RIGHT OF REPLY OP-ED: Young Avenue, Upper Houghton: The story that wasn’t told

Stories of state failure matter deeply, but so do stories of what survives despite that failure, and of communities that refuse to be defeated.

We write as the residents of Young Avenue, Upper Houghton, Johannesburg – the people who actually live here, who wake up on this street every morning, who sweep its pavements, plant its gardens, and who are working tirelessly to remedy the situation at the abandoned Department of Public Works properties that have been the subject of recent Daily Maverick coverage.

We write also because we are concerned about the way this story is being reported. Taken together, the article (29 March 2026) and video (24 May 2026) present a picture of Young Avenue that does not accurately reflect this street, its people, or what is actually happening here. We feel we have a responsibility to set the record straight.

We appreciated the attention brought to the state’s failure at 17 and 35 Young Avenue. That story needed telling, and we are glad it was. But both pieces left us with a profound sense that the fuller, truer, more human story of this street was not told – and we believe it is a story worth telling.

Young Avenue is not a street in decline. It is a street of strong community that is actively confronting its challenges. Yes, there are problem properties where owners are not complying with municipal bylaws and whose conduct we have repeatedly and continually reported to the relevant authorities.

The overwhelming majority of homes, however, are beautiful, lovingly maintained, many of them heritage properties that residents have poured their hearts and savings into restoring over the past decade – homes that continue to attract discerning buyers who recognise the quality of life this street offers.

We are a mixed, multigenerational, proudly South African community. We know each other by name. We know each other’s children. We gather in each other’s homes. On this street, you will find professionals, artists, educators and business people – people who want to defend Johannesburg and this neighbourhood and see it flourish.

Every week, we employ two gentlemen to sweep, clean and care for our pavements through the Young Avenue Pavement Project – including, pointedly, the pavements directly outside the neglected Department of Public Works properties that feature in the recent coverage. This year has seen a record number of residents contributing financially to this initiative.

We report and remove illegal dumping. We propagate succulents and plant pavement gardens – not because anyone asked us to, but because we believe bea