Morero defends R192-million Lilian Ngoyi Street rebuild amid two-month delay

Johannesburg Mayor, Dada Morero, has defended the R192-million price tag for the rehabilitation of Lilian Ngoyi Street, saying the cost reflects extensive underground infrastructure work that is largely hidden from view.

Morero says the project is not simply about repaving the 1.8-kilometre corridor, with the City having to reconstruct tunnels and install new water, electricity and lighting infrastructure.

Morero and other City officials conducted a walkabout of the street on Wednesday as the rehabilitation project moves towards completion.

The City is now targeting 31 October for the handover, following delays and brief cash-flow disruptions.

The rehabilitation follows the deadly methane gas explosion in July 2023, which exposed serious infrastructure problems beneath the inner-city street.

Morero says the visible work on the road does not reflect the full scale of the project, with much of the expenditure going towards infrastructure beneath the surface.

He has invited independent engineers to audit the project and verify the expenditure as the City completes the final paving, sidewalks and street furniture.

But the City is also preparing for the challenge of protecting the refurbished corridor once construction is complete.

Bylaw enforcement has been intensified, with authorities targeting illegal trading and taxi behaviour, while plans are being finalised for designated street-trading areas.

Morero has also raised concerns about corruption within law enforcement, urging residents not to enable officers involved in bribery.

Lilian Ngoyi Road is a major infrastructure project in Johannesburg. I revisited the site to check progress after a two-month delay, meeting with JRA officials, the contractor, Joburg Water, and City Power to ensure completion by 31 October.

I stresses that taxis cannot park… pic.twitter.com/8jSsG9k81K

— Executive Mayor: @CityofJoburgZA (@DadaMorero) September 9, 2026

Written by: Lebohang Ndashe