A 24-hour blitz through the inner city lifted the dust and dirt in many corners, but also brought home the message that Johannesburg cares about its people.

Even hostels in the inner city came in for a clean up

LEAP year may come only once every four years, but from now on inner city residents can expect to see their environment nipped and tucked on a more regular basis. Workers were hard at work throughout 29 February in the biggest clean-up operation ever to be undertaken by the City of Johannesburg.

Over a non-stop 24-hour period, municipal-owned entities, urban inspectors and five specially appointed contractors cleared builders' and green rubble, issued by-law enforcement warnings and provided infrastructure support where needed.

And Region F's director, Nkosinathi Mtetwa, says residents should prepare themselves for more efforts like this. "This is not a once-off thing. It is going beyond 2010."

Restore pride
More than simply a big sweep, the emphasis of the operation is on restoring human dignity, especially in areas where daily health risks and environmental degradation are the only certainties.

Speaking before setting off, the stakeholder manager for Region F, Shaun O'Shea, says that throughout the clean-up, and those to follow in future, those enforcing the law should not lose sight of the fact that people are struggling and often do not have a choice when they contravene many of the by-laws.

The informal taxi rank next to the formal one in Bree Street is one such hotspot, where by-law contravention is the order of the day. Illegal trading and unhygienic handling and cooking of food are common and concern City officials greatly.

On the pavement, four grimacing bull heads can be seen, patiently awaiting their turn in the big silver conga pot. Nearby, a steamy fire is already stewing the frothy remains of their mates.

Health hazard
The only movement in the hot February air is the occasional stir from the fly squadron, lifting with precision from the carcasses when people approach too closely. But they soon settle back on to the meat. At another "stall" a man in tacky overalls and with bloody hands is slicing a big cow's liver into fat strips. From time to time he swipes leisurely at the thick black cloud of flies with his long butcher's knife.

A lot of energy went into sprucing up open spaces

The fire spits with delight as each piece of liver is dropped on to the grid for a quick burn. Despite the serious health hazards, people greedily wait for this delicacy - they are hungry and it is very affordable.

O'Shea says it would be of little consequence to take away people's equipment and stock; tomorrow they will be back. So the City is employing the only strategy that makes a change in the long run.

"It is not about being inhumane to people, taking away their [only] income." Instead, officials will focus on educating people, teaching them that it is better for the good of all to operate within the parameters of the law.

In the meantime, the City will not stop the clean-up. It is just one activity in a multi-faceted, long-term programme. "It is about gradually educating people to respect other people's rights too," Mtetwa explains.

Good news
It is not all doom and gloom; there is also a host of good news stories taking place in the inner city.

City workers load the rubbish on to a truck

Region F recently appointed more than 30 urban inspectors in six inner city quadrants to strengthen law enforcement. These men and women can be seen daily, trawling the streets in their orange shirts, on the lookout for by-law infringements, nuisance issues and service breakdowns.

Other City work is also clearly visible: seven buildings are being revamped in the inner city to provide temporary accommodation for transients. One, the Old Perm building in Kotze Street, Hillbrow, is all but ready and will provide 200 beds. Not far away is the charming little Chelsea Hotel, also being upgraded. It will provide 150 beds.

Driving around Yeoville, Hillbrow and Berea, it is clear that the City has started to upgrade the five public parks in these areas. In Rockey, Kotze and Pretoria streets the old paving is being lifted to make way for the new high street design.

And private sector investment is keeping pace. A large banking concern recently agreed to invest even more in the inner city, especially in the areas bordering the banking district; in March a brand-new four star hotel will open in Main Street.

School
Moving down to the bottom end of down-town Johannesburg, investment seems less prominent. Yet, surrounded by huge warehouses, dilapidated structures and rough factory walls, there is a quaint little primary school in Mooi Street. It opened its doors for the first time this year.

Afhco Holdings, a social housing institution, revamped the buildings in record time and will continue to help by funding any operational shortfalls over the next three years. The school is appropriately called CityKidz Pre- and Primary School and it can accommodate about 220 children.

It is these and many other activities that give a sense of vibrancy and the realisation that there is much hope for the inner city. But, Mtetwa cautions, it is critical that all users and residents take ownership.

"If the inner city fails, the whole city will fail," he says with conviction.

Related stories:

• Spring blitzes air out inner city
• Inner city captain is hands on
• JDA moves in on Bertrams
• Open day for Region F
• New high streets for inner city
• Hillbrow, Berea and Yeoville public environment upgrade