MyJHB

Stuff from Johannesburg

ANC once again commits itself to ethical governance | MyJHB.co.za

Johannesburg in the news:

  1. ANC once again commits itself to ethical governance: During his virtual January 8 address, President Cyril Ramaphosa committed to better management of the country’s economy and public finances. – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  2. A vexing and perplexing start to 2021: It’s difficult, nine days in, to say if anyone’s broken their New Year’s resolutions; it doesn’t look like anyone promised to be nicer and do better in the first place, writes Kevin Ritchie. – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  3. Liebenberg declares war as local grudge fight is finally sealed: The 37-year-old ring veteran, trained by Colin Nathan at the Hotbox Gym in Johannesburg, said the purse offer wasn’t even a consideration to him, he just wanted to get in the ring and “show Campbell … – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  4. SGG Test: Australia pull back momentum on Day 3: India suffered yet another batting collapse, this time on Day 3 of the ongoing SCG Test. The Indians, who were cruising on 117/2 at one stage, perished in front of the Australian bowlers. A … – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  5. Fighting COVID is ANC’s top priority for 2021, says Ramaphosa: Cyril Ramaphosa said a mass vaccination programme would be implemented as soon as South Africa received its first batch of a vaccine. – “Johannesburg” – BingNews

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Have you tried: Whale and Dolphin Watching in Algoa Bay?

Did you know this about Johannesburg? There is also a Johannesburg in California, although it only has a population of 176 people (2000 census). It was named by miners who had worked in the gold mines of Johannesburg, South Africa.

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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.