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Stuff from Johannesburg

Six people killed in Gauteng and Western Cape crashes | MyJHB.co.za

Johannesburg in the news:

  1. Six people killed in Gauteng and Western Cape crashes: Five people were killed and one person seriously injured when a bakkie and a truck collided on the N1 in De Doorns, while a Gauteng motorist died after his vehicle collided with a large truck on the … – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  2. Outa calls for South African Airways boycott: JOHANNESBURG – There has been mixed reaction to the allocation of another R10.5-billion to the troubled airline. The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) is calling for a boycott if the state “wastes … – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  3. Weather update: Large thunderstorm moving towards Johannesburg: A “large storm is sweeping southern Gauteng, moving towards Johannesburg”, and warnings are issued for flooding. Here’s what we know. – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  4. Kelly Khumalo breaks her silence- hires ex-EFF leader to fight latest allegations: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – NOVEMBER 25: Kelly Khumalo performs her hit single “Asine” during a media briefing on her new album on November 25, 2014 at Universal Music in Johannesburg … – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  5. Stingy Treasury and hasty capitalists creating unprecedented pain! – SAFTU: And the basis for the ongoing celebration in Sandton – the restored stock market valuation, mainly using worker pension funds to bubble up the Johannesburg Stock Exchange casino – is just another … – “Johannesburg” – BingNews

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Have you tried: Reach Trust for Solar and Building Management?

Did you know this about Johannesburg? The city is very leafy: According to the City of Johannesburg website, there are 1.2 million trees within parks and on pavements and an estimated 4.8 million trees in private gardens. Many regard the city as the world’s biggest man-made forest, but this fact is disputed. Unofficial claims say that Johannesburg has 10 million trees. In 2013, New York City had 5.2 million trees and was planning to plant another million by 2017. New York City has a population of more than 8 million people.

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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.