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Stuff from Johannesburg

Community Talent Takes Centre Stage at Sammy Marks Square

Advertorial:
Community Talent Takes Centre Stage at Sammy Marks Square:

Community Talent Takes Centre Stage at Sammy Marks Square: Battle of the Choirs Competition Offers R55,000 in Prizes.

Get ready for an electrifying showcase of musical talent as Sammy Marks Square in the heart of Pretoria, presents The Battle of the Choirs Competition! With up to R55,000 in prizes up for grabs, this event promises to be an unforgettable celebration of community spirit and musical excellence.

The competition, open to bands and choirs from our community, offers participants the chance to battle off for their share of the prize money, prizes include:

First Place: R30 000
Second Place: R15 000
Third Place: R10 000

To enter, aspiring musicians are invited to fill in an application form available on our website or Facebook page with their thirty second video before the 16th of May. The top twelve selected videos will be posted to the Sammy Marks Square Facebook page between the 23rd of May to the 06 June 2024 where customers will have the opportunity to vote for their favourite choir or band. The top six voted semi-finalists will then go head-to-head in an epic battle at Sammy Marks Square on the 22nd of June 2024. This competition is more than just a showcase of local talent; it is a celebration of our vibrant communities and the rich musical heritage they embody. We are thrilled to provide a platform for local musicians to shine and connect with their audience. Adding to the excitement, attendees will have the chance to meet Wanda Baloyi, our esteemed Choir Master, and enjoy a day filled with music, entertainment, and community camaraderie.

Do not miss your chance to be a part of this extraordinary event and witness the power of community talent on full display! For more information visit https://sammymarks.co.za

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Author: Candice Perry on behalf of Sammy Marks Square.

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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.