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Stuff from Johannesburg

The goal is to qualify for AFCON- Mohammed Kudus ahead of South Africa clash

Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa in the news:

  1. The goal is to qualify for AFCON- Mohammed Kudus ahead of South Africa clash: Ajax and Ghana midfielder Mohammed Kudus has revealed that the goal of the team is to qualify for the Nations Cup. The Black Stars will seal qualification if they beat South Africa in the penultimate … – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  2. Economist: Latest CPI figure reflects actual prices: Economist Elna Moolman said the latest Consumer Price Inflation (CPI) figure reflected actual price movement in the economy as opposed to the earlier days of the … – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  3. South Africa’s rand firmer ahead of cenbank’s interest rate decision: South Africa’s rand firmed in early trade on Thursday, as investors awaited the outcome of a central bank monetary policy meeting later in the day, where the regulator is expected to leave its … – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  4. Dream cars: These are the coolest cars you can buy in South Africa right now: There’s nothing cooler than an exotic sports car – even when James Bond isn’t behind the wheel. But, which of these incredible creations (the cars, not Bond) do South Africans want? – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  5. Most South Africans are willing to sacrifice human rights to stop spread of Covid-19 – study: A study by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and the University of Johannesburg (UJ) has found that a large number of South Africans are willing to sacrifice some of their human rights to … – “Johannesburg” – BingNews

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Have you tried: Visiting Port Elizabeth?

Did you know this about Johannesburg? City Deep is the world’s largest dry port: Johannesburg the world’s largest city that isn’t located near a coastline or navigable river. City Deep was developed 1977 by South African Railways to accommodate 50% of the city’s cargo (which comes from ports in Cape Town and Durban).

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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.