MyJHB

Stuff from Johannesburg

HEALING BOYS, MEN AND FATHERS CAN BRING REAL CHANGE TO GBV

Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa in the news:

  1. HEALING BOYS, MEN AND FATHERS CAN BRING REAL CHANGE TO GBV: Empowering and educating men and boys is key to ending the cycle of gender-based violence (GBV) and fatherless homes. – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  2. Scientists split on South Africa’s winter and summer rainfall zones: South Africa is among a handful of countries that experience winter rainfall in some areas and summer rainfall in others. The southwestern tip of … – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  3. New Audi Q8 e-tron confirmed for 2026, R8 going electric too: Audi has announced that there’s a Q8 e-tron in the pipeline and it could replace both the current e-tron and Q8 SUVs. – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  4. NatJOINTS says security in place for FW De Klerk memorial: The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NatJOINTS) announced that it’s all systems go for the state memorial service for the last apartheid president FW de Klerk. – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  5. Ghana Norway Launch Report On Cost of Piracy in Gulf of Guinea: Ghana and Norway have stressed their commitment in ensuring a collective response to maritime security during their tenures on the UN Security Council. – “Johannesburg” – BingNews

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

Did you know this about Johannesburg? At the northern extremity of Johannesburg was Parktown, already known for its exclusivity and extreme wealth. Sir Lionel Phillips was the first Randlord to build a mansion in Parktown. “Hohenheim” was built in 1894 and demolished in 1972 to make way for the Johannesburg Academic Hospital. Sunny Side Park was designed by Frank Emley for Hennen Jennings and completed in 1896. Today it is part of the Sunny Side Park Hotel. “The View” was completed in 1897. It was built by Charles Aburrow as the residence of Sir Thomas Cullinan.

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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.