Johannesburg has been named South Africa’s premier city.
Mandy Jean Woods, director of tourism and marketing, said on Friday Johannesburg had been named the most popular town or city in South Africa during the Markinor/Sunday Times Top Brands Survey 2003 awards ceremony in Johannesburg this week.
The city, she said, was the inaugural winner in this category.
”The awards have been running annually since 1992. They provide businesses, investors and the public with a brand-health measurement. They also focus on the brand value of all South African products, from major companies to fast-food outlets down to individual products such as Coca-Cola.”
Until 2000 the survey related only to spontaneous awareness levels of trust and confidence. From 2001 Markinor also incorporated commitment and loyalty factors into the survey.
Executive Mayor Amos Masondo said the award confirmed that Johannesburg was indeed a world-class African city.
”Johannesburg remains South Africa’s commercial and industrial heartland and the nation’s main centre of finance, business services, information and technology and telecommunications. This award epitomises this view,” Masondo said.
City manager Pascal Moloi said the award was especially encouraging and served to send a clear signal that Johannesburg was on the road to economic prosperity.
He said the four main sectors, mentioned by Masondo, collectively contributed 80% of Johannesburg’s gross geographic product and accounted for 79% of employment.
Moloi added: ”In marketing terms, if the product is not matched with quality, it soon loses its value.”
Woods said the award was an accolade for all those municipal workers who kept the metropolis operating and in good shape — from street cleaners and council plumbers to the team at the top in the mayoral committee under the leadership of the executive mayor. — Sapa