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Stuff from Johannesburg

International flights land in South Africa as borders reopen | MyJHB.co.za

Johannesburg in the news:

  1. International flights land in South Africa as borders reopen: German carrier Lufthansa was the first European airline to resume operations into the country, with a flight from Frankfurt landing at Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo international airport at 8.30 a.m. – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  2. 2 Bedroom House for Sale in Sky City: Sky City is one of the most affordable housing projects in the South East of Johannesburg. This area is one of the fastest growing areas with high investment opportunities. It’s about a 30 minute … – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  3. The AU navigates the COVID-19 storm: The AU has been obliged to adapt its plans for 2020 owing to the disruptions caused by COVID-19, with some measure of success thanks to virtual meetings. – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  4. NTT Ltd. announces new data center expansion project in South Africa: NTT Ltd., a world-leading global technology services provider and Dimension Data, the South African systems integrator and managed services provider which represents the NTT Ltd. business in the … – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  5. New South African fintech startup launches: A new South African fintech startup, PayCurve, aims to provide an early salary access solution and improve users’ financial wellness. – “Johannesburg” – BingNews

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

Did you know this about Johannesburg? It’s been rebuilt four times: Within one century, Johannesburg has been transformed from a tented camp, a tin shanty town, four-storey Edwardian brick buildings and now, a city of modern skyscrapers.

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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.