The Death of The Death of JohannesburJohannesbur

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• Illustrating the collapse and physical destruction Illustrating the collapse and physical destruction of Johannesburg in the "New South Africa" -- the of Johannesburg in the "New South Africa" -- the

things that tourists are NOT told about. things that tourists are NOT told about.    

This is What Remains of the Wits Drill Hall…. This is What Remains of the Wits Drill Hall…. When the Queen of England visited South Africa When the Queen of England visited South Africa in 1947, the official reception for her was held at in 1947, the official reception for her was held at

the Wits Drill Hall, 95 Anderson Street . the Wits Drill Hall, 95 Anderson Street . For decades, the Wits Drill Hall was a famous For decades, the Wits Drill Hall was a famous venue and even a tourist attraction in central venue and even a tourist attraction in central

Johannesburg . Johannesburg . The following pictures and commentary: The following pictures and commentary: "95 "95

Anderson Str, Joburg CBD has been like this for a Anderson Str, Joburg CBD has been like this for a at least a year. The Council has been informed at least a year. The Council has been informed

and told us that they will be using it for and told us that they will be using it for Emergency Services but it's still standing (or Emergency Services but it's still standing (or

barely)."barely)."

• Bree Street, Johannesburg, Where Gold Bree Street, Johannesburg, Where Gold (Used) to Lie in the Street, Now, it's Just (Used) to Lie in the Street, Now, it's Just

Rubbish Rubbish

• Bree Street is one of the main Bree Street is one of the main thoroughfares running through the city thoroughfares running through the city

centre of Johannesburg, from east to west. centre of Johannesburg, from east to west. It runs right through the CBD, and used to It runs right through the CBD, and used to be one of the major economic centre's, as be one of the major economic centre's, as

well as being a residential area. well as being a residential area.

• Today, as you can see, it is a slum, another Today, as you can see, it is a slum, another shattered, filthy, ruined monument to the shattered, filthy, ruined monument to the

"New South Africa ." "New South Africa ."

A Visit to A Visit to Yeoville Yeoville

• Yeoville was one of the 'trendiest' Yeoville was one of the 'trendiest' places in Johannesburg . Its main places in Johannesburg . Its main

thoroughfare, Rockey Street, was the thoroughfare, Rockey Street, was the place for a very late night out, and place for a very late night out, and

here one could find an eclectic mix of here one could find an eclectic mix of exotic shops, dining establishments, exotic shops, dining establishments, clubs and who knows what all else, if clubs and who knows what all else, if

you really looked.you really looked.

And today? Well, let's let the And today? Well, let's let the pictures do the talking. My visit to pictures do the talking. My visit to

Yeoville: Yeoville:

Corner of Raymond and Rockey Corner of Raymond and Rockey Streets, Yeoville. This used to be quite Streets, Yeoville. This used to be quite a famous restaurant, I can't recall its a famous restaurant, I can't recall its name offhand, but I am sure it was name offhand, but I am sure it was

MMama'sama's. .

All that remains of the South Street All that remains of the South Street cafe, Bellevue East, Yeoville. It's still cafe, Bellevue East, Yeoville. It's still open, but I didn't venture too close open, but I didn't venture too close

because of what appeared to be because of what appeared to be sewerage in the gutter, which really sewerage in the gutter, which really

put me off a bit. put me off a bit.

The corner of Rockey and The corner of Rockey and Bezuidenhout Streets, Yeoville. There Bezuidenhout Streets, Yeoville. There used to be a late night takeaway on used to be a late night takeaway on this corner. It was a Kentucky Fried this corner. It was a Kentucky Fried Chicken once upon a time as well. Chicken once upon a time as well.

Looking down Bezuidenhout Street Looking down Bezuidenhout Street towards Rockey Street .towards Rockey Street .

A little further A little further up up

Bezuidenhout Bezuidenhout Street ... Street ...

The BP Garage on the north corner of The BP Garage on the north corner of the major Rockey and Bezuidenhout the major Rockey and Bezuidenhout

Street intersection. One of two petrol Street intersection. One of two petrol stations in Rockey Road , both closed stations in Rockey Road , both closed

down due to being continuously down due to being continuously robbed out of business. It was robbed out of business. It was

confirmed that the last owner of this confirmed that the last owner of this petrol station was shot dead with an petrol station was shot dead with an AK-47 during a robbery. The station AK-47 during a robbery. The station

was just abandoned, hence the was just abandoned, hence the pump's pipes hang loosely there, pump's pipes hang loosely there, normally BP would take their stuff normally BP would take their stuff

away. away. (Next slide)(Next slide)

A typical gutted house, corner of A typical gutted house, corner of Muller and Bezuidenhout Streets. Muller and Bezuidenhout Streets. Even the roof has been stolen. Even the roof has been stolen.

