Randburg’s Licence Renewal Feels Like a Different Joburg. Why Can’t the Rest Follow Suit?

In a city where the power’s off, the roads are cratered, and taps run dry, the Randburg Licensing Department feels like stepping into a Joburg from another timeline. One that works.

I’ll admit it: I arrived at Randburg Civic Centre armed for bureaucratic battle. A snack box in hand , viennas, apple, crackers, the works ,I was ready for the slow churn of public service that’s become the Johannesburg norm.

Instead, I was in and out in just 20 minutes.

And no, that’s not a typo.

The Joburg That Could Be

Let’s be real, Joburg’s public services aren’t exactly known for smooth sailing. The city lurches from one basic service failure to the next: uncollected trash, broken streetlights, water outages, and the now-legendary pothole network that could have its own postal code.

But here, tucked into a crumbling civic centre, is an oasis of order: the Randburg Licensing Department.

From the moment I walked in, the process flowed. Staff were brisk, cheerful even humorous, which is wild given the temperature inside the building could’ve refrigerated meat.

One Metro official, looking like a younger Wesley Snipes, guided me through with the swagger of someone who knows their department is a cut above. Another official even bantered with me about my crackers, munching one down mid-joke. Imagine that—laughter and good service in a Joburg government office.

A System That Works (Yes, Really)

The game-changer? That now-fabled online booking system on eNATIS. Book a slot. Show up. Bring the documents. Done.

No plastic chairs arranged in a sad circle of despair. No five-hour waits only to be told you forgot one slip of paper.

Just efficiency.

According to officials, the booking system allows them to control the crowd, speed up paperwork, and focus on the person in front of them. And it’s working. Reviews online echo my experience—dozens of locals surprised, relieved, even borderline joyful.

“Everyone was friendly and helpful, from the security guards to the lady who did my fingerprints. Very pleasant experience,” wrote one user, echoing many.

Sure, there are the occasional horror stories—accusations of queue jumping and shady “helpers” lurking outside. But they seem to be exceptions, not the rule.

But Look Up: The Building’s Falling Apart

It would be dishonest to paint the whole picture in pastel.

ActionSA recently raised concerns about the dilapidated state of the Randburg Civic Centre. Their oversight visit described stripped floors, leaking pipes, broken toilets, stolen infrastructure and literal trees growing into offices from the outside.

“The top two floors have been completely stripped of essential infrastructure,” said ActionSA’s Sarah Wissler.

And yet, somehow, inside this urban ruin, the team pushes forward—still smiling, still serving, still showing up.

Randburg civic centre and I have so much more pic.twitter.com/Gh79gMUpSK

— Cllr Sarah Wissler (@sahara67) March 22, 2025

What This Says About Joburg

So here’s the real question: If the Randburg Licensing Department can get it together, why can’t City Power, Joburg Roads Agency, or Joburg Water do the same?

We’ve all heard it before—budget constraints, political infighting, legacy issues. But maybe it’s simpler than that. Maybe it’s about leadership. Maybe it’s about putting the right people in the right jobs and letting them get on with it.

Because when Joburg works, as Randburg just proved, it’s a glorious thing.

A Glimpse of the Joburg We Deserve

As I bit into my apple and made my way back to the car, it struck me—this is what Johannesburg could be if service came before politics. If everyday residents were treated like humans, not burdens.

And if we expect more, maybe we’ll get more.

So, hats off to the Randburg Licensing Department. For 20 magical minutes, you made me believe Joburg doesn’t have to be broken.

Now, how about we bring that same energy to the rest of the city?

{Source: IOL}

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