Jozi's bright future in lighting up the Nelson Mandela Bridge

Originally published on 17 June 2024

The Nelson Mandela Bridge in Johannesburg has been improved a lot, making it safer and more beautiful as part of a bigger city cleanup effort.

What was the problem?

The Nelson Mandela Bridge, an important link between Braamfontein and Newtown, had become a place where crime often happened because of bad lighting and broken parts. The bad condition of the bridge was not only unsafe for people walking and driving but also made it less of a symbol of unity in Johannesburg.

How did they solve it?

The City of Johannesburg, working with the Jozi My Jozi movement and business partners, started a big fix-up of the bridge.

So how did they do it?

• They put in new LED and solar lights to make it easier to see and stop crime. These were paid for by Absa Bank and the Maharishi Invincibility Institute.
• They cleaned graffiti and replaced 81 broken glass panels with help from PG Glass, FNB, and Govender’s Aluminium & Glass.
• The Johannesburg police increased patrols to keep the bridge safe and stop more damage.
• This project was part of a bigger city cleanup for Mandela Day and included the adoption of a project plan to help with social problems like homelessness.

Join the movement

Be part of the change in Johannesburg by joining the #JoziMyJozi movement. Sign up at Jozi My Jozi here to contribute to sustainable social change.

Acknowledgments:

Original article written by: Kulani Nkuna

Photograph: JoziMyJozi

Source

Get your community involved

Is there a community-driven group or caring business in your area? A dedicated group of committed people can effectively solve local problems.

Think about starting or joining community groups like a street WhatsApp group, residents' association, or community policing forum (CPF) to get help and to stay informed and involved in local issues.

• How to set up a community group
• How to start a WhatsApp group
• How to start a residents' association
• How to set up a community policing forum
• How to set up a neighbourhood watch
• How to organise community action
• How to use media to create pressure for change

Know your rights – how local government works

It’s important to understand how your local government works so that you can work with them to support what they are doing while your community continues to keep them accountable and deliver services on time. Remember you have a constitutional right to many of the services provided by local government, as well as to accountability and transparency, wherever you live and regardless of how much you earn. It is also where money collected from taxes and rates goes.