​Thabo Bodibe
The Gauteng Provincial Government has embarked on an initiative to restore and revive Gauteng Central Business Districts (CBDs) through the CBD Fridays Revitalisation Programme, launched in August 2023. 
This multi-stakeholder initiative aims to tackle common urban challenges such as crime, litter, deteriorating infrastructure, and the need to attract investment.
This is one of the key elevated priorities of Premier Panyaza Lesufi to rejuvenate CBDs, stimulate economic growth, and enhance the quality of life for residents and businesses in CBD's.
The first phase of the revitalisation efforts commenced in Johannesburg's Small Street, focusing on three critical areas: crime, cleaning, waste removal, lighting and tackling illegal dumping.
Implementing partners such as the City of Johannesburg and the non-profit organisation JoziMyJozi played a crucial role in executing these efforts.
The revitalisation efforts target ten key gateways to create a welcoming environment for residents, students, workers, business owners, and visitors. Improvements include cleaning, landscaping, maintenance, security, street furniture, murals, and art installations. The programme also seeks to sustain implementation through long-term partnerships with the City of Johannesburg.
Premier Panyaza Lesufi reported back on the progress made since the launch of the programme which has seen a total of 558 operations mainly in Johannesburg CBD's. 
"The installation of cameras in Small Street has come into force with vigour. These cameras are monitored through the Interim Command Centre. We have already seen over 21 000 License Number Recognition (LPR) hits, over 6 000 crime dispatches, more than 800 vehicle interceptions, with 256 vehicles of interest impounded, and 148 arrests," said Premier Lesufi.
The Premier was delivering the State of the Province Address (SOPA) in Tshwane on Monday, 24 February 2025.
The City of Johannesburg has already secured over 10 hijacked buildings in nefarious hands. Premier Lesufi said eight court orders have been granted to the city, while two buildings have already been reclaimed.
The partnership with Vumacam has significantly boosted security in the province. This partnership provides surveillance access to an extensive network of over 6 000 cameras, which is now expanding to underserved areas.
As part of the broader revitalisation efforts, Premier Lesufi announced that the province has attracted an investor building the biggest mall in South Africa in Langlaagte. The mall, with 2 400 square meters of retail stores, warehouses, and other shops, will be officially opened in June 2025, bringing fresh life to the CBD of Johannesburg.
The Johannesburg Park Station precinct revitalisation is also in the pipeline. As the city's main transit hub, the precinct sees over a million commuters daily via Rea Vaya, Gautrain, Metrorail, and minibus taxis. 
Gautrain's planned 150 km expansion aims to integrate a high-speed rail link between Gauteng and Limpopo, and formal discussions are already in place. 
Transnet has committed R460 million to revive the Carlton Centre and its Rissik Street offices, which have been abandoned since 2018. 
The public-private partnerships stimulated growth and diversification by creating 2000 employment opportunities under the Expanded Public Works Programme. 
The Gauteng Department of Human Settlements also plans to redevelop key sites into much-needed residential units, breathing new life into neglected urban areas.
The success of these initial interventions in Johannesburg will serve as a blueprint for similar revitalisation efforts in other CBDs, including Roodepoort, Tshwane, Hammanskraal, Germiston, Kempton Park, Vereeniging, Meyerton, and Krugersdorp.
The revitalisation programme is a testimony to GPG's commitment to Growing Gauteng Together (GGT 2030), a vision to rebuild the province's economy and shift from traditional growth models toward more sustainable urban development.