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Stuff from Johannesburg

Montjane and Maripa ease through to SA Spring Open final

Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa in the news:

  1. Montjane and Maripa ease through to SA Spring Open final: South African wheelchair tennis stars Kgothatso Montjane and Evans Maripa both booked their place in the finals of the SA Spring Open with straight sets victories at Ellis Park Tennis Courts in … – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  2. South Africa diving into digital age: DIGITAL transformation is crucial to ensure South Africa thrives in an age of mass disruption that is occurring across a variety of industries. This … – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  3. Ramaphosa to deliver Mkhize eulogy: President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver the eulogy at the funeral of Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Hlengiwe Mkhize. – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  4. Take care of tomorrow with mindful spending today: Johannesburg – Most people overspend here and there on a shopping trip but if overspending has become a habit it may be time to curb your “retail … – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  5. Soccer – Rajevac returns as coach of Ghana for second spell: Ghana named Milovan Rajevac as their new coach on Friday, with the Serbian returning to the job he held when the west African country reached the 2010 World Cup quarter-finals.Rajevac has signed a one … – “Johannesburg” – BingNews

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Did you know this about Johannesburg? Even though Johannesburg is well over 120 years old (founded on 4 October 1886 during the gold rush), it is still one of the youngest major cities in the world.

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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.