Johannesburg’s revival: Crime hub to comeback city

The scene is luxurious from the top of the Ponte Tower, one of the most famous buildings in the South African city of Johannesburg.

Built in 1975, about 200 meters (656 ft) tall, it is a long -established feature of the city’s horizon, once the tallest residential building in Africa.

But like the city, it had ups and downs. In the 1980s it was taken by criminal gangs, and its hollow core was filled with deep rough rough.

“The building was kidnapped. There were no utilities, so most people were actually throwing their garbage inside the building, until it reached the 14th floor,” said Dillite Sithol, said, which drives the building tourism.

He said: “There were some bodies here, illegal firearms, drugs. Smell, I am sure it was just terrible, just liked it really, on the earth on hell.

“If you ask someone what happens in that round building, then someone will have something interesting or scary to say about it,” said Sifisso Zikhali, who works in an organization called Dalla Neje with Mr. Sithol. Does, which means “Just Play” in Zulu.

“People were scared of the neighborhood,” he said.

Johannesburg was seen as one of the most dangerous cities in the world.

But in view of the Hosted FIFA World Cup in South Africa, the building changed itself about 15 years ago, and people started going back inside.

After Kovid, people returned and the building is now about three-fourths.

Johannesburg, and South Africa, is not survived by facial issues.

Despite the signs of improvement in the most recent figures, crime is still a major issue.

Cripping power cuts that have plagued the city over the years, known as load-shheding, ended about a year ago, but now a water crisis is decreasing, left without many .

The fire of a building in the Central Business District (CBD) killed about 80 people in winter of 2023, and exposed the issue of kidnapped buildings, highlighted housing and apartment blocks, which have been taken by criminal gangs Let’s accuse them to live there.

It is an area revived by a property company called Ethemba, which is Zulu for “Asha”. And this is a company that is watching the business in Johannesburg.

A few days later, on a visit to one of Iteba’s major residential development, senior manager called Jewel City, Alan Tat Turnaround.

“Demand is just unprecedented, and this demand is especially to stay in CBD,” he said.

He said that the company currently lease 7,200 properties and is expected to double in the next two years.

In the name of its origin as a diamond dealing district, Ponte fell into the area in the area like building, only to see a revival.

He said, “We launched Jewel City about five years ago, as Kovid was hitting. So the time was a little outside. But as soon as Kovid got up, the buildings were filled very quickly,” he said.

As we are near the edge of development, it indicates a long strip of lights under a flyover. They were placed to provide light in an area that was dark for some time, roughly loadsheding affected the city.

It was part of an initiative by a group called Joseimizoji, which began in 2023. Nelson Mandela Bridge, one of its first projects, was to lighten a focal point of the city, which meant that people were found to be safe to use once again.

“So the entire purpose of Jozimijoji is to bring back hope to the residents of the city,” said the CEO of the organization, in the courtyard behind its office north of the city, the CEO of the organization.

“And by bringing back Asha, we need to show some visual improvements and impressive projects so that they can see and where there are jobs.”

The group also launched the Gateway Project, which tries to clean the ten main entrances of the city, and has started dealing with everything from pits to homeless to education.

Can Johannesburg speak like London, Paris or New York?

“Well, that’s intended,” said Ms. Swanpoel. “Whatever is happening in Jobberg is due to the perceptions. We have to go a long way. I mean there is no doubt about it, but it is not impossible. It is not impossible. We get up there and get up there and cities of Africa There is a need to be the standard of gold.

The city is going to host G20 later this year, which will attract new investment and attention on the city.

Back to the 51st floor of the pontte tower, the syphiso gaze out of the zikhali window.

Do they think Dlala Nje is succeeding in his mission?

“Yes, we are, because one of our biggest challenges was to bring people to come here. We are now one of the top attractions in the city. This is our city, and whatever we face, we are The end needs to find a solution, “he said.