Johannesburg in the 1970s

[moratuwamaleke]

As black people watching this portal into the past, historical contexts aside, none of us can deny that Joburg in the 70's LOOKED a lot better than it does now. Cause nowadays, unless you're rich and can afford to live a more affluent area of the city, Joburg is not fit for human habitation. It sucks on just about every conceivable level.

And I hate that because I'm black, I have to pretend that that's not the case. That it's "not so bad." Is this what it's come to? That we have to defend a toxic hell-hole of a city because it's governed by people with the same skin tone as us? People, I might add, who couldn't give two fucks about you or your opinion of their competency. People who would sell you to the highest bidder (which they do often btw) at the drop of a hat. Is this the best we can do as black people? Are we so defiant in our struggle with our own shortcomings that we can't even acknowledge that something merely LOOKED better in the past?

[titanus]

I lived in Johannesburg from 1972 to 1975 as an Australian expat. The city and suburban areas were truly wonderful, very clean and well maintained . First I lived in Doornfontein then in a suburb called Mayfair and finally in Joubert Park, down the road from Hillbrow. I can only imagine what all these places are like nowadays, but from what I 've heard Joubert Park is a cesspool and unfit for human habitation. Very sad how a truly wonderful city has hit rock bottom, due to the usual 3 functions of civil servants, corruption, incompetence and arrogance.

[mohlomphehi]

Hate them or love them, the Afrikaners did a far better job at protecting the sovereignty of this country and running it properly. As a black person I must condemn apartheid and all that came with it but I'm not blind to the fact that our country is now on a downward spiral and has been since the liberation movement took office.

[tetobdub]

Unbelievable how things can change, imagine one day we will be watching videos of Sandton saying wow it used to be so clean

[lostcrusader]

As a white South African, I don’t ask to bring back Apartheid, where racial segregation was a thing, but I do ask to bring back where everything looked clean and had good economy.

[artetasmuse]

I remember as a kid driving through Hillbrow with my Mom in the late 90s, run down by then, talking about how she lived and went to Uni in the City, and went out partying at night. I used to say there’s no way you lived here. Now with all these videos I can totally believe it. How incredibly sad.

[TonySousa]

I arrived in Johannesburg in 1974. The city and suburbs were truly amazing, very clean, well managed and well maintained: the best city in Africa and one of the best cities in the world. Parts of the then vibrant city streets (shown on this video) are today a cesspool and unfit for human habitation. How tragic!

[governmentxx]

Looking at those infrastructure made me realize that the new government never build anything in Joburg.

[razeenmeyer]

Say what you want about the Afrikaaners, they did love their South Africa. Amazing people, to be fair.

[reshannaidoo]

Wow, my parents told me stories about how beautiful it was.

[leegaleaglenombo]

Walking, in mid-Johannesburg, with a purse out. 😍

[steventheologo]

I wish I grew up in South Africa without the ridiculous crime rates, without a corrupted government, without all of the preventable issues if only the people of SA start to realise how much more we could possibly be. Sad...

PS: South Africa is a lovely place on it's good days if you know what I mean. The food, the people, the culture, it's unmatched. Such diversity.

[petem]

Now, the ruins of Johannesburg look like "Life After People."

[KG-xfew]

Everyone knows exactly why Joburg is how it is today.

[mpumelelotshabalala]

ANC destroyed this great city, as a South African you are a foreigner in this city... Infrastructure development and maintenance was last done by the apartheid regime.It hurts a lot when you look at it in the 70's because it is a reminder of how the government is failing it's citizens..sorry to say this but it's like ANC is proving why apartheid regime wanted to keep our great nation out of the leadership of black people, I mean even when we vote there are certain mentality people who vote ANC even when it's giving us misery and poverty...Black people don't want to wake up and smell the coffee, ANC fought for themselves while real activists died for freedom and it's sad because if those activists don't affiliate with the ANC they are simply forgotten and sidelined by famous ANC members..The struggle was for ANC members to get a blank cheque and steal without fear and loot our taxes with pride while ignorant black people cheer them on.

[AN-eo]

It's like a strange mix of London and Los Angeles. Sad that it's lost forever.

[michelleduplessis]

Apologies for raining on the nostalgia parade. I grew up in Johannesburg and the video and music do not depict Johannesburg in the 1970"s. Trams were circa 1960's. The cars in some sections also look much earlier, ie 1960"s? Who could forget Carlton Centre and the swanky movie houses. I also used to train at the Hillbrow Swiming Pool, which was below the Summit Club, and walk home at 21:00 to a residential hotel in the CBD, (very safe, except for some harmless men who would offer me a 'lift'. We would dance at various clubs in Hillbrow, including Bella Napoli, The Glass Slipper, Plumb Crazy, and many others, and end off with a swcharma from Bimbo's or roast chicken and fresh rolls at abut 5am at Fontana Highpoint. New Year;s Eve was the biggest street party ever. Everybody had a great time, the police were always around but it was always a great vibe. Aaah, such great memories . Gave that up when one New Year''s Eve in the 1990's a fridge crashed to the street from a highrise building and we found Smit Street covered in shattered glass from bottles thrown from flats. The end of that era!!

[anitamileham]

Those WERE the days. I grew up in Hillbrow and it was amazing, train trips and to watch the view. Carefree with lots of clean places to go out at night. Hillbrow and the city had life💝💝💝

[hizikieraymond]

A retired White colleague of mine once told me with sadness in his face, that he still sees the old South Africa in his dreams, and because of that, he knows that the South Africa he once loved, still lives in his heart 😢!

[lava_za]

It's my culture.
Nothing special, nothing out of the ordinary.
We aspire success, cleanliness, structure, respect and prosperity.