MyJHB

Stuff from Johannesburg

South Africa gaming industry in exponential growth

Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa in the news:

  1. South Africa gaming industry in exponential growth: THE past year, characterised by the outbreak of the coronavirus and the subsequent lockdown, has brought unpre … – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  2. Joburg ANC councillor Kenneth Mgaga returns to work after rape charge dropped: Johannesburg – City of Joburg’s ANC councillor Kenneth Mgaga, who was accused of rape and placed on suspension by his party, has returned to work following the withdrawal of the charge against him in … – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  3. Gary Halpin: Everywhere I went that summer it was ‘this is the guy who gave the finger to the All Blacks’: Gary Halpin who died today was famous for being prop forward for the Ireland squad and well as Leinster, London Irish and Harlequins … – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  4. Rdi Reit Share News (RDI): London-based RDI REIT’s shares surged on the news, up 32% at ZAR24.80 each in Johannesburg on Friday morning, and similarly up 32% at 120.60 pence each in London. Starwood shares were down 0.4% at … – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  5. RDI REIT Shares Jump 32% On News Of Acquisition By Starwood: RDI REIT PLC on Friday announced its acquisition by London-listed investment firm Starwood European Real Estate Finance Ltd for around GBP467.9 million, or ZAR9.76 billion. London-based RDI REIT’s … – “Johannesburg” – BingNews

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

Have you tried: Visiting Port Elizabeth?

Did you know this about Johannesburg? Stone-walled ruins of Sotho–Tswana towns and villages are scattered around the parts of the former Transvaal in which Johannesburg is situated. Many of these sites contain the ruins of Sotho–Tswana mines and iron smelting furnaces, suggesting that the area was being exploited for its mineral wealth before the arrival of Europeans or the discovery of gold. The most prominent site within Johannesburg is Melville Koppies, which contains an iron smelting furnace.

Category: Tag: , , , , ,

Ponte City: Transformation

As the “white flight” of the 1980s and 90s drained the inner city of capital, Ponte City underwent a dramatic and terrifying transformation. By the late 1990s, the building had become a “vertical slum” and a symbol of urban decay. It was famously “hijacked” by gangs; the retail levels were stripped, and the building became a fortress for drug dealing and human trafficking. The most haunting image from this era was the central core. Originally designed to be a light-filled courtyard, it became a literal trash heap. Residents on the upper floors would throw their refuse into the center of the building rather than taking it down. At its worst point, the trash in the core reached five stories high—a mountain of rotting debris, discarded furniture, and even, legend has it, the remains of those who had fallen or jumped.

During this period, the reputation of Ponte was so toxic that there was a serious proposal in 1998 to turn the entire skyscraper into a vertical prison. The plan was eventually scrapped, but the building remained a “no-go zone” for nearly a decade. The turnaround began in the mid-2000s when developers New Metro Property Group and later Dlala Nje began a massive, painstaking refurbishment. They cleared out the tons of trash from the core, restored the lifts (which had often been out of order, forcing residents to climb 50 flights of stairs), and implemented strict security protocols.