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Stuff from Johannesburg

Hasan Ali rocks Proteas after Anrich Nortje makes Pakistan jump on dead pitch | MyJHB.co.za

Johannesburg in the news:

  1. Hasan Ali rocks Proteas after Anrich Nortje makes Pakistan jump on dead pitch: Anrich Nortje claimed his third Test five-for – his first away from home – as Pakistan were dismissed for 272 half an hour before tea on the day two of the second Test in Rawalpindi. – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  2. Vaccine rollout: what we know so far about jabs in provinces: The first coronavirus shots in the Northern Cape will be given next week. Premier Zamani Saul said the distribution of the first batch of vaccines, which landed at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo … – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  3. Emirates extends SA suspension but ups flights to neighbouring states: Dubai-based carrier Emirates has lengthened the suspension of its flights to South Africa, but is flying to Zimbabwe and Zambia. – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  4. Halt to Richards Bay Minerals project depriving South Africa of R100bn benefit: KwaZulu-Natal minerals sands company Richards Bay Minerals has got a major project called Zulti South that is fully permitted and fully funded – but is not being developed. Construction, began in the … – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  5. Smooth and spicy grain whisky’s 10-year distillation: Recycling of spent grain  Malt and maize are mashed and fermented to produce alcohol for distillation. The effluent by-product from distillation is sent to the liquids/solids separator from which the … – “Johannesburg” – BingNews

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

Did you know this about Johannesburg? It has the world’s largest hospital: The Chris Hani-Baragwanath Hospital has the ability to serve up to 3.5 million people in Johannesburg.

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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.