizer Chiefs Store will also open on the Square which will offer 'Chiefs' clothing/memorabilia etc in line with the modern retailing approach of the best international sports clubs. All in all these will contribute to more activity on the Square which will in turn inevitably add an increased positive spin-off for 'on the Square business'.
Tuesday saw the announcement by the Gauteng Premier, Mbhazima Shilowa, of major improvements to the province's school nutrition programme; R150 million allocated to job creation and 5 400 more police for the province (although there are concerns regarding training and lack of management resources - anyone remember the disaster of the 1 800 'kitskonstables' back in the early '90s?)
Wednesday this week heralded two significant events - the first, hosted by the Executive Mayor, was the announcement of the results of an inner city perception survey - see details below - as well as the handing over of a cheque to the Executive Mayor by Dr Ali Bacher - 'Mr Cricket'.
The money was raised at a Charity banquet earlier this year when fourteen cricket bats each autographed by members of the Cricket World Cup teams were auctioned and the proceeds promised to the Mayor for his choice of charity. The cheque was for R400 000-00 and given by the Mayor to the Johannesburg Child Welfare Society.
The second event was the opening of the office of Councillor Sol Cowan, the Inner City Mayoral Committee Member, in the CBD. So why's Sol's re-location a noteworthy event? I think that it is great to have the man responsible to the Executive Mayor for the inner city to be resident amongst us - the huge Metropolitan Centre in Braamfontein is not where the action is which means that those who work for the city are somewhat remote from the realities that we mere mortals contend with daily. As the Aussie cricketers would say, "Good on yer, Sol!"
The CBD Perception Survey 2003
The Executive Mayor, Amos Masondo, introduced the results of a Perception Survey undertaken under the auspices of Surveillance Technology (Pty) Ltd - previously BAC Surveillance Technology. He pointed out that perceptions were greatly influenced by the top issues that the inner city was addressing - unemployment, crime and enforcement, unmanaged informal trading and taxis, bad buildings, etc.
The perception survey results reflected the rising confidence in the CBD and the Mayor pointed out that another recent survey placed Johannesburg fifth after Washington, Detroit, Miami, and believe it or not, Cape Town in terms of violent trauma cases! There has been a massive shift in the respondent's views, for example, 82% have a positive outlook of the CBD as compared to 51% two years ago.
John Penberthy, the MD of Surveillance Technology - the company responsible for the inner city CCTV installation and monitoring - pointed out that the survey had been carried through independent research involving interrogating 48 key stakeholders in the CBD environment carefully selected for their representivity. The results of the survey carried out in December 2002 and January to March 2003 were directly comparable to a similar survey carried out two years previously ie in the same months of 2000 and 2001.
The objective of the survey was to identify shifts in perception since the previous survey relative to the challenges facing efforts to reclaim, regenerate and revitalise the CBD.
The following are some of the results/responses (with brackets indicating comparative or relevant data to the previous survey). Please note: the percentage results do not add up to 100% because there may be more than one question within a category or because it is an indication of individuals having more than one view on a particular subject.
If nothing was done to regenerate the Johannesburg CBD, what would be the cost to Johannesburg and South Africa?
Overwhelming response with 98% (84%) stating that it would be an enormous loss - financially and in terms of our national reputation and image.
Would you consider relocating to or investing in the CBD?
- 92% positive response
- 73% already in CBD (53%)
- Only 7% (13%) said NO
In the context of a greater Johannesburg, what is your view of the CBD's future over the next five years and beyond?
- 82% (51%) see it positively
- 48% (33%) see it conditionally and suggest what we need to do
- 20% (22%) do not think the future is too bright
Can the Johannesburg CBD become a great world city?
- 72% (67%) believe it has the potential
- Only 21% (10%) do not believe this is possible
Does the political will exist to tackle this task?
- The commitment on the part of the Gauteng Provincial Government and the Greater Metropolitan Council is evident in various initiatives, and many projects are underway in the CBD.
What are the main issues of concern?
