'Tshwane just collected R4 billion in a month – Johannesburg, take notes'

I’m writing this not as a politician or political analyst, but as an ordinary South African, a taxpayer, mother, and resident of Johannesburg who has watched our city slowly decay while our leaders debate who to blame next.

And yet, just 60 kilometres away, in the City of Tshwane, something remarkable is happening. Under the leadership of Dr Nasiphi Moya and ActionSA, Tshwane has broken records collecting over R4 billion in one month for the first time in history.

Let that sink in. While most metros are drowning in debt, Eskom arrears, and excuses, Tshwane is turning itself around and paying off what it owes, introducing a transparent service-delivery tracker, and putting residents first.

It’s not perfect, but you would have to be blind not to see the difference. As a Johannesburg citizen, I’ll be honest… I’m tired. I’m tired of power cuts that last half a day. I’m tired of water outages that are brushed off with “technical issues.”

I’m tired of municipal bills that make no sense, of roads that feel like obstacle courses, and of the endless political bickering that treats citizens like collateral damage. We pay, but we don’t see. We complain, but no one hears. We vote, but nothing changes.

So, when I saw the news that Tshwane had collected R4 billion in a single month, I didn’t just see a headline. I saw proof. Proof that when competent, transparent, and ethical leadership takes over, a city can get back on its feet. I saw a glimpse of what Johannesburg could be, what South Africa could be  if more cities were led by people who actually care about performance, not politics.

Since taking office, Dr Nasiphi Moya has done what most mayors only talk about:

- She’s stabilised the city’s finances, paying down Eskom debt and cutting Tshwane’s debtor book by billions.

- She’s restored accountability, introducing a live service-delivery tracker that allows residents to monitor the progress of their complaints.

- She’s prioritised the basics by fixing infrastructure before chasing new mega-projects.

- She’s treated every ward equally, refusing to favour certain areas over others or any political party over another.

This isn’t political propaganda; these are verifiable results. And they prove that South Africans don’t need miracles,  we just need competent, ethical leadership. Imagine if every city did this.

Imagine if every metro had a mayor who spent more time on site than in council chambers. Imagine if every province followed Tshwane’s model of transparency, efficiency, and service-first governance.

COJ: Our province is the economic heartbeat of South Africa but we’re bleeding out from corruption, neglect, and aging infrastructure. Dr Moya’s disciplined financial management could be exactly what we need. Johannesburg’s next mayor must start by fixing the basics: clean finances, debt recovery, and transparent reporting  before talking about ambitious new projects.

KZN: Service delivery collapses in municipalities like eThekwini have become normal.

Dr Moya’s hands-on, “boots-on-the-ground” leadership could reignite accountability. Imagine if every mayor visited communities weekly and reported back publicly.

EC: With vast rural areas and weak municipal revenue collection, Dr Moya’s debt relief and revenue drive strategy could transform the province. Tshwane’s model shows that even struggling municipalities can improve collections if residents trust that money will be used well.

WC: Though Cape Town performs better than most, inequality and service gaps remain. Tshwane’s equal-treatment approach could help ensure that informal settlements aren’t left behind.

Free State, North West, Mpumalanga, and Limpopo: Many municipalities in these provinces suffer from mismanagement and corruption.

Dr Moya’s transparent tracker system could revolutionise accountability.  Imagine if every citizen could see when a pothole was reported, who was assigned, and when it was fixed. Whoever becomes the next mayor of Johannesburg will face an enormous challenge.

This is not just another political appointment, it’s a call to rescue a city on the edge of collapse. The president of ActionSA, Herman Mashaba, knows this more than anyone else. Having been Johannesburg’s mayor before, he understands the rot that has set in and what needs to be done to clean it up.

Whoever he nominates will have massive shoes to fill, not just Dr Moya’s, but Mashaba’s too. The people of Johannesburg are no longer impressed by slogans. We want streetlights that work, refuse that’s collected, water that runs, and billing that makes sense.

We want leaders who are not afraid to roll up their sleeves or, in Dr Moya’s words, “put on boots, not high heels.”

Despite my frustration, I refuse to give up on Johannesburg or South Africa.

Tshwane’s success reminds me that change is possible when leadership is honest, focused, and service-driven. ActionSA is proving that it’s not just about opposing, it’s about governing. And governing well.

So, to my fellow South Africans, especially those who’ve given up hope: look north to Tshwane. The lights are still on there… literally and figuratively. And to Mr Mashaba, as you prepare to announce Johannesburg’s next mayoral candidate, know this: we’re watching. We’re expecting the same calibre of leadership that Tshwane has found in Dr Moya.

Because for too long, we’ve been told to be patient. To “wait our turn.” To “understand the system.” But we’ve waited long enough.

We’re ready for a city that works. We’re ready for leaders who deliver. We’re ready for Action… #ActionSA For me… a proud but frustrated Johannesburg resident, Tshwane has become a symbol of what’s still possible in South Africa.

This might sound like utopia to some, including myself but imagine it: a South Africa where every city collects fairly, delivers efficiently, and governs transparently.

If Dr Moya’s Tshwane is the prototype, then the blueprint for fixing this country is right before our eyes. And maybe… just maybe…  if we stop settling for mediocrity, we’ll realise that the South Africa we dream of isn’t impossible. It’s already happening. Just not everywhere.

Yet… but in COT and ActionSA is the answer.

Lebo Keswa, citizen of Johannesburg