English nationalism? It is just that Afrikaans is an increasingly irrelevant language even in SA let alone in an international forum such as this. Sad but true. So you cant compare it to spannish on the south american forums etc as the vast majority of south africans cannot speak it afrikaans . As I said I think posting in Afrikaans is cool so long as you put a translation.

BTW back on to the matter at hand: does anyone have any more info about the sandton project? And whatever happened to that plan to build tall glass building in Gwen Lane a few years back? I hope this project doesnt go the way of that one!

^^^ FINALLY! Thank You Mike!!! I have been asking about Gwen Lane since I joined back 2 years ago......I was beginning to think I had made it up.....

Hey what about those 3 high-rise legacy buildings? As far as I'm aware no progress has been made with Sandton Boulevard.....I e-mailed the architects a couple times and I never heard back.

Well Sandton needs more highrise...but lets see if someone has the balls to actually break the Joburg dev mold...

Gwen lane was cancelled , check emporis for all the info I could find on it

Howzit dudes and dudesses... Best we all support this me thinks. :)

JOBURG: INTERPRETING THE CITY

Wits University invites the media and the public to a site-specific interactive art installation art in an old bus and tram repair station in Braamfontein. The exhibition runs from 2-8 June 2006 at 9 Wolmarans Street, Braamfontein. It will open of Friday, 2 June 2006 at 6:30 pm by Professor David Bunn, Head of The Wits School of Arts.

Johannesburg was already starting to shift and change before the demise of apartheid, but since 1994, against the drag of apartheid’s legacy, the velocity of these changes has escalated in time and space, producing a provisional and indeterminate city, exceeding categories of theory or representation. This has produced an outpouring of new cultural forms and practices as artists have expressed the energies of this emerging city.

Joburg: Interpreting the City actively pushes these explorations into new areas of creative collaboration and technological experiment. A new generation of Johannesburg artists, performers, musicians and architects are revising the conceptual and aesthetic categories of their disciplines while thinking about and intervening in the city.

The exhibition consists of a series of site-specific interactive installations using spatial, visual, audio, digital and performance technologies to give shape to dynamic new interpretations of the contemporary city of Johannesburg.

Joburg: Interpreting the City is an exciting new collaboration between the Wits School of Arts and the School of Architecture and Planning. Interactive media students have worked together with physical performers and electronic composition students to give expression to the rhythms and energies of the emerging city through a series of six digital interactive installations.

The Architectural students have used 11 novels set in post-1994 Johannesburg to provide material for interpretation into spatial and audio-visual installations, which have been curated in a ‘City of Books’, a series of portraits of the city-coming-into-being.

The building is on a very busy thoroughfare in Braamfontein. As far as is known, 9 Wolmarans Street was originally designed as a bus and tram repair workshop, with a double-volume workshop area, a front office opening onto the street, and offices, rooms, and bathrooms upstairs. Through the generosity and far sightedness of the Braude family the building was donated to the Wits School of Arts to be used for various art projects that might not otherwise be realised In particular, it has enabled the School to maintain connections with significant community arts projects and for several years it allowed the School of Arts to support the activities of one of South Africa’s most significant artists and teachers - Durant Sihlali, who maintained a studio and papermaking facility in the building.

Oh.. and check this out... this should be fun if one feels like sitting in a seminar the whole day... If not, the exhibition at the JAG sounds fun. That's on the 11th of June.

The Wits Institute for Social and Economic Research (WISER), the School of Architecture and Planning and the Centre for Urban and Built Environment Studies (CUBES) invite you to a one day seminar to coincide with the opening of the “Kinshasa Imaginary City” exhibition at the Johannesburg Art Gallery.

Date: Wednesday, 14 June

Time: 9-5 Venue: WISER Seminar Room, 6th Floor Richard Ward Building, Wits University.

Provoked by the opening of the “Kinshasa Imaginary City’ exhibition at the Johannesburg Arts Gallery on the 11 June 2006, this seminar intends to interrogate the ways in which cities in Africa are seen, read and represented both here and elsewhere and what meanings these sightings convey (to different audiences). It intends to stimulate debate on the contemporary African urbanscape, prevailing urban paradigms, and what African cities can contribute to global urban discourse. Participants in the seminar are multidisciplinary and multi-lingual, their lives and work talking to or located on dual or multiple sites. What this, in itself, says about the nature of life in and discourse on the contemporary Africa city will shape the discussion. Four sub-Saharan cities and the networks between them will be the focus of discussion - Dakar, Kinshasa, Johannesburg and Lagos, though other cities might be implicated in their crossings. The primary objective of the seminar then is to debate prevailing urban paradigms for viewing African cities, and to map out possibilities for the ways in which African cities are contributing to global urban discourses.

Participants include Achille Mbembe, Sarah Nuttall, Khwezi Gule, Hannah le Roux, John Matshikiza, Mphethi Morojele, Desiré Wa Kabwe-Segatti, Jean-Paul Mansoni, Robert Muponde, Stephen Hobbs, Marcus Nieustetter, Clive Kelner, Rory Bester, Lindsay Bremner, Alan Mabin and Tom Odhiambo.

For further information contact Margot Rubinat rubinm@archplan.wits.ac.za or (011) 717-7730 or Najibha on najibha@wiser.wits.ac.za or (011) 717-4220.

OK.. and one last thing! :D Some more information about the precinct that hsark was talking about a while back. I officially luuuurve the Wits School of Arts.

The School and the City of Johannesburg

The days of university ivory towers are over, and the character of our arts campus is fundamentally affected by its inner city context. The Wits School of Arts is spearheading the push to establish a Cultural Precinct on the corner of Jorissen Street and Jan Smuts Avenue. This would eventually include the following elements, some of which are already in place:


a new contemporary art gallery in a landmark building;
Wits Theatre;
a wired workplace to support entrepeneurship in the digital arts;
commercial tenants, including cafes, bars, and a radio station;
an exciting, secure late night arts entertainment environment.

The City of Johannesburg is strongly supportive of our ideas which coincide with massive complementary initiatives in Newtown and Constitution Hill - driven by the Johannesburg Development Agency. As one international consultant put it in a recent report on priorities for urban regeneration: "the Wits Cultural Campus is probably the most significant recent development for the future of the cultural sector in the inner city".

Our plan is to play a major role in the regeneration of the inner city region, concentrating on the teaching and practice of public art, and new programmes in Heritage and Tourism.

http://www.bkajhb.co.za/images/newprojectimages/wag2.jpg

http://www.bkajhb.co.za/images/newprojectimages/wag3.jpg

An interesting read from Neil Frasier-

Johannesburg- May 30th, 2006
World Class Cities and Iconic Architecture (2)
An architect whose name seems to have become synonymous with iconic design, Frank Gehry (the Bilbao Guggenheim, the Disney Hall, Los Angeles and others), was asked when the tradition of recent iconic buildings started and around which building. His answer was surprising: he suggested that it was Philip Johnson's 1978 AT&T building in Manhattan. He tried to justify this by saying that it was the first building to get the kind of media attention that iconic buildings attract - the front cover of Time magazine, the front pages of the New York Times and a number of other international newspapers.
I certainly always thought that the Sydney Opera House was the forerunner of the modern trend, but Gehry says the building was so immersed in economic and political problems that "it cast a pall on the project".

Be that as it may, the Sydney Opera House, which was in fact completed before AT&T was built, certainly made a greater impact on Sydney than the AT&T had on New York.

Paul Goldberger, the New York Times architectural critic, christened the AT&T building "The Chippendale High Boy". Charles Jencks, to whom I referred last week, the author of The Iconic Building - The Power of Enigma reflects on the fact that the architect of the Sydney Opera House was fired before the project was completed but that the Australians had to apologise to him in 2000 when they re-engaged him to work on rebuilding the inside of the building. "The country had to apologise to an architect," says Jencks. "That's iconic."

Interesting that when Gehry was asked to submit his design for the Bilbao building, part of his brief was to produce a "hit" building "equivalent to the Sydney Opera House" that would "do for Bilbao what the Sydney Opera House did for Australia." My feeling is that the Sydney Opera House initially attracted millions who wanted to see the building, but today people go to Sydney because they want to visit Sydney and the Sydney Opera House is just one of the interesting places to visit.

Bilbao, on the other hand, irrespective of the Guggenheim, has not seen as much urban revitalisation as one would have thought so you do tend to go to Bilbao to see the Guggenheim (and the Calatrava bridge); Bilbao is secondary.

You don't go to London to see Norman Foster's Swiss Re or his London City Hall ("the icon of a thousand nicknames"), but they are buildings you would look up if you go there.

Nor to Birmingham specifically to see the Amanda Levete and Jan Kaplicky Selfridges, and so on. Certainly the trickle of icons built before the Bilbao Guggenheim became quite a flood after it was finished.

Jencks says: "Now every new corporate headquarters seeks to be an icon, has to have a nickname that sums it up, a one-liner, a bullet point that journalists love to hate, love to spice up their workaday prose - "erotic gherkin" or "shard" or "crystal beacon".

"Tall buildings are no longer content to be concealed phallic symbols, they have to come out of the closet, declare their sex, strut their stuff. Office workers are no longer drones; they are Gordon Geckoes, scoring millions in their high-flying missiles. Norman Foster's Swiss Re headquarters challenges the dome of St Paul's, and every previous symbol in the City of London: the other skyscrapers around, especially the taller ones. It is simply better, more interesting, cooler, more convincingly built, more ecological, more inventive, more optical … and more iconic."

That last sentence is what I would like to see for Joburg.

Oh, that we could say about many of our modern buildings that they are simply better, more interesting, cooler, more convincingly built, more ecological, more inventive, more optical … and more iconic!

Iconic structures can and do have amazing impacts for the cities or places where they are built. But whilst the Sydney Opera House or the Bilbao Museum attracted millions of visitors and helped to put them on the map, does a city need to have one or more to be considered a great city, a world-class city? I don't think so - but what I do think is that an abundance of "good architecture" in a city can help to reflect the five senses that make cities special because they impact positively on quality of life.

"Places have an impact on our sense of self, our sense of safety, the kind of work we get done, the ways we interact with other people, even our ability to function as citizens in a democracy. In short, the places where we spend time affect the people we are and can become."

The five "senses" that have been identified over the past decade as having a considerable and positive impact on place and thus on the economic health of cities are:

A sense of place - the need to differentiate and express the particularity of one's city.
A sense of identity - cultural and physical attributes are critical to differentiation.
A sense of evolution - the physical fabric of a city must reflect its functional, cultural aesthetic and historical evolution.
A sense of ownership - a good city is one that teaches citizenship in the deepest sense of the word, and such cities are not only teachers but are themselves always learning how to be better places.
A sense of community - an acknowledgement of the obligations to and interconnectedness with all its residents.
What you don't want said about your city is the following comments I came across on Columbus, Ohio:
"What do outsiders think of when they hear Columbus? Think of it this way: what do you think of when you hear, say, St Louis? The arch or, perhaps, the blues? How about Detroit - cars, inner city problems? Or Cincinnati - riverboats, hills? Well, when I think of Columbus, absolutely nothing comes to mind. Someone once said Columbus was a city of 300 000 people who came to see the state fair and decided to stay."

At the other end of that scale was the quality of place that I experienced in Australian cities - and also in a number of American cities - to a large extent brought about by their great public buildings. There, the public sector clearly takes a pride in their buildings, spaces and structures using them to make a statement about the place in which they are situated. You'll often find an American saying with pride "Oh, have you seen our IM Pei or Daniel Libeskind …?"

Library, art gallery, whatever: somehow the public buildings lift the quality of private sector design as well giving an overall feeling of pleasure rather than no feeling at all, as with Columbus.

What pictures have I carried away in my mind about Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Fremantle even though my visits were very short? The Sydney Opera House; Melbourne's new railway station and its Federation Square; Perth's Barrack Square with its Swan Bells Belltower (and its 140 hectares of parkland); the Western Australian Maritime Museum in Fremantle - all public sector stuff and only one acknowledged icon amongst them.

If I look around Joey's inner city, I find little that really excites me about our modern buildings, whether public or private. The Constitutional Court and Apartheid Museum - yes; the Nelson Mandela Bridge - yes/no. What else?

Let's face it, generally our modern public buildings are schlock. So there is no positive example provided to the private sector that will leverage their design to new heights and the overall result (saved to an extent by some wonderful heritage buildings that we are intent to destroy) is an environment that doesn't relate to the "five senses".

Next budget, Mr Mayor, let's put some extra cash aside to invest in good architecture for civic buildings and some great public spaces - even if we have to import the designers.

Yeah that's a very cool article... Joburg definitely needs a landmark that people automatically associate with the city. I think the Nelson Mandela bridge does that to a small extent, but not so much. The Gauteng Government Precinct also has the ability to do that I think, but also, it's effect wouldn't be that wow. You also get Mary Fitzgerald Sqaure, but it's more of a multi-use open space than a public square.

I have always advocated for the sinking of the railway lines leading out of Park Station, and then the creation of a well-lit, secure park in that area, which would join together Newtown in the south, Braamfontein in the north, Hillbrow to the east, and Fordburg to the West.

I've also been in favour of a Guggenheim Museum here in Joburg - I remember ENIGMA posting something about it a long way back, that there WERE actually proposals for a Guggenheim, but nothing seem to happen unfortunately.

Funny that this should be posted just as I posted the following in the "Your Development Ideas" thread... I realize that my post isn't about the creation of a 'landmark' at all, but still about architecture... now, I know not everyone will agree with my ideas, but I hope all of you Joburg folks can visit the big T.O. some day and see for yourself... I think Joburg is oddly similar in some respects:

Johannesburg is a unique city, and although it's easy to look at the CBD as a clean slate, it really should continue from where it left off. First of all, I strongly believe that second-rate suburban postmodern/Tuscan architecture should be, generally, kept away from the CBD.

Now, having lived in Toronto for quite some years now, I have noted that its conservative, clean-lined architecture, although bland by Asian, South American, and elsewhere's tastes, is quite similar to that of older Johannesburg developments. I am not just saying this because I live in Toronto- in fact, I can't get over how similar I see Joburg's CBD and Toronto.

Anyways, I realize there is the new African modernist and Joburg Constitutional Court-type styles, but I think Toronto style is quite applicable to Joburg, and for the city's sake, I hope architecture similar to its old will be used when new construction commences. That would be my dream for the CBD of Johannesburg in the 21st century.

Examples... (some are better than others)

http://static.flickr.com/53/159022487_1bd7b8c99c_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/50/159022489_c1b5e13844_o.jpg

http://i.pbase.com/g4/67/580567/2/60872329.Spire.jpg

http://i.pbase.com/g4/67/580567/2/60872337.TorontoRising.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/Switzer/Glascondos.jpg

http://www.urbandb.com/canada/ontario/toronto/trump_rendering_zeidler.jpg

http://www.urbandb.com/canada/ontario/toronto/hummingbird_centre-rendering.jpg

I realize that the Durbanites and Cape Town forumers with their more colourful styles or more historical-context styles are shaking their heads at me right now, but Johannesburg is just so different and I see it this way.

-thryve

Yeah indeed contemporary South African architecture is VERY similar to those photos you posted . It's quite conservative, clean-crisp, modernist, and indeed reflective on its surroundings. It certainly does not impose on the surrounding environment, like the Michelangelo does, for instance.

Unfortunately, however, I think we're still quite far from building new 'scrapers like the ones above, because there is still quite a bit of vacant space in the city, and with the high costs of building materials, clients are more willing to rather pay developers money for low-rise office parks and for regenerration of abandoned buildings, than for new 'scrapers.

That's just my interpretation of it... I hope I'm wrong. :lol:

Oh no, I didn't mean to say I think Johannesburg will be getting skyscrapers like that soon.

But when new development picks up, that is what I envision. I'm just in love with Toronto's condo and office architecture and I would love to see that in Johannesburg.

Even the older T.O./Joburg buildings look similar... it's funny. For two cities with very different locations, climates, and histories, it's interesting that they are similar as they are, really.

Anyways, I didn't mean to get everyone off topic. I'm not advertising for Toronto, either... this is all for Johannesburg! ;)

-thryve

^^ naturally it would be more colourful in durban due to the tropical environment...

but i do believe that jozi will stick to more traditional looks in the future, well at least downtown...as for the rest of the city, i dont see the "themeing" fads ending anytime soon, kinda the joburg passion

Jhb To Spend R1,7bn On Improvements - 2006/06/04


Johannesburg will spend R1,7-billion this year on improving roads, electricity and water supplies. By Anish Abraham

A SIGNIFICANT part of the City's budget is to be used on improving infrastructure and related services, with Johannesburg Water, City Power and the Johannesburg Roads Agency set to spend some R1,7-billion on new developments over the 2006-7 financial year.

Johannesburg Water has the largest allocation of the capital expenditure with R726,8-million, followed by City Power with R713,1-million, and the roads agency with R284-million.

Executive Mayor Amos Masondo announced a R21-billion budget on Wednesday, 24 May. "The City projects capital spending of approximately R14-billion for the next five years," he said, unpacking the numbers.

"The lion's share of capital spending … will be made by City Power and Johannesburg Water," he said.

Other allocations include:
• transport receives R335,6-million;
• community development gets R177-million;
• housing receives R128-million; and
• the Johannesburg Development Agency gets R168-million.

At the City's Growth and Development Summit, held on 12 May 2006, improvement of infrastructure and service provision was identified as a vital part of a well-functioning city.

"For most people, provision of infrastructure and services constitutes what is expected from a local authority. It is also the most obvious way to measure the success or failure of the City's government," said Ross Greeff, member of the mayoral committee for infrastructure services.

The department of infrastructure and services, which will come into effect in the new financial year, will be responsible for oversight of City Power, Johannesburg Water and Pikitup.

City Power During the budget debate, on 25 May, Johannesburg's Executive Mayor, Amos Masondo reiterated the City's commitment to overhauling its ageing electricity infrastructure and grid. "One [power] outage is one outage too many," he said.

Some R100-million will be used to refurbish the utility's electrical substations, which will help reduce the number of outages.

Another key development during the 2006/7 financial year is the introduction of the Johannesburg Regional Electricity Distributor (Jored) - the new structure set to take over from City Power.

Johannesburg will spend R5-million toward the creation of Jored, according to Greeff.

The City will still maintain its oversight role in ensuring the new distributor fulfils its service delivery mandate and as such will have to develop a Service Delivery Agreement with Jored and a Service Level Agreement with other local government authorities.

The City's by-laws will also have to be re-examined in the context of a new structure.

Johannesburg Water During the debate Greeff commended the water utility on its Operation Gcin'Amanzi, the project to cut down on water losses by replacing leaky pipes and installing prepaid meters in the townships.

Some R259-million from the utility's allocation from the City's budget will be used to expand Operation Gcin'Amanzi during the 2006/7 year. "It is envisaged that 58 034 meters will be installed between July and December 2006, resulting in 6,4 million kilolitres of water conserved, amounting to R17,9-million," Masondo said in his budget speech.

As of August 2005 Operation Gcin'Amanzi had already saved some four billion litres of water.

In January 2006, the City's Treasury announced it would borrow R320-million from France's Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD) to complete the installation of water meters in Soweto.

Johannesburg Roads Agency Following the success of the City's project to tar all of Soweto's streets, the council is determined to spread the roads-upgrade programme to all the other townships.

Masondo said R284-million will be allocated to tar roads in Diepsloot, Orange Farm and Ivory Park; R40-million will be spent on upgrading Koma Road in Soweto; and R50-million will be used to improve mobility within the city.

The City's transportation department has already laid plans for improving service delivery through its Integrated Transport Plan - the only municipality to receive approval for such a plan from both the national and provincial transport departments.

The City is also preparing to take a leading role in public transport in the province, with the setting up of a Transport Authority being mooted. This will be either on a municipal level or to service the broader emerging Gauteng Global City Region.

According to Johanneburg's Growth and Development Strategy, a safe, efficient transport system will not only improve the quality of life for residents, but also stimulate the local economy.

Pikitup The City's waste management utility will receive a capital expenditure budget of just over R51-million for the upcoming financial year.

Of particular importance is the recently launched inner city clean up programme. Greeff said this project is in line with the new mayoral priority of a "Safe, Clean, Green City."

The programme forms part of the Inner City Revival Campaign aimed at boosting investment, supporting the city's various economic sectors, maintaining and upgrading infrastructure, and ensuring effective, intensive urban management.

The R7-million clean-up campaign is specifically targeted at the central business district and the suburbs of Hillbrow, Joubert Park, Yeoville, Berea, Braamfontein and Doornfontein.

Hey Guys...

Looksie at this website: http://www.aengus.co.za

Three new developments listed, but I'm too lazy to copy them now into new threads as the site is in flash. haha.

Lofts @ 66: 66 Small Street. I've got a feeling this is the old Shreiner Building, which overlooks the Joburg High Court. 15 floors high. Doesn't look like it's available to buy, only for rent.

Braamfontein Lofts: Occupying the old Biccard House. Consists of 54 luxury apartments on six floors of old commercial space, on the corner of Biccard and Juta Street in Braamies. Nothing wow but just another gentrification I guess. yay. :)

And something called 'TriBeCa Lofts' is on the way. Watch this space, we're told.

Residential Conversions so far:

Braamfontein:
100 Jorissen
College House
The Liberty
Braamfontein Lofts

Joburg CBD:
Isibaya House
Corner House Lofts
One Rissik
Shakespeare Place

Southwest Financial District and Newtown:
The Franklyn
Mapungubwe
The Steytler
The Newtown

Am I missing any?

small street? is that not very very dangerous or has it got better recently?

small street? is that not very very dangerous or has it got better recently?
i went there to check it out a few weeks ago to rights rite opposite the carlton bit dodgy but the apartments were crap

any news on that sandton plan yet?

small street? is that not very very dangerous or has it got better recently?


Check out this blog/article/diary. http://www.represent.co.za/represent/index.jsp?post_id=607 This woman ('Sis wami') lives around the Small Street area, and she seems to rather love it. I think you'd have as much chance of being mugged here as you do anywhere in South Africa, although the area isn't as gentrified as Braamies is these days. But it'll get there soon. Remember there are two HUGE dormant hotels sitting on Small Street - the old Johannesburg Sun/Holiday Inn and the Towers - so once these hotels are brought alive again, then the area will definitely pick up.

And information about TriBeCa Lofts has also been made public on the website, but not much information given about where it is or what building it used to occupy.

This will be quite a few tourist attractions for such a tiny province![/b]

DEVELOPMENT: 280 major tourist attractions by 2014

Call of the wild for Gauteng

GAUTENG will be home to 14-million people by 2014, creating a metropolitan environment the size of major international cities such as London, and investment in the tourism industry will continue apace, says MEC for finance and economic development Paul Mashatile.

Mashatile says the province will, by 2014, have about 280 major tourist attractions, compared with the present 90.