Crime still tops the list, followed by general negative perceptions -
- inadequate enforcement of municipal by-laws and (consequential) lack of control of hawkers;
- lack of cleanliness;
- throngs of unemployed;
- outdated infrastructure;
- bad buildings;
- unacceptable anti-social activities;
- lack of parking in certain areas.
Some of the answers to specific questions asked:
What is not going right/not working in the CBD?
- The survey echoes the issues noted in the previous survey:
- Crime levels are still high because there has been no enforcement of the law.
- Negative perceptions are a major problem.
- There has been an exodus of key players from the city.
- Rates and taxes are high.
- Traffic Department is not patrolling enough.
- Municipal by-laws are not being enforced.
- The city is not clean.
- Uncontrolled hawkers are still an eyesore and a problem.
- The socio-economic issue of urbanisation continues to cause influx of job seekers.
- 'Bad buildings' - and old infrastructure - still cause for concern.
- Inadequate parking in certain areas.
- Disintegration of social life, and unacceptable anti-social activities.
The ability of the CBD to attract new investment and generate employment?
Significant shift in positive perceptions:
- 69% (47%) Positive comment
- 7% (25%) Negative - no prospect of new investment
Views on law and orderliness and personal security?
- 86% (73%) Positive
- 14% gave negative responses
Opinions on the general cleanliness and good housekeeping?
- 88% (63%) gave positive answers
- 8% (59%) gave negative responses
Opinions on informal traders?
- 77% (45%) had positive comments
- 46% (51%) had negative comments
Views on the BID system?
- 98% (55%) had positive comments
- 5% (27%) had negative comments
How do you think the CBD is viewed by the public at large?
For people who know the place or live in the townships like Soweto, the city is a useful, viable and relatively unthreatening place. Mostly northern suburbs people see it very negatively, even if they have not been there in years.
- 72% (54%) made positive comments
- 45% (74%) made negative comments
What are the advantages of a CBD location?
95% (92%) see the following advantages:
- very central
- no area better developed than the city centre
- exposure to top corporates
Awareness of electronic surveillance CCTV camera system in the CBD?
Do you think money invested in surveillance technology is well spent?
- 95% (77%) agreed that it is very well spent
- 11% (9%) had concerns about it/are sceptical
Are you prepared to participate in the surveillance project and if applicable integrate your system with the CBD CCTV camera network?
- 55% (28%) agreed
- 11% (7%) have reservations
Is your CBD operation profitable/viable?
- 74% yes (65% of the 49% who answered)
- 8% (26%) said no
Would you like to see an increased residential component in the CBD?
- 44% (60%) answered affirmatively
- 9% (4%) were negative
Is local government investing sufficiently in the infrastructural renewal of the CBD?
- 60% (23%) answered affirmatively
- 22% (40%) do not think so
There is no doubt that on an overall basis the latest Survey reflects a marked improvement in perceptions over the survey done two years previously. This bears out my regular assertions that these last two years have been extremely positive for the CBD. Notwithstanding that, I still have two major concerns.
First, even though things have and are undoubtedly improving, we are still not doing well in terms of a broader change in perceptions. Put another way, many important decision makers are still unaware of the positive strides that have been made. Thus I doubt that the results would have been as bullish if the majority of respondents had been from the northern suburbs because those from Umlungustan generally have no clue, and, more sadly, no real interest, as to what is happening in the inner city now nor two years previously. We need to work at changing perceptions on a broad, broad basis.
Secondly, there appears to be an increasing number of genuine and quite desperate stories regarding totally unwarranted water and electricity disconnections whilst general electricity supply failures and out of order traffic lights also appear to be on the rise. These are issues that a city aiming at world-class status should just not tolerate.
Negative media reports are also on the increase regarding aspects that are critical for attracting investment such as the time taken for rates clearances. As I have quoted before, investment goes where it is welcome and excessive delays in such issues hardly provide investors with a warm feeling of being wanted.
We therefore need to somewhat temper our re-action to the impressive survey results by admitting that there is still an awful lot to be done - but clearly we are on our way up.
