MyJHB

Stuff from Johannesburg

UPDATE 1-South African bourse CEO to retire after eight years at the helm

Johannesburg in the news:

  1. UPDATE 1-South African bourse CEO to retire after eight years at the helm: (Adds detail, quotes). JOHANNESBURG, July 30 (Reuters) – The chief executive of Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) will retire at the end of … – Google Alert – Johannesburg
  2. Freeman Nomvalo appointed Eskom's chief restructuring officer: Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan made the announcement at Megawatt Park, in Johannesburg, during the results announcement on … – Google Alert – Johannesburg
  3. TXF South Africa: Johannesburg Roundtable: Join us for another year of TXF South Africa. This year will see the event take place in Johannesburg, offering a series of in-depth discussion sessions … – Google Alert – Johannesburg
  4. Two real cops and two fake cops arrested for trying to extort money from RAF recipient: The incident allegedly took place on Monday in Randfontein, west of Johannesburg. "The victim, who is a beneficiary of the RAF, was lured into a … – Google Alert – Johannesburg
  5. 'We need to close our borders, because drugs are coming in' – Mashaba: Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba has reiterated his call for national government to tighten the country's borders. Mashaba said the country's … – Google Alert – Johannesburg

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Did you know this about Johannesburg? With the rich archaeological site known as the Cradle of Humankind on the outskirts of the city, it’s not surprising that 40% of the planet’s human ancestor fossils have been discovered in the Jo’burg area.

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Sophiatown: The Lost “Paris of the Transvaal”

Sophiatown’s golden age was the 1940s and 50s. It was a dense, vibrant, and often dangerous neighborhood, characterized by “backyard” rooms, shebeens (illegal speakeasies), and a sophisticated social scene. It was the birthplace of Kwaito’s ancestors and the legendary “Marabi” music—a blend of traditional African rhythms and American ragtime. The streets were home to the most iconic figures of African literature and music: Miriam Makeba found her voice here; Hugh Masekela received his first trumpet from a local priest; and the writers of Drum magazine, like Can Themba and Bloke Modisane, used the neighborhood as their muse. They dressed in Fedora hats and double-breasted suits, channeling the style of Hollywood gangsters and Harlem intellectuals, creating a world that was cosmopolitain, intellectual, and radically multi-racial.

However, the “Bohemia” of Sophiatown was an existential threat to the National Party’s vision of total racial separation. The government viewed it as a “black spot” in a white area. In 1955, the state launched Western Areas Removal Scheme. On the morning of February 9th, 2,000 heavily armed police officers moved in, forcing families into trucks at gunpoint. They were relocated to the newly established matchbox houses of the South Western Townships (Soweto), 20 kilometers away. The resistance was led by figures like Trevor Huddleston, the Anglican priest whose church, St. Joseph’s, still stands today. Despite the slogan “Ons dak nie, ons pola hier” (We are not moving, we are staying here), the bulldozers were relentless.