Infrastructure development has already begun on the Cradle of Humankind and Maropeng, the Kliptown development and Dinokeng Game Reserve, which will provide the Big Five in one place for the first time in the province.

Other focus areas for economic growth and job creation relate to a jewellery manufacturing project, which will be linked to the Johannesburg International Airport industrial development zone, and the development of Film City — which aims to attract film makers and producers to Gauteng.

Mashatile believes that SA has the potential to become one of the world's top three business process outsourcing destinations, and, he says, Gauteng stands to be a major beneficiary.

And the latest development to be released in today's paper is that of Harrison House, obviously some building on Harrison Street in the Joburg CBD. 17 luxury apartments if I remember correctly, all the usual facilities etc etc etc. I don't think it'll be long before you see other high-end stuff moving into the city.

So..

Braamfontein:
100 Jorissen
College House
The Liberty
Braamfontein Lofts

Joburg CBD:
Isibaya House
Corner House Lofts
One Rissik
Shakespeare Place
TriBeCa Lofts
Harrison House

Southwest Financial District and Newtown:
The Franklyn
Mapungubwe
The Steytler
The Newtown

Jozi Spends R7m To Clean Up - 2006/06/09


Jozi plans to make its streets shine with the launch of the R7-million Inner City Clean and Green Campaign. Streets, pavements, alleyways and drains have been targeted, along with illegal dumping and littering. By Thabang Mokoka

Over the next three months Jozi's inner city is to undergo a radical clean-up. The City plans to have the streets swept continuously, pavements and alleyways hosed down and stormwater drains cleared.

The comprehensive Inner City Clean and Green Campaign, to cost R7-million, was launched on Wednesday, 17 May at Region 8's offices. It is part of the Inner City Revival Campaign, which is aimed at boosting investment, supporting the city's various economic sectors, maintaining and upgrading infrastructure, and ensuring effective, intensive urban management.

Speaking at the launch, Ruby Mathang, the member of the mayoral committee for development planning and urban management, said that the inner city was a vital region for economic growth and social stability in Johannesburg.

If the inner city was revitalised, it would continue to attract more investment, business and tourism opportunities, acting as a vehicle for growth and development.

"We are determined to make the inner city a better place to live and work ?We want to provide residents and visitors with a safe, clean and healthy environment."

The clean-up campaign is specifically targeted at the central business district and the suburbs of Hillbrow, Joubert Park, Yeoville, Berea, Braamfontein and Doornfontein.

Those new buildings in Toronto look like the new trend in Cape Town. If only they'd go as tall as Toronto!

fantastic news about the inner city clean up. It does not cost much to make a city clean and am glad jozi council have grasped that!!

Now if we could just get the citizens of the city to refrain from littering... hehe. It's a pity that in the early morning the city is spotless but in the early evening some parts of the city are a heap of rubbish. I think they should target those areas where hawkers sell their merchandise, because this is where people tend to litter the most. They also really need to do something about that area that has become a taxi rank next to the Metro Mall. It is a total eyesore, especially when pitted against the clean lines of the Mandela Bridge.

There should be many TV adverts and schools should also be promoting treating the environment with respect and more specifically, not littering.

When I moved to T.O., from that moment onwards, I was bombarded in my school life, and I suppose even afterwards, with such messages. Like, the Don't Litter mindset was HAMMERED into me and all my peers' heads.

This in conjunction with a more clean city would be nice. I mean, people will have more respect for their surrounding environment when they see a cleaner city around them. So, the education/awareness part will go hand in hand with this.

-thryve

For all you Joburg book lovers out there, there is a new coffee table book out called 'Joburg!' It's very much a branding exercise, but it gives a really good idea of the immense amount of brands that are interested in Joburg and its upliftment. There really IS a heck load going on in the center of Joburg. This isn't Joburg mall/suburbian culture... it's a rapidly growing city culture. You guys MUST get a copy of it from http://www.thejoburgbook.co.za. It has some great photography as well. I'm quite proud to say also.. hehe.. that my mom's company had quite a bit to do with the writing in the book and the compilation of it. :D But seriously.. it's a wicked book. Here's the article.

A book to be passionate about
June 14, 2006
By Lucille Davie

JOBURGERS are passionate about a lot of things – their cars, their jobs, their gadgets. Now a new book, Joburg! The passion behind a city captures some of that passion and the many new developments that are happening in the city.

Published by Affinity Publishing in association with the City, the book recognises the people behind the city's rejuvenation. At 408 pages, with some 700 pictures and 100 articles, this coffee table book reflects the renewal – from infrastructure to social investment – that is happening to this city of 3,2 million people.

"There is a passion in Joburg that gets under your skin and in your blood, and once you've experienced it, it's something that you can't easily live without," says publisher Ken Preston in the book's introduction.

Launched in one of the dazzling new apartments featured in the book – 155 Smith Street in Braamfontein, a converted office building with a spectacular view of the city's skyline – the venue epitomises the spirit of that renewal.

"We are delighted that the book is complete – how proud to see how many international brands are locally based," said Elsabe Booyens, marketing manager for the City, at the launch.

The book showcases the positive changes that people, either through their individual initiative or through the organisations in which they work, have brought about in this vibrant city. The pages are filled with stories of optimism, vibrancy and energetic people.

The book covers a diverse range of topics: Joburg's visionaries, heritage sites, renewal and development, the sounds of Joburg, sporting Joburg, arts and culture in the city, Joburg the powerhouse, and community and Soweto, among others.

Some 20 corporates have been approached to sponsor sections of the book, offering their contributions on how they have fulfilled their social responsibility mandates.

The aim of the book is to show people – tourists and investors particularly – that the city is growing and evolving in a dynamic fashion.

"A book like this is a great tool to promote growth of the economy because it truly reflects the business environment of Joburg," adds Booyens.

Executive mayor Amos Masondo concluded his introduction with: "In Johannesburg we have a dream. We seek to build a better quality of life for all our people. A better tomorrow is beckoning. We urge all of you, as optimists, to join us."

This is volume 1; volume 2 will be published in 2008 and volume 3 in 2010.

The book is available for R375 from leading bookstores, or from the publisher at R330 plus R45 for delivery, on 011 442 2366 or through the website.

There definitely is a growing city culture.

Can you imagine how changed the city's dynamics will be when suddenly a suburban generation learns about a new thing called the 'CBD/ downtown' area... they will go nuts with excitement and a new culture will be born in Joburg... explosively.

:D

-thryve

Howzit guys, does anyone know what the plan are for ellis park/soccer city? any renders?

Howzit guys, does anyone know what the plan are for ellis park/soccer city? any renders?
Hey there bro. Welcome to the SA Forum. Give us a short introduction about yourself in the Intro thread. Great discussions going on here. Hope you'll be a regular. Show us your pictures :)

hi guys.... anyone wants to share a loft with me...??

www.joburglofts.wordpress.com

Howzit guys, does anyone know what the plan are for ellis park/soccer city? any renders?
nothing new besides ellis park getting a new tier of seating...as for soccer city...who knows??!

hi guys.... anyone wants to share a loft with me...??

www.joburglofts.wordpress.com
I would (!) even if that part of town ain't so glam... The heating bills would be horrendous though- unless a whole stack of panels were put in to partition off a little of all that space into large sets. Fanastic pillars BTW. DECO- yummm....

nothing new besides ellis park getting a new tier of seating...as for soccer city...who knows??!
I heard soccer city is gonna get scafold stands :crazy2:

I heard soccer city is gonna get scafold stands :crazy2:
no.. just some more space for some fruit sellers during the world cup

man it would frikken urinate me off if durban and cape town got better stadiums than us? arent the finals in jozi? coz the final in my opinion should be held at the best stadium..and durbans kicks ass!

Well, the final is set for Soccer City, so they better come up with something really special...

Then again, look at the Germany world cup. Which would you prefer as a final venue; Berlin or Munich? They're playing in Berlin, but the Allianz Arena is MUCH better. My opinion anyway.

ya I dunno about soccer city or what they gonna do.its not like Iv ever been there...but we shall see...

I kinda like the Berlin one-aint that the old one they did up?but in terms of coolness-yeah Allianz is better.have you seen the Beijing stadium/birds nest one? WOW! and the swimming arena? WOWOWOWOWOWOW!!!

Trendy Business Returns To Jozi Cbd - 2006/06/21


It's hard not to notice the new buildings and developments changing the Jozi city skyline at a bewildering pace. The latest trend is a move back to the inner city that is fast becoming an entertainment venue, buzzing with pavement caf?, shops, shows and exhibitions ?all within walking distance.

Needless to say, this has had a positive impact on the commercial sector. More and more retailers, entrepreneurs, corporates etc are moving back. As we know, space inside the city is a commodity and because it is precious, its value is bound to keep on rising. Property Developers Urban Ocean, were the first to capitalize on this valuable space and have subsequently acquired buildings within the Financial District. To date they own approximately 22 buildings, all of which are being refurbished into luxury apartments and top notch offices and retail sectors.

So why the sudden resurge to the inner city? Firstly, the cost of leasing space in the CBD is lower than established markets and innovators are getting great deals for their space. Urban Ocean's rentals start at R45/sqm for loft style offices. Also, since the city has been relatively unoccupied for several years (from a business perspective), new tenants are currently getting access to prime development spaces, before the wave of the masses. The idea of having offices in old buildings (between 50 and 100 years old) is very appealing, especially to the media and creative industries. For example, National Bank House, which is a media hub with tenants such as Studio 7, Trigger, Grey White Productions, Icons Models and AMM Casting has a distinct allure to these industries as the loft office feel is easily replicated here. Exposed ceilings, sealed brick walls and parquet wooden floors combined with modern design elements such as sand blasted glass, hi-tech equipment and funky lighting lends itself to the perfect space for creatives to re-establish themselves.

Secondly, the whole inner city has been earmarked to cater for call centres from South Africa and abroad. There will be a broadband services roll out, which will reduce costs of connecting broadband by as much as 80 %. Outsourcing their call centres to South Africa is a very good alternative for international companies as South Africa's standard of English is internationally acceptable. This combined with the broadband strategy, the low rentals, close proximity to bus stations, train stations and taxi ranks, as well as large empty buildings allowing for open plan floor layouts, makes Johannesburg a great option. The fact that many of the big multinationals' SA offices are in surrounding areas e.g. Sandton, West Rand, East Rand, Pretoria or even the CBD and Braamfontein gives Johannesburg preference over Cape Town, Bloemfontein and Durban.

The immediate and long-term benefits of moving back to the city also serve as great incentives to invest in the Financial District. Comments Christo van Zyl, Project Manager, Urban Ocean, on the immediate benefit; "Traffic is a concern with the amount of traffic flowing towards business zones in the northern suburbs in the morning and away from these areas in the afternoons. By acquiring offices in the Financial District, the tenant's staff has a 99 % guarantee that they will always drive in the opposite direction to the peak hour traffic flow".

The long-term benefits play a valuable role in the decision-making process. As rentals are still relatively low, one can sign a medium to long-term lease at the current rental and with an annual escalation, you can be assured that in 3-5 years time you will be paying just over R55 per sqm while the market price would be close to R90 per sqm. The reason for this increase is due to the tremendous growth and investment (private and public sector) into the city. It is the same as investing in shares, the earlier one can predict the trend and get in first, the more money you will make, or in this case save.

Comments Herman Schoeman, Urban Ocean's Leasing Manager; "The city will follow the trend of most world cities with regards to renewal. In the 80's New York was one of the worst places to live, work or play, but today it is one of the most sought after and property is unaffordable. By getting in now, businesses will not have to pay high premiums and they will also be play an important role in the regeneration of the city. For many companies it is important to be seen to make the first move i.e. to be the trend setters rather than the followers".

Furthermore, crime has been reduced by over 80 % over the last three years in the CBD. This means that vagrants and criminals are looking for "greener pastures" elsewhere. The addition of CCTV cameras on every street has made it nearly impossible to commit a crime in the city. Thus new tenants will benefit from a more secure and controlled working environment

So who is moving back? Well, the caliber of homeowners has most certainly had a direct impact on the profile of businesses moving back to the city. The profile of these home owners are mostly young up-and-coming business men and women as well as the more elite businessmen who conveniently have a penthouse pad for use after those late night office meetings and let us not forget about the many celebrities such as American football legend Randall Cunningham, the mayor and his wife, as well as local TV presenters and stars!

The business trend has previously been for gun-shops and micro lenders, hawkers and the like, and now stylish hair salons, upmarket clothing boutiques, reputable fast food outlets, trendy restaurants and coffee shops are all returning.

As the majority of businesses in the CBD Financial District consist of all major banks whose staff need to eat, have their hair cut or need to shop, businesses are guaranteed clientele. The regular businessman can now get the same high quality business suit, tie or shirt just down the block. Furthermore, the social culture of Johannesburg is ever prevalent and evidence of this can be seen in the number of well-known coffee shops making their debut on the sidewalks.

Never before has the opportunity been better to have your business be part of a flourishing inner city renewal and with the building of new Gautrain between Johannesburg and Pretoria, clientele will literally be arriving on your doorstep!

nothing new besides ellis park getting a new tier of seating...as for soccer city...who knows??!


as far as I've heard (mainly from you.. lol), the stadiums aren't indeed getting much of an upgrade.. But what I have ascertained from other sources is that the Ellis Park/Joburg Stadium precinct will be given a large overhaul, that'll extend all the way down through Bertrams, Bezuidenhout, Bruma and to Eastgate.

I think this is being done by the JDA, but I haven't seen much concrete plans yet.

oh and welcome to all the new dudes... :)

and Waltjie.. that's a WICKED blog you found there... for some reason, development in Jozi has really sort of taken off this year.

do you guys know what criteria they use when selecting a country for the world cup? do you have to have a certain number of stadiums or something?

a minimum of 8 stadia are required in your bid book..i dnt think a specified amount of existing stadia are needed. the criteria for selecting in terms of the actual vote is up to each fifa member's personal opinion..

Jo'burg is a cheap place to live
Gaylyn Wingate-Pearse
Posted: Tue, 27 Jun 2006 17:00 | © Moneyweb Holdings Limited, 1997-2006


Johannesburg is one of the least expensive cities in the world in which to live, according to a cost of living survey done by Mercer Human Resource Consulting.

Using New York City as a benchmark on 100 points, the survey reports that the cost of living in Joburg is 31% cheaper than the Big Apple.

Moscow displaced Tokyo at the top of the list on an index score of 123,9 – nearly 80% more expensive than Joburg. Seoul ranked second. London is down to five from three.

For the fourth year in a row, Asuncion in Paraguay, scoring 43,5% is the cheapest city.

SA’s city of gold would have been even cheaper if Mercer had gone to the right coffee shop or bought the right music CD.

The survey from which it derives its figures is calculated in pounds and was converted to rands at R13,2 to the pound. Mercer survey reports that a cup of coffee in Joburg costs more than R15 and a music CD R220 – both double the actual cost.

In Mercer’s survey, Johannesburg ranks 117th most expensive of 144 cities - down from 116th in 2005.

Four years ago, Johannesburg was the cheapest city in the survey but rand strength pushed it up the ranks.

It was ranked 133rd in 2003 and 126th in 2004.

Four of the world’s ten costliest cities are in Asia but after three years at the top, Tokyo has been displaced from the top. This year, Moscow replaces Tokyo as the world’s most expensive city.

http://www.moneyweb.co.za/cm_pics/property/1734-0-0-0_344666.gif

Midrand Housing Demand Still Rising - 2006/06/29


The Midrand property market is still bubbling but, local experts say, greater realism is definitely needed in terms of asking prices - as it is in many other parts of the country in the face of growing buyer resistance.

There is a strong underlying base to the Midrand market, notes Beulah Thomas of leading local agency Homenet Midrand, thanks to the housing demand being created as a spinoff of a number of new commercial projects.

These include the multibillion-rand Waterfall City development, which is being billed as the largest single property development in South Africa at present, the Johannesburg / Pretoria phase of the Gautrain project and the planned Zonk'Izizwe project in central Midrand that will, according to developer Old Mutual Properties, comprise up to 250 000sqm of retail and mixed use space, including restaurants, entertainment venues, hotels and apartments as well as office blocks.

Moreover Midrand enjoys continued relevance as a centre of communications, as evidenced by the news that cut-price airline Kulula is to start operating regional services from nearby Lanseria airport.

"And the traffic congestion that has come with Midrand's rapid growth with hopefully soon be relieved, firstly by Gautrain and later by the final go ahead for the new R55 and the PWV9 arterials."

However at the moment, Thomas says, home sellers are on one level and homebuyers on another. "Many sellers are still clinging to the kind of prices they could have expected at the peak of the property boom last year and reality has not yet sunk in.

"The result is that while there are still good sales volumes in the lower reaches of the market, at prices between R300 000 and R400 000, and a fair amount of activity in the medium-price range up to R1-million, homes priced at more than that are tending to stick.

"Buyers are taking the firm stance that they are not prepared to overpay and top-end sellers determined to move their properties are having to make adjustments.

"This will, though, bring about a more balanced market and more affordability, which will in turn promote upgrading among local residents - hopefully sooner rather than later."

R500-million suburb under construction in Johannesburg township
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Construction of the R500-million Glen Ridge suburb in Soweto is expected to begin this month, with delivery of the first batch of houses scheduled for October. The Glen Ridge initiative is a collaborative effort between First National Bank’s (FNB’s) Commercial Property Finance and Housing Fin-ance divisions.

The recently launched project will see more than 3 000 homes being constructed in a new suburb currently known as Protea Glen Extension 16. FNB’s R800-million investment is split into commercial-property finance (R300-mil- lion) to fund the developers that build the housing stock and end-user finance (R500-million) in the form of home loans for potential buyers, thus addressing the challenge of access to credit. “Township development has, in the past, had limited appeal for developers because of difficulties involved in selling the properties,” explains FNB CEO Michael Jordaan, adding that the collaboration with FNB Housing Finance will make the provision of finance to buyers a far smoother and attractive initiative for developers. “This could well begin to escalate the entry of developers into this market,” says Jordaan. For some developers, one of the biggest concerns regarding entry into property development in a township environment is that, while there are millions of potential buyers, sales are difficult because there is no guarantee that the potential buyer will get the finance needed from the bank. At the Glen Ridge project, because FNB was the lender to the developer, the bank has a great interest in ensuring that the project is a success – by also giving buyers funding, the bank can ensure the project’s success. The hassle of checking the buyers’ finance is taken away from the developer because FNB will deal with this issue. The departments of Education and Health will facilitate further infrastructure developments, such as schools and clinics, while the bank will facilitate further commercial infrastructure developments. Jordaan says that each house comprises three bedrooms and one bathroom, and will cost R168 000. “This deal, therefore, provides an ideal opportunity to help create functioning housing markets in previously underserved areas and make home-loan finance available and accessible to the targeted market.” He adds that FNB is excited about the active role it is playing to provide decent housing to potential homeowners through its partnership with government and property developers. “It is humbling to participate in a truly nation-building exercise where FNB is helping ordinary South Africans to acquire homes through our innovative and flexible home-loan products, such as Smart Bond, specifically designed for people earning a single or joint gross monthly income of between R2 500 and R10 000 a month. “Our approach to addressing the gap in the affordable-housing market is shaped by our insights into this sector of our community. “These insights have enabled us to partner govern- ment in combining State housing subsidies with our home-loan products. We can now build quality homes much larger than the subsidy norm of less than 40 m2,” says Jordaan. FNB has noted increased demand from homeowners for access to finance to improve former township houses to create more space. The bank is also backing an innovative initiative in the Western Cape, in which a nonprofit microfinance organisation is providing loans to help low-income earners in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, to extend their houses. FNB is looking to replicate working models such as the Khayelitsha housing project in other areas where there is a need to address the challenges of the affordable-housing market. Jordaan says that Glen Ridge and other projects have put FNB in pole position to meet its Financial Sector Charter (FSC) targets of providing housing finance to ordinary South Africans. “We, at FNB, are committed to meeting the FSC targets to address housing shortages. And with research from the latest FNB Residential Property Barometer indicating a massive national property shortfall in the townships, we are seeing a positive momentum from this market.”

From joburg.org.za

New life for
Windybrow Theatre
After months of disuse, Hillbrow's Windybrow Theatre is getting a facelift inside and out as young performers prepare for a brand new show to help fulfil its mission as an African cultural institution.


June 29, 2006
By Thabang Mokoka

A NEW energy is surging through the Windybrow Theatre in Hillbrow, which relaunched earlier this year after a long period of dormancy.

From the outside the three-storey building looks like a hotel, and a verandah graces the entrance.

Inside, the buzz is very different. Loud music emanates from one of the rooms. It's a rehearsal for Pantsumagic and Senzo Gumede and Siphiwe Sibiya are moving in time to the beat as they prepare the show which will grace the Windybrow stage later in the year.

A heady place to rehearse, the Windybrow complex is a national monument, and much of the building has an old-time feeling, with wooden banisters, a staircase and a fireplace.

Two productions - Socks and Toothpaste and Location 1973 - have already been staged and more are planned for 2006.

This revival was made possible by several developments, particularly the appointment of a new management team.

The theatre was officially relaunched in May 2006 after a six-month gap. "It was during this necessary hiatus that every aspect of the institution was reviewed and improved upon," says the Windybrow's chief exective Vuyo Maphela.

Mncedisi Shabangu, the former associate artistic director at the Market Theatre, is the new artistic director; Zodwa Shongwe is the theatre's resident producer; and Wits University lecturer and poet Kgafela Oa Magogodi is in charge of the theatre's development programmes.


http://www.joburg-archive.co.za/images_2006/june/windybrow35.jpg


The Windybrow in Hillbrow has been revived


"The Windybrow Theatre is now in a position to fulfil its mission as a cultural institution," says Maphela.

A new mission
Key to its new direction is an emphasis on establishing close ties within Africa.
Based in the midst of the cultural melting pot of Hillbrow, the theatre is in an ideal location to draw from the diverse experiences across Africa.

"A key feature of our strategy and brand is that we recognise the huge artistic value of exchange between African performing artists and institutions," says Maphela.

http://www.joburg-archive.co.za/images_2006/june/windybrow17.jpg

According to its website the, Windybrow Theatre intends to encourage exchanges between African artists and institutions: encouraging and hosting visitors; putting on productions from other parts of Africa; hosting seminars; and running development programmes for artists from elsewhere in Africa.

"It is important to note that South Africa is part of Africa; which means that our artistic and development programmes also contain much that one could also label South African," the chief executive says.

The theatre now offers much more. Besides regular productions, the theatre now also offers scriptwriting and poetry courses, and a children's theatre initiative.

http://www.joburg-archive.co.za/images_2006/june/windybrow6.jpg

The scriptwriting course is a eight-month intermediate course, while the poetry course runs for six months.

The year-long children's theatre programme "is designed to stimulate kids in the Hillbrow area" and will culminate in the staging of a production at the end of the year.

