The City of Johannesburg lit up parts of the Inner City this week with refurbished Christmas displays and newly-repaired streetlights.
Johannesburg is trying to reclaim its title as Jozi Maboneng – the City of Lights – after City Power switched on its Inner City Christmas displays and a fresh batch of working streetlights.
The launch, led by Executive Mayor Dada Morero, comes as the greater metro battles ongoing infrastructure failures and tries to restore public confidence.
Charming revival or too little, too late?
The decline of Johannesburg’s old CBD – once home to some of the world’s top mining firms – is well known.
The festive lights, installed by City Power teams, aims to brighten routes through Maboneng, Gandhi Square and several major streets including Rissik, Eloff, Plein and Wolmarans.
Fourteen displays on De Villiers Street are already up, with the rest set to follow in the coming days.
The installations are meant to mark “a significant milestone” in the City’s efforts to enhance safety, visibility and vibrancy in Joburg’s Inner City during the festive season.
“We are on the right path to recovering and rebuilding our City,” said Morero. “Our goal is a safer Johannesburg where people can walk freely, feel safe, carry their phones without fear.”
Morero added that functional public lighting will be supported by the rollout of more solar high masts across the city.
“We want to bring back ‘Jozi Maboneng’ and ensure people feel proud of their city once more.”
Star-studded lineup at Cape Town’s Festive Lights Switch-On
Meanwhile, the Mother City’s CBD is gearing up to host more than 80 000 people this Sunday. A free, open-air concert at the Grand Parade will officially usher in the festive season.
The City of Cape Town’s Christmas lights switch-on will transform both the Grand Parade and Adderley Street into a celebration of light and music on 30 November 2025 with an impressive line-up of local acts.
The theme for this year’s event, “United in Hope”, was created to capture the spirit of Cape Town’s festive season.
Can Joburg compete?
Unlike Cape Town’s annual spectacle, Joburg’s display has been described as more of a “revival effort” than a “festival extravaganza.”
Most of Joburg’s Inner City Christmas lights are not new either. Instead, the City has recycled last year’s Christmas lights, cleaning and repairing them to cut costs.
