Joburg Is Run Like a Spaza Shop BOSA’s Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster on Rescue Plan for SA’s Economic Jewel

Johannesburg is one of Africa’s biggest economic engines but it is being run into the ground. BOSA deputy leader and Joburg mayoral candidate Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster joins Mike Sham to explain why she wants to lead Johannesburg, what she believes is broken inside the city, and how she plans to fix infrastructure, accountability, municipal entities, service delivery, the township economy and coalition politics. Topics include: • Why Johannesburg matters to South Africa’s future • Fixing decaying infrastructure and basic services • Why Joburg’s municipal entities need reform • City Power, Joburg Water and accountability failures • Township economy and economic growth • Ratepayers, indigent registers and service theft • Enforcing the law without fear or favour • Coalitions and mayoral candidates • Whether she could work with Helen Zille or the ANC Chapters 0:00 Johannesburg: Africa’s economic jewel run into the ground 1:08 Introducing Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster 2:13 Why run for mayor of Johannesburg? 3:21 “I love this city” — why Joburg matters 5:56 Johannesburg’s importance to South Africa 7:11 The plan: fixing the systems behind the collapse 8:05 Infrastructure decay and the capex problem 9:46 Why basic services are the foundation of growth 10:01 The staff cost problem and bloated city structures 11:05 How to deal with duplicated functions and poor performance 12:47 Municipal entities: City Power, Joburg Water and accountability 14:40 Which entities should stay, reform or be reintegrated? 15:40 Economic development and Joburg’s untapped sectors 16:00 Logistics: Africa’s biggest inland freight terminal 17:30 Digital, e-commerce and future-focused sectors 18:00 Entertainment, manufacturing and creative industries 19:32 Township economy as a serious growth strategy 22:04 Is township economy separate from the formal economy? 24:52 Corridors of opportunity and failed implementation 26:17 Ratepayers vs non-ratepayers 27:50 How to deliver services fairly across Joburg 29:17 Rate boycotts, indigent registers and service abuse 30:10 Theft of city services and infrastructure protection 31:07 Enforcing the law despite possible unrest 32:21 “The law is not a suggestion” 32:57 Coalition politics and who BOSA would work with 35:29 Why coalitions fail when built only on positions 36:31 Would BOSA accept a mayoral deal with the ANC? 38:00 Why mayoral candidates matter 40:10 BOSA’s growth since the 2024 election 42:27 Where BOSA expects to grow in Johannesburg 45:19 Helen Zille, divisive politics and coalitions 47:08 Could BOSA work with the ANC? 48:17 What makes Nobuntu easy to work with? 49:55 Closing thoughts: a candidate who says she loves Joburg Follow @sonacoza on TikTok, Instagram, X, and Facebook Produced by Stream In Studios – https://podcast-room.co.za/ The State Of the Nation is Proudly Sponsored by Pace Car Rental https://www.pacecarrental.co.za/ Use Code : SONA for a discount today!