Smashed apartments, Saunders Road Yeoville. Currently inhabited by

squatters. The stench is unbelievable.

Inhabited house, lower Rockey Street , Inhabited house, lower Rockey Street , towards Observatory. ALL of the towards Observatory. ALL of the

houses here look like this. I recall that houses here look like this. I recall that the chief photographer for Associated the chief photographer for Associated Press in 1990 telling me how happy he Press in 1990 telling me how happy he was to be buying a house here, and he was to be buying a house here, and he looked at me all funny when I told him looked at me all funny when I told him I didn't think it was a good idea. Like I didn't think it was a good idea. Like all “good” liberals, he has probably all “good” liberals, he has probably

since voted with his feet. since voted with his feet. (next slide)(next slide)

Typical filthy apartment block, Typical filthy apartment block, Pope Street. Pope Street.

Street scene, Dunbar Street . Taken Street scene, Dunbar Street . Taken from my car while moving, as by now I from my car while moving, as by now I had attracted attention and was being had attracted attention and was being

followed by an aggressive group of followed by an aggressive group of locals. It was time to leave Yeoville. locals. It was time to leave Yeoville.

Joel Street , Joel Street , Berea . Berea .

ApartmentsApartments, Olivia , Olivia Street , Street , Berea Berea

Apartments, Apartments, cnr. Lily Ave cnr. Lily Ave and Olivia and Olivia Street , Street , Berea . Berea .

The ruins of the Sands Hotel, O'Reilly The ruins of the Sands Hotel, O'Reilly Street , Hillbrow. Street , Hillbrow.

The main entrance to the Sands Hotel, The main entrance to the Sands Hotel, O'Reilly Street , Hillbrow -- or rather O'Reilly Street , Hillbrow -- or rather should I say the ruins of the Sands should I say the ruins of the Sands

Hotel main entrance Hotel main entrance

The ruins of the Mark Hotel , O'Reilly The ruins of the Mark Hotel , O'Reilly Road , Hillbrow. Incredible to think I Road , Hillbrow. Incredible to think I

actually stayed there while on holiday actually stayed there while on holiday in 1984. in 1984.

A close-up of A close-up of the ruins of the ruins of

the Mark Hotel the Mark Hotel , O'Reilly , O'Reilly

Road , Road , Hillbrow. Hillbrow.

The corner of Catherine and Esselin The corner of Catherine and Esselin Streets, Hillbrow. Trash is just Streets, Hillbrow. Trash is just

everywhere, and the whole place everywhere, and the whole place really does stink to high heaven. really does stink to high heaven.

The main entrance to the old Hillbrow The main entrance to the old Hillbrow Squash Centre, Pretoria Street . The Squash Centre, Pretoria Street . The

escalators have long since been escalators have long since been smashed, and the one on the right is smashed, and the one on the right is

in such poor condition that it is in such poor condition that it is dangerous, hence it has been blocked dangerous, hence it has been blocked

with an old car bonnet.with an old car bonnet.

Smashed block, claiming to be home Smashed block, claiming to be home to a High School, corner Pretoria and to a High School, corner Pretoria and

Quartz Streets. Quartz Streets.

Parkview Apartment block, Lily Ave , Parkview Apartment block, Lily Ave , Berea . Fairly typical state of the Berea . Fairly typical state of the

buildings in the suburb today. buildings in the suburb today. Inhabited.Inhabited.

A side view of the Parkview Apartment A side view of the Parkview Apartment block, showing the equally typical block, showing the equally typical

street scene. What baffles me is the street scene. What baffles me is the constant filth everywhere, even when constant filth everywhere, even when trash cans are available, as one can trash cans are available, as one can

see in the picture.see in the picture.

The bricked up remains of the The bricked up remains of the Hatikvah Delicatessen, one of Hatikvah Delicatessen, one of

Hillbrow's more famous Jewish delis. Hillbrow's more famous Jewish delis. Catherine Ave.Catherine Ave.

Burnt out and Burnt out and gutted gutted

apartments, apartments, Catherine Catherine Street , Street ,

Hillbrow Hillbrow

Corner Soper and Catherine Roads, Corner Soper and Catherine Roads, Hillbrow. Fairly typical street scene. Hillbrow. Fairly typical street scene.

A gutted and A gutted and bricked up bricked up building, building,

corner Claim corner Claim and Kotze and Kotze Streets, Streets,

Hillbrow. Hillbrow.

Gutted Gutted building and building and

ruined ruined furniture furniture

store, corner store, corner Edith Cavell Edith Cavell and Kotze and Kotze Streets, Streets,

Hillbrow. No Hillbrow. No more more Big Big

DealsDeals, in fact , in fact no deals at all. no deals at all.

