Hillbrow (original) (raw)
Hillbrow, Johannesburg
Hillbrow gets mixed reviews. On the one hand people won't go near it. They speak about extreme levels of crime, high-rise apartment blocks jammed with migrants and refugees, hijackings, murder and prostitution.
Hillbrow, they say, is a place of alarming crime statistics and new year parties where couches, fridges and TVs get thrown out of windows. An inner-city lawlessness reigns unchecked. Some call it the crime capital of the city.
BBC Two ran a documentary in 2007, called Law and Disorder in Johannesburg revealing the state of lawlessness in parts of the city, particularly Hillbrow; Lauren Beukes' Zoo City, is set in Hillbrow.
On the other hand, others remember it differently. During apartheid, and predominantly a white neighbourhood, it was known for its tolerance; regarded as one of the few 'grey' areas, where different ethnic communities hung out in a politically progressive and cosmopolitan society. It had a hip, artistic and creative community, and the streets buzzed until all hours.
And things have changed since 2007.
Now community initiatives try to curb crime and keep the streets clean, like Ekhaya Neighbourhood; walking tours are offered by organisations such as Dlala Nje, a regeneration programme trying to change the face of Hillbrow and Ponte - the tallest high-rise cylindrical building that dominates the inner city skyline, along with the Hillbrow Tower with its highly visible pink ball; the violent crime rate is down, and new year's celebrations are less chaotic.
Buildings have been reclaimed from their hijackers (groups of criminals who take over buildings from their landlords by force) and remodelled. But not all the buildings are safe, or clean. The improvement, whilst happening, is gradual.
Hillbrow relies heavily on civic partnership, policing forum volunteers and the community for its improvement as there is evidence of police corruption - drug deals go down in full sight of police vehicles, children play in parks whilst drug dealers do deals, prostitutes walk the streets.
The suburb is still troubled by poverty, overpopulation and crime.
As a visitor, get in touch with Dlala Nje, the Lutheran Community Outreach foundation, the Parktown and Westcliff Heritage Trust, or Joburg Places - for walking tours. It is not safe to walk through Hillbrow on your own, but those who have been say that if you get the opportunity, you should go.
In the vicinity
Hotels & other accommodation options
Guest House
KV Luxury Guest House
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Mount Royal 44
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Ellipse Waterfall 31015
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17 On Buffalo
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Guest House at 118
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31 On Forest
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7th Street Guest House
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Benoni N12 Hotel
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Things to do in the area
Art Galleries
Joubert Park
Joubert Park lies right in the city centre, the heart of Johannesburg, just behind the Noord Street taxi rank. It's the oldest park in the city, ...
Nightlife & Theatre
Windybrow Theatre
Officially called the Windybrow Centre for The Arts, this theatre is one of Johannesburg�s many contributors to the local performance art culture...
Farm Stalls & Markets
Victoria Yards Market
The Victoria Yards Market is held on the first Sunday of every month and makes for a really great day of quirky innovation for anyone that is enj...
Noteworthy attractions
Golf Courses
Crown Mines Golf Club
South Africa is famous for its gold, and Crown Mines Golf Club is built in genuine mining country, just a few kilometres southeast of central Joh...
Golf Courses
Observatory Golf Club
Observatory Golf Course is one of the less well known Johannesburg courses, but just as good as many of its more famous neighbors. A sophisticate...
Golf Courses
Randpark Golf Club
With two very distinct but different golf courses, Randpark offers golfers of varying ability an unforgettable experience on two of the finest an...
Golf Courses
Royal Johannesburg Golf Club
The World Atlas of Golf, which lists the great courses and how they are played, features just two South African clubs on its hallowed pages. One ...
Airports
OR Tambo International Airport
Formerly officially known as Johannesburg International Airport, the OR Tambo International Airport is a large airport near the city of Johannesb...
Landmarks
East Rand Flea Market
Just outside Johannesburg in Boksburg, the East Rand Flea Market lies right next to the East Rand Mall, and as a result, is open just about all w...
Shopping
East Rand Mall
The popular East Rand Mall takes full advantage of the prime position of this area and offers a variety of restaurants, boutiques, chain stores a...
Museums
Absa Money Museum
Home to the largest collection of money used in South Africa�s past in the world, Absa Money Museum lies in downtown Johannesburg on Troye Street...
Landmarks
Apartheid Museum
The Apartheid Museum is the story of the triumph of the human spirit over adversity. Beginning in 1948, the white elected National Party governme...
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