Monique’s review of Great Johannesburg: What happened? How to save an African economic giant > Likes and Comments
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Hi Nicholaus! I’ve done a Dlala Nje tour before and appreciated it very much - thank you! I think unpacking systemic issues and only offering solutions at an individual level left me feeling rather frustrated, especially when there are groups and NGOs working very hard to solve these problems at more systemic or sustainable levels. Like a lot of Joburgers, I am engaged in my community and in some of the problems I think I can help lessen. It’s an unfair jab to assume that just because I took issue with your book that that isn’t true of me.
I also think the book fundamentally missed key context: why if things are so bad do people still come to Joburg, return after trying to live elsewhere and fundamentally why do they stay? I don’t think the problem is that we don’t accept the city for what it is. I was left asking myself who the book was for and what it was trying to achieve if it left me as an engaged and passionate Joburger feeling this way.
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Hi Nicholaus! I’ve done a Dlala Nje tour before and appreciated it very much - thank you! I think unpacking systemic issues and only offering solutions at an individual level left me feeling rather frustrated, especially when there are groups and NGOs working very hard to solve these problems at more systemic or sustainable levels. Like a lot of Joburgers, I am engaged in my community and in some of the problems I think I can help lessen. It’s an unfair jab to assume that just because I took issue with your book that that isn’t true of me.I also think the book fundamentally missed key context: why if things are so bad do people still come to Joburg, return after trying to live elsewhere and fundamentally why do they stay? I don’t think the problem is that we don’t accept the city for what it is. I was left asking myself who the book was for and what it was trying to achieve if it left me as an engaged and passionate Joburger feeling this way.
I'll politely disagree with you... Johannesburg's challenges are not to be glossed over. And I tried to keep the solutions as practical as possible in order for readers to feel like they actually have agency and ability to turn the city around.
The main argument in this book remains: If you want to live and love in Joburg: Accept it for what it is and get busy making a difference in your own corner of the city. A point I'm not sure quite landed with you.
Thanks again for the input... Come on a Dlala Nje tour sometime and we can go for a walk through Hillbrow. We'll show each other there is more to life in this city than moaning and being scared. Strength to you and your work improving the city...