CDE executive director Ann Bernstein spoke to Newzroom Afrika about Johannesburg’s worsening financial crisis and the findings of CDE’s Joburg’s Broken Budget, part of the Johannesburg Matters series. Bernstein explained that the city continues to budget as though all billed revenue will be collected, while unpaid bills have risen dramatically and declining service delivery is weakening residents’ willingness to pay. She argued that Johannesburg needs to improve revenue collection, prioritise infrastructure investment and restore credible budgeting, but stressed that meaningful reform will depend on stable political leadership after the November local government elections. “What we need is a stable government of integrity that is serious about fixing the city, and that has a real chance of staying the course for the five years.”