Crime in Johannesburg’s central business district (CBD) is making it nearly impossible for small business owners to survive. Shop owners live in fear every day and many are struggling to keep their doors open.
SA Camera Land manager Delisele Mawonge said her shop has been targeted multiple times by criminals due to lack of police visibility and regular patrols near shopping areas.
“In March our store had three attempted robberies, and last December they stole all our cameras. I called the police, but they did not take the case seriously despite providing them with evidence and leads to locate the suspect,” she said.
“This is why we end up losing our business. We are not protected by the police; they don’t even patrol around here. The nearby stores have also been robbed. Unfortunately, we must work in an unsafe area because our families depend on this store, and our employees need their salaries to survive,” said Mawonge.
Many businesses in Lillian Ngoyi Street, Small Street and the Carlton Centre have become easy targets for criminals. From theft and break-ins to muggings and assaults, business owners say crime is their daily reality.
The DA visited the CBD on Tuesday to hear these concerns first-hand. Led by Gauteng leader Solly Msimanga the DA walked through the city centre, speaking to shop owners. They also visited the Johannesburg Central Police Station.
At Small Street, crime has become an everyday occurrence.
Siyanda Zulu, an employee at Skipper Bar in Small Street, said that just last week, their store was broken into and stock worth more than R5,000 was stolen.
Stallion security guard Kwanda Kunene said shoplifting and pickpocketing happen daily.
“Customers are robbed of their phones and wallets. We try to protect them, but with the crowds it is difficult. Sometimes we catch the suspects and deal with them in the guard room,” he said.
Lillian Ngoyi Street has become especially dangerous since the explosion in July 2023 that left the road damaged and closed. The area under construction is surrounded by zinc sheets creating hidden corners and dark walkways where people are robbed and attacked.
Aysha Kunaka, who has owned a shop on the street for the past 10 years, said business has declined badly.
“People don't walk past here any more, and the corrugated zinc erected to close the road have made it worse for us. So many shops have closed here,” said Kunaka.
“I used to make good money, but now I am barely surviving. Customers are scared to walk through this passage because they are likely to be mugged.”
Redi Adman, owner of I.S Family Store since 2018, said he had to let half his staff go.
“Before the explosion I had eight employees. Now I only have four. Some shop owners have already shut down. I’m just holding on and hoping something will change, because I can’t afford the rent anywhere else,” he said.
The business owners said they hope Lillian Ngoyi Street will be completed soon.
Many businesses are also dealing with electricity cuts, whichleave their stores dark and vulnerable to theft.
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Msimanga says the city’s failure to deal with crime and fix damaged infrastructure is destroying the local economy. Nearly R200m was set aside to repair Lillian Ngoyi Street, but progress has been slow.
“By August if this project is completed I will give out my left kidney,” Msimanga said.
Msimanga said he witnessed trucks parked in the construction zone.
The DA walked from Lillian Ngoyi Street to Johannesburg Central police station to assess whether it has the resources to tackle inner-city crime and protect the local economy.
At the police station, officers said they do not have enough resources. Many of their vehicles are old and often break down. They are also short-staffed with fewer than 450 officers covering the inner city.
“There is too much congestion in the CBD so even when we respond suspects disappear fast. Our motorbikes do not have sirens or lights, and it is expensive to upgrade them,” one officer explained.
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