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Stuff from Johannesburg

City of Joburg withdraws controversial proposal for prepaid electricity surcharge

Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa in the news:

  1. City of Joburg withdraws controversial proposal for prepaid electricity surcharge: Critics said the proposed monthly levy on Johannesburg residents using prepaid electricity, which has now been withdrawn, would have punished already overburdened households and businesses. – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  2. Kaizer Chiefs vs Simba SC Preview: Kick-off time, TV channel, squad news: Kaizer Chiefs resume their Caf Champions League campaign when they host Simba SC in a quarter-final, first leg showdown at FNB Stadium on Saturday. – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  3. Floyd: Why I left Sundowns: “I am not back home in Johannesburg. I have had few offers but I said to myself why not wait until the end of the season so that I start with a new team at a right time with pre-season.” Mogale has … – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  4. Makhura warns tough restrictions necessary to contain COVID spread: Gauteng Premier David Makhura confirmed on Friday that the province had officially entered the third wave of COVID-19 infections. – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  5. Dis-Chem ready to administer vaccines: Dis-Chem says it will be able to accommodate hundreds of people daily and will eventually operate 32 vaccination sites. – “Johannesburg” – BingNews

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

Did you know this about Johannesburg? Mponeng Gold Mine is the world’s deepest mine: The mine is located on the outskirts of Johannesburg (near Westonaria). The mining shaft of this mine extends down to 4 kilometres below the surface. A trip to the bottom of the mine takes about an hour.

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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.