Work is also under way to physically revamp the complex and restore the building.

http://www.joburg-archive.co.za/images_2006/june/windybrow8.jpg

Looking at the past
The venue has long had a connection with Johannesburg.
It was originally built as a family home in 1897 by mining engineer Theodore Reunert, who arrived from the UK to work on the Kimberley diamond mines.

According to the theatre's public relations officer Lindelwa Mahlabe, it "was used as a boarding house and then as a residence for nursing students".

By the mid-1970s it had fallen into disrepair.

Declared a national monument in 1974, Windybrow became a traditional theatre in the late 1980s and a cultural centre in 1993. The department of arts and culture declared the complex a cultural institution in 2005.


Rebirth
After a difficult period, the Windybrow's rebirthing process began in late 2005, culminating with its re-launch in May 2006.


http://www.joburg-archive.co.za/images_2006/june/windybrow29.jpg

The bar overlooking the newly revamped main theatre


To celebrate, the theatre put on a bitter-sweet play exploring the modern, middleclass African household. Socks and Toothpaste explored family relationships, and the strains of domestic rage.
This was followed by the musical comedy Location 1973, depicting an imaginary township when soul music, wigs, bell-bottoms and promiscuity were fashionable. It told the tale of Sox, a lovable, but irritating, rascal accused of murdering a feared gangster.

This production will be presented at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown from 29 June to 8 July.

Says Maphela: "While there is further work to be done, particularly on restoring the Windybrow building, we are determined to deliver a sustained, high-quality programme over the next year."

I would love to go and check it out but I would not fancy the drive back from there at night!!!

Chiefs get a new home
Posted on 28 June 2006 - 18:19

Kaizer Chiefs will become the first PSL club to have a share in their own soccer stadium venue, when they shift their base for home matches to the 55 000 seater Amakhosi Stadium, in Krugersdorp, near Johannesburg, from December 2008.


The Amakhosi Stadium will be built at a cost of around R695 million, on the site in the Krugersdorp CBD currently occupied by the Bob van Reenen stadium.

The property developing company, Lefika, Kaizer Chiefs, the Kaizer Chiefs Supporters Trust and the Mogale City residents, are the shareholders of this new world-class sports venue.

The land has been leased to the stakeholders by the Mogale City council for a period of 90 years. The Gauteng Economic Development Agency (Geda) have also come to the party to guarantee the upgrading of the Mogale City roads and other forms of public infrastructure to welcome the estimated 1 million additional persons per annum set to visit the West Rand city due to the hosting of Kaizer Chiefs home matches.

The Amakhosi Stadium will accommodate 38 200 general spectators (lower and upper tiers), 10 000 season ticket holders (lower and upper tier – West), 100 media seats (lower tier), a 200-person President’s Suite (club tier – West), a 3 000 person club area and private suites that will host a total of 3 500 people.

The venue has also been designed to ensure safe and secure access and viewing areas for soccer fans with disabilities.

Besides being built as a soccer stadium, other on-site facilities will include soccer training grounds, administrative buildings, a youth development, sport science and health and fitness centre, and rugby and cricket academies. The stadium will also have banqueting and conference facilities.

At the groundbreaking ceremony held at the stadium site on Wednesday, Gauteng MEC: Finance and Economic Development, Paul Mashatile described the decision to build the Amakhosi Stadium at Mogale City as a major coup for Gauteng sport and a facility which would not only meet the needs of one of Gauteng’s finest sports assets in Kaizer Chiefs Football Club, but will also serve as the ideal facility for the development of Gauteng’s sporting talent of the future.

“Gauteng prides itself as being the ‘Home of Champions’ and this new facility will be a platform for many top-class soccer matches and other forms of entertainment to be brought to Gauteng, specifically to the West Rand,” said Mashatile.

Mogale City Executive Mayor, Koketso Calvin Seerane said; ”A new dawn is on the horizon for sport on the West Rand, and as Executive Mayor of the Mogale City municipality, I look forward to the day when the Amakhosi Stadium will be the talk of the South African sports world.”

“Not only will this facility create employment and business opportunities for the community of Mogale City and the West Rand, the arrival of Kaizer Chiefs Football Club will bring with it many other benefits that will take Mogale City’s public image to a new dimension,” he added.

Chiefs chairman, Kaizer Motaung said that the club has yet again proved to be the soccer pioneer as far as owning its own home venue is concerned.

“Part of the success story of European soccer is that almost all of the top clubs there own their home grounds, which, until now has not happened in South Africa,” said Motaung.

“This will allow for Kaizer Chiefs to create a homely atmosphere for all involved with the club and most importantly, its supporters, as we strive to take our soccer and brand to new levels,” said Motaung.

Geda acting CEO Keith Khoza said that Mogale City will soon undergo a ‘facelift’ operation, that will prepare the famous West Rand city for the arrival of a bright new future, when Kaizer Chiefs make use of the Amakhosi Stadium.

“Geda will ensure that Mogale City will be the envy of all soccer-related areas in the country through its upgraded public infrastructure that will make the trip and stay in this city into time well spent, and this positive image will spread to ensure that Mogale City will become the soccer capital of our nation,” said Khoza.

Lefika CEO Chris Grib stated that the vast amount of people that are set to visit the Mogale City, will be a major boost to the economy of the city.

“Lefika are proud to be involved with a project of the magnitude of the Amakhosi Stadium and special thanks must go to the Mogale City council for making the land available for the building of the stadium, which will become a major asset to sport in the area,” said Grib.

Image of the current stadium site to be demolished for the new stadium.
http://www.mogalecity.gov.za/news2004/sep/pics/sport3_190.jpg

http://images.supersport.co.za/amakhosi_stadium060628Kbg.jpg

http://www.mogalecity.gov.za/news2006/june/pics/chiefsstadium.jpg

Related to the Chiefs Stadium

R11m plan to
revamp local stadiums

May 30, 2006

By Sipho None and Moruakgomo Masibi

MORE than R11-million is to be spent on repairing and revamping vandalised sport complexes throughout Mogale City.

These plans were announced after the municipality's senior officials had spent a week explaining the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) to communities of Mogale City.

The IDP is the municipality's principal strategic instrument that guides all planning, management, investment, development and implementation decisions, taking into account input from all stakeholders.

Shirley Mathebula, the director of community services, said the renovations were in line with the provincial sport, recreation, arts and culture department's programme to get communities involved in sport.

"The renovations of facilities are in line with the provincial programme of mass participation in sport. So this programme encourages everybody in our communities to take part in all sporting activities.

"We also want to inform our people involved in sport that the provincial department will deploy a contingent of sport officials to all the facilities. We encourage everybody in our communities to participate," Mathebula said.

Nomalanga Ntamane, the councillor in charge of the sport, recreation and libraries portfolio, said the plan would be undertaken by her portfolio and the community service directorate.

The developments entail the revamping and refurbishment of vandalised sport complexes with the view to upgrade certain amenities. Some of these facilities have are run down and are being used as "drug hubs".

Ntamane says she has an uncompromising attitude towards vandalism. After municipal employees caught a group of thieves trying to steal a rugby pole last year, Ntamane warned: "Despite the good endeavours that the municipality and the private sector are involving themselves in, we need to send a very strong message to the users of sport complex to look after these facilities. We are not going to tolerate vandals wrecking havoc on public amenities and doing as they please."

However, Ntamane said she was confident that the residents of Mogale City would take care of the newly refurbished sport complexes and would take part in the upcoming sport programmes.

"This is taxpayers' money and we need to use it for what it is intended for. I am confident the users of our sport complexes as well as the residents will look after these facilities. I feel happy about the renovations in our complexes. This shows our government and the private sector are working towards moving our youth off the streets and in the right direction," she said.

The R11,4-million will be spent on improving and installing concrete palisade fencing, upgrading caretakers' houses, installing new lighting, and constructing and reconstructing ablution facilities.

What will be spent on Mogale City's sporting facilities:

* Azaadville sports complex: R1,2-million from the Gauteng department of sport, recreation, arts and culture.
* Rietvallei extension 2 and 3: R1,5-million from the Gauteng department of sport, recreation, arts and culture.
* Kagiso extension 13: R1,2-million from the Gauteng Gambling Board.
* Munsieville sports complex: R2,5-million from the department of public works and transport.
* Johanna Botha sports stadium: R5-million from Lefika and Mogale City municipality.

The municipality is still looking for sponsors to help renovate the Kagiso sports complex.

It's official, Gautrain Will Not Meet World Cup Deadline

Business Day (Johannesburg)
NEWS
July 1, 2006
Posted to the web July 1, 2006

By Carli Lourens And Chantelle Benjamin
Johannesburg

IT IS now official: the Gautrain rapid-rail link will not be completely ready by the time SA hosts the world's biggest sporting event, the Soccer World Cup, in 2010.

The Gauteng provincial government and construction company Murray & Roberts confirm that only one leg of the triangular route -- from Johannesburg International Airport to Sandton -- will be ready by that time.

This dashes hopes for some relief on already congested roads around Johannesburg and Pretoria, where traffic is likely to escalate massively during the World Cup and other events leading up to it.

Murray & Roberts CE Brian Bruce says that phase one, which entails a link between Sandton and Pretoria, and Sandton and the Johannesburg airport, is a 48-month project. There is "no way" phase one will be ready by the time the Soccer World Cup kicks off in SA, he says.

Gautrain project leader Jack van der Merwe told delegates at an African rail conference in Midrand on Friday that the Sandton-Johannesburg International link would be completed in time for the 2010 World Cup, and the rest (Sandton to Pretoria) would only be completed six months later.

Work on phase two, a link between Sandton and downtown Johannesburg, is likely to start only after phase one has been completed.

While site preparations have started on some parts of the planned route, no building work can commence before an environmental impact assessment has been completed.

Van der Merwe and the Bombela consortium, appointed to build the link, admitted last month that one of the biggest sticking points in negotiations around the construction project was the completion of the impact assessment.

Financial arrangements for the R20bn project have also not been tied up. The scope and final cost of the project depend to a large extent on the outcome of the environmental impact assessment.

Gauteng hopes to reach financial closure this month. "This has not yet happened," says Van der Merwe.

"It's a huge process and at the moment the document runs to thousands of pages."

SA does not have a contractual commitment with soccer governing body Fifa to provide the rapid-rail infrastructure, but the project was widely hoped to smooth transport arrangements during the major event.

The mooted project still faces strong objection from residents in Centurion, Muckleneuk, Dunkeld, Melrose and Rosebank. Chemicals company AECI has also moved to secure an interdict against the Modderfontein part of the rail link, where it interferes with AECI's property development plans.

The route has already been amended for a variety of reasons, including to save costs, to deal with concerns about dolomitic bedrock, and to prevent the destruction of heritage homes.

^^ Oh no... that's sad. :( This doesn't bode well for the country as a whole. Let's just hope that everything else we need for the World Cup is completed by then. Was speaking to some dude here who reminded me that Colombia was due to get the World Cup in 1986, but because they weren't ready, it was awarded to Mexico instead. Let's just hope that the same thing doesn't happen to us...

R20,6 Million upgrade for The Zone @ Rosebank
03 Jul 2006 - Old Mutual Property Group -

A key part of the work is a reconfigured entrance to the underground parking from Oxford Road, ahead of Gautrain construction, says Rommel Lukuko, head of development management and construction at Old Mutual Property Group.

"This will allow for two entry lanes instead of the current one," he says.
"The existing two exit lanes will be maintained but shifted to allow for the second entry lane."

"Construction for the Gautrain station and parking garage at the corner of Oxford Road and Baker Street across from The Zone is planned to start in October or November. Construction for the entry lane will take about four months, resulting in improved access into the parking garage when Oxford Road closure and diversions occur as a result of the Gautrain-related work."

Pedestrian entrances to the underground Gautrain station for Rosebank will be located at Tyrwhitt Mall and in front of The Zone building on Oxford Road.

The overall aim of the refurbishment is to increase visitor comfort and convenience, says Lukuko. The project also entails the addition of a lift and toilet facilities and the replacement of the exterior wall cladding.

ENDS

South Africa is to take a further step away from Europe and towards its siblings in the East. Johannesburg and Pretoria will soon have “tuk-tuks” — the three-wheeled motor vehicles that swarm through Asian cities such as Bangkok and Mumbai — buzzing along its streets.

And the Johannesburg city centre is set to feature the Asian-style three-wheeled pedal-driven vehicles known as pedi-cabs.

Gauteng is to follow the Asian example to accommodate its growing tourist market as well as to provide alternative transport for the Soccer World Cup in four years’ time.

Tuk-tuks, which can accommodate four passengers despite their small size, are extensively used in Bangkok for transporting tourists, while in many Indian cities they are the taxis of choice for locals.

“In a few weeks, we will gazette the issuing of licenses to tuk-tuks and pedi-cabs as an alternative public transport method,” Ignatius Jacobs, Gauteng Minister for Public Transport, Roads and Works, told the Mail & Guardian this week.

Jacobs could not say how long the licensing process would take and when he expected the vehicles to appear on the province’s roads.

The introduction of the tuk-tuks comes after entrepreneurs started investigating alternative means of transport for the 2010 Soccer World Cup, given that existing transport facilities are certain to be overloaded.

The entrepreneurs approached the government to provide the necessary legal framework, and Jacobs’s department decided to run a pilot study to investigate what legislation and licensing procedures the new industry would need. More research is also needed to determine the optimal number of tuk-tuks that can be licensed.

The government plans to impose strict safety measures on the tuk-tuk industry, involving regular safety inspections, as the Road Accident Fund will not cover these vehicles. The South African Bureau of Standards will also be approached to set standards for the manufacture of the vehicles.

In addition to the tuk-tuks, licences will also be considered for pedi-cabs. A would-be operator, the Hamba Lula Pedal Cab project approached the provincial government to introduce 20 pedi-cabs into the Johannesburg CBD in a four-week pilot project, with the cooperation of all authorities.

Hamba Lula said it would recruit drivers from among unemployed people of between 18 and 30 years of age. It added that the vehicles would lessen city pollution and create a tourist attraction.

Routes will be developed to link different parts of the CBD. The pilot study will focus on servicing Park station, the Metro Mall, the Carlton Centre and Faraday station.

Pedi-cabs are popular in Asian cities such as Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City, where, with motorcycles, they make up most of the traffic.

Currently, tuk-tuks and pedi-cabs are not included in the integrated transport plans of Gauteng municipalities, but local authorities have told the provincial government that they would be interested in incorporating them into their transport plans.

Tuc-tuks are a widely used form of urban transport in Bangkok and other Thai cities, as well as other major South East Asian cities. It is particularly popular where traffic congestion is a major problem. A small number of tuk-tuks can also be seen roaming the streets of China Town in London and are mainly used by tourists rather than locals.

Mail & Guardian Online - 03 July 2006 - Yolandi Groenewald

PUNITIVE measures such as toll roads and high occupancy lanes are vital for reducing Gauteng’s congestion problems, says Jack van der Merwe, leader of the Gautrain project.

Continued growth in new car sales — with the figure rising 18,8% in the first half of this year from a year earlier, according to the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of SA — has not eased the situation.



Government has seen this as bad news for Gauteng in particular, which was already facing congestion problems on its major roads and highways.

Yesterday Van der Merwe said research had found that Gauteng residents, in particular the growing black middle class, aspired to own cars and to move away from using public transport.


Gauteng transport MEC Ignatius Jacobs hinted in his budget speech last month at plans to introduce toll roads and cheaper rates for buses and taxis on major roads to reduce congestion and road maintenance.


This was criticised by the public and the Automobile Association, which said that what the densely populated province needed was an improved public transport system and an expanded road infrastructure, not tolls.


Van der Merwe said governments worldwide had had to offer incentives to get people to move to public transport, which tended not to be the transport of choice.

“Escalating road traffic congestion in Gauteng will soon start to strangle economic growth unless we find a solution in time,” he said.

“If just 25% moved over to public transport, it would help to relieve the problem.

“The idea is that you can use your car but it will cost you.”


A study by the province has revealed that over the past five years, traffic on the Ben Schoeman highway between Johannesburg and Tshwane, which carries 155000 vehicles a day, has increased 20% between 5am and 6am, which means that motorists are leaving an hour earlier for work than they did in 2000 to avoid traffic congestion.


On average these vehicles have only one occupant.

“If the public shared vehicles it would halve the number of vehicles on that road,” Jacobs said.

South Africa is to take a further step away from Europe and towards its siblings in the East. Johannesburg and Pretoria will soon have “tuk-tuks” — the three-wheeled motor vehicles that swarm through Asian cities such as Bangkok and Mumbai — buzzing along its streets.

And the Johannesburg city centre is set to feature the Asian-style three-wheeled pedal-driven vehicles known as pedi-cabs.

Gauteng is to follow the Asian example to accommodate its growing tourist market as well as to provide alternative transport for the Soccer World Cup in four years’ time.

Tuk-tuks, which can accommodate four passengers despite their small size, are extensively used in Bangkok for transporting tourists, while in many Indian cities they are the taxis of choice for locals.

“In a few weeks, we will gazette the issuing of licenses to tuk-tuks and pedi-cabs as an alternative public transport method,” Ignatius Jacobs, Gauteng Minister for Public Transport, Roads and Works, told the Mail & Guardian this week.

Jacobs could not say how long the licensing process would take and when he expected the vehicles to appear on the province’s roads.

The introduction of the tuk-tuks comes after entrepreneurs started investigating alternative means of transport for the 2010 Soccer World Cup, given that existing transport facilities are certain to be overloaded.

The entrepreneurs approached the government to provide the necessary legal framework, and Jacobs’s department decided to run a pilot study to investigate what legislation and licensing procedures the new industry would need. More research is also needed to determine the optimal number of tuk-tuks that can be licensed.

The government plans to impose strict safety measures on the tuk-tuk industry, involving regular safety inspections, as the Road Accident Fund will not cover these vehicles. The South African Bureau of Standards will also be approached to set standards for the manufacture of the vehicles.

In addition to the tuk-tuks, licences will also be considered for pedi-cabs. A would-be operator, the Hamba Lula Pedal Cab project approached the provincial government to introduce 20 pedi-cabs into the Johannesburg CBD in a four-week pilot project, with the cooperation of all authorities.

Hamba Lula said it would recruit drivers from among unemployed people of between 18 and 30 years of age. It added that the vehicles would lessen city pollution and create a tourist attraction.

Routes will be developed to link different parts of the CBD. The pilot study will focus on servicing Park station, the Metro Mall, the Carlton Centre and Faraday station.

Pedi-cabs are popular in Asian cities such as Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City, where, with motorcycles, they make up most of the traffic.

Currently, tuk-tuks and pedi-cabs are not included in the integrated transport plans of Gauteng municipalities, but local authorities have told the provincial government that they would be interested in incorporating them into their transport plans.

Tuc-tuks are a widely used form of urban transport in Bangkok and other Thai cities, as well as other major South East Asian cities. It is particularly popular where traffic congestion is a major problem. A small number of tuk-tuks can also be seen roaming the streets of China Town in London and are mainly used by tourists rather than locals.

Mail & Guardian Online - 03 July 2006 - Yolandi Groenewald

there are so many in kuala lumpur and they really cheap.

ONE of the five pillars of the inner city strategy is supporting economic activities, and one of the economic activities that has been identified for support is that of fashion.

As far back as November 2000, I first wrote about the concept of establishing a Fashion District (Citichat 42/2000). This was to be in the eastern end of the CBD bounded by Market, Jeppe, End and Von Wielligh streets. In the 1950s this area had been the centre of a thriving garment district – in November 2001 I wrote of how the area conjured reminiscences of "movies of the rag trade in the early days of New York, the hustle and bustle, clothes hanging on fashion trolleys being pushed across the roads from building to building by young appies in the trade - the streets clogged with railways delivery trucks all trying to offload fabrics into six storey buildings with only one or two lifts whilst finished goods were being rushed down the same lifts and staircases".

But the industry fell upon tough times and, from the 1960s, started to decline and eventually sections of the this area became quite blighted, suffering from major urban decay.

November 2001 saw the opening of the SewAfrica training centre at 109 Pritchard Street, as Rees Mann, entrepreneur and doyen of the rag trade and an aficionado of the precinct tried to breathe new life into it (Citichat 44/2001).

Then in February 2003 I wrote about The Fashion District, Joburg's latest Phenomena in Citichat 7/2003. In March 2004, Rees bought another building in Pritchard Street and the Afsew Centre was opened with a unique concept for developing new talent and housing accomplished designers. (Citichat 7/2004).

So, though I have been writing on and off about this initiative for five years, there has been little to show on the surface besides Rees's initiatives. But all that started changing last year when the behind-the-scenes planning and scheming of the previous years started coming to a head. A Fashion District Institute was established with an interim board of directors and an executive director in the delightful person of Chantal Collet. The council expropriated a building, almost a complete block between Pritchard and President Streets, which will shortly be demolished to make way for the Fashion Kapitol – in essence a public space or square dedicated to fashion complete with ramp, cafes and "boutiquey" shops.

An investor has bought the 1920s Gallo building that backs onto the Fashion Kapitol for restoration. (As Clive Chipkin in Johannesburg Style, Architecture and Society says: "The juke-box design was thought appropriate for a major record distribution company. This is not only the first example of the Art Deco revival in the post-war period (appropriating Modern Movement vocabulary) but also the earliest Johannesburg example of post modern architecture".

Another investor has bought four buildings for conversion into low-cost housing and trendy real industrial-space lofts. Two weeks ago I mentioned (Citichat 20/2006) real industrial lofts to rent further east down Pritchard Street and shortly afterwards received an email from the owners saying "as soon as the word was out, all the lofts were gone in a matter of days".

WHY ARE THERE NO LIGHTS ON THE BRIDGE ? WASN'T THIS A KEY FEATURE OF THE BRIDGE ?


Mandela Bridge now a 'hangout for criminals'
July 05 2006

In just three years, Johannesburg's shiny Nelson Mandela Bridge has gone from being a symbol of the city's upliftment to a vandalised, shabby hangout for criminals. "It's no longer heavenly and the essence of it is no longer so. It's sad," said Penelope Motubatse, who uses the bridge almost every day.

While she had not been attacked, Motubatse said her flatmates and people from school had been. The bridge had been left vulnerable to vandals
"It's worse now that the lights have gone. You get worried. When school knocks off at 6pm then, oh my God, what do you do?" she asked. "There are people hanging around here. They rob people here every day."

Innocentia Kaye was walking across the bridge between 7pm and 8pm a week or so ago when six men attacked her, pulling out guns and demanding cellphones and money. When she told them she had none, they told her: "Next time you must carry a cellphone, you bitch."

The 284 metre bridge - the longest cable-stayed bridge in the country Nused to be manned by at least two guards, one on either side. There was one Central Johannesburg Partnership (CJP) guard posted at the nearby intersection of Carr and Ntemi Piliso streets on Tuesday and his duties did not include the bridge, he told Sapa.

