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Stuff from Johannesburg

Mbali Ntuli congratulates Steenhuisen, commits support to DA | MyJHB.co.za

Johannesburg in the news:

  1. Mbali Ntuli congratulates Steenhuisen, commits support to DA: JOHANNESBURG – The Democratic Alliance’s Mbali Ntuli, says the party’s newly-elected leader, John Steenhuisen has her full support. Ntuli lost to John Steenhuisen for the party’s top job. READ: DA to … – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  2. 135 more COVID-19 deaths reported in SA: JOHANNESBURG – The Health Department reported 135 more COVID-19 deaths in South Africa, taking the death toll to 19,411. READ: Coronavirus in SA: Second wave or resurgence? Over 1,300 infections have … – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  3. Can you smoke dagga before work?: Ofentse Rakang, employed as a “picker” at the Rankeng/Signature Cosmetics and Fragrance company in February 2018, was dismissed in June 2019 for misconduct after he was found to have reported for duty … – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  4. Chinese creditors working to resolve Africa’s debt woes -diplomat: JOHANNESBURG, Oct 30 (Reuters) – Chinese financial institutions, not only the country’s official creditors, are working to help ease the debt woes of African nations, which have worsened due to … – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  5. The lasting legacy of Irma Stern explained by South Africa’s leading women in the arts: Irma Stern is an important figure in the history of South African art. An undeniable innovator, her portrait and still life paintings have been especially admired by generations of collectors. Nearly … – “Johannesburg” – BingNews

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

Did you know this about Johannesburg? Sophiatown was originally part of the farm Waterval. In 1897 the speculator Hermann Tobiansky acquired a 237-acre portion of the farm, which was situated about four miles or so west of the centre of Johannesburg. In 1903 he had some of the land surveyed as leasehold township, divided into almost 1700 small stands. The township was named after Tobiansky’s wife, Sophia, and some of the streets were named after his children Toby, Gerty, Bertha and Victoria. Blacks started acquiring land in Sophiatown.

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The Wilds: A Sanctuary of Stone and Steel

The Wilds was officially opened to the public in 1938, carved out of the rocky “koppies” (hills) of the Witwatersrand. Unlike the manicured lawns of the city’s more traditional parks, The Wilds was designed to showcase South Africa’s botanical heritage. It is a vertical garden of sorts, featuring steep stone paths that wind through forests of yellowwood trees, proteas, and ancient cycads. At its highest point, the reserve offers one of the most spectacular views of the Johannesburg skyline, where the brutalist towers of Hillbrow seem to rise directly out of the prehistoric-looking vegetation.

However, like many of Johannesburg’s public spaces, The Wilds fell into a period of deep neglect during the late 1990s and early 2000s. As crime rates rose and the city’s maintenance budgets shifted, the reserve became overgrown and was perceived as a “no-go zone.” The waterfalls stopped running, the stone paths crumbled, and the once-vibrant greenhouse became a skeletal ruin. For nearly two decades, this incredible piece of real estate sat largely abandoned, used only by a few brave locals and the occasional film crew looking for a “wilderness” setting within city limits.