Johannesburg – City of Gold

You can easily get caught up in the hype that Johannesburg, or Joburg as it’s affectionately called, is a dangerous city. Like all large cities it has a high rate of crime and homeless people on the streets. The inner CBD is a no-go zone, but the rest of the city is relatively safe to walk around.

During my two day stay in Joburg, I never felt unsafe. In fact I found the city to be green, leafy and full of character with many interesting things to do and see. But the most intriguing part of my visit was to learn about the era of Apartheid and how this impacted on this nation.

History of Johannesburg

The city was founded by the British in 1886 following the discovery of gold in the hilly terrain. It soon became a thriving tent town with mines popping up all over the city. The region became the battleground of the Anglo-Boer War from 1899 to 1902, caused by a fight over the rich gold resources.

From the beginning, the population of Joburg was separated by race, with Europeans living in the more affluent areas, whilst Africans lived in slums or shanty towns. Black Africans were also forced to accept whatever wage white people were willing to offer. 

In 1910, the Union of South Africa became a self-governing dominion within the British Empire. By the 1930s and 1940s, Johannesburg underwent mass migrations of African people into the urban areas. Soon after, the new government implemented Apartheid and enforced the Group Areas Act of 1950 to forcibly relocate black African people to different parts of the city.

Eventually after many strikes and protests, led by Nelson Mandela, it was clear that Apartheid could no longer be sustained. By the late 1980s, negotiations began dismantling the system and transitioning South Africa to majority rule. The fall of Apartheid and the government election of 1994 heralded a new era for South Africa. There was no longer segregation of races.

Johannesburg Today

Joburg is the largest city in South Africa and the country’s economic centre, with a population of 5 million people. It is located in the eastern highlands of South Africa at an altitude of 1,753 meters above sea level. It mainly has a very dry climate but due to the plantation of thousands of trees by the British colonisers, it looks green.

Whilst Joburg is utilised as the starting point for a South African holiday, with it’s international airport and upmarket hotels, it also has a lot to offer as a tourist destination. I recommend spending at least two days here to see all it has to offer.

Johannesburg is the perfect place for history buffs wanting to learn about the history of the country and Apartheid. I found it extremely interesting and enthralling with it’s tragic past of racial segregation and enforced slavery.

These days Joburg or Jozi, is a diverse cultural melting pot featuring exclusive boutiques in upmarket malls, theatres, museums, cultural villages, restaurants, and glorious indigenous gardens. This city really captivated me.

Things to Do and See in Johannesburg

During my two day stay in Joburg, I decided to jump aboard the “hop on, hop off” red bus. This bus covered a lot of territory and you can easily spend the entire day seeing the sights of the city and the surrounding suburbs.

The main highlights of the “hop on, hop off” bus were:

• Melrose Arch – an inner city precinct with lovely restaurants, shops and outdoor spaces.

• The Nelson Mandela Foundation in the upmarket suburb of Haughton and a drive past Nelson Mandela’s former residence here.

• Munro Drive viewpoint with panoramic views of the city.

• Drive through the CBD.

• Constitution Hill – a former fort and gaol.

• Drive through the financial precinct of the city.

• The mining district.

• Gold Reef City Casino and Theme Park.

• Apartheid Museum.

• Newtown and the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre.
• Braamfontein – Playground Market and arts precinct.

• Holocaust & Genocide Centre.
• Johannesburg Zoo and Military Museum.

• The exclusive suburb of Rosebank.

Soweto

On my second day in Joburg I set off with my tour to Soweto (South West Townships), located around 30 minutes drive out of the city. This city was created during Apartheid when black Africans were relocated here by the government to segregate them from the white people. It was also the home of Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu.

Our tour leader took us to Lebo’s Soweto Backpackers where we were treated to a traditional lunch and some entertainment. Afterwards we were driven around in a tuk tuk touring the city, taking us through a slum area where the conditions were impoverished. We were then taken to the site of the 1976 school strike where students from schools marched into the city centre to protest about Afrikaans being taught in their schools. 176 protesting students were shot dead by the police and the spot is marked by a memorial and museum.

Lastly, we went to Nelson Mandela’s former home in Soweto, where he lived for many years in a small house. Other landmarks in Soweto are the Orlando Towers and Orlando Stadium, where the 2010 FIFA World Cup teams trained.

Rosebank

My accommodation for three nights in Joburg was at the Holiday Inn Rosebank. It was well located in this affluent neigbourhood right next door to The Zone@Rosebank, a large shopping mall and the Gautrain.

The views from my hotel room looked out over the urban spread of the city and treed suburbs. Rosebank is renowned for trendy cafes, world class restaurants, markets, luxurious hotels, cinemas, art galleries as well as night clubs.

I discovered that the city of Johannesburg revealed a lot of heart. It is not only modern and progressive, but has much beauty in it’s treed and leafy suburbs. It is possibly the best place to begin your South African journey to get a glimpse into the tragic past of it’s indigenous people and the struggles they survived to gain freedom.