Ann Bernstein, Executive Director of CDE, speaks to Stephen Grootes about why fixing Johannesburg must become a national priority, the role of the 2026 local government elections in the city’s recovery, and what it will take to rebuild South Africa’s most important economic hub. She warns that “if Joburg is not playing its role as a centre of growth, jobs and opportunity, it will not only affect the residents, but also those who would have historically migrated to the city for better opportunities”. The interview follows the release of CDE’s latest report, Joburg in Jeopardy, the first in its new Johannesburg Matters series.