MyJHB

Stuff from Johannesburg

Zimbabwe: Gardener Fined $20 000 for Letting Dogs On Boy (7)

Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa in the news:

  1. Zimbabwe: Gardener Fined 000 for Letting Dogs On Boy (7): We operate from Cape Town, Dakar, Abuja, Johannesburg, Nairobi and Washington DC. – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  2. South Africa vs British & Irish Lions LIVE commentary: Full coverage of first Test in Cape Town – kick-off time, team news and latest news: The British & Irish Lions take on world champions South Africa in the first Test of their summer tour this weekend. The Lions won five of their six warm-up games heading into the blockbuster … – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  3. The Latest: Coronavirus cases triple in U.S. over 2 weeks: MISSION, Kan. — Coronavirus cases have tripled in the U.S. over two weeks amid an onslaught of vaccine misinformation. The spike in infections is straining hospitals, frustrating doctors and pushing … – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  4. South African company to begin producing Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, first such firm to do so in Africa: A South African firm will begin producing the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, the first time that the shot will be produced in Africa, Pfizer announced Wednesday. – “Johannesburg” – BingNews
  5. South Africa Considering Payment of Relief Grant After Riots: South African government, business and labor leaders are discussing the payment of a relief grant to alleviate suffering after the worst unrest since the end of apartheid. While labor and business … – “Johannesburg” – BingNews

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

Did you know this about Johannesburg? Chris-Hani Baragwanath is the world’s third largest hospital: The hospital (which is located in Soweto) has over 3200 beds and 6760 staff members. Facilities are housed in 429 buildings.

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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.