A close-up of the bricked up A close-up of the bricked up Big Big DealsDeals.... ....

The Nedbank Plaza and the ruins of The Nedbank Plaza and the ruins of the Cafe Zurich, formerly a great late the Cafe Zurich, formerly a great late

night hangout which used to serve the night hangout which used to serve the most wonderful Black Forest cake... most wonderful Black Forest cake...

Pretoria Street , Hillbrow Pretoria Street , Hillbrow

The gutted The gutted ruins of the ruins of the

Nedbank Plaza Nedbank Plaza and the Cafe and the Cafe

Zurich, Zurich, Pretoria Street Pretoria Street

. .

The Ruins of Cafe Zurich, Pretoria The Ruins of Cafe Zurich, Pretoria Street , another view. Street , another view.

The Harrison Reef Hotel....or what The Harrison Reef Hotel....or what remains of it, rather. remains of it, rather.

The entrance The entrance to the to the

Highpoint Highpoint "shopping "shopping centre" on centre" on

Pretoria Street Pretoria Street , as it looks , as it looks today. Note today. Note the totally the totally

gutted gutted building on building on

the right. This the right. This seems to be a seems to be a

common common pattern pattern

throughout throughout the area. the area.

The Highpoint apartment block: back The Highpoint apartment block: back in the 1980s, it was in the 1980s, it was the the place to stay place to stay -- if you had an apartment there, you -- if you had an apartment there, you really had arrived. Very popular with really had arrived. Very popular with the rich students at Wits University , the rich students at Wits University ,

it was... it was...

A close-up of a few of the windows in A close-up of a few of the windows in Highpoint today. Highpoint today.

The destroyed building on the corner The destroyed building on the corner of Claim and Pretoria Streets, of Claim and Pretoria Streets,

Hillbrow. Peter Rose used to publish Hillbrow. Peter Rose used to publish the Hillbrow Herald from this the Hillbrow Herald from this

building...I wonder what happened to building...I wonder what happened to him? him?

A close-up A close-up of the of the

corner of corner of Claim and Claim and Pretoria Pretoria Streets. Streets.

There used There used to be a to be a dance dance

studio and a studio and a fancy fancy

fashion fashion outfitters outfitters there... I there... I

recall it was recall it was too too

expensive expensive for me (mid for me (mid

1980s). 1980s).

Anyone remember buying records at Anyone remember buying records at the Hillbrow Record Centre, Pretoria the Hillbrow Record Centre, Pretoria

Street , Hillbrow? Well you can't Street , Hillbrow? Well you can't anymore. It's boarded and barred up, anymore. It's boarded and barred up,

like many shops in the area. like many shops in the area.

Anyone remember the Anyone remember the Milky LaneMilky Lane milkshake shop above Hillbrow Record milkshake shop above Hillbrow Record

Centre? Well, it's also gone, long Centre? Well, it's also gone, long time.... time....

Street scene, Street scene, Pretoria Road . Pretoria Road . Formerly one Formerly one of the main of the main shopping shopping roads in roads in

Hillbrow. The Hillbrow. The mattresses mattresses

and blankets and blankets are from locals are from locals who sleep in who sleep in the streets. the streets.

Burnt out Apartment block, Goldriech Burnt out Apartment block, Goldriech Street , Hillbrow Street , Hillbrow

Apartments, Apartments, cnr. Claim cnr. Claim

and Van der and Van der Merwe Merwe streets, streets,

Hillbrow. Hillbrow.

Goldreich Street Apartments, Goldreich Street Apartments, Hillbrow Hillbrow

A car wash? Just mind the rubbish. A car wash? Just mind the rubbish. Lower Claim Street , Hillbrow. Lower Claim Street , Hillbrow.

Apartment Apartment dwellers, dwellers,

Claim Street , Claim Street , Joubert Park , Joubert Park ,

central central Johannesburg Johannesburg

Apartments, Apartments, Berea , north Berea , north

eastern eastern Johannesburg Johannesburg

The Rosa Hotel , Berea : boarded up The Rosa Hotel , Berea : boarded up and abandoned, but broken into by and abandoned, but broken into by

squatters and now occupied. squatters and now occupied.

The Ruins of The Ruins of JohannesburJohannesbur

g . . g . .

