Will Gauteng’s leaders step up and take responsibility?

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent visit last week to Johannesburg laid bare the deepening crisis facing municipalities in Gauteng. The province, which is set to host the G20 summit later this year, was harshly criticized for its deteriorating infrastructure, governance failures, and lawlessness. The question now is whether this public criticism will lead to meaningful action or if it will become just another instance of political rhetoric without real results. The metros of Gauteng, especially Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, and Tshwane, have come to represent municipal dysfunction. Residents face daily challenges such as deteriorating roads filled with potholes, ongoing water shortages, uncollected garbage, and crime-infested streets. The failure to deliver basic services stems from financial mismanagement, corruption, and political instability. However, despite these ongoing issues, little has changed year after year. Ramaphosa’s frustration…