Johannesburg was once a city of dreamers, a city of gold that lured prospectors from far and wide in the hope of striking it rich. But lately, the city has become more like a political subject, a big city where the souls of many residents are as dark as the street lights.
In May, after days of brinkmanship and arm-twisting, the city appointed its sixth mayor in 22 months: Cabello Guamanda, a first-term city councilor from a political party that received just 1% of the vote in the previous municipal election.
His rise was the culmination of the latest chapter in a political series where mayoral terms are measured in weeks and months, and where councilors’ inability to hang on to a leader has led to local chaos. The people of Johannesburg were the biggest losers.
As political leaders bicker over power and groups, angry residents often suffer for days without power and water, dodging potholed roads and wary of crumbling buildings, like the one that caught fire on Thursday.
On Thursday morning, Mr. Guamanda was at the scene of the fire with members of the city’s coalition government. He blamed years of negligence for the circumstances that led to the fire, though he vowed his department would take responsibility.
He said: “This government is only six months old, and we are already facing historic challenges.”
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