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South African Cities. Rapid decay of certain areas                                    Travel The World    

Major cities such as Johannesburg, Pretoria and Durban are fascinating cities. Each has their own unique attractions,
fascinating history, leisure activities, entertainment, exceptional shopping experiences, rhythm, significant old buildings,
numerous monuments, diverse cultural influences and vibrancy. But there is a problem, some areas of these cities are
clean, functional and very first world cosmopolitan. Others are filthy and dangerous. It was not always like this. Some
time ago, in the 1970's, 80's and even in the early 90's, the latter used to be clean, safe and sophisticated. That was
until the third world moved in. And when the third world moves in, decay follows.

Johannesburg (Joburg)
South Africa's largest city and financial and economic giant and Africa's most dynamic city. It's known as a vibrant,
energetic and bustling metropolis. Nowadays its called a world class African City. The real truth is, the City of Johan-
nesburg "stands but a shadow of its former glory", says: Tony Stone. "Most of the big money has moved out to
Sandton, Johannesburg's twin city".
Over the years (from the 1970's onwards) thousands of poor black people moved into the CBD and into places
such as Hillbrow, Berea and Yeoville. A typical third or developing world emerged, one that is difficult to live in, which
of course led to the efflux of whites and businesses .Today the majority of the residents are migrants from the towns-
hips, rural areas and the rest of Africa (Nigerians, Zimbabweans, Somalians, Congolese, etc), many living in abject
poverty.
Crime in those areas is rife, filth is everywhere, some buildings are in a state of disrepair. Other buildings and filthy
apartment blocks are occupied or partially occupied by squatters, unemployment is high, prostitution flourish,
Nigerian drug dealers rule, and once prestigious hotels stand wrecked by vandalism.

The area affected by filth is not just a small area. Tony Stone says: "The areas west and north-west of Park Station
(Braamfontein) are in pretty good shape.However, the areas east (Johannesburg and Doornfontein), north-east
(Hillbrow) and immediately south of Park Station (Johannesburg) are filthy". Another source mentions that it is virtually
the entire JHB CBD, and stretches from Jeppe in the east to Roodepoort in the west, from JHB south and creeping
up towards Rosebank.

Pius Adesanmi of African Affairs made this observation: "I had made the same disturbing observation myself the day I
arrived but had been reluctant to accept the disturbing fact that decay of public infrastructure seems to be the story in
areas of the city inhabited by Blacks. Predominantly Black areas have become an eyesore. The beautiful lawns and
flowerbeds I noticed in some areas three years earlier now tell sad stories of degradation. Some of them have become
open-air urinals."

Another black man says: "I used to live in Yeoville. The entire area of Yeoville, Berea, Hillbrow and the JHB city centre
is a goddamn toilet: it is so filthy it is impossible to imagine anything living there, let alone human beings. The place is
home to a bunch of brutal savages from all over Africa: you have your local thug; Nigerian and Congolese drug pushers,
pimps,...."

Reviving JHB
We do salute re-development projects to upgrade these bad areas. A good example is the re-development project
New Ponte. During the 1990s, after the end of apartheid, many black gangs moved into the building and it became
extremely unsafe. Ponte City became symbolic of the crime and urban decay gripping the once cosmopolitan Hillbrow
neighborhood. The core filled with debris five stories high as the owners left the building to decay. In order to repair and
restore Ponte City a re-development project New Ponte has been put in motion. The new Ponte will contain 467 resi-
dential units, retail and leisure-time areas. Over the next few years, the Johannesburg Development Agency is investing
about R900-million in the areas around Ponte City. This includes the massive Ellis Park Precinct project, as well as an
upgrade of Hillbrow and Berea. Ponte City Apartments
Reviving the city centre is one of the main aims of the municipal government of Johannesburg. Drastic measures have
been taken to reduce crime in the city.

                              

Pretoria
It is one of the country's three capital cities and is known as the Jacaranda City. The city and its adjacent areas; Arcadia
and Sunnyside used to be safe and clean. That has changed dramatically after 1994. Elements of the third world took con-
trol of these areas turning it into an unsafe environment. Most white people fled these areas for more secure, clean middle
class suburbs such as Centurion, Sinoville, etc. Today the majority of the residents of Sunnyside and Arcadia are black
people, a complete turn around from the all white areas it used to be before the 1990's.

Observation of visitors
Sunnyside is a neighborhood with a shady reputation
The place is dirty, dodgy and depressing. Had it not been for its proximity to the university I would have stayed elsewhere.
It's not to be recommended.
There are certain areas which are more risky than others. The city centre is NOT a very safe place, and not to be visited at
night if not familiar with the area.
If you go out at night, it is better as a group, than going as a single person.
Avoid Central Pretoria.During the day it's crowded, dirty and noisy, during the day you'd be mad to be there.Sunnyside
should also be avoided during the night.

Pretoria city
Take care when visiting the inner city. There have been numerous incidents of muggings and other robberies, especially
in the northern parts of the city - in the area of the historical streets, Bloed and Boom between Prinsloo and Potgieter
streets. The biggest problems are the prostitutes operating in this area, unlicensed restaurants and pubs and rubbish
piling up on the street corners.

Durban
It is the third most populous city in South Africa and the largest city in KwaZulu-Natal. It is also a popular year-round
holiday destination. Now it is said some areas in Durban are dirty.

Observation of visitors
Good grief, what a mess. I remember holidays in Durban as a kid and it NEVER looked like that. It was always clean
and SAFE.
Durban is filthy and will not be cleaned in time for the 2010 soccer World Cup, which has a "green policy".
A Blue Flag is an international annual award given to beaches that meet excellence in the areas of safety, cleanliness,
environmental standards and facilities. Many of Durban's beaches had lost their flags as the water quality did not comply
with Blue Flag and World Health Organisation guidelines for faecal pollution.
"Durban's tourist area has now become one big, filthy, faeces-smeared, littered, broken glass-strewn squatter camp.
Vagrants have taken over the municipal toilets, which were built for the tourist trade. The water streaming into the ocean
is so filthy and polluted with human faeces that Durban has lost its Blue Flag designation.
They always leave a huge mess, human faeces, rubbish and broken glass, and burnt out fires when they leave each
morning. All these streets are turning into squatter slums." Read more