Mayor Dada Morero has led a clean-up drive in Johannesburg's inner city since October 2025. Residents report divided experiences with safety and order. Recent demolitions at Marble Towers followed a court order.
Mayor Dada Morero stated last week that the city is enforcing by-laws after a construction vehicle cleared informal traders' structures at Marble Towers. He said on 21 May that programmes aim to reclaim streets as part of inner-city rejuvenation. The drive has included moving traders and demolishing structures since October 2025.
Some residents described improvements. Nomasonto Maqashalala said the area feels safer and less overcrowded. Khuselwa Kamangaliso noted relief on Small Street after May demolitions, though she called the Marble Towers action painful. Sarah Mhlongo said she now feels freer walking from Bree taxi rank.
Other residents saw no change. Two security workers at Park Station said the centre remains overcrowded, filthy and dangerous. Mangaliso Skosana claimed illegal traders return and called the efforts deceptive.
Traders like Valarie reported difficulties obtaining permits and said they trade illegally to survive while avoiding Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department officers. The Democratic Alliance's Belinda Echeozonjoku called the campaign a public relations exercise. Johannesburg Crisis Alliance coordinator Yunus Chamda noted some visual improvements but questioned service delivery under Morero.
A May 2026 court order required Goldenrod Group to regularise Marble Towers. The city raided the site last week, followed by an inspection this week whose findings remain unreleased.