Johannesburg is often spoken about as though its decline is inevitable. This episode pushes back against that.
In this episode of Both Sides, Randall Abrahams speaks to Innocent Mabusela, CEO of Jozi My Jozi, about what it really takes to restore a city under pressure. The conversation begins with the origins of the organisation and why it chose to become what Mabusela calls a “coalition of the doing”, focused on practical urban renewal rather than endless meetings and abstract goodwill.
From there, the episode opens into a much bigger conversation about Johannesburg itself. Mabusela argues that you cannot fix infrastructure without dealing with the social realities around it, from safety and public transport to homelessness and community ownership. He also explains why Jozi My Jozi works with government rather than trying to replace it, insisting that real progress only matters if it can be sustained.
The discussion turns to donor influence, corporate citizenship, and the public scepticism surrounding the inner city. It also asks whether people still believe Johannesburg can be saved at all. Mabusela’s answer is clear: it can, but only if more South Africans stop treating the city as someone else’s problem.
Catch up on all Both Sides episodes here: https://www.enca.com/both-sides-podcast
