From the center of the crime of South Africa to the city

The view is spectacular from the top of the Ponte tower, one of the most famous buildings in the South African city of Johannesburg.

Built in 1975, with almost 200 meters (656 feet) high, it has long established a characteristic of the city’s horizon, once the highest residential building in Africa.

But like the city, it has had its ups and downs. In the 1980s it was taken by criminal gangs, and its hollow nucleus full of garbage up to 50 m deep.

“The building was kidnapped. There were no public services, so most people really threw their garbage inside the building, until it reached the 14th floor,” said Delight Sithole, who performs tours of the building.

He added: “There were some bodies here, illegal firearms, drugs. The smell, I am sure it was simply horrible, just like, hell on earth.

“If I asked someone what happens in that round building, someone would have something interesting or scary to say about it,” said Sifiso Zikhali, who works with Mr. Sithole in an organization called Dlala Nje, which means “just play “In Zulu.

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

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

But the building turned 15 years ago following the FIFA World Cup organized in South Africa, and people began to move back.

After Covid, people returned and the building is now full of three quarters.

You cannot escape the problems that Johannesburg and South Africa face.

Despite the signs of improvement in the most recent statistics, crime remains an important problem.

The paralyzing energy clippings that affected the city for years, known as cargo shedding, came to an end almost a year ago, but now a water crisis is coming, leaving many without it.

A firefire in the Central Business District (CBD) killed almost 80 people in the winter of 2023, and presented the issue of kidnapped buildings, disuse home and apartments that have been assumed by criminal gangs that They charge people to live there.

This is an area that has been regenerated by a real estate company called Ithemba, which is Zulu for “hope.” And it is a company that is seeing booming business in Johannesburg.

A few days later, on a tour of one of Itemba’s flagship residential developments called Jewel City, Senior Alan Tait manager explains the change.

“Demand is simply phenomenal, and that demand is specifically living in the CDB,” he said.

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

The name of its origins as a diamond traffic district, such as the Ponte building, the area fell into poor condition, only to see a resurgence.

“We launched Jewel City about five years ago, just when Covid was hitting. So the moment was a bit out. But as soon as Covid built, the buildings were filled quite fast,” he said.

As we approach the edge of development, it points out a long strip of lights under a high step. They were put to provide light in an area that had been dark for some time, in large part because the loading breeding affected the city.

He was part of an initiative of a group called Jozimyjozi that began in 2023. One of his first projects was to illuminate the Nelson Mandela bridge, a centerpiece of the city, which meant that people once again seemed safe to use it.

“Then, the entire goal of Jozimyjozi is to return hope to the city’s residents,” said Bea Swanepoel, CEO of the organization, in the courtyard behind his office in Rosebank, north of the city center.

“And when bringing back the hope, we need to show some visible improvements and shock And where there are jobs. ”

The group also launched the Gateway project, an effort to clean the ten main tickets to the city, and have begun to address everything from potholes, to the lack of housing and education.

Could you speak of Johannesburg one day like London, Paris or New York?

“Well, that’s the intention,” said Swanepoel. “Much of what is happening in Joburg is due to perceptions. We have a long way to go. I mean, there is no doubt about that, but it is not impossible. We need to get there and be the gold standard for the cities of Africa

The city will be the host of the G20 at the end of this year, which will bring a new investment and attention to the city.

Back on the 51st floor of the Ponte tower, Sifiso Zikhali looks out the window.

Do you think Dlala is succeeding in your mission?

“Yes, we are, because one of our greatest challenges was to make people come here. Now we are one of the main attractions of the city. This is our city, and whatever we face, we need in the end to find a solution To do this, “he said.