He claimed the bridge guards' contract had been terminated, but this was scotched by the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA). Operations manager Liam Clarke said the CJP was being paid to supply guards and they were supposed to keep an eye on the infrastructure. However, the bridge had been left vulnerable to vandals during the three-month security sector strike over wages which ended on June 22.

Clarke said aluminium pieces stolen from the handrails on either side of the pedestrian walkway were going to cost R50 000 to fix. Its smashed glass panels would cost R1 200 a pane to replace. JRA was not responsible for repairing the stolen lights inside the handrails - that was the domain of City Power.

The bridge was opened on July 20 2003, the 85th birthday of former president and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nelson Mandela and was seen as a "worthy gift to posterity". "The community doesn't seem to take pride in the facilities provided for them," said Clarke. "I don't know how you overcome it so people take ownership of the facilities.

"What has happened on the Mandela Bridge is a fraction of what has been stolen in terms of Johannesburg City infrastructure," he said. It is believed the aluminium and cabling has been taken to scrap metal dealers who turn a blind eye to its origins. The bridge alone cost R56-million to build. It stretches from Braamfontein, across 42 railway lines to the Newtown cultural precinct.

"I think they should bring the security back. When I see one standing here, I know I'll see another one standing there. I think it'll be safer if they come back," said Thembi Vilakazi, who witnessed two smash-and-grabs on traffic lights near the bridge. "It's not so safe with them gone," said Sam Mokhoanatsi. "There has to be a (guard) house next to the bridge with security and cameras to monitor over videos," suggested Harold Phasha.

WHY ARE THERE NO LIGHTS ON THE BRIDGE ? WASN'T THIS A KEY FEATURE OF THE BRIDGE ?


Mandela Bridge now a 'hangout for criminals'
July 05 2006

In just three years, Johannesburg's shiny Nelson Mandela Bridge has gone from being a symbol of the city's upliftment to a vandalised, shabby hangout for criminals. "It's no longer heavenly and the essence of it is no longer so. It's sad," said Penelope Motubatse, who uses the bridge almost every day.

While she had not been attacked, Motubatse said her flatmates and people from school had been. The bridge had been left vulnerable to vandals
"It's worse now that the lights have gone. You get worried. When school knocks off at 6pm then, oh my God, what do you do?" she asked. "There are people hanging around here. They rob people here every day."

Innocentia Kaye was walking across the bridge between 7pm and 8pm a week or so ago when six men attacked her, pulling out guns and demanding cellphones and money. When she told them she had none, they told her: "Next time you must carry a cellphone, you bitch."

The 284 metre bridge - the longest cable-stayed bridge in the country Nused to be manned by at least two guards, one on either side. There was one Central Johannesburg Partnership (CJP) guard posted at the nearby intersection of Carr and Ntemi Piliso streets on Tuesday and his duties did not include the bridge, he told Sapa.

He claimed the bridge guards' contract had been terminated, but this was scotched by the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA). Operations manager Liam Clarke said the CJP was being paid to supply guards and they were supposed to keep an eye on the infrastructure. However, the bridge had been left vulnerable to vandals during the three-month security sector strike over wages which ended on June 22.

Clarke said aluminium pieces stolen from the handrails on either side of the pedestrian walkway were going to cost R50 000 to fix. Its smashed glass panels would cost R1 200 a pane to replace. JRA was not responsible for repairing the stolen lights inside the handrails - that was the domain of City Power.

The bridge was opened on July 20 2003, the 85th birthday of former president and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nelson Mandela and was seen as a "worthy gift to posterity". "The community doesn't seem to take pride in the facilities provided for them," said Clarke. "I don't know how you overcome it so people take ownership of the facilities.

"What has happened on the Mandela Bridge is a fraction of what has been stolen in terms of Johannesburg City infrastructure," he said. It is believed the aluminium and cabling has been taken to scrap metal dealers who turn a blind eye to its origins. The bridge alone cost R56-million to build. It stretches from Braamfontein, across 42 railway lines to the Newtown cultural precinct.

"I think they should bring the security back. When I see one standing here, I know I'll see another one standing there. I think it'll be safer if they come back," said Thembi Vilakazi, who witnessed two smash-and-grabs on traffic lights near the bridge. "It's not so safe with them gone," said Sam Mokhoanatsi. "There has to be a (guard) house next to the bridge with security and cameras to monitor over videos," suggested Harold Phasha.
perhaps the lights were stolen and sold for a discount?

^^^ LOL, my thoughts exactly ;)

and where there's a foul smell, a cockroach appears in delight...

hehehehhee I could not have put it better myself Harkerb!!!!

^^^ "Where there's ignorance there is bliss"

SA's violent crime highlighted on website

July 06 2006

The controversial crime website (www.crimexposouthafrica.co.za) aimed at informing foreign tourists about South Africa's crippling violence went live on Wednesday.

This comes in the same week Minister of Safety and Security Charles Nqakula and South African Police Service top brass met to discuss the spiralling crime problem in the country.

Though not complete, with many of the links leading to "under construction" pages, the site has sections that include reports of tourist murders, roadside murders, rape, armed robberies and hijacking.

'Struggling to cope with all the incoming mail'
Site creator Neil Watson said he was overwhelmed by the public's reaction. "The site has been running for 26 hours with 1 670 hits, 102 emails and 241 SMSes in replies.

"The site will be upgraded week by week as this is only the start. We still have some problems like we are struggling to cope with all the incoming mail, and the hit counter still needs to show on the site, but that will be sorted," he said.

Watson said the site was the first of its kind. "It will give all South Africans who are fed up with crime an opportunity to publish their comments and experiences to the international community.

"South Africans who were brutally murdered will return from their graves and via their families and friends tell the international community of their horror," he said.

Watson said people could submit "gruesome photographs" to be published unedited. He said it would provide international tourists with a preview of the death and violence in South Africa and would help them make a "safe decision" before visiting the country.

Watson said a decline in international tourism, including 2010 World Cup tourists, would encourage the government to clean up its act and address crime. He said if the government did not reduce violent crime to acceptable levels by 2010, soccer World Cup fans would step into "hell on earth".

^^^ "Where there's ignorance there is bliss"

SA's violent crime highlighted on website

July 06 2006

The controversial crime website (www.crimexposouthafrica.co.za) aimed at informing foreign tourists about South Africa's crippling violence went live on Wednesday.

This comes in the same week Minister of Safety and Security Charles Nqakula and South African Police Service top brass met to discuss the spiralling crime problem in the country.

Though not complete, with many of the links leading to "under construction" pages, the site has sections that include reports of tourist murders, roadside murders, rape, armed robberies and hijacking.

'Struggling to cope with all the incoming mail'
Site creator Neil Watson said he was overwhelmed by the public's reaction. "The site has been running for 26 hours with 1 670 hits, 102 emails and 241 SMSes in replies.

"The site will be upgraded week by week as this is only the start. We still have some problems like we are struggling to cope with all the incoming mail, and the hit counter still needs to show on the site, but that will be sorted," he said.

Watson said the site was the first of its kind. "It will give all South Africans who are fed up with crime an opportunity to publish their comments and experiences to the international community.

"South Africans who were brutally murdered will return from their graves and via their families and friends tell the international community of their horror," he said.

Watson said people could submit "gruesome photographs" to be published unedited. He said it would provide international tourists with a preview of the death and violence in South Africa and would help them make a "safe decision" before visiting the country.

Watson said a decline in international tourism, including 2010 World Cup tourists, would encourage the government to clean up its act and address crime. He said if the government did not reduce violent crime to acceptable levels by 2010, soccer World Cup fans would step into "hell on earth".


While im far from ignorant about the reality of South Africa enigma, if ure only going to visit the south african forums bringing negative news constantly i suggest you rather not and stay away. However this is an open forum and you're allowed to post what you please.

On the other hand its probably a very shletered view on crime, but like investment is made in education and roads etc. i believe crime should be tackled by much much much larger investments in security, safety measures etc.,if we live in a violent country we should give our police more power, pay them well and tackle criminals head on...

however describing south africa as "hell on earth"...thats completely ridiculous...unhappy? move out..fly to the land of milk and honey ...enigma did and so can you. nothing is stopping you.

I posted a comment on this site on the WC section but I will repost it here too.

did anyone hear about that tosser in cape town who is trying to set up a website telling football fans NOT to visit for the world cup cos he thinks they are all going to die? What a TWAT!!!! Last time I heard all the millions of overseas tourists who come here every year dont return in body bags etc!!!! In fact they all return loving SA and having had one of the most special times of their lives!! I dont think i have ever met an overseas visitor who had not fallen in love with SA during their stay.

Johannesburg keeping up with the world’s best cities, survey finds
Chantelle Benjamin

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Johannesburg Metro Editor

JOHANNESBURG is keeping pace with successful international cities by bringing the private sector on board to share in service delivery and setting up forums to encourage public participation, says a PricewaterhouseCoopers survey that compares the growth strategies of 40 cities worldwide.

The survey found the city was facing problems foreign to European, US and Australian cities such as the fight against HIV/AIDS and unemployment.



However, it said Johannesburg was not alone in its struggle to keep up with the demands placed on infrastructure such as water, sewerage and electricity.

Many cities were turning to public-private partnerships to assist with this service delivery. Other cities were still battling to provide the technical infrastructure needed for city administration, such as billing.


The research found that Johannesburg was targeting many of the areas identified as important for the development of a prosperous city. This included the creation of an integrated approach to urban planning.



A key challenge for Johannesburg was attracting and retaining skilled people, an asset identified by most city leaders who participated in the survey as the most important for a city to possess.

“The pressure on cities to operate more efficiently and improve their services is being increasingly relieved by technological solutions, which South African cities are still battling to provide” said Jan Gey van Pittius, a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers and the firm’s local government liaison representative.


There has been a growing awareness worldwide that cities have become economic backbones of their countries and that the fate of a country is often linked to its major city.


PricewaterhouseCoopers established the City and Local Government Network in 2004, with the aim of bringing together world city leaders to share expertise, knowledge and insights and assist each other in developing strategies.




Addressing a media conference in Johannesburg yesterday, Gey van Pittius said the research has been well received by city leaders, who were excited about the opportunity to look at solutions provided by other cities.

Other South African metropolitan cities surveyed were Ekurhuleni, eThekwini, Manguang, the Nelson Mandela metropole and Tshwane.

The main priorities identified by these cities were poverty relief, greater intergovernmental co-operation, attracting direct foreign investment, infrastructure delivery and, for Gauteng, greater collaboration between metros.

They also regarded the preparation for hosting the 2010 Soccer World Cup as a major challenge.

Johannesburg keeping up with the world’s best cities, survey finds
Chantelle Benjamin

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E-Mail article Print-Friendly




Johannesburg Metro Editor

JOHANNESBURG is keeping pace with successful international cities by bringing the private sector on board to share in service delivery and setting up forums to encourage public participation, says a PricewaterhouseCoopers survey that compares the growth strategies of 40 cities worldwide.

The survey found the city was facing problems foreign to European, US and Australian cities such as the fight against HIV/AIDS and unemployment.



However, it said Johannesburg was not alone in its struggle to keep up with the demands placed on infrastructure such as water, sewerage and electricity.

Many cities were turning to public-private partnerships to assist with this service delivery. Other cities were still battling to provide the technical infrastructure needed for city administration, such as billing.


The research found that Johannesburg was targeting many of the areas identified as important for the development of a prosperous city. This included the creation of an integrated approach to urban planning.



A key challenge for Johannesburg was attracting and retaining skilled people, an asset identified by most city leaders who participated in the survey as the most important for a city to possess.

“The pressure on cities to operate more efficiently and improve their services is being increasingly relieved by technological solutions, which South African cities are still battling to provide” said Jan Gey van Pittius, a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers and the firm’s local government liaison representative.


There has been a growing awareness worldwide that cities have become economic backbones of their countries and that the fate of a country is often linked to its major city.


PricewaterhouseCoopers established the City and Local Government Network in 2004, with the aim of bringing together world city leaders to share expertise, knowledge and insights and assist each other in developing strategies.




Addressing a media conference in Johannesburg yesterday, Gey van Pittius said the research has been well received by city leaders, who were excited about the opportunity to look at solutions provided by other cities.

Other South African metropolitan cities surveyed were Ekurhuleni, eThekwini, Manguang, the Nelson Mandela metropole and Tshwane.

The main priorities identified by these cities were poverty relief, greater intergovernmental co-operation, attracting direct foreign investment, infrastructure delivery and, for Gauteng, greater collaboration between metros.

They also regarded the preparation for hosting the 2010 Soccer World Cup as a major challenge.

thats a bit overly optimistic...many cities work with public private partnerships..

Not really only Joburg... But hope you guys don't mind me posting it here...

South Africa’s bridge-building skills pool has been decimated– but fear not, say several experts; it is still possible to build a large and complex structure such as the Bloukrans river arch bridge, in the Eastern Cape, even if the countryshould then call on assistance from abroad.

The Bloukrans river bridge, as wellas other large structures, such as theVan Stadens, Storms, Bobbejaans, Groot Kei and Gouritz bridges, andthe Hugo river viaduct, were built between the 1960s and the 1980s, during a period when South Africa invested heavily into transport infrastructure.

The most recent major and intricate bridge project has been the construction of the Nelson Mandela bridge, a 284-m cable-stayed structure, in Johannesburg, which was inaugurated in 2003.

It was a singular project breaking a rather persistent drought in large bridge-building and highway-construction projects in South Africa.

Only in the last year or two have market commentators started to talk about a general building industryrevival, including transport infrastructure, following a prolonged lull in construction work.

This comes in the face of big (and often still pending) infrastructure spend such as the proposed Gautrain rapid-rail link, and new stadiums required for the 2010 soccer World Cup to be hosted by South Africa.

“There has been a lack of substantial and large bridge work for a considerable time – and now we are not talking about the odd highway interchange being built now and then.

“In the meantime, we have indeed lost several experienced bridge engineers to emigration and retirement,” says South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) bridge network manager Edwin Kruger.

Sanral is the government agencyoverseeing the construction and maintenance of national highways. It was, for example, also the implementation agent for the Nelson Mandela bridge (which now residesunder the administration of the Johannesburg Roads Agency). “It must be noted though,” adds Kruger, “that we still have engineers and contractors who can do the job, and should we run into any trouble, it would be possible to pull in overseas experts for specific technical needs. Globalisation has made the world much smaller than was the case in the 1970s.” Assessing the current bridge-building skills in the country, he notes that there “probably remain three engineering companies with strong bridge-design departments in South Africa”. This is about half the 1980s figure. Most firms have only a single bridge engineer in their employ which does not bode well for the build-up of in-depth expertise. Another five to six freelance bridge engineers could be added to this, as well as the two bridgeexperts that remain in the employof government – Kruger andanother bridge engineer, HarryViljoen, who is employed by theprovincial administration of the Western Cape.

Government bridge expertise has diminished rather severely in numbers, acknowledges Kruger, who moved from the private sectorto take up the Sanral position a few years ago.

Pieter Louw, from PA Louw and Associates, is a bridge and specialiststructure designer with 38 years experience.

He believes that the number of bridge engineers has fallen dramatically since 1980 – in fact, he estimates the capacity to be only 10% of the 1980 figure.

In addition to this, “the vastmajority of these are between 55 and 65 years old” – and, therefore, will be lost to the industry soon owing to retirement.

Louw believes that this diminishingskills pool may be attributed to an insufficient number of young peoplechoosing civil engineering as a profession, as well as project tenderrequirements often demanding a company to have 60% black manage-ment – something which is difficult to attain for smaller firms, so they rather steer clear of these projects, and never develop or transfer their bridge expertise.

“South Africa can still design and build a Van Staden’s- or Bloukrans-type bridge today. However, it is likely that we won’t be able to do so in five to ten years,” Louw laments.

“Yes, the skills still currently exist in South Africa to design a Van Staden’s bridge,” says consultingengineering firm VKE director, as well as structural division head Peter Squires.

VKE has been involved in the design of several of South Africa’s large bridges.

“Both our national road and rail networks – and the bridges asso-ciated with that – started expanding in the 1960s, and construction peaked in the 1970s and 1980s, but slowed in the 1990s,” he explains.

“While there has been ongoing bridge building, this has tended to change from large networks to toll roads; interchanges for new developments and upgrading; as well as road rehabilitation and widening.

“Parastatal, provincial and munici-pal contributions followed a similarpattern.

“The need for and supply of skills mirrored the market needs.” Squires notes that with the changing policies and priorities in the 1990s, businesses reacted accordingly and the number of bridge designers dropped.

“This was exacerbated by the reduced number of graduates from our universities and the departure of young graduates and families from South Africa.

“It is now pleasing to see that a number of bridge engineers arereturning to South Africa – albeit in fairly small numbers.” He adds that the masters of the bridge-design industry in South Africa in the past were often the same as those who pioneeredmodern bridge designs worldwide.

“South Africans learnt mainlyfrom European specialists both bytravelling there and attracting some talented bridge engineers to our shores.” Bridge building in South Africa, therefore, has, to a degree, never been a completely local affair.

What is a bridge engineer?
Being a bridge engineer means beingable to do a detailed design for such a structure, as well as drawing up the tender documents, and supervisingthe construction process.

“These tasks are often dividedamong several engineers specialising in these fields, owing to the ex-tent of expertise required,” explainsLouw.

Specialist bridge contractors are also required to build the structure.

Bridges are typically designed using specialist software, taking into account several aspects, such as the load it must bear and the effects of nature, such as earthquakes.

“Bridge design is a specialist field of structural engineering, and not every structural engineer makes a good bridge engineer.

“Also, having designed one bridge ten years ago does not make for a competent bridge engineer,” notes Kruger.

He considers aesthetics to be a vital part in the design of any bridge.

“A bridge engineer creates a structure that will last for gener-ations – that will possibly become a tourist attraction – but often some of these structures are of a lowaesthetic quality.

“An aesthetically-pleasing bridge does not necessarily have to cost more.

“Only an elite group of bridge engineers really have a good sense of aesthetics.” Being aesthetically pleasing and attracting tourists has not, however, saved the Van Staden’s arch bridge, west of Port Elizabeth, from notoriety.

The bridge, at 140 m above the valley floor, by 2005 saw its 60th suicide in 34 years.

Kruger notes that there is a specificlack of black bridge engineers, asblack engineers are often fast-tracked into management positions, without gaining the expertise required for specialist engineering positions.

“Sanral is also in the process of investigating countrywide accred-itation of bridge engineers, to ensure sufficient quality control.” Despite large firms bidding for bridge work, Kruger says Sanral places emphasis on individual reputations when awarding a tender.

“Because firms previously built impressive structures, it does not mean they are still able to do so today; or that they still house the experts they used to have so many years ago.

“When we evaluate tenders we look at the individual involved – the person designing the bridge. The prestige may in the past have been attributed to a firm, but the individual’s skills set is the most important.”

Major bridge work on the horizon
Should the proposed new N2 toll roadreceive environmental approval from the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (Deat), it will, owing to the mountainous terrain it traverses, involve the construction of bridges larger than the Garden Route bridges,such as the Storms river and Bloukrans structures.

In fact, says Kruger, “if constructed they will probably be the bridges with the largest spans in Africa and possibly the southern hemisphere”.

The new N2 toll road, stretching from the Gonubie interchange near East London to the Isipingo interchange south of Durban, with Sanral as client, was given the go-ahead from Deat from an environmental perspective, in 2003. However, the decision was appealed, and the approval eventually overturned.

A spokesperson for Deat says the project is now the subject of a new scoping report, which will indicate the extent of a fresh environmental-impact assessment process.

This report is to be approved – or not – by Deat within the next month. The applicant is Sanral.

The proposed Gautrain rapid-rail link should also see a substantial number of new bridges being built – earlier this year the figure given was 203 bridges, includingviaducts. However, continuedappeals around the proposed route may see this number vary.

The consortium selected to turn the 80-km rail link between Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Johannesburg International Airport into reality is Bombela – a partnership between Bombardier Transportation, RATP Développement and French construction giant Bouygues Travaux Publics, with a 50% shareholding, and South African construction firm Murray & Roberts and the black economic-empowerment Strategic Partnership Group holding the remaining 50%.

Kruger expects the project will expand the country’s bridge-building expertise, shouldsufficient numbers of South Africans be involved.

Bombela declined to comment on this, noting that it is still embroiled in negotiations beforesigning off the final contract with Gautrainclient, the Gauteng provincial government.

There are also, as a standard number, about three to four interchanges being constructedor expanded in South Africa every year, as well as smaller bridges which Sanral builds as a service to communities regularly left stranded by flooding, or being forced to crossrivers moving to and from their homes.

Squires also believes that the bridge-buildingindustry is about to receive a welcome shot in the arm.

“Bridge construction is always associated with infrastructure growth in the transport sector.

“Projects such as the Gautrain and the N2 Wild Coast toll road should boost the bridge-constructionindustry considerably within this time period,” he enthuses.

Why just not import the skills?
It is definitely necessary to have the skills available locally, for a number of reasons, says Squires.

“Client bodies, such as government, need to have informed and capable staff able to prepare a competent brief and then meaningfully project-manage and challenge the designers in order to achieve the desired end product.

“As with any commodity, you need to know and specify what you want, in order to achieve your goals.” Local knowledge is also necessary in carrying out conceptual and detail design, as well as contract documentation to suit local conditions.

“Our conditions, in Africa and Southern Africa, in particular, are considerably different to those in Europe or the US, and these need to be taken into account.” Squires notes that project-procurement criteria in South Africa dictate that the local skills base is developed and expanded.

“Technology transfer is widely spoken of and efforts to achieve this are gaining pace.”

WHY ARE THERE NO LIGHTS ON THE BRIDGE ? WASN'T THIS A KEY FEATURE OF THE BRIDGE ?


Mandela Bridge now a 'hangout for criminals'
July 05 2006

In just three years, Johannesburg's shiny Nelson Mandela Bridge has gone from being a symbol of the city's upliftment to a vandalised, shabby hangout for criminals. "It's no longer heavenly and the essence of it is no longer so. It's sad," said Penelope Motubatse, who uses the bridge almost every day.

While she had not been attacked, Motubatse said her flatmates and people from school had been. The bridge had been left vulnerable to vandals
"It's worse now that the lights have gone. You get worried. When school knocks off at 6pm then, oh my God, what do you do?" she asked. "There are people hanging around here. They rob people here every day."

Innocentia Kaye was walking across the bridge between 7pm and 8pm a week or so ago when six men attacked her, pulling out guns and demanding cellphones and money. When she told them she had none, they told her: "Next time you must carry a cellphone, you bitch."

The 284 metre bridge - the longest cable-stayed bridge in the country Nused to be manned by at least two guards, one on either side. There was one Central Johannesburg Partnership (CJP) guard posted at the nearby intersection of Carr and Ntemi Piliso streets on Tuesday and his duties did not include the bridge, he told Sapa.

