Proud of Living and Working in Jozi - 1284 Words

Proud of living and working in Jozi We all want to live in cities of which we can be proud. We all want smooth operating public services, less traffic, new roads, attractive and functional buildings, secure public spaces and wealth opportunities that can change lives for the better. So why then do we expect local government and municipalities to do it alone? Isn’t it true that in the 128 year history of Johannesburg, the City reached more milestones than any other city in the country, even more so than some of the bigger cities globally? Isn’t it true that most of the City’s achievements were actioned by government and citizens alike, working together towards a common goal? And yet, we still demand and expect service delivery perfection every single day, notwithstanding how difficult it must be to handle the logistics and mechanics of delivering services to a population of over 8 million people. Granted, we all pay taxes so the City can perform these functions, and sometimes it feels as if our money is being wasted. But surely there is far more to it, like personal reputation, character and pride? It’s human nature to want to live in a well-governed, happy, safe place, our own ‘Peach Blossom Spring’ so to speak. The poem of the Peach Blossom Spring by ancient Chinese poet Tao Yuanming, describes a discovery of an ethereal utopia where its dwellers led an ideal existence in harmony. It was written during a time of political instability and national