MyJHB

Stuff from Johannesburg

ALPLA greases the wheels with South African purchase

Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa in the news:

  1. ALPLA greases the wheels with South African purchase: Austrian converter ALPLA has acquired South Africa’s Verigreen Packaging, a manufacturer of bottles and canisters for lubricants such as engine oils. Verigreen Packaging has a workforce of 25 … – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  2. Jonas Bogoshi, CEO of BCX SA, on Digital Transformation & The Future of Work: Today, BCX works with businesses from new start-ups to JSE-listed enterprises and international corporations. Appointed to his current role in June of 2018, Jonas is a big proponent of digital … – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  3. De Beers bounces back to 2019 levels with outstanding performance: Global consumer demand for diamonds continued to recover from the impact of Covid, supported by fiscal stimulus in the US and the roll-out of vaccines, De Beers Group said on Thursday when it was … – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  4. SA riots LATEST: Woolworths ‘Mercedes looter’ in court: Mbuso Moloi, who went viral on social media after allegedly stashing Woolworths loot in a Mercedes-Benz was arrested this week. – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  5. Paragon Group remains committed to developing new talent: Bringing in new blood is important to ensure sustainability and creativity throughout the architecture profession. Over the past few years, the Paragon Group has committed itself to develop young … – “Johannesburg” – BingNews

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Have you tried: Reach Trust for Solar and Building Management?

Did you know this about Johannesburg? In 1971 the South African Broadcasting Corporation was eventually allowed to introduce a television service. When television was finally introduced, there was only one channel with airtime divided evenly between English and Afrikaans, alternating between the two languages. Test transmissions in Johannesburg began on 5 May 1975, followed in July by ones in Cape Town and Durban. Nationwide services finally commenced on 5 January 1976.

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Ponte City: Transformation

As the “white flight” of the 1980s and 90s drained the inner city of capital, Ponte City underwent a dramatic and terrifying transformation. By the late 1990s, the building had become a “vertical slum” and a symbol of urban decay. It was famously “hijacked” by gangs; the retail levels were stripped, and the building became a fortress for drug dealing and human trafficking. The most haunting image from this era was the central core. Originally designed to be a light-filled courtyard, it became a literal trash heap. Residents on the upper floors would throw their refuse into the center of the building rather than taking it down. At its worst point, the trash in the core reached five stories high—a mountain of rotting debris, discarded furniture, and even, legend has it, the remains of those who had fallen or jumped.

During this period, the reputation of Ponte was so toxic that there was a serious proposal in 1998 to turn the entire skyscraper into a vertical prison. The plan was eventually scrapped, but the building remained a “no-go zone” for nearly a decade. The turnaround began in the mid-2000s when developers New Metro Property Group and later Dlala Nje began a massive, painstaking refurbishment. They cleared out the tons of trash from the core, restored the lifts (which had often been out of order, forcing residents to climb 50 flights of stairs), and implemented strict security protocols.