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Stuff from Johannesburg

Diversity helps media regain trust of young news audiences | MyJHB.co.za

Johannesburg in the news:

  1. Diversity helps media regain trust of young news audiences: It was only after an interaction with young journalism students in a Johannesburg university that Patel felt propelled to take action, launching her own publication aimed at developing a new … – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  2. Sri Lanka, Australia and Pakistan to tour South Africa in bumper home season: Following the visit of England, South Africa will host Sri Lanka for two Tests while details of Australia and Pakistan’s visit remain to be confirmed … – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  3. Drama at Senzo Meyiwa’s murder court case: The murder case of former Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates captain Senzo Meyiwa has been postponed to the 27th of next month in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court east of Johannesburg. At the start of … – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  4. Wary South African Stock Investors Look to Budget for Action: Load Error Investors will need evidence of real and achievable reforms before they will bet on the plan set out by President Cyril Ramaphosa to revive an economy in its longest recession such 1992, … – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  5. Moshito 2020: The 2020 edition of Moshito music conference and exhibition has been launched in Johannesburg, South Africa. Now in its 17th year, Moshito has positioned itself as Africa’s premiere music industry … – “Johannesburg” – BingNews

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

Did you know this about Johannesburg? Stone-walled ruins of Sotho–Tswana towns and villages are scattered around the parts of the former Transvaal in which Johannesburg is situated. Many of these sites contain the ruins of Sotho–Tswana mines and iron smelting furnaces, suggesting that the area was being exploited for its mineral wealth before the arrival of Europeans or the discovery of gold. The most prominent site within Johannesburg is Melville Koppies, which contains an iron smelting furnace.

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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.