MyJHB

Stuff from Johannesburg

South Africa booted out of Olympic football tournament

Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa in the news:

  1. South Africa booted out of Olympic football tournament: Johannesburg – The South African Under-23 team were knocked out of the Olympic football tournament despite making their French counterparts to dig deep to … – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  2. Chiawelo residents threaten not to vote after being without electricity for a year: As Gauteng experiences chilly weather conditions, Chiawelo residents in Soweto, south of Johannesburg, have been without electricity for a year. – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  3. Prince Albert net worth: How much would Princess Charlene get in event of divorce?: PRINCE ALBERT II of Monaco is one of the wealthiest royals in the world, with assets valued at over $ 1 billion, including land in Monaco and France. – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  4. 2021 Record-Eagle Baseball Dream Team: Somehow not on the all-Northwest team at all. Jayden Alfred, SS/P, Mancelona, Sr. — Not even a full-time baseball player, Alfred’s athleticism showed on the diamond, as he led the area in slugging … – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  5. WATCH: Fourways Hippo finally recaptured after living the high life at Steyn City: The hippo has been spotted on and off over the past few months after false reports of it being eaten earlier this year were dismissed. – “Johannesburg” – BingNews

Click here to submit your Johannesburg, Gauteng News – free.

Have you tried: Travelling to South Africa?

Did you know this about Johannesburg? The Shaft of Terror, located at the popular amusement park of Gold Reef City, is a vertical-drop roller coaster that has the distinction of being the tallest and fastest roller coaster in Africa. It has a 47-metre drop, and a G force of over 6 Gs!

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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.