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Stuff from Johannesburg

Colorado man with COVID-19 variant had not traveled, lives in rural area outside Denver | MyJHB.co.za

Johannesburg in the news:

  1. Colorado man with COVID-19 variant had not traveled, lives in rural area outside Denver: A new variant of the coronavirus that may be more contagious has been found in a Colorado man who had not been traveling. – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  2. South Africa’s forgotten history: Moving Mozambican Miners to and From South Africa, circa 1902-55 by Charles van Onselen. Jonathan Ball Publishers, 2019. For 35 years, I’ve been reading with d … – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  3. South Africa reports record daily COVID-19 cases of nearly 18,0000: South Africa reported a record 17,710 daily increase in coronavirus infections on Wednesday, surpassing the previous high of about 14,500 set several days ago. “As … – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  4. Happy New Year messages: How to say Happy New Year in 36 languages: HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2021 is almost upon us and its time to say goodbye to 2020. If you want to wish friends and family around the world a Happy New Year, here is how to do so in 36 different languages. – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  5. The 10 best TV shows to watch this week, from The Serpent to Pooch Perfect: Focusing on how Earth’s equilibrium of weather, terrain and atmosphere provides the perfect home to approximately 8.7 million species, this first episode takes a closer look at how volcanoes shaped … – “Johannesburg” – BingNews

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Have you tried: Visiting Port Elizabeth?

Did you know this about Johannesburg? The Rand Afrikaans University was founded in 1966. Its first campus was on the erstwhile premises of South African Breweries in Braamfontein, Johannesburg. Later it moved to its new campus in Auckland Park. The University of Johannesburg came into existence on 1 January 2005 as the result of a merger between the Rand Afrikaans University (RAU), the Technikon Witwatersrand (TWR) and the Soweto and East Rand campuses of Vista University.

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The Oriental Plaza: A Phoenix in Fordsburg

If Johannesburg is a city of forced displacements, the Oriental Plaza is its most resilient response. While the Rand Club was built for the elite and Ponte for the “jet-set,” the Oriental Plaza was born from the trauma of the Group Areas Act—a piece of Apartheid legislation designed to geographically separate the races. Yet, in true Johannesburg fashion, what was intended as a tool of containment and financial ruin for the Indian community transformed into one of the most vibrant, independent commercial powerhouses in the country.

The story of the Plaza begins with the destruction of Pageview, affectionately known as Fietas. In the mid-20th century, Fietas was a legendary multicultural hub, centered around the bustling 14th Street. It was the city’s premier destination for textiles, clothing, and spices, where shoppers of all races would rub shoulders in a “jazzy, soulful” atmosphere. However, because Fietas was located so close to the white-only city center, the Apartheid government declared it a “white area” in 1962. The community fought back for decades, but by the 1970s, the bulldozers arrived. Homes were leveled, and the thriving traders of 14th Street were forcibly relocated to a purpose-built, modernist complex a kilometer away in Fordsburg: the Oriental Plaza.

The government’s intent was cynical: by moving the traders into a controlled environment with high state-mandated rents and strict rules on what could be sold, they hoped to break the back of Indian commercial dominance. The early years were devastating; many businesses folded, and the “Grand Bazaar” felt like a sterile warehouse compared to the street-level energy of Fietas. However, the traders refused to vanish. They eventually won the right to purchase their own shops, making the Oriental Plaza unique among South African malls because it is owned by the shopkeepers themselves rather than a corporate landlord. This ownership model changed everything. Without the burden of massive monthly mall rentals, the 360+ independent stores can offer prices that national retailers cannot touch, turning the Plaza into a “bargain-hunter’s paradise” that draws millions of visitors a year.