Johannesburg

Overview

Jo'burg, the capital of the region Gauteng, is a fascinating city with a modern centre, combining its ways with the older surroundings.

It is a very modern city by African standards but it does not hold many attractions for tourists. Sights in Johannesburg include the new Museum Africa which offers an honest and self-critical look at the nation's sometimes troubled past and the Market Theater Complex which houses theaters and a Saturday flea market.

History buffs will be interested in the Smuts Library at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits University) where South African statesman Jan Smuts' book collection is preserved. The university's Gubbins Library has an extensive collection of books on Africa.

Negotiate with a taxi driver to give you an impromptu tour through Jo'burg's neighborhoods he'll take you past some large and impressive mansions hidden behind imposing security (home security is big business in South Africa). Yeoville was a funky neighborhood but today it has deteriorated along the lines of the former hip nightspot Hillbrow and is, in honesty, a bit of a pit.

Tours are easily arranged in Johannesburg for those interested in visiting the black suburb of Soweto (the name is an abbreviation of Southwestern Townships). The tours begin with the ultramodern township hospital and continue through all types of neighborhoods ranging from shanty towns and worker's hostels to the modern home of Nelson Mandela (he lived there for only a short while upon his release from prison). The tour also includes Mandela's earlier and more humble home where he...more

History

Gold was discovered in the Johannesburg region in 1886, setting off a mass migration of people to Johannesburg to try their luck at finding gold. The new settlement they created was named by two men: Johannes Meyer and Johannes Rissik. Johannesburg has a population of 3.2 million persons (South African 2001 census), half of which live in Soweto and adjacent suburbs. Africans form an overwhelming majority of 2.4 million residents (mostly concentrated in Soweto), while whites represent 500,000 residents (although the number is likely to be higher) and 300,000 coloured and asian residents. Unlike other South African cities, no language group dominates, although English is the established lingua franca. The city is the economic hub of South Africa, and increasingly for the rest of Africa. Although estimates vary, about 10% of sub-Saharan Africa's GDP is generated in Johannesburg. Yet the city is also one of the most unequal in the world. Its riches are not evenly divided upon its people and the city is an interesting contrast between the First World and Third World. The contrast between rich and poor has led to one of the highest crime rates in the world. The haves tend to live in houses with a high level of security by western standards, whilst the have nots live in shacks or cheap housing. The traveller should not avoid Johannesburg because of its crime, since it is possible to have a safe and enjoyable stay if precautions are taken. Many South Africans elect to live here over other, safer parts of the country. Throughout the city, mine dumps are a reminder of the city's legacy of gold mining. These dumps are fast disappearing as new gold extraction techniques have made it profitable for mining companies to reprocess these dumps. There are many things that are unique to Johannesburg. It features a distinct street entrepreneurship, and motorists are able to buy almost anything from vendors selling goods at traffic lights. This includes food, umbrellas, soccer balls, cellular phone accessories and many other goods. Barber shops consisting of nothing but a chair and an enthusiastic barber can be found on the sides of roads, although they tend to specialise in African rather than Caucasoid hair. Johannesburg is amongst the world's largest man-made urban forests. The city is certainly one of the greenest...more