Jeppe, east Johannesburg , Jeppe, east Johannesburg , inhabited houses inhabited houses

Jeppe, east Johannesburg , Jeppe, east Johannesburg , inhabited housesinhabited houses

Need a haircut? Jeppe, east Need a haircut? Jeppe, east Johannesburg, inhabited houses Johannesburg, inhabited houses

Jeppe, east Johannesburg, inhabited Jeppe, east Johannesburg, inhabited houses houses

Bree Street, Central JohannesburgBree Street, Central Johannesburg

The Chelsea Hotel , Hillbrow: a The Chelsea Hotel , Hillbrow: a formerly popular hotel, now boarded formerly popular hotel, now boarded

up up

"Air "Air conditioned conditioned apartments" apartments" Berea , north Berea , north

east east Johannesburg Johannesburg

  Location:   Location: Awful Awful

Johannesburg , Johannesburg , Hellhole of Hellhole of Gauteng Gauteng

The Three Castles Building , Marshall The Three Castles Building , Marshall Street Street

It was once a famous Marshall Street , It was once a famous Marshall Street , Johannesburg landmark, now it's just Johannesburg landmark, now it's just

another ruin... another ruin...

The View From the Gauteng The View From the Gauteng Legislature Building Legislature Building

It's a funny thing, the New South It's a funny thing, the New South Africa . After taking over the old Africa . After taking over the old

Johannesburg City Hall complex and Johannesburg City Hall complex and turning it into the legislative assembly turning it into the legislative assembly

for the new 'Gauteng' province for the new 'Gauteng' province (essentially the old Witwatersrand (essentially the old Witwatersrand

region), presumably to make it pride region), presumably to make it pride of place for the province, they seemed of place for the province, they seemed

to have forgotten what is all around to have forgotten what is all around them.. When one stands directly in them.. When one stands directly in

front of the Legislature building, this front of the Legislature building, this is the view one has to the north (note is the view one has to the north (note

the flagpoles!) the flagpoles!)

A close-up of A close-up of the view:the view:

this is view one has to the east, or this is view one has to the east, or directly in front of you (the old Rissik directly in front of you (the old Rissik

Street Post Office. In 2003, the Street Post Office. In 2003, the building, which has been empty since building, which has been empty since 1996, had its clock hands, bell and the 1996, had its clock hands, bell and the

entire copper dome stolen.) Below, entire copper dome stolen.) Below, some close-ups; some close-ups;

This is the This is the view one has view one has to the south, I to the south, I think it was a think it was a department department store in the store in the

'bad" old days, 'bad" old days, but now it's but now it's just another just another empty ruin, empty ruin,

partially partially occupied by occupied by squatters.squatters.

Joubert Park Joubert Park Joubert Park was one of the first open Joubert Park was one of the first open spaces for Johannesburg's inner city, spaces for Johannesburg's inner city,

proclaimed in 1906 but planned in proclaimed in 1906 but planned in 1887 and named after Boer War hero, 1887 and named after Boer War hero,

Commandant-General PJ Joubert. It Commandant-General PJ Joubert. It used to be a place where the city used to be a place where the city

council put up Christmas lights, where council put up Christmas lights, where choirs would sing Christmas carols . . . choirs would sing Christmas carols . . .

nowadays it's just a slum with nowadays it's just a slum with squatters living there... squatters living there...

First, a picture from the Old South First, a picture from the Old South Africa , showing what Joubert Park Africa , showing what Joubert Park

USED to look like...USED to look like...

And then what it looks like today:And then what it looks like today:

All pictures taken from the Twist All pictures taken from the Twist Street side.Street side.

All pictures taken from the Twist All pictures taken from the Twist Street side.Street side.

The The Vanishing Vanishing

Impala Impala

Oppenheimer Park, situated Oppenheimer Park, situated between President and between President and Pritchard Streets, was a Pritchard Streets, was a pleasant green spot in pleasant green spot in between the high rise between the high rise

commercial blocks of the old commercial blocks of the old Johannesburg . Its central Johannesburg . Its central

feature was a fountain, over feature was a fountain, over which leapt a stunning piece which leapt a stunning piece

of sculpture: a series of of sculpture: a series of Impala, all linked. The statue Impala, all linked. The statue

was so marvelous that it was a was so marvelous that it was a tourist attraction in the official tourist attraction in the official

guides to Johannesburg .guides to Johannesburg .

Here is what it looked like Here is what it looked like then: then:

By the late 1990s, By the late 1990s, Oppenheimer Park had been Oppenheimer Park had been trashed by the New South trashed by the New South

Africa . Bits of the statue were Africa . Bits of the statue were stolen by being hack sawed stolen by being hack sawed off, probably to be sold as off, probably to be sold as scrap metal. Finally, the scrap metal. Finally, the

inevitable happened, and the inevitable happened, and the entire statue was stolen, entire statue was stolen,

hacked off its pedestal. On the hacked off its pedestal. On the pictures below, the original pictures below, the original mountings can still be seen. mountings can still be seen.

The council has placed a table The council has placed a table where the statues and where the statues and fountain used to be.fountain used to be.