MyJHB

Stuff from Johannesburg

Pitso Mosimane’s Al Ahly dump Sundowns out of the Caf Champions League

Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa in the news:

  1. Pitso Mosimane’s Al Ahly dump Sundowns out of the Caf Champions League: After losing 2-0 in their quarter-final first leg clash against Al Ahly, Mamelodi Sundowns could only manage a 1-all draw in the second leg, and were eliminated from the Caf Champions League. – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  2. Phumudzo Themeli releases second book: Phumudzo Themeli, who recently released his second book, titled Born to Lead Even in Pain, said he aims to inject spiritual healing into society. Themeli, who is a professional nurse, has been doing … – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  3. DA ready to take on ANC in local government elections, says Steenhuisen: John Steenhuisen said the party had started its preparations and was ready to sell its message to South Africans. – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  4. EDITORIAL: WHY WE MUST HONOUR WORLD BIODIVERSITY DAY: May 22, the world marks International Day for Biological Diversity (IDBD) – also simply known as World Biodiversity Day. This is a UN-sanctioned day for promoting biodiversity issues. – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  5. Cele warns Zandspruit leaders as mob justice death toll rises to eight: Police Minister Bheki Cele has urged Zandspruit informal settlement residents to share the names of the suspects involved in a vigilante group. – “Johannesburg” – BingNews

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Did you know this about Johannesburg? It boasts the tallest building in Africa: Coming in at a whopping 270 metres tall, the Hillbrow Tower overlooks everything in the city of Johannesburg.

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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.