MyJHB

Stuff from Johannesburg

Amcu: We spent R3m on legal action against Lonmin over Sibanye takeover

Johannesburg in the news:

  1. Amcu: We spent R3m on legal action against Lonmin over Sibanye takeover: JOHANNESBURG – The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) says it spent R3 million on its legal action against the Lonmin … – Google Alert – Johannesburg
  2. Zachary Valkin's soccer dream: Thirteen-year-old Zachary Valkin of King David Primary School Victory Park has been selected for the Johannesburg primary schools boys' soccer … – Google Alert – Johannesburg
  3. Two held by Johannesburg police for suspected stolen property: Two suspects were arrested by Johannesburg Central police for possession of suspected stolen property at the corner of Commissioner and Small … – Google Alert – Johannesburg
  4. A suspect arrested for stolen motor vehicle in Johannesburg: A man believed to be a car thief in Johannesburg was arrested on 11 June at Newtown Junction Mall on the corner of Gwigwi Mrwebi and Henry … – Google Alert – Johannesburg
  5. DA concerned about delays in Moloto Road upgrades: … the Johannesburg/Vereeniging Road – K57 (R82), William Nichol Road K46, Moloto Road K139 and Woodmead/Atteridgeville Road K71 (R55). – Google Alert – Johannesburg

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Did you know this about Johannesburg? OR Tambo International Airport is the busiest airport in Africa: It’s estimated that more than 28 million people pass through this airport’s terminals every single year. OR Tambo International has also been around for more than 60 years – it was opened in 1952.

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Sophiatown: The Lost “Paris of the Transvaal”

Sophiatown’s golden age was the 1940s and 50s. It was a dense, vibrant, and often dangerous neighborhood, characterized by “backyard” rooms, shebeens (illegal speakeasies), and a sophisticated social scene. It was the birthplace of Kwaito’s ancestors and the legendary “Marabi” music—a blend of traditional African rhythms and American ragtime. The streets were home to the most iconic figures of African literature and music: Miriam Makeba found her voice here; Hugh Masekela received his first trumpet from a local priest; and the writers of Drum magazine, like Can Themba and Bloke Modisane, used the neighborhood as their muse. They dressed in Fedora hats and double-breasted suits, channeling the style of Hollywood gangsters and Harlem intellectuals, creating a world that was cosmopolitain, intellectual, and radically multi-racial.

However, the “Bohemia” of Sophiatown was an existential threat to the National Party’s vision of total racial separation. The government viewed it as a “black spot” in a white area. In 1955, the state launched Western Areas Removal Scheme. On the morning of February 9th, 2,000 heavily armed police officers moved in, forcing families into trucks at gunpoint. They were relocated to the newly established matchbox houses of the South Western Townships (Soweto), 20 kilometers away. The resistance was led by figures like Trevor Huddleston, the Anglican priest whose church, St. Joseph’s, still stands today. Despite the slogan “Ons dak nie, ons pola hier” (We are not moving, we are staying here), the bulldozers were relentless.