News

Ted Botha loves Joburg

I love Johannesburg. Yes, you heard right – I love Johannesburg. Once again. I. Love. Johannesburg. I just spent several weeks in the city, and it was perfect.

I jogged up and down the Westcliff stairs, ate seafood at the Troyeville Hotel, bought an ‘Igotshotinjoburg :)’ T-shirt (the smiley at the end is intentional;... the slogan is not about crime but a photographic project) at the Arts on Main market.

Photo: Joburg has a really cool vibe, according to Ted Botha, a journalist who has just returned from years overseas. So why is no one promoting the city, he asks?

 

Drive-ins reinvented

Soon, Jeremy Taylor’s Ag Pleez Daddy song will be seen as a quaint relic from a bygone era when Johannesburg’s last drive-in, the Velskoen in Randburg, closes down.
But there is hope yet, as an Invisible Cities initiative by the Skeleton Crew collective, staged a “drive-in” experience where people could tune into a pirate radio station to pick up the music from jazz bands performing in front of their cars, in a Joburg CBD parking lot.

 

Carnival lights up Joburg

An explosion of colour, including all the sights and sounds that make Jozi such a vibrant city, will be on display at the Joburg Carnival, which starts at 12 noon on 31 December. This year's exciting festival goes green. Its theme, Jozi my Jozi 125, will also celebrate Johannesburg turning a venerable 125 years old, and for the first time will feature a troupe representing street kids from all over Johannesburg.

 

Town planning scheme 'a mess'

The City of Johannesburg's new town planning scheme is unworkable, said the South African Property Owners Association (Sapoa) on Monday.

For more details, visit http://www.fin24.com/Economy/New-Joburg-planning-rules-a-disaster-20111205 

 

Community initiatives in Maboneng Precinct

The Maboneng Precinct, located on the lower east side of the Johannesburg CBD, is a private urban regeneration project bordered by Market, Albrecht, Main and Berea Streets.

The Maboneng Precinct places a strong focus on the integration of the community, encouraging interaction between people living and working both in newly converted buildings as well as neighbouring existing buildings, placing focus on building an open community and supporting the local economy.

Photo: There are a number of initiatives in the Maboneng Precinct to help people learn art, sport and skills to get on their feet financially. Nollie Faith makes skateboards available to youngsters

Concerning the right of landlords to evict

The City of Johannesburg has been ordered by the Constitutional Court to provide accommodation for tenants who were evicted from a privately owned building.

The Blue Moonlight case will no doubt also affect the ruling on the Aengus building in Braamfontein, where the developers wish to evict tenants so that they can upgrade the building - and have far-reaching consequences for the City itself.

Photo: Should landlords be allowed to evict tenants so they can upgrade their buildings, charge more rent, and in so doing, uplift the area?

JICBC, POMA enlist attorneys over cutoffs

The Johannesburg Inner City Business Coalition (JICBC) and the Property Owners and Managers’ Association (POMA) have enlisted the services of Schindlers Attorneys to serve a Letter of Demand (LOD) on City Manager Trevor Fowler of The City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality, Johannesburg Water, City Power and Mayor Parks Tau, following the termination of water supply to several buildings in the CBD.

Photo: The billing crisis has now reached the point where water is being cut off to buildings where payments are in dispute 
 

Lu by Lolita in Joburg CBD

Lu by Lolita has arrived in Johannesburg. The leading South American fashion label, which has stores in more than 10 countries, offers high-end ladies fashion, shoes and accessories boasting exquisite colours and fabrics for the modern woman.

The clothes have a strong South American flare combining sophistication with fun in an extensive selection of both casual and formal wear. With the synergy of the seasons and cultures between the two countries the ranges arrive at the right time and are in line with global trends.

Photo: A new shopping experience in Joburg CBD is now provided by Lu by Lolita, on Fox Street

Joburg turns 125

In commemorating, celebrating and recognizing the milestone of Joburg turning 125 years old, the City of Johannesburg created the ‘Joburg 125-year Experience Centre’.

The exhibition centre was built at Museum Africa in Newtown and launched on 19 November.

Photo: It's been 125 years since the first gold miners arrived on the Witwatersrand and began setting up the rudimentary city known as Johannesburg

Billing crisis gets serious

One of the most persistent features of the two year long, City of Johannesburg Billing Crisis, has been the inability of the City to collect sufficient revenue from its customers to meet its operating costs.

At the most recent meeting of the City’s multiparty Finance Committee, reports emanating from the City’s Revenue Department indicate that the City’s level of revenue collection from customers billed only sits at an average of 87, 9% over the past 12 months. The City is required to collect 94% of all revenue billed to meet its budgeted expenses. “This 6% shortfall in revenue collection is extremely worrying” said Councillor Patrick Atkinson: Shadow Finance MMC – City of Johannesburg. “At these levels the City will have to cut back further on the already reduced services it is offering its residents.”