He claimed the bridge guards' contract had been terminated, but this was scotched by the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA). Operations manager Liam Clarke said the CJP was being paid to supply guards and they were supposed to keep an eye on the infrastructure. However, the bridge had been left vulnerable to vandals during the three-month security sector strike over wages which ended on June 22.

Clarke said aluminium pieces stolen from the handrails on either side of the pedestrian walkway were going to cost R50 000 to fix. Its smashed glass panels would cost R1 200 a pane to replace. JRA was not responsible for repairing the stolen lights inside the handrails - that was the domain of City Power.

The bridge was opened on July 20 2003, the 85th birthday of former president and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nelson Mandela and was seen as a "worthy gift to posterity". "The community doesn't seem to take pride in the facilities provided for them," said Clarke. "I don't know how you overcome it so people take ownership of the facilities.

"What has happened on the Mandela Bridge is a fraction of what has been stolen in terms of Johannesburg City infrastructure," he said. It is believed the aluminium and cabling has been taken to scrap metal dealers who turn a blind eye to its origins. The bridge alone cost R56-million to build. It stretches from Braamfontein, across 42 railway lines to the Newtown cultural precinct.

"I think they should bring the security back. When I see one standing here, I know I'll see another one standing there. I think it'll be safer if they come back," said Thembi Vilakazi, who witnessed two smash-and-grabs on traffic lights near the bridge. "It's not so safe with them gone," said Sam Mokhoanatsi. "There has to be a (guard) house next to the bridge with security and cameras to monitor over videos," suggested Harold Phasha.


That's bullcrap, yes, there are a couple of lights that have been messed up but you wouldn't its now a criminals haven. If you look at the pictures I took of Joburg CBD, I took them from the same bridge and it was at the time when the security guys were on strike. I even took a couple during the night and i never experienced any criminal activity.

By the way I passed there on Thursday again when I went to collect my laundry in Braamfontein and the security guys are back.

Joburg people...

regards Soccer city, i was VERY disturbed that in one of the articles posted here it said that "it only needed minor work and changes will only be made later on compared to the cities building new stadia".

Thats not a good sign at all. to me that signals that either they are lazy and unflustered and cld therefore make a balls up of it...

OR that Soccer city is no longer planned as the centre piece of the world cup. As has been said, the venue for the final has only been suggested as Soccer City, no final decision has been made by Fifa yet

Joburg people...

regards Soccer city, i was VERY disturbed that in one of the articles posted here it said that "it only needed minor work and changes will only be made later on compared to the cities building new stadia".

Thats not a good sign at all. to me that signals that either they are lazy and unflustered and cld therefore make a balls up of it...

OR that Soccer city is no longer planned as the centre piece of the world cup. As has been said, the venue for the final has only been suggested as Soccer City, no final decision has been made by Fifa yet
hehe

u like to giggle like a lil girl mo? lol :)

Cleaning Up Randburg's Cbd - 2006/07/09

A two-month cleaning blitz by the Randburg Management District has prompted businesses in the CBD to employ additional services to crack down on crime and maintain standards.

Projects aimed at upgrading Randburg are in full swing, the latest of which was an intense two-month clean-up campaign in areas in the vicinity of the central business district, claims the official Johannesburg website joburg.org.za.

The Randburg Management District, run by Kagiso Urban Management, which administers improvement districts like Sandton and Rosebank initiated the two-month cleaning blitz in March.

Pavements, islands and open spaces in Sentrum and Dover Streets in the north, Hendrik Verwoerd Drive in the east, Retail Avenue in the south and Kent Avenue in the west were targeted.

For the month of April alone the cleaning team collected more than 15 tons of waste.

"The clean-up entailed the removal of overgrown grass and weeds, hedges were trimmed, rubble was removed, some open spaces where vagrants used to loiter have been cordoned off, and trees were planted," said Colin Madurai, operations manager for the Randburg Management District.

Businesses operating within this area have agreed to pay a levy for the additional services offered by the Randburg Management District. The levy is calculated according to the size of the property, location and nature of the business.

Public safety ambassadors, additional cleaners and waste management operators have been contracted to the area, and already businesses are beginning to see increased interest from the public.

"Crime in the area has also decreased considerably since we took over," Madurai added. "We have 20 public safety ambassadors patrolling the area from 7am to 7pm and just their presence has contributed to less crime being committed in the area."

The City has allocated R5-million to a cluster of projects that will see a number of developments taking place in and around the Randburg CBD to boost economic activity and encourage businesses back to the area.

Projects include the construction of fixed stalls for traders around the taxi rank, the upgrade of public spaces through the planting of more trees, among other things, and the marketing of the area to investors.

u like to giggle like a lil girl mo? lol :)
i enjoyed the part regarding the fact that fifa has not yet made a decision regarding the venue for the final. i dont expect a suprise but it would be quite fascinating if durban or cape town got the nod ahead of a 95,000 seater stadium in joburg.

http://static.flickr.com/22/89218944_12124af567_b.jpg

Ya 5000/10000 whatever parking bays for Shaka's dads stadium-thats fantastic!
But Ellis???????????????? eish...Go argentina (im in denile)

I think these kind of initiatives are great because they make the streets far more walkable and interactive...

Talk to the trees in Juta Street
July 13, 2006
By Ndaba Dlamini

SNUGGLING comfortably in their concrete planters in Juta Street, Braamfontein, the colourful large-scale tree sculptures look real enough to pass for budding shrubs, exuding an almost natural aura of some exotic vegetation.

They are nine tree sculptures born out of a public-art partnership between the Johannesburg Development Agency and The Trinity Session, a contemporary art production team that runs The Premises, the Johannesburg Civic Theatre's art gallery.

http://www.joburg-archive.co.za/images_2006/july/treeart000.jpg

Installed at a cost of R75 000, the sculptures are part of a broader initiative to create a visual trail in Johannesburg's cultural arc, which spans Constitution Hill, Braamfontein, and Wits University's East Campus across the Mandela Bridge through to Newtown.

During a celebratory walkabout of the public art project on Wednesday, 12 July, Stephen Horne, director at The Trinity Session, said the sculptures will provide Braamfontein with a fresh new look.

"The difference with these tree sculptures is that one can touch and even speak to them, unlike art in a museum."

http://www.joburg-archive.co.za/images_2006/july/treeart001.jpghttp://www.joburg-archive.co.za/images_2006/july/treeart002.jpghttp://www.joburg-archive.co.za/images_2006/july/treeart003.jpg

Claire Regnard, a part-time visual art teacher who came up with the large-scale design of the sculptures, said the installation garnered a lot of interest.

"The trees were installed over two days and some people were actually asking to have them installed in their homes. They will definitely change the environment in Braamfontein."

The Juta Street public-art project is a result of a series of conceptual design workshops conducted by Regnard and the Trinity Session. Students from Imbali Visual Literacy Project at The Bus Factory came up with the original concept and developed small-scale designs of trees using recycled material like tyres, tin cans and plastics. From these designs, Regnard took elements and created human-scale expressions of tree-like metal forms.

Bethuel Mapheto, one of the Imbali students, ecstatic that some of his efforts had reaped such stunning results.

"I feel great. Even though the tree sculptures don't exactly look like our original designs, I am glad our ideas were not thrown away. I hope this public art project will give us the necessary exposure we deserve."

SA Fashion Week turns 10
July 13, 2006
By Tammy O'Reilly

THE Sanlam South African Fashion Week is 10 years old this year - more than enough excuse for all the extravagance the organisers have planned.

Having started as a team of just 10 designers under a marquee pitched on the then Sandton Square, the event has grown into being the country's greatest national fashion platform.

This year's event will showcase the full spectrum of the country's top up-and-coming designers, collections by established designers, a bigger and broader Arts and Culture seminar for the duration of the show and cocktail parties at the end of each day. There will also be more than 30 non-repetitive fashion shows and over 100 exhibition stands featuring creations by talented young designers.

The show will take place at the Sandton Convention Centre and other venues like the Afronova Gallery in Newtown and the Johannesburg Art Gallery, from Thursday, 27 July until Sunday, 30 July.

"The most incredible thing for me is to look back and see how much SSAFW has accomplished for, not only designers, but also the fashion industry as a whole," says Dion Chang, the show's programme director.

"It has grown into South Africa's premier fashion event incorporating designer collections, a trade fair, a seminar, as well as the largest designer and craft workshop in the world. The fact that chain stores now stock local designer labels is an indication of the impact SSAFW has had in the industry in the past 10 years," says Chang.

Sanlam SA Fashion Week also attracts buyers and agents from around the world and allows local designers, labels and brands to showcase themselves to an international market.

Taryn du Plooy has been selected as South Africa's MOTOFace, the prestigious title given to the figurehead representing SSAFW brand. The 19-year-old model and fashion design student follows in the footsteps of previous representatives Charlize Theron and Nonhlanla Gaza, and will feature in all the show's promotional material and campaigns.

"Our commitment to highlighting a South African woman as the face of SA Fashion is in line with our focus on developing and promoting the best of indigenous design talent," says director and founder Lucilla Booyzen. "Taryn is an exhilarating local beauty who reflects the stylish vibrancy of Sanlam SA Fashion Week."

In 2004 the organisers saw the need to provide seminars and focus groups to prepare up-and-coming designers for the fashion world. The national department of arts and culture works closely with SA Fashion Week to provide workshops in the areas of international trends and marketing, commercial sustainability, skills transfer and the history of fashion in South Africa.

Seminars will take place for the duration of the show. Day 1 deals with the business aspects of fashion, Day 2 examines the makings and allure of fashion, and Day 3 emphasises the importance of research in textiles. The final day's seminar is a summary of all the workshops.

There will be an impressive line-up of international speakers who will bring fresh perspectives and world-class expertise from fashion capitals like New York and Paris and academics will offer insight into the historical and cultural aspects of local fashion.

The show opening day highlights include collections by designer David Tlale, winner of the ELLE New Talent award in 2004 who is known for his bold daring designs, and Lunar Clothing popular for their toned down, classic and elegant designs.

On Friday, 28 July, Sun Goddess will unveil their new men's line entitled Sun Godd. That evening will also feature designs by Bongiwe Walaza, designer based at the Fashion District in the Inner City.

If you're looking for designs to suit the 21st Century man, designers Paul Munroe, Holmes Bros, Ephymol and Blasoen will deliver the goods on Saturday, 29 July.

Also making their debut on the runway this year are works by crafters and designers who participated in the Department of Arts and Culture Fusion Workshops held in all nine provinces earlier this year.

Tickets are R150 for all shows and R50 for exhibitions and are available at Computicket

http://www.joburg-archive.co.za/images_2006/july/treeart002.jpg http://www.joburg-archive.co.za/images_2006/july/treeart001.jpg

Now that is STUNNING ! I love it. I went to Wellington a few days ago and the whole city centre is full of statues/public arts/installation art .. it really makes a city very attractive. Needless to say that I fell ion love with Wellington.

Well done Jozi, I am amazed.

I think these kind of initiatives are great because they make the streets far more walkable and interactive...

Talk to the trees in Juta Street
July 13, 2006
By Ndaba Dlamini

SNUGGLING comfortably in their concrete planters in Juta Street, Braamfontein, the colourful large-scale tree sculptures look real enough to pass for budding shrubs, exuding an almost natural aura of some exotic vegetation.

They are nine tree sculptures born out of a public-art partnership between the Johannesburg Development Agency and The Trinity Session, a contemporary art production team that runs The Premises, the Johannesburg Civic Theatre's art gallery.

http://www.joburg-archive.co.za/images_2006/july/treeart000.jpg

Installed at a cost of R75 000, the sculptures are part of a broader initiative to create a visual trail in Johannesburg's cultural arc, which spans Constitution Hill, Braamfontein, and Wits University's East Campus across the Mandela Bridge through to Newtown.

During a celebratory walkabout of the public art project on Wednesday, 12 July, Stephen Horne, director at The Trinity Session, said the sculptures will provide Braamfontein with a fresh new look.

"The difference with these tree sculptures is that one can touch and even speak to them, unlike art in a museum."

http://www.joburg-archive.co.za/images_2006/july/treeart001.jpghttp://www.joburg-archive.co.za/images_2006/july/treeart002.jpghttp://www.joburg-archive.co.za/images_2006/july/treeart003.jpg

Claire Regnard, a part-time visual art teacher who came up with the large-scale design of the sculptures, said the installation garnered a lot of interest.

"The trees were installed over two days and some people were actually asking to have them installed in their homes. They will definitely change the environment in Braamfontein."

The Juta Street public-art project is a result of a series of conceptual design workshops conducted by Regnard and the Trinity Session. Students from Imbali Visual Literacy Project at The Bus Factory came up with the original concept and developed small-scale designs of trees using recycled material like tyres, tin cans and plastics. From these designs, Regnard took elements and created human-scale expressions of tree-like metal forms.

Bethuel Mapheto, one of the Imbali students, ecstatic that some of his efforts had reaped such stunning results.

"I feel great. Even though the tree sculptures don't exactly look like our original designs, I am glad our ideas were not thrown away. I hope this public art project will give us the necessary exposure we deserve."

beautiful...i just hope they dont get vandalised. would makea great addition to any cbd.would be nice along st georges mall

any news of work at ellis park yet ???

FROM DESKS TO DINING TABLES



By Xolile Bhengu





Hollard Insurance is the latest to join the rush to turn old offices in the Johannesburg inner city into apartments. The short-term insurer is transforming its old premises, 6 and 10 Anderson Street, into luxury residential blocks.


The buildings, to be renamed Ashanti and Dogon, will be renovated to consist of 126 luxury apartments, ranging from 31 m² to 125 m² and from R250 000 to R1m. This works out at R8 000/m² for a bachelor pad and R6 000/m² for a larger, studio-style apartment. The buildings' African names will be reflected in their exteriors and interiors.


The project is a joint venture between Hollard and PHAB Properties, known as Leungo Investments. Basetsana Khumalo and Modise Motloba are among the directors.


Leungo Investments director Potlako Gasennelwe says the complex will feature a crèche, spa and retail component . There will be plenty of parking and first-class security.


"We aim to attract true urbanites to the CBD," says Gasennelwe. "People who are ready to embrace modern yet village-style living similar to that of New York ."


She adds that institutions such as Standard Bank, AngloGold Ashanti, First National Bank and Absa have thousands of employees, many of whom might be in search of homes conveniently nearby.


The complex will also cater to those wanting a home away from home: 50 of the apartments will be managed in a rental pool scheme by Urban Hip Hotels.


Leungo Investments project director Nick Swart says they hope to form partnerships with other developers, civic leaders and official bodies to influence the clean-up of the CBD.


Says Hollard Insurance CEO Paolo Cavalieri: "When we moved to our new home in Parktown last year, we wanted to ensure we retained a meaningful presence in the city. And, as a 100% SA company, we wanted the buildings to make a proud, Afrocentric design statement.


"We fully buy into the idea of creating an environment in which people can live, work and play. The Leungo partnership gave us the opportunity to retain our presence in Jozi central - and to play a part in its transformation."



FROM DESKS TO DINING TABLES



By Xolile Bhengu





Hollard Insurance is the latest to join the rush to turn old offices in the Johannesburg inner city into apartments. The short-term insurer is transforming its old premises, 6 and 10 Anderson Street, into luxury residential blocks.


The buildings, to be renamed Ashanti and Dogon, will be renovated to consist of 126 luxury apartments, ranging from 31 m² to 125 m² and from R250 000 to R1m. This works out at R8 000/m² for a bachelor pad and R6 000/m² for a larger, studio-style apartment. The buildings' African names will be reflected in their exteriors and interiors.


The project is a joint venture between Hollard and PHAB Properties, known as Leungo Investments. Basetsana Khumalo and Modise Motloba are among the directors.


Leungo Investments director Potlako Gasennelwe says the complex will feature a crèche, spa and retail component . There will be plenty of parking and first-class security.


"We aim to attract true urbanites to the CBD," says Gasennelwe. "People who are ready to embrace modern yet village-style living similar to that of New York ."


She adds that institutions such as Standard Bank, AngloGold Ashanti, First National Bank and Absa have thousands of employees, many of whom might be in search of homes conveniently nearby.


The complex will also cater to those wanting a home away from home: 50 of the apartments will be managed in a rental pool scheme by Urban Hip Hotels.


Leungo Investments project director Nick Swart says they hope to form partnerships with other developers, civic leaders and official bodies to influence the clean-up of the CBD.


Says Hollard Insurance CEO Paolo Cavalieri: "When we moved to our new home in Parktown last year, we wanted to ensure we retained a meaningful presence in the city. And, as a 100% SA company, we wanted the buildings to make a proud, Afrocentric design statement.


"We fully buy into the idea of creating an environment in which people can live, work and play. The Leungo partnership gave us the opportunity to retain our presence in Jozi central - and to play a part in its transformation."

Wicked ASS Mike!!!! Thanks for posting that! :)

Here's a link to the two developments that seem to be very inter-connected...

http://www.prop2000.co.za/dogon/index.htm

Maybe someone can post a thread about each of them, or I'll do it later on... But just so you know, there's more information on that page.

thats cool more private investment

this is crazy thanks for the info joburg n mike and 2 think eurocape still has to comehttp://www.prop2000.co.za/dogon/images/homepic.jpg

Mmmm.. Eurocape is taking their sweet jolly time. I'm not crazy about the design of the building, but it's interesting because they appear to be totally new and built from scratch. I know they're on Anderson Street in the South West Financial District, but must just find out where exactly...

Published on TaipeiTimes
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2006/07/19/2003319555

A must-see city has risen from the ashes of apartheid
With a population of more than 6 million, Johannesburg is the biggest city in Africa and the most transformed

By Michael Wines
NY TIMES NEWS SERVICE , NEW YORK
Wednesday, Jul 19, 2006,Page 13

Advertising Advertising
Take the M1 freeway south, past the spas and high-end restaurants of Melrose Arch, through the leafy suburb of Houghton and past the nearby clubs and galleries of Melville. Go past all that, and past downtown's concrete towers and the booming Newtown cultural district, and get off at Rissik Street. Just a block away, in the shadow of the elevated freeway's pillars, there awaits the finest selection of porcupine skin and baboon entrails in all Africa.

And you thought there was no reason to come to Johannesburg.

Actually, most people think there is little reason to come to Johannesburg. South Africa seems to pack more exotic beauty per square kilometer than any other place on earth, from Cape Town's gasp-inducing mountains to the Karoo's desert vistas to the pristine beaches just about everywhere. Johannesburg, on the other hand, is set on a featureless plain 1.7km above sea level � the famous Highveld. Downtown is best described as faceless, its sprawl and traffic reminiscent of Los Angeles. Its defining feature is the huge yellow hillocks of toxic gold tailings that pock the landscape below downtown. Its selling point is the weather: cloudless 23oC days punctuated by brief, titanic thunderstorms on summer afternoons.

A squatter camp in Soweto, near Johannesburg.

Yet many South Africans insist that it is the one city that no visitor should miss. At more than 6 million people, it is the biggest city in Africa and the most transformed. Twenty years ago, much of Johannesburg was the preserve of South Africa's white minority. Today, it is a stewpot of colors and languages, the fruit not only of liberation but also of a huge influx of immigrants and refugees. Johannesburg is a place where purveyors of muti � the porcupine skins, ground herbs and baboon entrails touted as cure-alls for everything from flatulence to flagging love affairs � hawk their wares a few blocks from skyscrapers.

Still greater transformations are imminent. As the principal host for the 2010 World Cup, Johannesburg is embarking on a binge of reconstruction and civic boosterism, hoping to erase the urban-jungle image of the 1990s, when crime skyrocketed and the center city became all but a ghost town. Among other investments, leaders plan a US$3 billion high-speed train to link Johannesburg and Pretoria; a refurbished sports stadium; and a US$400 million public square.

Johannesburg is he heart and soul of the country,� said Thabo Molubi, an information-technology executive by day and a sangoma, or traditional healer, in the off hours. obody is from Johannesburg, except those of us who are young and were born here. But it's where our roots are.�

It's where everyone's roots are. In the city's western exurbs, the national government is busily building a major tourist attraction around a warren of caves where archaeologists have found fossils of some of man's earliest known ancestors. The Cradle of Humankind, www.cradleofhumankind.co.za, a UN World Heritage Site, is being outfitted with an interpretation center, restaurants and a conference center.

By comparison, the rest of Johannesburg seems impermanent, mostly because it is. Little but tallgrass and trees existed here before 1886, when an Australian prospector named George Harrison struck gold on a farm about 8km west of today's downtown. He had found the Witwatersrand (or white water reef) gold field, the richest in history. Within weeks, thousands of prospectors' tents carpeted the area. Oppression followed greed as the government forced blacks into what were essentially labor camps. Near Harrison's strike rose Sophiatown, a center of black art and literature; the apartheid government razed it in the 1950s. Nearby, Soweto � short for outh West Townships� � began as a shantytown for black migrant labor.

As apartheid crumbled in the 1980s, white residents and businesses fled north. The city's finest hotels and restaurants now rest in bland, suburban nodes surrounded by walls and electric fences. One could spend days in the great white north, visiting such creations as Montecasino, a gaudy, ersatz Tuscan villa housing a mall, a hotel, a casino and an aviary, or Melrose Arch, a gated mix of condos, galleries and restaurants, and never see a hint of Africa beyond the artisans peddling elongated giraffes and sheet-metal cranes beside highways. A more realistic encounter with Johannesburg's reviving soul may be found in the south, in the black neighborhoods that the mines spawned. The best way to get to them is to hire a guide and car for the day.

A proper place to begin is the Apartheid Museum (www.apartheidmuseum.org), near Soweto, a powerful series of exhibits and multimedia presentations documenting the last century's oppression. Visitors begin the journey with a pass arbitrarily labeling them white or nonwhite; inside, the concrete-and-steel space, with nooses hung from the ceiling and exhibits caged in wire or trapped behind bars, brings home apartheid's brutality with unusual force.

Soweto, a city of more than a million people, is rife with reminders of that brutality. The Hector Pieterson memorial and museum in the Orlando West neighborhood recounts the 1976 Soweto riots, the event that sounded apartheid's death knell. Orlando West is also the world's only neighborhood that housed two Nobel Peace Prize winners, Nelson Mandela and the Anglican bishop Desmond Tutu.

Mandela shared his Ngakane Street house with his former wife Winnie during the years of underground plotting against apartheid that led to his arrest in 1962; now a rather shabby family museum, it is stuffed with artifacts like honorary degrees and gifts from fellow celebrities.

Soweto itself has largely shed its reputation for violence. Increasingly, neighborhoods like Orlando West are havens for middle-class blacks. Clubs like the Rock and the Back Room, which cater to a more affluent clientele, have become hot spots for jazz and kwaito, a Soweto-born adoption of hip-hop, and not just for blacks: thousands of white tourists visit the city each year.

