MyJHB

Stuff from Johannesburg

Mover & Shaker: Tarek Mosaad

Johannesburg: Hyundai Automotive South Africa congratulates Tarek Mosaad, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Middle East and Africa, following his election as President of the African Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM) for the 2026-2028 term.

This development places one of the industry’s most influential regional executives at the centre of Africa’s automotive transformation. Furthermore, the appointment comes at a pivotal moment for Africa’s automotive industry, as the continent seeks to deepen local manufacturing, strengthen regional value chains as well as expand intra-African trade.

“On behalf of Hyundai Automotive South Africa, I would like to warmly congratulate Tarek on his election as President of AAAM,” said Stanley Anderson, CEO of Hyundai Automotive South Africa. “This is an important recognition of his leadership and understanding of the opportunities and complexities of the African automotive market. We are proud to see a Hyundai leader taking on a role that can help shape the future of our industry across the continent.”

Anderson said the forum represented an opportunity to move beyond discussions about vehicle sales and focus on the broader economic contribution of automotive manufacturing.

“Africa needs an automotive industry that contributes to industrialization, skills development and investments. Platforms such as AAAM can help align industry and policymakers around practical interventions that make Africa more competitive,” added Anderson.

Mosaad’s election also strengthens Hyundai’s voice in these continental conversations. Hyundai Automotive South Africa is already Hyundai’s number-one market in Africa, following a 2025 performance that delivered more than 36,000 vehicle sales and 19% year-on-year growth.

Category: Tag:

Sophiatown: The Lost “Paris of the Transvaal”

Sophiatown’s golden age was the 1940s and 50s. It was a dense, vibrant, and often dangerous neighborhood, characterized by “backyard” rooms, shebeens (illegal speakeasies), and a sophisticated social scene. It was the birthplace of Kwaito’s ancestors and the legendary “Marabi” music—a blend of traditional African rhythms and American ragtime. The streets were home to the most iconic figures of African literature and music: Miriam Makeba found her voice here; Hugh Masekela received his first trumpet from a local priest; and the writers of Drum magazine, like Can Themba and Bloke Modisane, used the neighborhood as their muse. They dressed in Fedora hats and double-breasted suits, channeling the style of Hollywood gangsters and Harlem intellectuals, creating a world that was cosmopolitain, intellectual, and radically multi-racial.

However, the “Bohemia” of Sophiatown was an existential threat to the National Party’s vision of total racial separation. The government viewed it as a “black spot” in a white area. In 1955, the state launched Western Areas Removal Scheme. On the morning of February 9th, 2,000 heavily armed police officers moved in, forcing families into trucks at gunpoint. They were relocated to the newly established matchbox houses of the South Western Townships (Soweto), 20 kilometers away. The resistance was led by figures like Trevor Huddleston, the Anglican priest whose church, St. Joseph’s, still stands today. Despite the slogan “Ons dak nie, ons pola hier” (We are not moving, we are staying here), the bulldozers were relentless.