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Stuff from Johannesburg

JOBURG – The Student Sponsorship Programme has awarded over 1 500 academic scholarships …

Johannesburg in the news:

  1. JOBURG – The Student Sponsorship Programme has awarded over 1 500 academic scholarships …: The scholarships given to date are valued at more than R150 million, to attend schools in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Makhanda and East London. – Google Alert – Johannesburg
  2. Virginia man caught impersonating a cop: A site promoting Johannesburg tourism proudly boasts of the exotic cars of Sandton, which it calls "the richest square mile in Africa," but according to … – Google Alert – Johannesburg
  3. Ramaphosa: 'We're on a mission to support young people': JOHANNESBURG – President Cyril Ramaphosa says the success of many young South Africans shows the flame that burnt in 1976 has not been lost. – Google Alert – Johannesburg
  4. We Love Killarney group clarifies its role in pending taxi rank project: … clarify exactly what our role has been leading up to City of Johannesburg Property Company (JPC) commencement of the project. We Love Killarney … – Google Alert – Johannesburg
  5. Giresse tries again to conquer Africa, with Group E favourites Tunisia: Johannesburg (AFP) – Former France star Alain Giresse makes a fourth attempt to win the Africa Cup of Nations as a coach when he leads Group E … – Google Alert – Johannesburg

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

Did you know this about Johannesburg? It’s also home to the world’s largest man-made forest: Johannesburg is home to 10 million trees, which helps the city cope with greenhouse effects and also lowers the noise levels within the city.

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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.