Away from Soweto, Johannesburg visitors can find authentic tastes of city life in places like Alexandra, a century-old township just blocks from the glitzy northern suburb of Sandton, or in the cheek-by-jowl tarpaper shacks of an immigrant-thick shantytown like Diepsloot, in the city's far north.

In Alexandra, as in Soweto, a handful of bed-and-breakfasts offer overnight stays for those who seek a fuller experience. Unlike Soweto, Alexandra is compact and largely impoverished, its tiny block houses and apartments knit by a common history. Visitors should go to either locale with a guide for security, but should not be deterred: There are few more sobering experiences than seeing how one-third of South Africa's 45 million citizens cope daily with poverty.

Out of that poverty has come an astonishingly rich culture. In the space of a few years, Johannesburg has become a hot spot for African arts, primarily in downtown's Newtown cultural district, a historic brickmaking area that is being outfitted with a new science museum and a new home for the Johannesburg Art Gallery to complement the theater, dance and musical centers already there. The carefully restored brick facades and architectural touches lend the district the slightly antiseptic feel of an urban renewal island amid urban decay, which it is; even the original Kippie's, a famous jazz bar that fostered greats like Hugh Masekela, has fallen to the wrecking ball. But the construction of some 2,000 apartments in the area promises to foster more of a sense of community.

In any case, a rising number of private exhibitors like Melville's Goodman Gallery (www.goodman-gallery.com) showcase top regional artists and sculptors, and sites like Amatuli Fine Arts in the northern suburbs, market a continent's worth of native crafts, from Ethiopian Coptic crosses to intricately carved doors from West Africa.

True Johannesburgers accept their city's rough edges, said William Kentridge, whose charcoal sketches and films, which draw on the brutal past, have gained him international fame. They accept the uncertainty loosed by the end of apartheid, as the ticket for living in a place that is changing at warp speed. The rest move to the northern suburbs.

orth of Empire Road, it's very Western,� Kentridge said. outh of that, it's kind of wild. Sometimes it feels out of control; certainly in terms of city planning, it's out of control. But if there's any hope for the city, it's going to come from there.�

I bash my head against the wall again and again and again and again.

For Pete's sakes, these buildings are nothing to write home about compared to the other buildings we have in the city - which, by the way, sit disused and dormant. I'm thinking the Rissik Street Post Office and the Barbican here.

I really don't see why these people who are jumping up and down about buildings, which are incredibly decrepid, non-descript and have no social value whatsoever, are not jumping up and down and DOING something about the REAL beautiful buildings in Joburg.

My view is that we need something BIG and something NEW in the CBD that will be a catalyst for other development. And something that'll bring people into the CBD to play. There are TONS of other empty buildings in the city that are dirt cheap on the market and which could be bought up if space became a premium.

Here's the article..

'Sahra didn't have authority' to approve demolitions
http://www.joburg.org.za/2006/july/jul20_govtprecinct.stm
July 20, 2006
By Lucille Davie

THE body that approved the demolition of 10 inner city buildings did not have the authority to do so, according to lawyers representing appellants in the appeal hearing.

In terms of the National Heritages Resources Act of 1999, the South African Heritage Resources Agency (Sahra) does not have the power to order the demolition of buildings, says Terry Winstanley of Winstanley & Cullinan Environmental Law Specialists.

Furthermore, the act does not allow for Sahra to act on behalf of the provincial heritage body, the Provincial Heritage Resources Authority of Gauteng (PHRAG), under which the demolition of the buildings should fall.

Sahra approved the demolition in October 2005, to make way for the provincial New Heritage Square, a square that will double the size of the present Beyers Naude Square.

Appeals against the decision were heard by Sahra's appeals committee on Wednesday, 19 July.

The committee is made up of lawyer Gloria Rabyanyana, emeritus professor and architect Bannie Britz, architect Gershon Manana, and chairperson Ciraj Rasool.

The four parties to appeal the decision were the South African Institute of Architects, Herbert Prins and fellow architects, the Parktown and Westcliff Heritage Trust, and city revival champion Neil Fraser and the Johannesburg Heritage Trust.

Legal teams represented the first three, while Fraser represented himself.

Five of the buildings are older than 60 years, therefore requiring a demolition permit from Sahra. Several of the buildings are art deco buildings, while others are unique examples of their architectural style.

The square, part of the proposed Gauteng provincial government precinct, will encompass a street underpass, four skywalks joining buildings, and underground parking. Market Street, between Sauer and Harrison streets, will form part of the square, becoming an underpass, with an entrance in Kort Street and exit after Harrison Street. This will mean that the present four lanes will be reduced to two lanes.

A detailed Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) concluded that the demolition, in particular of nine of the 10 buildings, would represent the loss of a valuable heritage resource. An independent report, compiled by out of town architects Gawie Fagan, Franco Frescura and Nina Maritz came to the same conclusion.


Herbert Prins and architects
Winstanley represented architect Herbert Prins and heritage architects Henry Paine, Lone Poulsen, Marcus Holmes, Mira Fassler-Kamstra and Alan Lipman. She stated that the three-year term of office of the Sahra appeal committee lapsed on 31 March 2006, in terms of the act.
The national minister of arts and culture, Pallo Jordan, had unconstitutionally extended the term of office of the Sahra council by six months, she argued. "The council has therefore not been validly appointed and it has no power in law to mandate the appeals committee which should adjourn this matter until Sahra's institutional arrangement have been regularised."

If PHRAG was hearing the appeals, the decision would lie with the provincial MEC for sports, art, culture and recreation. "If that is the case, then this appeal is improperly constituted and the appeal body has no power in law to hear this matter or consider the appeal."

But, even if this were the case, argued Winstanley, the heritage resources authority only has a commenting function – the decision-maker is rightly the authority specified under the Environment Conservation Act.

Winstanley argued that the appeals committee relied on the HIA and a summary of the socio-economic impact assessment. The former "proposed the re-assessment of the demolition of the nine buildings and a consideration of their adaptive use, as well as advising that serious reconsideration be given to the underpass in Market Street".

As a result, there is "no rational connection between the findings of the heritage impact assessment report and the decision reached by the committee. In those circumstances, it would be competent for a court to set aside such a decision".

Consequently, "the appeal committee should exercise its powers and set aside the committee's decision".

Winstanley also referred to the cultural significance of the buildings: "They display particular characteristics valued by a community or cultural group"; and they "demonstrate a high degree of creative or technical achievement at a particular period". Also, they are important because of "their strong or special association with the life or work of a person of importance in the history of South Africa".

Referring to the legality of the decision, Winstanley said that the committee "did not act independently and free from outside influence". This was compounded by its incorrect view that to balance the interests of heritage resources, conservation and the need for socio-economic transformation, the destruction of the buildings would equal socio-economic transformation.

Concern was expressed that the decision was made on the basis of reading the summaries of the reports only, and not the full report.


Parktown and Westcliff Heritage Trust
Allyson Crutchfield of BK&M Attorneys presenting the heads of argument on behalf of the Parktown and Westcliff Heritage Trust, reiterated points about the illegality of Sahra to act on behalf of PHRAG, the lack of regard of the cultural heritage and historical significance of the buildings, the failure to consider the reports available, and the failure to involve interested parties in the decision-making process.
In referring to destroying memories, Crutchfield stressed that "memories are part of the collective conscious and although it is a natural tendency for people to be selective in what memories they preserve, the city embodies the memories of all citizens, not just a select few. Further wholesale removal of a built precinct does not only remove the bad memories but the good memories too".

She said that heritage resources have lasting value and are "valuable, finite, non-renewable and irreplaceable" and as such they must be "carefully managed to ensure their survival".

In addition, these resources have the "capacity to promote reconciliation, understanding and respect, and contribute to the development of a unifying South African identity". Any decision regarding them must guard against the use of these resources for "sectarian purposes or political gain".

She concluded that the decision should be set aside and costs be awarded to the appellant.


Neil Fraser and the Johannesburg Heritage Trust
Fraser argued that whereas in November 2003 Gauteng premier Mbhazima Shilowa implied in a statement that the provincial square would revive the city centre, the city had "already moved into a positive upswing" and that "considerable progress" had been made since 2000.
He quoted figures for property transfers, the value of property transactions, sectional title transactions, office space occupation, and an improvement of rentals, all of which showed considerable growth.

Fraser then went on to describe how cities across the world were retaining historic facades of buildings and refurbishing the interior of buildings, as opposed to demolishing old buildings. The three independent architects who compiled a report for Sahra, recommended the former.

Fraser questioned whether the demolition would create much-needed public space in the CBD. He argued that the "demolition of these buildings is not going to create additional effective public space". He proposed instead that the retention of the buildings would supply the province with reasonably priced accommodation for NGOs, professionals, day-care and healthcare needs.

"The refurbished and upgraded buildings would contribute to the economic life of the city still paying rates and service charges," he said, adding that the demolition would lead to a loss to the city of around R2-million a year.

He explained, too, that the cost of refurbishing the buildings would be around R300 million, as opposed to the destruction of value of some R500-million if the buildings were demolished.

He questioned the economics of the proposed underpass on Market Street, necessary because the square will be extended southwards of Beyers Naude Square over Market Street. The underpass would condense four lanes of traffic into two lanes underground.

Fraser said the cost of the disruption to the retailers along Market Street, plus the underpinning of buildings along the street, would probably be around R200 million, and was not worth it. It would mean creating "limited additional public space and replacing four lanes of traffic with two, with all these downsides, is nothing short of irresponsible".

He suggests that Market Street be retained as is, and be paved in the same manner as the square, with the street being closed off when the full square space is needed.

Fraser argued, too, that at present the square caters for 16 000 people at a public gathering. He quoted the independent architects as saying that only 12 000 people will be catered for in the future square, assuming everyone wants a view of the total area.

He concluded: "The project will result in the destruction of usable buildings at a current rebuilding value of at least R500-million; it will more than halve the number of traffic lanes and result in less effective public space. We are not exactly getting our money's worth!"


SA Institute of Architects
Lara Grenfell of Cliffe Dekker Inc represented the SA Institute of Architects. She argued that the buildings were part of the "national estate" and should not be dealt with in isolation. In addition, they have cultural significance, and as such, the intrinsic worth of the buildings should be considered. "They are part of the heritage of Johannesburg, and therefore substantive grounds are needed why this should be disregarded."
Grenfell argued that across the world there is a sympathetic approach to what constitutes heritage and therefore what is worth saving. She pointed to the re-use of significant buildings like the Old Fort and the construction of the Constitutional Court. "We need to look sympathetically at the effect of the removal of the buildings."

She also argued that although seven or eight alternative suggestions were proposed, Sahra did not consider these alternatives when making its decision.

Fanuel Motsepe of NOA Architects, the firm that is proposing the new development, said he needed time to respond to the appeals.

Architect Phil Mashabane of Mashabane Rose Associates, the chairperson of the committee that approved the demolitions, countered the arguments by briefly stating that no information had been given as to why the buildings are significant.

Questions from the lawyers to him were disallowed, and Rasool said a decision would be made within 30 days: "Be assured that issues will be thoroughly investigated."

Working on Gauteng's global city plans
http://www.joburg.org.za/2006/july/jul20_cityregion.stm
July 20, 2006
By Ndaba Dlamini

AS the only world city in Africa, Johannesburg could provide Gauteng with a solid base for setting up a globally competitive city-region.

This was just one of the issues touched on during a meeting of provincial and local government representatives on Wednesday, 19 July to discuss the creation of a city-region in the province.

City-regions are "areas consisting of one or more historically and politically separate central metropolitan areas and surrounding hinterlands, in reasonable proximity and with functional interconnection".

At the centre of setting up such a region in Gauteng are the three metros of Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane.

"The three metros in Gauteng grapple with common issues but in different environments," says the chairperson of the South African Local Government Association (Salga) in Gauteng, Duma Nkosi.

"What makes Johannesburg unique is that it is relatively wealthy," Nkosi, who is also executive mayor of Ekurhuleni, added.

In May this year, mayors from 15 municipalities in Gauteng gave their support to the establishment of a global city-region, proposed by Gauteng premier Mbhazima Shilowa in 2004. It will be launched on 29 August this year.

This plan is in line with the national spatial development plan, which lists economic growth as a prerequisite for the achievement of national objectives such as poverty alleviation and job creation.

Based on data that shows a population growth of 3,8 percent between 1996 and 2001, planners forecast that Gauteng will be the 14th largest urban region in the world by 2015, with a population of 14,6 million.

To set up Gauteng as a global city-region, all municipalities in the province would have to devise aligned economic development plans to the year 2030 – such as the Joburg 2030 plan.

Gauteng premier, Mbhazima Shilowa, said municipalities in the province would also have to revise their Integrated Development Plans and their Integrated Transport Plans.

Another consideration could be the scrapping of district municipalities, to be replaced by economically viable metropolitan municipalities, with borders reconfigured to promote efficiency and stimulate economic growth.

The global city plan, expected to increase the province's economic growth by eight percent by 2014, was influenced by developments in modern economies like London, New York, Paris and Tokyo.

The idea behind the plan is to build Gauteng into an integrated and globally competitive region where the economic activities of different parts of the province complement each other, according to Shilowa.

However, the region faces challenges of unemployment, poverty and underdevelopment. These challenges are compounded by the ongoing divide between first and second economies, rapid urbanisation in the region, and poor planning by some local government authorities.


Integrating plans
Common approaches and strategies have to be put in place across all tiers of government to address the economic and social challenges.
The national spatial development perspective, the province's growth and development strategies, and cities' various development strategies and integrated development plans are all key to halving poverty and unemployment in the next decade.

The prime focus of the global city-region perspective is on all municipalities working together. This will see the three metros aligning their strategies on issues of common interest, such as economic development, transport, safety and planning.

The cities, however, will still keep their autonomy and play specific roles in developing the economy of the region.

Less emphasis will be given to administrative boundaries. Metros, district and local municipalities will draw up agreements on social and economic development issues so they can "co-operate internally to compete better externally".

To complement the economic developmental efforts, Gauteng has drawn up a human resources development strategy, which will be presented to businesses, training institutions and labour organisations for comment.

This strategy is expected to be made public in September.

An integrated transport plan looking at the "entire spectrum of transport in the province" has been developed and the provincial safety and security department is also currently drawing up an integrated plan for the region.

RUNAWAY CITY


Joburg’s growth spurt puts strain on infrastructure

23 July 2006
‘It is like a growth that you can’t stop’

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THABO MKHIZE


JOBURG metropolis is bigger than Sydney, London and New York — covering an area of 2300km² — and the council has begun a major battle to halt the spread.

An explosion of housing
developments, shopping centres and office parks over the past decade has seen Joburg’s municipal boundary extend beyond Lonehill and Vorna Valley in the north, Ruimsig in the west,
Kibler Park in the south and Linksfield in the east.

The council is trying to put a stop to this expansion and wants to force developers to start building up — not out.

Council spokesman Nthatisi Modingoane said Joburg’s town planning rules were now aimed at achieving a “compact urban form and city structure”.

“The continued horizontal sprawl of our city comes at immense expense to the city and its ratepayers as networks are expanded and maintenance costs spiral,” he said.

But some residents say that creating increasingly dense residential areas puts an enormous strain on other facilities such as schools and clinics.

Ten years ago, vast tracts of the city’s northern and western areas were semi-rural agricultural land. Now they look like concrete jungles.

Those in the know say the city’s electricity grid, sewerage and drainage systems are increasingly buckling under enormous urban demand.

Weltevreden Park, in the west, has been hit by numerous power outages in the past few weeks while in Kyalami, in the north, sewerage has spilled into environmentally sensitive wetlands.

Modingoane told Metro that the city was struggling to cope with the demand for denser
housing.


The council admitted that development in some areas has “outstripped infrastructure provision”, with suburbs in the north and west worst affected.

John Mendelsohn, councillor for Ward 94, that includes Fourways Gardens, Witkoppen, Craighaven and Fourways Extensions, said the area was a rural neighbourhood 15 years ago.

“The council needs to put a moratorium on development until the infrastructure backlog has been addressed,” he said.


Mendelsohn also blamed developers for damaging the area’s already shaky infrastructure — severing water pipes and electricity cables “on a regular basis”.

“The population has grown by about 95%. The north is the fastest growing area in Gauteng.”

Mike Tonkin — councillor for Ward 97 that includes Weltevreden Park, Radiokop, Wilgeheuwel, Honeydew, Panorama and Willow Brook — said a piece of land that used to have a single house on it 10 years ago now had up to 70 homes on it.

“This area used to be agricultural country with flower farmers and horse riding schools. Now it is just roofs and concrete paving. Over 7000 units have been built in the past 10 years. We also have about 10 shopping centres and the area is still growing — it is like a growth that you can’t stop,” he said.

“The area has grown by more than 1000% in the past few years. Everywhere you look there are townhouse complexes and shopping centres going up. Ward 94 and 97 have the highest number of complexes in the whole of Joburg,” he said.

Ralf Bittkau, councillor for Ward 101 that includes the suburbs of Jukskei Park and Northriding, said 8000 homes had sprung up in the past five years.

“We need new schools. Some of our roads come to a standstill at rush hour. About 18000 vehicles drive through Bellairs Drive a day in comparison to 10 years ago when there were between 200 and 300 vehicles a day.”

Bittkau said that because of large areas being paved and tarred, there was less water-absorbent open ground and flooding had become a serious problem.

Christo Botes, DA spokesman for development planning and urban management, attributed the massive development to weak control by the council between 1995 and 2001.

“People were allowed to densify in areas not suitable for that particular development. Now we have an orderly development structure, but what happened earlier has created this backlog in infrastructure,” he said.

“Joburg is becoming one of the biggest cities in the world. The council will need billions of rands to deal with infrastructure problems caused by these developments.”

hehe.. I was just about to post that article.

Thank the pope the city realises we need to go up!! Hopefully we'll see some new projects coming on board soon.

question is though...how do u sort out the existing problems now that they have realised that spreading out like joburg has, has not been in its best interests? if the land has been taken up with townhouse dev, are u going to try remove some existing dev? or just contain the sprawl, let it go no further and one day be able to go up? cos there aint much empty land...i wish they had realised this sooner

Yes I think it would be a smashingly good idea to bulldoze a whole bunch of those mindless uninspiring little boxes and replace them with gleaming scrapers. Developers might even bulldoze those big old houses one finds in Rosebank and Melrose and Illovo... they have had no problem in depleting them for the sake of six smaller units.

So ye.. I think you might start to see some height appearing in Rosebank and more in Sandton, especially given the Gautrain.

Weather favours record Walk the Talk
July 24, 2006
By Ndaba Dlamini

http://www.joburg-archive.co.za/images_2006/july/walkthetalk47.jpg

THEY came in their thousands - the young, the middle-aged and senior citizens from all walks of life, all dressed up and ready for the 2006 annual Discovery 702 Walk the Talk competition.

Sunday, 23 July dawned on a sunny day, with not a cloud in sight - perfect weather for a fun walk. Empire Road onto Kingsway and turning into Main Road was clogged with traffic, and participants desperate to get to the bustling Marks Park Sports Club before the start of the five-kilometre walk, which was featured a host of celebrities, sportspeople, media personalities and government officials.

This year, the Discovery 702 Walk the Talk partnered with financial services company, Discovery and the City of Johannesburg - and the Laureus Sports For Good Foundation was picked as the benefiting charity of the event. Walk the Talk consists of a 5km fun walk, a 10km walk and two officially timed walks - a 21km race and a 42km race.

At exactly 10.30am, the crack of the starter gun set the crowd in motion with the minister of transport, Jeff Radebe; minister of health, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang; minister of housing, Lindiwe Sisulu; Gauteng MECs Firoz Cachalia, Qedani Mahlangu and Brian Hlongwa; Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and a host of familiar names leading the pack through the streets of Melville, Parkview and Greenside.

The colourful sea of people stretched over a kilometre along Judith into Niger Road. Individuals, representatives of companies, youngsters and small children in prams all waved, chatted and walked in camaraderie. Not to be outdone, hundreds of dogs, from poodles to big Alsatians frolicked and scampered excitedly amidst the crowd.

To add to the fun and to keep walkers motivated, huge speakers placed alongside the walking route provided entertainment from host DJs and Talk Radio 702.

At the finish line, each walker received a medal for their efforts. Walking jauntily across the finish line, the injured Proteas' vice-captain Jacques Kallis was followed by Cachalia who thanked the organisers for organising a safe five-kilometre walk. Coming in after the MEC, Radebe said his participation in the walk was mainly to highlight pedestrian safety, in light of the high number of accidents.

"Many of the accidents are due to drinking and walking, the unsafe crossing of roads, the misjudgement of speed of approaching vehicles and poor visibility, especially at night or in the early hours of the morning."

At the main arena, tired walkers reclined on the lawns, some sipping energy drinks and others doing stretching exercises. A number of walkers, mostly those who had participated in the longer races, were being given much-needed body massages at a wellness tent.

At the entertainment stage, singer James Stuart was belting out songs to ease tired souls, while a centre for toddlers kept the little ones entertained with clowns giving the kids lots to laugh at.

Back on stage, Talk Radio 702 station manager, Phaledi Gwangwa, with soccer legend Lucas Radebe and other officials presented a cheque for R200 000 to the benefiting charity, Laureus Sports For Good Foundation. The foundation will donate the money to a project of its choice in Gauteng, said Gwangwa.

"The whole day was amazing, from the thousands who walked and helped us raise money for the Laurens Sport for Good Foundation, to the entertainment and public support for the event. The Discovery 702 Walk the Talk is a family event that creates a sense of community. Over the years it has grown in leaps and bounds in popularity with Joburgers. The increasing number of participants and general interest in the event each year bears testimony to that."

Some 30 000 walkers participated in the 2006 Walk the Talk: more than 14 000 people participated in the 10-kilometre route and 12 000 walkers successfully completed the five-kilometre route, with the rest sweating it out in the timed 42-kilometre marathon and 21-kilometre half marathon.

Event organiser, Tanya Harford, said these participating figures were the highest ever. "This was definitely the biggest and best Walk the Talk we've ever held! Not only did the five-kilometre and 10-kilometre receive such overwhelming support, but the 21-kilometre and 42-kilometre timed marathons also attracted record numbers. We had 800 and 400 walkers respectively in those categories. Interestingly enough, the 21-kilometre marathon didn't only draw professional walkers, but a lot of walking club members who enjoy walking as part of the exercise regime."

Sadly, the legendary Indian cricketer, Kapil Dev, did not make it to the walk. He was unable to attend the event due to "unforeseen circumstances", according to the organisers. His absence did not seem to dampen the proceedings as the music outfit Denim kept the crowds on their feet with cool reggae and soul renditions.

the gautrain is the useful bugger lets all buy apartments in the cbd in 2010 im sure our vistors from overseas will see the potential its central and has a huge amount of white collar workers then again we see apartments popping out of the cbd all the time

Weather favours record Walk the Talk
July 24, 2006
By Ndaba Dlamini

http://www.joburg-archive.co.za/images_2006/july/walkthetalk47.jpg

THEY came in their thousands - the young, the middle-aged and senior citizens from all walks of life, all dressed up and ready for the 2006 annual Discovery 702 Walk the Talk competition.

