Cosmo City Depicts What Happens When the Rule of Law Collapses

There was a time when Cosmo City symbolised the future of Johannesburg. It was not another arbitrary housing project. It was proof that government could plan properly, build integrated communities and give ordinary South Africans a chance to own a home, raise a family and build a better life.

For many people, getting the keys to a house in Cosmo City symbolised the fulfilment of a lifelong dream. Today, that dream is slipping away.

I spent time in Cosmo City over the last week. Not behind a podium, on a stage, or in a boardroom. I walked the streets with residents. I listened to parents, pensioners, young people and small business owners. My observation is that the message they relayed to me was remarkably consistent.

They feel like government has abandoned them.

Residents spoke openly about illegal businesses operating without consequence while compliant businesses struggle to survive. They pointed out houses that they believe have been unlawfully occupied or rented out by foreign nationals instead of being occupied by citizens, as their rightful beneficiaries. They spoke about crime, illegal dumping and public spaces that no longer feel safe.

One concern came up repeatedly.

Many residents believe parts of Cosmo City have effectively been taken over by illegal foreign nationals who openly ignore our laws. Whether it is the unlawful occupation of RDP houses, businesses operating without licences or criminal activity, residents told me they no longer believe government is willing or able to enforce the law.

We should not dismiss those concerns because they are politically uncomfortable.

The people raising them are not extremists. They are ordinary South Africans who simply want the laws of their country to mean something.

They want to know that RDP houses will go to their lawful beneficiaries.

They want businesses to compete on equal terms.

They want safe streets.

They want a government that protects communities instead of abandoning them. Above all, they want the rule of law restored. That is where the real failure lies.

Cosmo City did not get here because it lacked by-laws. Johannesburg already has legislation that governs land use, informal trading, building standards, waste management and public health.

South Africa has immigration laws that regulate who may enter the country, who may remain here and under what conditions.

The problem is not that we have no laws. The problem is that government stopped enforcing them.

The collapse of the rule of law never happens simultaneously. It starts with one illegal occupation that nobody addresses. One illegal business that is allowed to continue operating. One unlawful structure that remains standing. One complaint that is ignored.

Eventually communities begin to understand that the rules no longer apply equally to everyone.

Once that happens, disorder becomes normal. It is always the law-abiding resident who pays the price. The entrepreneur who registers a business and pays the required fees must compete against businesses that ignore every regulation.

The family waiting years for an RDP house watches homes intended for qualifying beneficiaries being occupied or rented out unlawfully. Residents who report illegal activity eventually stop reporting it because nothing changes.

This is not simply a failure of municipal administration. It is a failure of political leadership.

Let me be equally clear about something else. Our position is not about having animosity with foreign nationals. South Africans are globally recognised as friendly to immigrants who visit the country legally and, who contribute to our economy and respect our laws.

The reality is that there is no sovereign country can function without full control of its borders and enforcement of immigration laws. Any expectation to do so abdicates responsibility to upholding the Constitution.

Every country has both the right and the responsibility to know who is within its borders, to enforce its immigration laws and to ensure that public resources are allocated lawfully. South Africa should be no different.

The tragedy is that Cosmo City is no longer an isolated case. We have seen the same pattern repeat itself across Johannesburg. Hillbrow, Yeoville, Berea and parts of Orange Farm are reporting the same concerns.

This is precisely why I established the Campaign Governance Team. We are not waiting until after the election to start preparing ourselves to govern Johannesburg. We are already spending time in communities, listening to residents, inspecting infrastructure and understanding where government has failed.

If you want to govern well on Day One, you must start preparing long before Election Day.

When I left Cosmo City, I did not leave believing the community is beyond saving. I met hardworking residents who still believe in their community. I met business owners who want to operate legally and compete fairly. I met families who simply want safe streets, clean public spaces and a government that keeps its promises.

They are not asking for miracles. They are asking for government to do its job. Cosmo City should be a wake-up call for Johannesburg.

It shows us what happens when government stops enforcing the law, stops protecting public assets and stops standing with law-abiding residents. The rule of law is not an abstract legal principle. It is the foundation on which safe neighbourhoods, thriving businesses and strong communities are built.

Once it collapses, everything else begins to collapse with it.

Johannesburg still has a choice.

We can continue pretending these problems will solve themselves, or we can restore the rule of law, rebuild confidence in government and make it clear that the same laws apply to everyone. That is not only the kind of city I want to lead. It is the kind of city every law-abiding resident deserves.

ActionSA Gauteng Powerhouse: Focused initially on Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, and Tshwane.