​Thabo Bodibe
In a candid meeting with veteran journalists, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi outlined the vision to restore Johannesburg's central business district (CBD) to its former glory and reposition the province as South Africa's leading economic hub. 
The discussion, held at the iconic Market Theatre, brought together seasoned media professionals to reflect on the challenges and opportunities facing Gauteng. Veteran journalists included Phil Molefe, Thami Mazwai, Pearl Luthuli, Mpikeleni Duma, Ido Lekota and Maud Motanyane. 
Addressing the journalists, Premier Lesufi spoke of the responsibility to "defend the economic hub" and ensure its sustainability in a post-mining era. 
"The task and request to deal with Johannesburg is doable. The debate is, do we renew the current Johannesburg, or do we build a completely new Johannesburg from the ground up?" he asked.
Lesufi emphasised the need for bold decisions to revive Johannesburg's CBD and promote economic growth across the province. 
"We can't inherit an Alexander township the way it is from the apartheid regime and make it worse under the democratic regime. We have a reasonability to turn around Gauteng and defend the country's economic hub," he said.
The premier highlighted the importance of attracting and keeping more sectors like ICT, pharmaceuticals, insurance, and the emerging arts industry to drive the province's economic revival.
"We have subdivided Gauteng into five areas economically to create new economies because that is our main priority, and we reposition it to make sure it takes the lead as the economic hub of the country," said Premier Panyaza Lesufi.
The provincial government has launched the CBD Revitalisation Programme to rejuvenate the province's central business districts by addressing basic service delivery challenges such as crime, littering, and the reclamation of hijacked and abandoned buildings.
According to Lesufi, to clean Johannesburg, you have to eradicate criminal activities, which is an area that the provincial government is focusing on and extending to the township, informal settlements, and hostels.
"We need to intervene and develop areas within our townships strategically. We have identified several townships that we need to improve installing Wi-Fi and ensuring that we install CCTV cameras in those townships and make them safe by enforcing the law."
The chairperson of the Market Theatre Foundation, Phil Molefe, thanked the premier for making it possible for him to meet with the veterans. He has been doing a remarkable job visiting schools and townships. He also lauded the premier's CBD revitalisation vision and urged journalists to be part of the change. 
"There is a distinct difference between the Johannesburg of our time and the Johannesburg today. It used to be a beautiful city. I asked the premier to change the city as we found it; that will be your legacy.
"I know you [premier] are a doer. I know you will be out there leading the masses to clean the city, the province, and the country. You have the vuum, you can do it," Molefe said.
Pearl Luthuli stated, "In this session, there are hundreds of years of experience. We are all here because we love Gauteng and South Africa. We are here; make use of us, and let us help."
Lesufi, humbled by the presence of journalists he admired during his early years, acknowledged their critical role in shaping public discourse. 
"I'm honestly humbled not only by the invite but to be in the presence of the people I used to read their bylines so many times," he added.