MyJHB

Stuff from Johannesburg

IWF Remembers IWF South Africa Member Veronica Devine

Johannesburg in the news:

  1. IWF Remembers IWF South Africa Member Veronica Devine: … Veronica contributed in many ways, including as a member of the Steering Committee for the 2003 IWF Cornerstone Conference in Johannesburg, … – Google Alert – Johannesburg
  2. Watch: Springboks training: Watch the Springboks prepare for their opening match of the Rugby Championship against the Wallabies in Johannesburg on Saturday. – Google Alert – Johannesburg
  3. Believe the hype – this Stormers scrumhalf prodigy's talent exceeds his famous name: Springbok wing Aphiwe Dyantyi has returned to the Xerox Golden Lions in Johannesburg where he will undergo rehabilitation for a hamstring injury, … – Google Alert – Johannesburg
  4. South Africa's Former President Offers Fiery Defense in Corruption Probe: JOHANNESBURG—Former South African President Jacob Zuma forcefully defended himself in his first appearance at a corruption commission, … – Google Alert – Johannesburg
  5. Zuma drops names, makes huge claims at Sate Capture Inquiry: JOHANNESBURG – Former president Jacob Zuma dropped big names at the state capture inquiry and even bigger claims. From ex-minister Ngoako … – Google Alert – Johannesburg

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Have you tried: Travelling to South Africa?

Did you know this about Johannesburg? It’s not the only place in the world called Johannesburg: There’s a town called Johannesburg in California in the USA. It was named by miners who worked the gold mines in Johannesburg, South Africa and has an estimated population of less than 2,000.

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Ponte City: Transformation

As the “white flight” of the 1980s and 90s drained the inner city of capital, Ponte City underwent a dramatic and terrifying transformation. By the late 1990s, the building had become a “vertical slum” and a symbol of urban decay. It was famously “hijacked” by gangs; the retail levels were stripped, and the building became a fortress for drug dealing and human trafficking. The most haunting image from this era was the central core. Originally designed to be a light-filled courtyard, it became a literal trash heap. Residents on the upper floors would throw their refuse into the center of the building rather than taking it down. At its worst point, the trash in the core reached five stories high—a mountain of rotting debris, discarded furniture, and even, legend has it, the remains of those who had fallen or jumped.

During this period, the reputation of Ponte was so toxic that there was a serious proposal in 1998 to turn the entire skyscraper into a vertical prison. The plan was eventually scrapped, but the building remained a “no-go zone” for nearly a decade. The turnaround began in the mid-2000s when developers New Metro Property Group and later Dlala Nje began a massive, painstaking refurbishment. They cleared out the tons of trash from the core, restored the lifts (which had often been out of order, forcing residents to climb 50 flights of stairs), and implemented strict security protocols.