By Charmaine Ndlela
Christmas Eve in Johannesburg felt different this year. As Christmas lights glowed across the streets, a shared sense of excitement and anticipation filled the air.
When our team visited the Johannesburg central business district this week, the mood was lively yet gentle.
The familiar rush of hooting taxis, crowded pavements and restless movement softened into an unhurried rhythm.
Under the steady glow of festive lights, Johannesburg revealed a quieter, more peaceful side of itself.
The red and yellow lights shone brightly, inviting people to gather with friends, laugh, dance and celebrate. Christmas brought good music, great vibes and unforgettable moments — and the city’s lights provided the perfect backdrop.
For content creators, it was a moment to shine. The glowing streets offered ideal scenes to capture stories of unity, celebration and joy — reflections of the city’s festive spirit.
As families gathered indoors and outdoors, Johannesburg’s Christmas lights continued to sparkle like diamonds. They offered warmth and hope to everyone — those heading to work, returning home, or simply enjoying the night air. Where one was going mattered less than the shared rhythm of the streets, alive with festive energy.
Soft music drifting beneath the lights created an almost dreamlike atmosphere. The decorations did more than illuminate — they kept the Christmas Eve spirit alive and glowing.
Johannesburg’s inner city shone brighter following City Power’s launch of upgraded streetlights and Christmas light displays, which brought festive cheer while improving safety and visibility over the holiday season.
Last month, Joburg mayor Dada Morero was joined by MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services Jack Sekwaila, MMC for Group Corporate and Shared Services Sithembiso Hlatshwayo, Regional Director Irene Mafune and City Power executives when the display was switched on.
Festive displays brightened areas including the Inner City (CBD), Maboneng and public spaces such as Gandhi Square.
Private spaces, including Melrose Arch and Moray Drive in Bryanston, dazzled with magical displays, transforming these areas into walkable wonderlands filled with markets and picture-perfect moments.
City Power Chief Commercial Officer Thamsanqa Mathiso said the project demonstrated renewed commitment to service delivery and built on progress made during G20 preparations.
“We were here to demonstrate the mayor’s vision that we can light up the city. We were returning the city to its glory days and wanted residents and visitors to enjoy and experience the spirit of Jozi Maboneng of old,” Mathiso said.
Morero said the lighting rollout supported his vision of restoring confidence in the inner city.
“We were on the right path to recovering and rebuilding our city. Our goal was a safer Johannesburg where people could walk freely, feel safe, and enjoy functional public lighting supported by the rollout of more solar high masts. We wanted to bring back ‘Jozi Maboneng’ and restore pride in our city,” he said.
City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena said the initiative formed part of the inner city regeneration programme, with installations completed along De Villiers, Noord, Plein, Wolmarans, Commissioner and Rissik streets.
Fourteen displays on De Villiers Street had already been completed.
He added that the lights were refurbished using cleaned and repaired stock from previous years to reduce costs, with most of the work carried out by internal teams.
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