| | Johannesburg's Decline
I found these two photographs on some post cards I
got hold of. These photos were taken in the 1970's
I'd guess.
I still want to do a much bigger story on the
decline of Johannesburg. But that will come
later.
I'm merely showing these two old photos, especially
the first one. Here you see a lovely sunset of Hillbrow,
in Johannesburg, and the Hillbrow tower, which is
about 50 stories high.
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JOHANNESBURG_HILLBROW_TOWER.JPG |
| | Hillbrow used to be where the nightlife of Johannesburg
was in the 1970's and earlier. The Hillbrow tower is
a major feature of Johannesburg's skyline. Around it are
many buildings in Hillbrow and Berea which are up to
20 stories high.
The Hillbrow tower with its lovely restaurant was a
major tourist attraction. It was closed in the 1980's
because of ANC terrorism, and HAS NEVER BEEN RE-OPENED
TO THE PUBLIC SINCE!!! Its still there, and merely
houses aerials for various communications.
The same is true of the Brixton tower - also in
Johannesburg. Both towers were shut down and never
re-opened again - to this day.
All those buildings you see in this photo around the
Hillbrow tower, are now occupied by blacks. The
entire area has become a slum and a hangout for
prostitutes, drug dealers, etc. It is an extremely
dangerous place. All the businesses and restaurants
which catered for the nightlife and for entertainment
have since closed down. Blocks of flats have been
taken over by blacks and have been vandalised.
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| | I must also tell the story of the Carlton centre
(which is not featured in these photos). The Carlton
Centre is to Johannesburg what the World Trade Centre
was to New York. It is a 50 storey building in the
heart of Johannesburg. Next to it was the 5-star,
Carlton Hotel. It was a business centre. The Carlton
Hotel has since closed down completely. It just stands
there - a 20 storey hotel - closed down, and not in use.
It was once one of the finest hotels in Johannesburg.
The 50 storey Carlton centre office block and underground
shopping mall was recently sold for the pittance of
around R5 million (less than US$1 million!!!). Where in
the world can you buy a 50 storey office block and
shopping centre for that kind of money?? This is how
Johannesburg has deteriorated.
This photo shows the railway tracks leading to Johannesburg
station.
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JOHANNESBURG_RAILWAY_STATION.JPG |
| | The blacks who collect the trash decided to go on strike in
Johannesburg (this was in 2002/3). When they did not get what
they wanted - they went all over the city throwing out garbage
on to the streets and roads. I took this photo one rainy night.
The bright spots are reflections of raindrops on the window of
my car. But the garbage can be seen lying all over the streets.
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JOHANNESBURG_STRIKE.JPG |
| | In the coming months I will do a full story on Johannesburg.
I aim to travel to Hillbrow, etc and will take photos to
illustrate this story further.
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