Sunday, 23 July dawned on a sunny day, with not a cloud in sight - perfect weather for a fun walk. Empire Road onto Kingsway and turning into Main Road was clogged with traffic, and participants desperate to get to the bustling Marks Park Sports Club before the start of the five-kilometre walk, which was featured a host of celebrities, sportspeople, media personalities and government officials.

This year, the Discovery 702 Walk the Talk partnered with financial services company, Discovery and the City of Johannesburg - and the Laureus Sports For Good Foundation was picked as the benefiting charity of the event. Walk the Talk consists of a 5km fun walk, a 10km walk and two officially timed walks - a 21km race and a 42km race.

At exactly 10.30am, the crack of the starter gun set the crowd in motion with the minister of transport, Jeff Radebe; minister of health, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang; minister of housing, Lindiwe Sisulu; Gauteng MECs Firoz Cachalia, Qedani Mahlangu and Brian Hlongwa; Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and a host of familiar names leading the pack through the streets of Melville, Parkview and Greenside.

The colourful sea of people stretched over a kilometre along Judith into Niger Road. Individuals, representatives of companies, youngsters and small children in prams all waved, chatted and walked in camaraderie. Not to be outdone, hundreds of dogs, from poodles to big Alsatians frolicked and scampered excitedly amidst the crowd.

To add to the fun and to keep walkers motivated, huge speakers placed alongside the walking route provided entertainment from host DJs and Talk Radio 702.

At the finish line, each walker received a medal for their efforts. Walking jauntily across the finish line, the injured Proteas' vice-captain Jacques Kallis was followed by Cachalia who thanked the organisers for organising a safe five-kilometre walk. Coming in after the MEC, Radebe said his participation in the walk was mainly to highlight pedestrian safety, in light of the high number of accidents.

"Many of the accidents are due to drinking and walking, the unsafe crossing of roads, the misjudgement of speed of approaching vehicles and poor visibility, especially at night or in the early hours of the morning."

At the main arena, tired walkers reclined on the lawns, some sipping energy drinks and others doing stretching exercises. A number of walkers, mostly those who had participated in the longer races, were being given much-needed body massages at a wellness tent.

At the entertainment stage, singer James Stuart was belting out songs to ease tired souls, while a centre for toddlers kept the little ones entertained with clowns giving the kids lots to laugh at.

Back on stage, Talk Radio 702 station manager, Phaledi Gwangwa, with soccer legend Lucas Radebe and other officials presented a cheque for R200 000 to the benefiting charity, Laureus Sports For Good Foundation. The foundation will donate the money to a project of its choice in Gauteng, said Gwangwa.

"The whole day was amazing, from the thousands who walked and helped us raise money for the Laurens Sport for Good Foundation, to the entertainment and public support for the event. The Discovery 702 Walk the Talk is a family event that creates a sense of community. Over the years it has grown in leaps and bounds in popularity with Joburgers. The increasing number of participants and general interest in the event each year bears testimony to that."

Some 30 000 walkers participated in the 2006 Walk the Talk: more than 14 000 people participated in the 10-kilometre route and 12 000 walkers successfully completed the five-kilometre route, with the rest sweating it out in the timed 42-kilometre marathon and 21-kilometre half marathon.

Event organiser, Tanya Harford, said these participating figures were the highest ever. "This was definitely the biggest and best Walk the Talk we've ever held! Not only did the five-kilometre and 10-kilometre receive such overwhelming support, but the 21-kilometre and 42-kilometre timed marathons also attracted record numbers. We had 800 and 400 walkers respectively in those categories. Interestingly enough, the 21-kilometre marathon didn't only draw professional walkers, but a lot of walking club members who enjoy walking as part of the exercise regime."

Sadly, the legendary Indian cricketer, Kapil Dev, did not make it to the walk. He was unable to attend the event due to "unforeseen circumstances", according to the organisers. His absence did not seem to dampen the proceedings as the music outfit Denim kept the crowds on their feet with cool reggae and soul renditions.

fun?

fun?


Like, duh.

Joint effort needed to tackle growing freeway congestion
http://www.eprop.co.za/news/article.aspx?idArticle=7583
26 Jul 2006
Business Day
Nick Wilson

THE severe traffic congestion already experienced on the freeways, particularly in Midrand, will soon become an all-day problem as thousands of new cars hit the roads every year.

Brian Roberts, a professional traffic engineer and transport planner at PD Naidoo & Associates, says the Midrand, Kyalami and Fourways areas already have traffic “oversaturation”.

He says the N1, N3 and M1 freeways, which offer access to Midrand, Kyalami and Fourways, are clogged. “The N1 in the Midrand area is virtually in a peak situation throughout the day,” says Roberts.

This has been fuelled by widespread commercial and residential property development in the area, as well as developments within the Johannesburg and Tshwane metropolitan areas.

“People are travelling between Tshwane and Johannesburg and adding further demand to freeways. Traffic on the N1 is growing at 7% a year on average.”

Roberts says because of a lack of public transport systems in those areas, commuters must use private transport. This adds to the growing demand on the roads.

“The solution is for the affected municipalities to plan and implement public transport systems. This is challenging because you can’t disinvent the motor car and it has become part of the social culture of SA. A car is a symbol of wealth, freedom and independence.”

Roberts says 600000 new cars were added to South African roads last year, with about 50% of these in Gauteng.

He says housing in the Midrand and Kyalami areas is less expensive than other established areas, so first-time buyers tend to buy in these areas rather than close to public transport systems.

“And the downside of living out there is you have to use your motor car to go to work.”

Apart from the public transport system plan, Gauteng is also looking at other options to ease the pressure on freeways.

He says the Gauteng public transport, roads and works department is considering a toll road strategy for the Gauteng area where they would allow consortiums of contractors and interested parties to build new freeways and charge a toll to cover costs.

Roberts says it is imperative that development does not get halted because of traffic congestion. Rather, the implementation of public transport systems should be accelerated. The Gautrain system is one part of that accelerated solution.

Johannesburg developer Patrick Flanagan of Flanagan & Gerard says SA’s roads authorities are not there to be an obstacle to development but should be realistic by imposing requirements for either the upgrading of existing roads or the building of new roads to cater for the increase in traffic “occasioned” by a development.

This would be supported by a traffic impact assessment (TIA) conducted by professional traffic engineers employed by developers of a project.

He says conducting a TIA is a standard practice by developers.

TIAs consider the effect of a development on both the immediate and broader roads infrastructure. A TIA report is sent to local, provincial and national authorities, he says.

Flanagan says the three spheres of government would then consult with the professional traffic engineer and decide what additional roads infrastructure is required.

“This could be a very localised requirement like an extra turning lane on a local road or it could go right up to the building of new roads or even interchanges on national roads.

“For example with Allandale, if you consider that you have a huge amount of undeveloped land both east and west of the N1, the logic would have to indicate that there would have to be a major upgrading of the Allandale offramp, which could include, for example, the widening of the bridge over the N1 and even the possibility of widening of Allandale Road itself.”

Flanagan says there is “no doubt” the road infrastructure does not have sufficient capacity to carry current traffic volumes.

“Developers, local, provincial and central government must work together to bring about the necessary improvements to road infrastructure,” he says.

In a number of new developments in and around Johannesburg, developers have built additional roads to cater for the increase in traffic to the areas.

Developers Universal Property Professionals — the group which owns the Kyalami Race Track and 72ha of land in the racetrack area — will be paying for a new road to link Lonehill and Kyalami’s main road.

The group, which is rolling out a major residential, retail and office development over the next four years, is facilitating the creation of a new road to create different entrances to Kyalami to reduce traffic congestion at the entrance to Kyalami.

Bronwyn Krummeck, marketing manager for Kyalami Race Track and Universal Property Professionals, says Universal has a four-year plan for the multibillion-rand redevelopment and development of the 72ha.

Krummeck says the group plans to develop a “mini Monte Carlo” on the land, including upmarket residential units, retail property and offices.

Universal Property Professionals says it is still finalising plans for the development but it will feature street cafes, a boutique hotel and a retail centre.

Like, duh.
is this the most exciting event taking place in joburg right now? a big walk?

hahahaha yup!!! well lets face it we never get to walk any other time except round the golf course!!!

hahahaha yup!!! well lets face it we never get to walk any other time except round the golf course!!!
thats also true.

is this the most exciting event taking place in joburg right now? a big walk?


Joburg art cool. :cheers:

The Walk the Talk isn't just a stupid Big Walk. It's a major event of this country, with 30,000 people participating, and this isn't just a bunch of Joburgers out for their annual stroll, but includes major sponsorship from the city of Joburg, Discovery Health, 702, as well as support from many celebrities and government officials.

And it isn't the most exciting event in Joburg happening right now, but it certainly is one of the biggest taking part in this country at the moment.

Joburg art cool. :cheers:

The Walk the Talk isn't just a stupid Big Walk. It's a major event of this country, with 30,000 people participating, and this isn't just a bunch of Joburgers out for their annual stroll, but includes major sponsorship from the city of Joburg, Discovery Health, 702, as well as support from many celebrities and government officials.

And it isn't the most exciting event in Joburg happening right now, but it certainly is one of the biggest taking part in this country at the moment.
joy. did u take part?

joy. did u take part?


"joy"

Seriously dude, I generally like Capetonians, but with that condescending attitude, it's no wonder the rest of the country think Capetonians are a bunch of stuck-up narcissists.

And I did not partake in it as I did not enter in time. I really wanted to though. It was a beautiful winters day in Joburg with clear blue skies.

"joy"

Seriously dude, I generally like Capetonians, but with that condescending attitude, it's no wonder the rest of the country think Capetonians are a bunch of stuck-up narcissists.

And I did not partake in it as I did not enter in time. I really wanted to though. It was a beautiful winters day in Joburg with clear blue skies.
whoa dude..i was just kidding.

Oh. sorry. I got offended. eish.

hehehe ah capetonians are only condescending cos they are from the worlds greatest city!!! :-) but seriously there has been so much going in jozi this month its been awsome. and I love winter up here: its the best climate in the world altho I nearly died of cold at moyos this week despite the giant rugs they give you!!! I shall miss jozi when I return to the cape.

hehehe ah capetonians are only condescending cos they are from the worlds greatest city!!! :-) but seriously there has been so much going in jozi this month its been awsome. and I love winter up here: its the best climate in the world altho I nearly died of cold at moyos this week despite the giant rugs they give you!!! I shall miss jozi when I return to the cape.
u shudnt say stuff like greatest city around here...the durbanites might just shoot u down.

I have an interesting analogy for South African cities:

Each one is like a girl -
Cape Town: She is like Charlize Theron, blonde bombshell. Quite the bitch, sometimes a bit of a slut (she shares her goodies easily and willingly). Whenever you doubt her, she just flashes her boobs (read Table Mountain) at you and you cant remember what pissed you off in the first place. I mean, whenever your in Cape Town and you see something ugly - you just look up at that flat chest of hers (read, Table mountain) and you cant help grinning like a schoolboy.

Durban: Now here is one not to take on if you are mild at heart. Super surfer chick, if you dont like her, she will slap you boet. She doesnt really care what people think of her as long as she can have a good time. But behind the tough facade you'll meet a girl to have lots of fun with.

Jozi: My beloved Jozi is like Heather Locklear. Older, wiser and not always that interested in showing off her assets. She has made love to many, so she is not impressed by ill-experienced first timers. You have to get to know her, and little by little, you will unearth a bit of magic every day! She has many wonders hidden - takes a while to explore them all. Again, like all others, she is a bit of a bitch. you will love her one day and hate her another.

Pretoria: Pretoria is like one of those Egoli stars (think one of those WALCO secretaries). She is rather attractive, but just a bit plain. If you like soapies you love her though. That is why those who live in pretoors commute to jozi on a regular basis, just to taste a bit of rough love...

Bloemfontein: She is like one of those 7de Laan extras (for those of you that never watched an episode of this local soapie - CONGRATULATIONS!). Smiling in the background of the soapie, with all of the action going on somewhere in the front. Maybe someone will notice her and make her a big star, maybe not. Hopefully she will see some action soon. Here's hoping for you kid.

PS The above should not be taken seriously. I hope not to see a bunch of Capies jumping of Table Mountain or Bloemie people running into Voortrekker Street naked to get run over by the trucks travelling by. It is indeed just an analogy.

Gotta love this country.

Heard a rumour of a highspeed train link between jozi and durban. Any info?

Like that analogy.. Heather Locklear is pretty. :) Though I had to google her. On my image search, she seems to quite enjoy flashing her breasts. But not nearly as much as Charlize. hehe.

Haven't heard of this highspeed train link.. where did you hear it?

Sandton streets to turn into fashion catwalks
July 28, 2006
By Tammy O'Reilly

http://www.joburg-archive.co.za/images_2006/july/picsummer145.jpg

ALL eyes will be on Sandton for the next few days as the main streets are transformed into catwalks for the Sanlam South African Fashion Week.

The Sandton Central Management District, who is responsible for the upkeep of the central business district, is using the country's premier fashion event to highlight the area and the initiatives that have taken place to maintain the high levels of safety and cleanliness.

"The Sanlam South African Fashion Week has once again committed to hosting this fantastic event in Sandton Central and with shopping centres like Sandton City, Michelangelo Towers Mall and Nelson Mandela Square all in Sandton Central, we believe it is about time that we truly embrace the fact that we are a fashion hub and highlight this on the streets," says Cara Reilly, marketing manager of the Sandton Central District.

The event will take place at the Sandton Convention Centre and other venues like Afronova Gallery in Newtown and the Johannesburg Art Gallery, from Thursday, 27 July until Sunday, 30 July.

http://www.joburg-archive.co.za/images_2006/july/picsummer2.jpg

More than 70 designers will show collections at the show before an invited audience of international and local media, buyers, celebrities, manufacturing and textile industry stakeholders, industry leaders and public.

There will also be over 30 non-repetitive fashion shows for the duration of the event and the Sandton Convention Centre will host more than 100 exhibition stands with merchandise from stores, and new and established designers and designs from all the fashion shows will be sold.

While fashion shows are taking place at the indoor venue, models wearing over-the-top garments will strut their stuff outside the Convention Centre and the Village Walk shopping centre between 1pm and 2pm.

"The Sandton Central Street Catwalk is part of our arts programme mandate to enliven the atmosphere in our neighbourhood," says Reilly. "One of our objectives is to take all the interesting things that are happening inside Sandton Central and give them serious visibility in outdoor public places and the Sanlam South African Fashion Week proved to be an irresistible opportunity to do that."

On Friday 28 July, Sandton Central, in conjunction with national radio station 5FM, is challenging everyone working in Sandton from CEOs to cashiers to attend work in their most fashionable outfits, be they ball gowns, traditional attire, pyjamas or crazy hats. Prizes for the best-dressed will be given away on 5FM's F & Martinengo show between 1pm and 2pm.

Tickets, R150 for the fashion shows and R50 for the exhibitions, are available at Computicket.

Sandton streets to turn into fashion catwalks
July 28, 2006
By Tammy O'Reilly

http://www.joburg-archive.co.za/images_2006/july/picsummer145.jpg

ALL eyes will be on Sandton for the next few days as the main streets are transformed into catwalks for the Sanlam South African Fashion Week.

The Sandton Central Management District, who is responsible for the upkeep of the central business district, is using the country's premier fashion event to highlight the area and the initiatives that have taken place to maintain the high levels of safety and cleanliness.

"The Sanlam South African Fashion Week has once again committed to hosting this fantastic event in Sandton Central and with shopping centres like Sandton City, Michelangelo Towers Mall and Nelson Mandela Square all in Sandton Central, we believe it is about time that we truly embrace the fact that we are a fashion hub and highlight this on the streets," says Cara Reilly, marketing manager of the Sandton Central District.

The event will take place at the Sandton Convention Centre and other venues like Afronova Gallery in Newtown and the Johannesburg Art Gallery, from Thursday, 27 July until Sunday, 30 July.

http://www.joburg-archive.co.za/images_2006/july/picsummer2.jpg

More than 70 designers will show collections at the show before an invited audience of international and local media, buyers, celebrities, manufacturing and textile industry stakeholders, industry leaders and public.

There will also be over 30 non-repetitive fashion shows for the duration of the event and the Sandton Convention Centre will host more than 100 exhibition stands with merchandise from stores, and new and established designers and designs from all the fashion shows will be sold.

While fashion shows are taking place at the indoor venue, models wearing over-the-top garments will strut their stuff outside the Convention Centre and the Village Walk shopping centre between 1pm and 2pm.

"The Sandton Central Street Catwalk is part of our arts programme mandate to enliven the atmosphere in our neighbourhood," says Reilly. "One of our objectives is to take all the interesting things that are happening inside Sandton Central and give them serious visibility in outdoor public places and the Sanlam South African Fashion Week proved to be an irresistible opportunity to do that."

On Friday 28 July, Sandton Central, in conjunction with national radio station 5FM, is challenging everyone working in Sandton from CEOs to cashiers to attend work in their most fashionable outfits, be they ball gowns, traditional attire, pyjamas or crazy hats. Prizes for the best-dressed will be given away on 5FM's F & Martinengo show between 1pm and 2pm.

Tickets, R150 for the fashion shows and R50 for the exhibitions, are available at Computicket.

is it safe to be walking around the streets in designer clothing?

Of course not.. you'll be mauled by savages.

lawdy knows why they're being so dumb. maybe it's a model thing.

Gold Reef City shapes up for 2010
http://www.busrep.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=561&fArticleId=3355901
July 26, 2006
By AUDREY D’ANGELO

Cape Town - Listed casino operator Gold Reef Resorts is spending R240 million on an extensive revamp and extension of its flagship Gold Reef City casino and theme park.

Casino manager Bongani Biyela said yesterday that this would ensure the complex retained customers and grew its share of "an increasingly competitive hospitality market, where consumers demand world-class facilities and entertainment".

Although the 1 million people who visited the theme park and the 1.5 million who played in the casino annually were mostly local residents, he said the improvements would make it an additional attraction for the international visitors expected for the soccer World Cup in 2010.

Northpoint, which has worked on projects such as Atlantis in Dubai, GrandWest Casino in Cape Town and the the Wild Coast hotel and casino in KwaZulu-Natal, has been appointed as the architect and interior designer for the new look Gold Reef City.

The project manager will be @Hart Property Development, which will have the task of carrying out the work in four phases over 17 months.

Meanwhile, Gold Reef Resorts confirmed it was still suing M-Net and its investigative journalism programme Carte Blanche for losses that it claims were caused by allegations made on the programme.

Jarrod Friedman, the financial director of Gold Reef Resorts, said these allegations were the main reason that, after making a profit of R22 million in 2004, the complex only broke even in 2005, due mainly to a fall in visitors to the theme park. He said the theme park was still feeling the effects of the programme and the damages it would claim were "a moving target".

Biyela said the casino, which opened in March 2000, was being given a more up-market look and feel. The two areas where smoking was allowed would be replaced by a larger smoking casino, with 570 machines and 16 tables. The main smoke-free casino would be brighter and the restaurant would be improved.

The former Globe theatre would become a multipurpose entertainment area and there would be a larger theatre, seating 1 000 people, with an ornate, Victorian feel.

It was due to open in September next year and negotiations were in progress to bring a successful show from New York.

Biyela said more staff would be needed once the work had been completed but he could not say how many additional jobs there would be.

At present 1 200 people were employed in the casino and 1 500 in the theme park. Most of the employees were skilled staff.

Jakes1 that is an awsome post! cheers for that: it made me chuckle!!

Mo: as for the durbs thing: I love durbs to bits and I go all the time but cape town is in a different league. CPT is on a par with any city in the world whereas durbs is getting there but has not quite reached that yet. Give it 5 years and it will be truly world class. But cape town is on apar with london and NYC in terms of achingly cool hangouts, restaurants and people (CPT like NYC and Ldn is full of wealthy people from all over the world chilling out and having a good time). It is unquestionably the international city of SA and the international face of our country. But I think aftert the WC exposure and all the develoment going on in durbs it will also be a international playground post 2010. (but more centred on umhlanga rather than the beachfront itself)

what is a poor slummies type chick then? (slummies as in East London)

what is a poor slummies type chick then? (slummies as in East London)
boring.

i picture a slightly overweight chick with a nice face but covered in chorbs, oh and fat ankles

hahaha so true. I went there once to go to a car plant. its horrid!!!!

central place(zenprop i think) want more info on this guys i think some one wit the info should post the dev oh joburg posted this stuff last year looks good very good

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v297/hsark/centralplace2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v297/hsark/CentralPlace1.jpg

Got this information from a publication I picked up in the bookshop at 1 Central Place. It's got tons of info about Joburg inner city development, but I'm afraid nothing that we don't really know about.

Central Place, bordered by Jeppe, Henry Nxumalo, President and Miriam Makeba streets, comprises 9 sites, 3 of which are still available for development and for which a request for proposals has been advertised. It contains several heritage buildings, like the Workers Library and the Electric Workship (now the Sci-bono Discovery Centre). The properties will eventually will consist of retail, office and residential space, creating an area that is used 24 hours a day, and boosting the many developments taking place in Newtown.

1 Central Place is a mixed-use commerical/retail development, with a total of 3850 square meters of offices and 950 square metres of retail space over basement parking. The Gauteng Tourism Authority took occupation on the 1st of May 2005, and they occupy 3 floors, and Kaya FM has moved in from Rosebank.

5 and 6 Central Place are located south of the Workers Museum. Together, the two sites will result in 20 000 square metres of mixed-use development. It will include two cinemas, restaurants, a gym, and other retail, as well as extensive parking. The upper-income residential component is spread over four tower blocks. 23, 15, 8 and 4 stories in height set on a double-storey podium. Construction is set to start this year.

Other developments in Newtown...

The Majestic Development will result in the demolition of a number of buildings on the east side of the Market Theatre Precinct and the construction of retail, commerical and residential over three levels. The 2400 square meters of ground floor will incude restaurants, a 900 square metre supermarket and some national chain retail shops. The residential component will be mostly 45 square metre studio units. This development is being done by Pace Properties.

There has also been a proposal for a tourist hotel on the north-east corner of Jeppe and Miriam Makeba Streets.

I'm sure someone out there could do the translation >:)

--------------

coll 25, 17 and 10 story towers for joeys. Where exactly is this area? around Diagonal street/newtown? maybe a google earth markup please.

As for the harkerb article something about egoli?? is that the TV show?

lol... it's about Joburg, aka the city of gold (eGoli).

It's saying that with all the investment going on, ownership in the inner city is like owning pure gold.

And Giles it's more around Newtown area.. when I get back later on I'll attempt to do something on google earth now that the city is finally covered.

