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Stuff from Johannesburg

I'm accountable for Alex demolitions, Joburg City Manager tells commission of inquiry

Johannesburg in the news:

  1. I'm accountable for Alex demolitions, Joburg City Manager tells commission of inquiry: The Gauteng Department of Water and Sanitation says that problems in Alexandra are 'old' and that the City of Johannesburg has failed to maintain … – Google Alert – Johannesburg
  2. Affordable wedding venues in Johannesburg: Are you looking to say your vows in an idyllic yet breathtaking location in Johannesburg? Well, here are the most beautiful yet affordable wedding … – Google Alert – Johannesburg
  3. Heavy police presence in Westbury after gangs' court clash: The police say they will pull out all the stops to ensure the safety of residents in a tense Westbury, Johannesburg. This after alleged rival gang … – Google Alert – Johannesburg
  4. Red Ants bite back over Alex demolitions: JOHANNESBURG – We were only doing our job in Alexandra. That's according to Security and Evictions Services unit, the Red Ants. – Google Alert – Johannesburg
  5. Forest High pupil accused of stabbing fellow pupil could get 35 years in jail: The pupil appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court on Wednesday for the murder of a grade 8 pupil, Daniel Bakwela. The National … – Google Alert – Johannesburg

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

Did you know this about Johannesburg? At 269m high, the Hillbrow Tower is the tallest structure in Johannesburg. It used to have a revolving restaurant at the top, before it was closed down in 1981 for safety reasons. It is a prominent feature in the city’s beautiful skyline.

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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.