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| City Guide - Johannesburg - Further Distractions | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Further Distractions Sophiatown Despite the tyranny of Apartheid legislation, such as the Group Areas Act, which, in 1948, banished black people to townships and homelands, some parts of Johannesburg remained gloriously mixed-race until the early 1960s. One such suburb was Sophiatown, which was bulldozed by the authorities and cynically renamed Triomf (Afrikaans for 'triumph'). Sophiatown, which recently received its name back, produced such singing legends as Dorothy Masuka, Sophie Mcina and Abigail Kubeka, inspired a world-famous musical (called Sophiatown) and is still remembered 40 years after its destruction with great passion. The Toby Road home of Dr Alfred Bitini Xuma (who died in 1962), President General of the ANC in the 1940s, is now a National Monument. Christ the King, 47 Ray Street, the tiny, beloved church of late anti-Apartheid stalwart Archbishop Trevor Huddleston, and St Joseph's Home for Children, corner of Gerty and Hermans Streets, a National Monument, are both notable Sophiatown buildings. Sophiatown Transport: Metro bus 66 to Sophiatown or 63 to Newlands. Johannesburg Fort The Fort (a Historical Monument) has been dubbed 'Johannesburg's Robben Island', so famous and numerous were the people who passed through its gates as prisoners - from Nelson Mandela and Joe Slovo to Gandhi. Gandhi lived in and around Johannesburg during the formative years of his philosophy. In 1908, he adopted the word 'Satyagraha' in place of 'Passive Resistance' and served two months in the Fort for failure to leave the Transvaal when banished by the government. Originally built by Paul Kruger during the Boer War late in the nineteenth century to protect Johannesburg and the Transvaal Boer Republic against Britain, the Fort is not generally open to the public. However, Parktown & Westcliff Heritage Trust occasionally runs excellent tours of the complex (see the Walking Tours section for details). Corner of Joubert and Kotze Streets, Braampark Randburg Waterfront Johannesburg is a long way (550km/344 miles) from the nearest beaches (Durban) and this cluster of shops, bars, restaurants, cinemas and amusements encircling a man-made lake is a forced attempt at a seaside fishing-village atmosphere. Republic Road, Ferndale, Randburg Tel: (011) 789 5052 or (080) 000 1312, toll free. Transport: Metro bus 80, 81, 82 or 83 to Randburg. Art Galleries Johannesburg has a surprising number of excellent galleries, ranging from the corporate to the private and the off-beat to the mainstream. Three are recommended for their commitment to African and South African works. The Johannesburg Art Gallery houses traditional African art, contemporary South African landscapes, and the particularly interesting William Kentridge collection. The Goodman Gallery encourages contemporary South African artists, with works by William Kentridge, Kendell Geers, Penny Siopis, Willie Bester and Sue Williamson, among others. The Kim Sacks Gallery displays traditional South African artefacts and contemporary South African crafts. Johannesburg Art Gallery King George St (off Klein Street), Joubert Park Tel: (011) 725 3130. Fax: (011) 720 6000. E-mail: art@mj.org.za Goodman Gallery 163 Jan Smuts Avenue, Parkwood Tel: (011) 788 1113. Fax: (011) 788 9887. Web site: www.goodman-gallery.com Kim Sacks Gallery 153 Jan Smuts Ave, Parkwood Tel: (011) 447 5804. Fax: (011) 442 5571. |
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