Giuliani : Run Jhb Like A Business - 2006/08/02


Former mayor of New York Rudolph Giuliani will be helping Johannesburg shape up crime-wise in time for the 2010 World Cup, which local property experts predict will help to secure the city's worldwide investment status.

Giuliani successfully turned New York, the former crime capital of the world, into one of the safest cities globally in the space of a decade, reducing crime by 65% and murder by 70%.

Barak Geffen, Executive Director of Sotheby's International Realty, subscribes wholeheartedly to Giuliani's recent statements that a city--and its police department--must be "run like a business" to iron out problems like crime and corruption, and he feels Giuliani's strategies should be rolled out throughout the country and not just in Gauteng.

"For businesses to be successful they have to produce tangible results--yet because governments are not held to the same standards, they consistently fail to provide acceptable standards of public services in some areas," he says. "In South Africa, safety has always been one of these areas.

"In many instances crime-fighting has been left in the hands of residents and rate payers, with many being forced to contribute towards the payment of private security companies. If this money could be re-directed towards more productive and positive uses, it could truly clean up our precarious crime levels."

Geffen agrees that, as in the private sector, South Africa's public sector must produce measurable results, with public servants regularly assessed and held accountable for their success or failure. A strategy like Guiliani's would go a long way toward improving local living conditions, while also boosting the country's image abroad, which in turn would attract both local and foreign investment.

"For too long SA has been perceived as a high-risk country due mainly to crime and corruption, and has had to live with the consequences of lagging investment, emigration and ineffective use of capital. Sorting out crime as a start will lower the country's economic risk and will stimulate more tourism, as well as long-term investment."

He also points out that, because crime is concentrated in many poorer areas around the country, including inner cities, its eradication will help improve the quality of life of many of the country's poorest citizens, contributing to the upgrading of neighborhoods and, indirectly, helping to eradicate poverty. This will also act as a stimulus to property investment, lifting property values and making everyone better off.

Giuliani recommends that South African cities cut their budgets by 5% and uses these savings to improve safety and security by hiring more police and setting up more precincts. He also recommends making individual police stations accountable for crime in their areas by measuring crime on a daily basis, rewarding stations and promoting staff who are successfully assisting in bringing crime down.

"We should be enthusiastic in embracing Giuliani's direction and leadership in the run-up to the 2010 World Cup," Geffen concludes.

He truly is what Johannesburg needs.

Giuliani : Run Jhb Like A Business - 2006/08/02

If he can't do it, nobody can. Here's to hope :cheers:

lol... it's about Joburg, aka the city of gold (eGoli).

.
I know, I was taking the piss cos we have Egoli plek van goud here in Dubai on M-net and my Australian wife thinks its hilarious :) :)

Ahhh... I'm more of a Grey's Anatomy and Prison Break boy myself... Patrick Dempsy and Wentworth Miller.... phew! ;)

Jozi gets ready for Gauteng carnival
August 2, 2006
By Lucky Sindane

THE streets of Joburg will be filled with performance troupes and revellers when the second Gauteng Carnival gets underway in September.

The carnival will take place on Saturday, 9 September from 10am through the streets of Braamfontein and Newtown.

Aptly themed Pale Ya Rona (''telling our story'' or ''ours to tell''), the second annual Gauteng carnival is expected to draw over 3000 participants from more than 30 troupes.

In preparation for the carnival, design and theme workshops were held in each region including Johannesburg Central, Ekurhuleni, Tshwane, Mogale City and Sedibeng. The workshops included a small carnival representation followed by a conceptualisation of what each region represents.

The workshops involved some 80 artists who shared ideas on what stories they felt the regions could tell. They agreed on the following themes: Johannesburg: Jozi Maboneng (Jozi, a place of light), Tshwane/Metsweding: Motse Moshate (The royal house of Africa), Ekurhuleni: Kgotso, Pula, Nala (Peace, rain and prosperity), Sedibeng: Tite Ya Batho (The well of the people) and West Rand (Rhythm of the roots).

http://www.joburg-archive.co.za/images_2006/aug/gautengcarnival1.jpg

"This year's carnival is the flagship project of the Creative Industries Strategy which was launched in March this year," said Gauteng MEC for sport, recreation, arts and culture, Barbara Creecy.

"It offers us an ideal opportunity to ensure artistic resources, training and experience in staging a major cultural event are transferred to communities throughout the province."

The Gauteng department of sport, recreation, arts and culture has set aside an estimated R3 million for this event.

"Carnivals combine performing and visual arts into a celebration of collective identity and community aspiration throughout the world. In Brazil and throughout the Caribbean, carnivals have proved to be major tourist attractions, bringing in millions of dollars in revenue," she said.

The 3,5km carnival route starts from the National School of Arts in Braamfontein on Melle Street, joining De Korte Street. It then turns left into Bertha Street going over the Nelson Mandela bridge and turning right on Jeppe Street. After that, it will turn left on Mirriam Makeba leading onto Blue IQ Park in Newtown.

http://www.joburg-archive.co.za/images_2006/aug/gautengcarnival5.jpg

In 2007 the Gauteng department of sport, arts, culture and recreation will host the International Carnival Conference, and delegates from across the world will observe the Gauteng carnival as a precursor to the event.

"We invite the people of Gauteng to come and revel in the Pale Ya Rona carnival," concluded Creecy.

http://www.joburg-archive.co.za/images_2006/aug/gautengcarnival8.jpg

Jo'burg's eye on the ball
Jocelyn Newmarch

Sibongile Mazibuko is used to stress. She had better be, because she is in charge of making sure Johannesburg is ready and able to host the World Cup in four years’ time.

But if she is taking strain, her voice certainly doesn’t show it when she makes time for a hurried interview with the Mail & Guardian. She is calm and easy-going, and giggles appreciatively when I promise I’ll be nice.

Forty-three-year-old Mazibuko, previously the city’s chief operations officer, was last month appointed executive director for the World Cup, and describes time as the biggest obstacle facing the city.

“We need to be finalising our implementation plans as soon as possible,” she said, “but we should be able to deliver on time.”

According to its annual budget, the city plans to spend R500-million this year on projects relating to the World Cup. This includes upgrades to the water, electricity, sport and transport infrastructure, as well as upgrades to two match venues: Ellis Park and the FNB Soccer City stadium.

FNB is due for a major renovation, while Ellis Park needs cosmetic changes. Work on the R200-million upgrade has started for Orlando Stadium in Soweto.

As the primary city, hosting both the opening and closing ceremonies, it is critical that Johannesburg is prepared. The Local Organising Committee is in charge of disbursing Fifa funding and securing sponsorships, but the city needs to take care of its own infrastructure and stadiums.

The appointment of Mazibuko shows how seriously it views the preparations. In her previous role, she was the second-in-command to the city manager, Pascal Moloi. Before this she was the regional director for Orange Farm and Ennerdale until 2002.

Besides the World Cup preparations, the city’s other priorities are job creation, poverty alleviation, tackling social inequalities and HIV/Aids, upgrading technology, and dealing with urbanisation and urban renewal. All at the same time. Can it really be done, even with this year’s budget of R21-billion?

Executive mayor Amos Masondo thinks it can. He expects the city to have operating surpluses of R124,8-billion for this financial year, R209-million for 2007/2008, and R293,5-million for the 2008/2009 financial year. These will be used to address the capital infrastructure backlogs city residents love complaining about.

Then, there is the question of a not always reliable power supply. According to Johannesburg’s City Power, delays in receiving parts have held up the overhaul of the city’s electricity supply. Eskom has committed itself to spending R97-billion over the next few years to expand its electricity supply, with additional power stations planned.

But at a municipal level, upgrades are also urgently needed. Economic growth, increased urbanisation and greater prosperity have all contributed to a surge in demand. More houses are electrified now than ever before, though largely the same infrastructure is in place.

The upgrading of roads in Johannesburg has already started, Mazibuko said, with government funding of R200-million this year, in preparation for the World Cup. The government is also stepping in with major funding. It plans to spend R5-billion on building or upgrading the 10 World Cup venues, but it may need to rethink those figures.

Cape Town mayor Helen Zille says her city can only afford to spend R400-million on its R4,3-billion stadium, and wants the government to agree by November to fund the rest.

The construction was originally estimated at R1,4-billion, and the revised costs have prompted questions about the other stadiums too. Port Elizabeth, Nelspruit and Polokwane are also planning to build new venues, and there are fears that the bills could be higher than expected.

Mazibuko says that in Johannesburg, the planned funding has already been released.

The danger is that massive amounts of public money could be spent on infrastructure which isn’t necessary and won’t become long-term assets. So far, this is not a criticism that has been levelled at the organisers. Mazibuko says they have an eye on the future. “We are planning for sustainability,” she said.

Johannesburg’s preparations also need to take population growth into account. Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa has warned that the city and its surrounds could be the world’s 12th-largest urban region by 2015.

Gauteng’s population is expected to grow by five million in the next few years, to reach 14,5-million. HIV/Aids could curb this figure, he admitted, but it was critical to plan for this. The city council is encouraging densification and investing in public transport as a measure to alleviate congestion.

Having visited Germany twice for the recent World Cup, Mazibuko admits that the German organisation was very good “but nothing out of this world”. The public transport system in particular was very impressive.

“Germans aren’t as friendly as South Africans,” she said. “And the language barrier was a problem.”

Ahhh... I'm more of a Grey's Anatomy and Prison Break boy myself... Patrick Dempsy and Wentworth Miller.... phew! ;)
Yip watched greys last night, We actaull download more and watch than M-net cos the series are so old. We watched the entire second series of Lost from downloads before they even started on M-net with them if they have yet.Down load the day after they screen in the states and then we have a LAN at home so from my computer they transfer to my harddrive /DVD, LAN recorder and presto instant movies and shows.
DSTV suks with shows cos we get Nigerian Mnet and its full of Nolly wood crap. Sport is still kickass though

"Cape Town mayor Helen Zille says her city can only afford to spend R400-million on its R4,3-billion stadium, and wants the government to agree by November to fund the rest."
4Billion for a stadium??? WTF does it have gold taps and perrier water in the toilets. Thats got to be a joke right?
That is outragoiu and a total waste of money. You can build a whole airport for like 2billion. again it must be the ANC cronies getting ANC cronnies and their brothers to bill the governmnet for it.

Was in jozi downtown all of yesterday. What an awesome day. There is still a lot of work to be done, but it is looking better every time I get there. Main street is just wonderful! Clean, safe, awesome architecture and nice street restaurants. Must be even better when the weather is not acting out! it was 5degrees in downtown yesterday. Went up to the 50th floor of the carlton centre. The centre feels safe, but apart from a few bling additions it is showing its age. The top viewing deck offers awesome views, but one feel a bit like the only person in the world - very solemn atmosphere. Newtown is great, but a bit scruffy. in General I think they should invest even more in cleaning the place, some areas look horrible. The Franklin is surrounded by stalls and filth, why would you pay millions to stay there? Also some developments seem to be stalling. 1 Rissik Street is an example.

They seem to be busy with a TV show at the closed carlton hotel. The barbican is still waiting for someone to save her. Ashanti and Dogon - thats gonna rock. The CBD is big, and you need "spines" of clean, safe and upmarket areas to bring people back. Main street is evident of this.

Ghandi Square is awesome. Joubert park and the gallery is a complete mess. The Old Tolman Towers/Johannesburg Sun/Southern Sun hotel complex makes one want to cry. Such an awesome 40storey glass building, empty and going to pieces. Same for the IBM building accross from carlton (height of 80's sheik!).

But the CBD is moving forward. I walked everywhere. i felt safe, I enjoyed the architecture and the fact that the environment is not sterile. As I travelled back to the north I got irritated with myself, because although I hate sterile places like Melrose Arch, I felt relaxed because of it.

JOzi has a long way to go, but hopefully she will get there soon. But the CBD is definately buzzing, just hope it is sustainable.

welcome aboard another joins the fight for the cbd so u 2 see the potential everytime i go there im like 10 years from infact 5years from now look at the progress for 2000 to 2006 ;)

thanks for your view jakes. I agree ther eis so much to do in the CBD but at least it is moving forward. I love that IBM building and i get very sad when I see it just falling apart.

Went into Newtown yesterday. A flea market has opened on Mary Fitzgerald, and there was a live jazz band, and there were kids playing basketball too.. was really nice because it gave the area a lively feel...

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g102/joburgboy/CIMG1804.jpg

Went into Newtown yesterday. A flea market has opened on Mary Fitzgerald, and there was a live jazz band, and there were kids playing basketball too.. was really nice because it gave the area a lively feel...

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g102/joburgboy/CIMG1804.jpg
thats real nice were u the only white person there?

nope.. what does it matter?

nope.. what does it matter?
i was just asking..the space seems very cool as a place to bring together people from many different cultures...a kinda meeting point for everyone in joburg.

^^ That's how I felt on the FIFA Soccer Cup bid announcement day. It was so exciting to see white, black, and every-colour-in-between people all together, celebrating.

The news reporter I saw reporting on it did such a beautiful job and she was so excited and went on ranting and raving about the country... it was beautiful! lol

Yeah it's defo being touted as a gathering place, and for many people it is. Newtown is quite residential these days because of Brickfields, and I think a lot of people who hang out around there come from there.

But I think as a place where Joburgers can come together to form a collective identity, Mary Fitgerald Square is the best place... can't think of any other place in Joburg where that can happen.

Went to the flea market in MF square on Saturday afternoon. Wasn't really much to see to be honest, but I think the fact that it was FREEZING cold had something to do with it. Something that ticks me off though, is the fact that some really nice coffee shops/restaurants have opened at No 1 Central Place, but there were NO patrons at all. Something has to be done to get people going, otherwise, they will just close down again.

The sterility of the north remains the biggest challenge for the joburg cbd, newtown and braamies. People feel safe in tuscan malls - and refuse to accept that the old lady has some kick left in her. Plus, for me the greatest challenge was navigating through the cbd. Many people havent been there in ages - so they dont know where to go to see stuff. Parking is always a challenge - we are so spoiled with suburban parkades! but aggressive marketing is the only way to get people there. I drove past 1 central place, never knowing about coffee shops! Once people start to know the place, they will be more excited about coming back.

Fear of the unknown, hearsay and general negativity. Those are the next wars that cbd believers will have to wage. But it is one that we must win, because without a functioning cbd, jozi will never be what she is meant to be. Urban Sprawl is an insane way to deal with crime and grime, the city just becomes more unmanageable! Invest in our city centres -cbd, rosebank, sandton etc. Revive places like norwood, greenside, melville and melrose. Stop building bloody horrid italian/french/balinese/crap outlandish garish malls on the outskirts of our cities.

Shopping malls are a sign that a city is failing. It is a sign that people don't trust the city anymore. Sterile, devoid of history or culture, edifices to a rootless consumer culture.

Viva newtown, the carlton, braamies, melville and norwood.

jakes1 the local goverment is way ahead of you....we just need more private investors and the people "well there more than enough blue collar office works in the cbd"

Went to the flea market in MF square on Saturday afternoon.


Seriasss?? We must have just missed your ass then. ;) Agree with you about the flea market... was generally rather crap. Nothing like Rosebank.

Have you seen the bookstore? Xarra, I think it is called. It are nice. I'm not sure if they have copies left, but there was a magazine just called "City" I think and it tells of all the development going.. you boys should get a copy if you can.

The sterility of the north remains the biggest challenge for the joburg cbd, newtown and braamies. People feel safe in tuscan malls - and refuse to accept that the old lady has some kick left in her. Plus, for me the greatest challenge was navigating through the cbd. Many people havent been there in ages - so they dont know where to go to see stuff. Parking is always a challenge - we are so spoiled with suburban parkades! but aggressive marketing is the only way to get people there. I drove past 1 central place, never knowing about coffee shops! Once people start to know the place, they will be more excited about coming back.

Fear of the unknown, hearsay and general negativity. Those are the next wars that cbd believers will have to wage. But it is one that we must win, because without a functioning cbd, jozi will never be what she is meant to be. Urban Sprawl is an insane way to deal with crime and grime, the city just becomes more unmanageable! Invest in our city centres -cbd, rosebank, sandton etc. Revive places like norwood, greenside, melville and melrose. Stop building bloody horrid italian/french/balinese/crap outlandish garish malls on the outskirts of our cities.

Shopping malls are a sign that a city is failing. It is a sign that people don't trust the city anymore. Sterile, devoid of history or culture, edifices to a rootless consumer culture.

Viva newtown, the carlton, braamies, melville and norwood.


Indeeedy... VIVA!

So, Jakes, what do you do? Where you stay in Jozi? Good to have another joburger on board.. ;)

The sterility of the north remains the biggest challenge for the joburg cbd, newtown and braamies. People feel safe in tuscan malls - and refuse to accept that the old lady has some kick left in her. Plus, for me the greatest challenge was navigating through the cbd. Many people havent been there in ages - so they dont know where to go to see stuff. Parking is always a challenge - we are so spoiled with suburban parkades! but aggressive marketing is the only way to get people there. I drove past 1 central place, never knowing about coffee shops! Once people start to know the place, they will be more excited about coming back.

Fear of the unknown, hearsay and general negativity. Those are the next wars that cbd believers will have to wage. But it is one that we must win, because without a functioning cbd, jozi will never be what she is meant to be. Urban Sprawl is an insane way to deal with crime and grime, the city just becomes more unmanageable! Invest in our city centres -cbd, rosebank, sandton etc. Revive places like norwood, greenside, melville and melrose. Stop building bloody horrid italian/french/balinese/crap outlandish garish malls on the outskirts of our cities.

Shopping malls are a sign that a city is failing. It is a sign that people don't trust the city anymore. Sterile, devoid of history or culture, edifices to a rootless consumer culture.

Viva newtown, the carlton, braamies, melville and norwood.At last an observation about JHB that I can relate to!
With all the new people (read: African and mostly poor) moving to the CBD in the last 15 years and the old people (read: European and mostly wealthier) the culture and vibe that was a little like London, NYC and Sydney disappeared. To see how these cities have now progressed and JHB has regressed is alarming and an indictment of all those that did the scramble out.. and that includes me.
To start afresh as is now happening and not have the added layer of an established culture of people, and I mean the tolerant and liberal Europeans that were there not the racist wingnuts, is sad and makes the city indeed "Sterile, devoid of history or culture, edifices to a rootless consumer culture."
Encourage all races to come to the city centre again and live. For we with the moolah could do that.
Well said Jakes1.

^^ and there really were artistic, liberal White-inhabited districts around the CBD, too.... :( times gone by make me sad ;)

Thryve, times gone by makes one sad, but we have a lot to be excited about! I mean, 20years ago you had one liberal, cosmopolitan outpost in the whole of Jozi (Hillbrow). Today, many places you go to in the city, one does not see colour anymore. If you go to sandton - its quite a mixed group (whites not the vast majority thats for sure). So apart from the sterile mall atmosphere - we are getting used to mixing without dying of paranoia!

But go to places like bassline in newtown to see the new urban mix! Great music, city atmosphere, cosmopolitan! Gotta love it!

The city is very much alive. Get so frustrated with some blogs. Saw this blog called the "deathofjoburg." WHAT UTTER CRAP! They take pictures of a slum in hillbrow and proudly state that this is what the whole of Jozi became! And all of those expats believe it, because they are not here to see the true picture.

I am 26 and work as a political analyst for an international NGO. My offices are based in Pretoria (ja, I know, it sounds gross but its a friendly place!) and I live in Centurion (no excuses here, centurion is booooooring!). But due to my work I travel quite a lot and im in jozi two to three times a week on business, and if I go out I go out to Jozi. Just a bit of a boring background - but now you know.

Saw this blog called the "deathofjoburg." WHAT UTTER CRAP! They take pictures of a slum in hillbrow and proudly state that this is what the whole of Jozi became! And all of those expats believe it, because they are not here to see the true picture.


OH MY POPE!!!!!

Look at them... http://deathofjohannesburg.blogspot.com/

It makes me livid!!!!!

I'm going to make it my mission to make my blog the TOTAL opposite of the death of Johannesburg.

AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

interesting - outdated pictures. misunderstanding of the joburg dynamics. Im talking about the realrealist's blog concerning jozi. When last did he/she/it walk the streets? Probably just another woe-is-me south african in exile - looking for reasons why it was good to go.

I don't have a problem with people that leave SA. If the opportunities are there, take them! but be happy. For some it is good to leave, for other's to stay is best. What pisses me off are those that left, but they never managed to run away from their own hatred and negativity, and now they bash SA from the safety of their computers abroad. If they were truly sad and concerned, they wouldhave done something, but they choose to moan like 3year olds with wet diapers about things that they don't understand.

To all those that left for the right reasons... Good luck, its bloody hard carving out a new life - takes guts. To those wasting their times on rascist and ill-informed propaganda websites: shame on you.

But that is why I love this forum. you guys are all so bloody realistic. You can't sugarcoat failure (development-wise). But I love it that someone always has something constructive to say on here!

VIVA. no matter where you are in the world. If you are positive (not talking idealistic), I like you already.

Those naysayers will never see the opportunity which exists in South Africa and the city.. and it's actually pointless trying to convince them otherwise.

My issue is that I'm not saying Joburg is perfect. That movie, Tsotsi, testified to that. My pope, I don't think I've ever actually cried about Joburg, but that movie almost made me do so on a flight from New York to London. Especially that scene where the rottweiler was kicked.. that went straight to my heart. It pains me to think of it even now.

But my point is that there is lots wrong with Joburg, but bemoaning the city isn't going to help anything. If you dislike something, get off your fucking arse and do something about it. Either that, or move to the land of the sheep.

And as you say - the blogs are FACTUALLY incorrect. Not only are many of the city's sights fixed up, but there is tons of opportunity in Joburg, and daily these opportunities are being exploited.

But they'll never see it.... In my opinion, ag shame.

I wnt to the pathetic site, what a fucking joke. These fucking bigot rasist fucking neandethals have left thank god for that, so leave and shut the fuck up.
They seem to jerk off at delapidated buildings and get a stiffy ovber crime and grime news. Where is this site situated and why cant someone hack it and fuck it up

OMG that site is a disgrace. Those expats who are full of hatred about this place are pathetic and I actually feel sorry for them. Jozi is a vibrant, awsome city not a slum which is what that blog suggests. It makes me soooooooo angry when I see sites like that and that stupid prick watsons crime site. Those kind of things are not going to help build this country(neither is burrying our head in the sand) Instead lets celebrate our huge successes as a nation and try to find out where we went wrong with our failures (and then try to do something about them). Thats what I love about this place : we can all make a huge difference even by doing something like helping someone with their trolley in pick n pay or smiling at the cashier and asking how they are.It soiunds stupidbut its those little things that will help all of us realise we are south africans first and black/ white etc second. I dont know any country on earth where you can help shape a new society by such small gestures. Maybe im idealistic but thats why I love this place.

OMG hqave you read this one? http://southafricaiscrap.blogspot.com/

Iam so angry I cannot tell you. These people should fuck off and never come back. They are scum.