User:Menneym/sandbox

The city of Johannesburg has existed since 1886 and has subsequently developed as one of the most distinctive cities the world has ever known. Along with the development economically, a culture has developed one which celebrates diversity with its historical heritage. The commemorating of the history of the city allows acknowledgement of how much it has grown and simultaneously reminding of what still needs to be done. Hence it is essential that we preserve the history in order to able to pass it on to future generations. To be the best you can be one must understand the history of events as to why things are the way they are now and the reasoning behind it, Johannesburg is home to millions of people who have stories about their past some are living still living in the present but some have fallen and have left a legacy for the future this legacy must be held on to and reflected on in numerous manners. Johannesburg known by its residents as “Egoli” which means informally “the city of gold” in the local native languages, for the reason that it was a city founded on gold being discovered in the Witwatersrand reef. Since then about 40% of the gold of the world has been mined in the city. This has then given it the pinnacle of being an economic hub not only of South Africa but Africa at large. Historical sites and events will be further discussed which have contributed in making this a true world class African city. In one of the local townships of the city there is a street made famous by the icons who lived and walked the it now known as Vilakazi Street known as the only street in the world where 2 Nobel peace prize winners have lived the icons namely Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela the late was the first democratically elected president of the Republic as well as well renowned Archbishop Desmond Tutu Soweto’s rich history is a reminder of how far the country has taken strides from the Apartheid era as many black people were removed from urban areas like Sophiatown as an echo resembling  segregation at the time known as Apartheid. Soweto is also the place where the Youth uprising of 1976 took place where young people took to the streets to show their revolt at the system of teaching in Afrikaans in schools, sadly many were killed and many more injured as the police shot fire at them. With the many people living in the city coming from far and wide there has to be appropriate mediums of transport the city has many transport means catering for different audiences the most recent is the Gautrain enhancement to the city conjoining Johannesburg city with Sandton, Rosebank Pretoria as well as the airport. OR Tambo international airport being the largest and busiest airport in the continent is also an addition to the cities’ travelling means Johannesburg city library founded in 1935 and in 1974 it became the first public library to open its doors to all races and became the first library to lend books for free in South Africa, it still stands as a representation of the literature empire of the city. The Oriental Plaza is an iconic shopping complex situated along Bree Street in adjacent Fordsburg has its roots in the forced removals of Indian traders from nearby Pageview (also known as Fietas). It was designed by Rhodes-Harrison Louw Hoffe & Partners and opened in 1975. Johannesburg today was recently ranked number 37 most fashionably cities deeming the city as fashionably progressive it displays trends which are complimented by those of the world with a hint of African distinctiveness. Diverse culture shared by people in the cities the incredible ability to live and share in the greatness of this city to anyone who is willing to go the extra mile and tap into the available opportunities. To the city that has defied odds so many times and is seen as world class the question which can be asked is what else is in store for this remarkable city?