November 15, 2002
By Bongani Majola
EXECUTIVE Mayor of the City of Johannesburg Amos Masondo abandoned his usual chauffeur-driven Mercedes-Benz for a bus ride on Thursday as he embarked on a tour of Region 9, south of Johannesburg. This was the sixth in a series of roadshows to the various regions that Masondo has undertaken this year.
Visibly at ease with "real people", as he calls them, the mayor relaxed and chatted with ordinary citizens as the bus made several scheduled stops at numerous halls, clubs and places of residence to hear what the general electorate's concerns and questions were.
Masondo's entourage consisted of the eleven members of the Mayoral Committee: councillors Bafana Sithole, Brian Hlongwa, Christine Walters, Kenny Fihla, Nkele Ntingane, Parks Tau, Prema Naidoo, Sizakele Nkosi, Sol Cowan, Strike Ralegoma and Thomas Phakathi.
After a meeting of the Mayoral Committee at Region 9 municipal offices, the entourage immediately set out on a tour that started with a meeting with the local business community at Turfontein racecourse.
"We have come hear to listen and learn and we hope the meeting will be of mutual benefit as we all believe in the economic growth of Johannesburg," Masondo told local business representatives.
Events management company owner Reece Mann thanked the mayor profusely for taking time out to visit them, whereupon he invited Masondo to a "wonderful view of the CBD" from the Turfontein vintage point.
"But the view was contaminated by a disturbing mine dump that stood just before the CBD," moaned Mann thus setting in motion what was to be a routine of gratitude to the mayor for showing up and an immediate outpouring of complaints, concerns and wishes.
One such complaint was raised by a local estate agent who felt aggrieved that at least "five major banks had deserted the Rossetenville corner" and appealed to the mayor to turn their place around as "you have done with the inner city".
The next stop was Denver Hostel, where Masondo unveiled a vegetable garden, previously a rubbish dump, which Region 9 Social Services converted to provide sustenance for the hostel community. "All the people who come to Johannesburg do so with the hope of improving their quality of life," Masondo told ward councillors and indunas, "we are therefore very much a city of hope".
The message of hope and long life was carried to the next venue on the tour, a meeting with senior citizens of Crown Gardens. Here, the senior citizens were just happy to see the mayor and demanded nothing more, nothing less. "Have I told you lately how much I love you," sang an elderly woman as she rendered one of the entertainment items prepared for the mayor. On this occasion, you certainly felt the odd out without grey hair.
To be among the elderly, the mayor said, is to be blessed indeed. But if Masondo's entourage needed blessings, it was for their following and last engagement at a public meeting in Bellavista.
The mayor was welcomed by ululating crowds who had gathered in a huge white tent. However, this was short-lived as the gathered residents, mostly members of the coloured community, wasted no time and delved into matters close to their hearts.
"Don't come here and tell us lies," shouted Eugene Buckland, a concerned resident, who could not contain his apparent anger.
"We want to know if our lives are run by the city or Gilbert Estate Agents, we are sick and tired of high rates, our schools and playgrounds are not safe, can you please change the bus timetable, we don't sleep at night because of gunfire," Buckland rattled on.
City council Speaker, Nandi Mayathula-Khoza, set in motion a pattern where residents introduced themselves and their ward, then briefly stated their input. It was not long before a grey-haired man in a cream-white jersey almost reduced the entire hall into tears.
He stood up and spoke fluently and in very measured tones: "My name is William Ngcobo. I do not have a ward because I am a homeless person. I got retrenched from a bank job, got kicked out of my house and I now live in my car. Sometimes I bath in public toilets. This is my misery and I am sure a lot of people's misery here?"
The crowd erupted: "Yes indeed!"
Mayathela-Khoza appealed for calm and asked Ngcobo to finish his input. "I have told myself I want to be a businessman, but the banks always ask for collateral, where does a homeless man get collateral?" he asked rhetorically as he tried to contain his own tears.
"Is there anybody who can assist me in writing a book and hopefully making a film out of my life story?" Ngcobo asked the mayoral panel. Councillor Walters promptly indicated that she would like to see Ngcobo after the meeting.
Inspired by Ngcobo's impassioned plea, a host of other concerned residents clamoured for the microphone, some with genuine concerns and others quick to use the time to abuse the mayor and his panel. "We the residents of Eikernoff are ANC but we feel like used condoms. After we voted for you, you disappeared", cried one resident. Another was racially specific: "You take billions of rands to Alexandra, leaving us coloureds here with nothing," he stated.
In his closing remarks, Masondo reasoned with the community, by reminding them that "our country was built on principles of democracy and non-racialism. Stop seeing yourselves as coloureds or blacks or whites. You must learn to love and respect each other as equals, and realise that it is the aim of this government to deliver a better life for all, irrespective of race and colour, political party or social status.
"In this we need to pull together as a community. We have noted all your concerns, relevant departments will deal with them. May I also remind you that there are resources available to the community like child grants, basic income grants that you are entitled to, so please come forward, register and write letters to us."
Masondo then thanked the residents for coming, asked the hall to sing the national anthem with him and finally boarded the bus home.
