The Clean Cities Campaign is here, and it starts in Johannesburg

Johannesburg is no stranger to grit and hustle, but let’s be real, clean, well-managed cities don’t just look good, they work better too. A cleaner Joburg means better public spaces, safer neighbourhoods, more opportunities for investment, and yes, a city that actually feels good to live in.

That’s why Deputy President Paul Mashatile launched the Clean Cities and Towns Campaign in Kliptown, Soweto, and it's about more than just sweeping streets. This nationwide initiative is about building greener, healthier and more inclusive spaces for everyone, while tackling long-standing service delivery challenges head-on.

Working hand-in-hand with traditional leaders, community groups, business, labour unions, faith-based organisations and environmental activists, the campaign aims to rally South Africans around the idea of cleaner living and shared responsibility.

So, what’s actually happening? The campaign will roll out in three phases:

1. Phase One brings stakeholders together to identify each area’s specific needs. Think of it as the planning and prep stage.
2. Phase Two is about mass mobilisation, community clean-ups, fixing potholes, restoring infrastructure, and putting a spotlight on the campaign nationally. Everyone’s invited to join in and make a difference.
3. Phase Three focuses on long-term impact, ensuring that the changes made are sustainable and community-led.

The campaign is rooted in the principles of the District Development Model (DDM), which promotes collaboration across all levels of government and society. It also ties into the bigger picture, South Africa’s National Development Plan 2030, which envisions a more sustainable, equitable, and economically vibrant future.

But let’s bring it back to the streets: the Clean Cities and Towns Campaign is about making your block, your neighbourhood, your everyday spaces better, and it starts with us. Whether it’s recycling, reducing waste, planting trees, or just not dumping illegally, the little things add up.

This is about civic pride. About seeing a cleaner corner and knowing you had something to do with it. Joburg, it’s time to clean up, together.

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