Photo: Some residents have become so frustrated by not being able to sort out their billing problem, they are contemplating suicide!

Tau's honeymoon is over

Joburg waited long and remarkably patiently for its former mayor, Amos Masondo, to depart after the local government elections earlier this year.
 
He had been foisted upon the city by the ruling African National Congress as a reward for internal party work.
 
His two terms will be remembered for increasing administrative chaos and poor maintenance of the city’s infrastructure.

Photo: Parks Tau (left) has made many promises since taking over from Amos Masondo as mayor; will he deliver? 

Revamped library to open soon

The historic Johannesburg Public Library has been given a new lease of life, thanks to a multimillion-rand renovation.

The building, on the corner of Market and Fraser streets, has undergone a R93.5 million refurbishment and is set to open to the public early next year. It’s been closed since 2009 for the restoration.

Photo: The exquisitie entrance foyer of the revamped Johannesburg Public Library includes escalators

Joburg struggling to gain carbon credits

Joburg mayor Parks Tau complains about the long-winded, bureaucratic process the city has been forced to follow after applying for carbon credits for two projects, one of which was the Reya Vaya bus rapid transit (BRT) system.

Mr Tau’s complaint is a practical example of many of the criticisms of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) market, which has been criticised worldwide for being cumbersome. Its future is to be discussed at the United Nations (UN) climate change talks starting in Durban at the end of the month.

Photo: Joburg rates well for being “green” against other African cities, but against first world cities it may not do so well. For example, the City only recycles 5% of its waste

Foam homes

Recycled houses, which cost between R300 000 and R450 000, are being built using fine ash from Sasol’s waste products in the coalfields of Secunda, which is mixed with cement to form a rich foam held together by a polymeric binder, instead of the conventional brick and mortar.

Joburg’s flagship mixed income settlement, Cosmo City, in the northwest, has been chosen as a launch pad for the pilot project of these affordable houses, made from mining and manufacturing by-products.

Photo: Cosmo City is where the new foam houses are being built, which are superior to conventional homes in many respects

Green fund launched in Joburg

Anglo Zimele, the enterprise development arm of mining giant Anglo American, has launched a R100-million ‘green’ investment fund in Johannesburg. The fund would target investment opportunities that mitigate carbon emissions, reduce energy and water consumption, as well as improve waste and emissions management.

It would also focus on developing and funding small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that promote and develop environmentally sustainable projects.
 

Photo:  Zimele MD Nick van Rensburg says the SMEs that promote environmentally sustainable projects will get help from the green fund

Citichat is back!

Citichat is back! Urban Genesis Management is excited to announce that we have entered into a joint venture with Neil Fraser to produce Citichat.

For some news on Joburg from Neil, who has a real wealth of knowledge about the City, click on:

http://www.citichat.co.za/2011/11/citichat-november-2011.html

Photo: The man himself! Neil knows Joburg backwards and his chats are both informative and amusing

Placemaking experts share knowledge

Placemaking is more than just a fashionable buzzword of the moment. The concept of placemaking has numerous definitions that all speak to making public places that work.

For one week in November local delegates were treated to a one day seminar and three days of training with placemaking leaders, Project for Public Spaces (PPS).

Photo:  Liana Strydom (COJ), Alan Dinnie (JPC), Patrick Mochocho (COJ), Cynthia Nikitin (PPS), Elena Madison (PPS) and Sharon Lewis (JDA) at the Orlando Towers, during the placemaking seminar conducted by PPS

Public Art Conference

Attached is a summary provided by The Trinity Session of Joburg's first Public Art Conference, which took place on the weekend of 11-13 November. Click on the link to read this article: Johannesburg's 1st Public Art Conference

Katie Engelbrecht from Urban Genesis Management said: “This was an incredibly insightful seminar, and it was really exciting to see all the public artworks around Johannesburg.”

For more information, contact Zunelle Breytenbach of The Trinity Session at 011 022 3202 or email: zc@onair.co.za 
 
Photo: This public artwork by Mpho Molikeng can be found in Donald Mackay Park in Hillbrow

Christmas cheer

If you are in the CBD over the Christmas period, head to Main Street to check out the Christmas decorations done by Anglo American, including a beautiful, bright Santa sleigh being pulled by the famous Ernest Oppenheimer Impala statue.

Main Street is located in the South Western Improvement District.

Photo: Santa's sleigh is pulled by a string of leaping impala on the brightly decorated Main Street

Inside Joburg

Inside Joburg is a book really designed for tourists, but will be of interest to residents of the city as well.
 
It speaks of ancient beginnings and the gold rush, it tells of museums, shopping, green spaces, best food, markets, live entertainment, day drives and mini-breaks.

It suggests an itinerary for people with only one day to spend in Joburg and things to add if one has more time.

Photo: Inside Joburg will inform the reader of what is outside Joburg as well