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Daily Maverick
5 hours ago
- General
- Daily Maverick
Legging it through Hillbrow, the chaotic heart of Joburg on a journey of renewal
Parts of the inner-city suburb are being revived through the efforts of residents, property owners and nonprofit organisations. Now a walking tour offers a glimpse of the renewal. This is Hillbrow is a walking tour into one of Jozi's toughest neighbourhoods and includes a visit to the top of Ponte, the infamous 54-storey tower with a hollow centre and a dark past. It's a chance to explore the city's most misunderstood neighbourhood, according to Dlala Nje, the tour company, and we were advised to arrive with walking shoes, hats and curious minds. We drove into the innocent-sounding Number 1 Lily Avenue, Berea, Ponte's address, and passed through security to be met by our guides, Cynthia Sabela and Delight Sithole, as well as photographer Mbongiseni Ngwenya. These are young people who grew up in the area and live in Ponte, a new generation who call Hillbrow home – that low-income neighbourhood where 100,000 people live within a square kilometre. Grey areas We started out at the Dlala Nje ('just play' in isiZulu) community centre at the base of Ponte, a warm, lively space where kids from Ponte and surrounds can come do their homework, get a reliable internet connection or play soccer or music. Tours like this help fund the centre. We headed out and straight up to the top of Lily Avenue, which overlooks two abject buildings. 'No photographs, please,' said Delight. 'This is a dangerous block.' One building is hijacked – an old Victorian house with no roof, and the lounge and fireplace exposed, forming the shoulder of a squatter camp. Delight explained that about 200 people live here, each paying about R600 a month. There is no electricity and they are charged extra for water from the one tap on the street. The other building is completely stripped of everything: windows, balconies, doors, lifts, stairwells. It's a filthy burnt-out shell inhabited by nyaope users. Cynthia told us that the owners of both buildings fled in the 1980s when Hillbrow, Berea and Yeoville began to show signs of neglect. The apartheid government considered them 'grey areas' since they were already mixed despite segregation laws. The banks redlined the grey areas, meaning residents were denied access to finance for home loans or property maintenance. As South Africa's states of emergency kicked in, municipal services were cut off in grey areas and buildings began to decay dramatically. By the time democracy dawned, these neighbourhoods were utterly broken. Then the interest rate rocketed, property prices plunged, white capital fled and there was a massive influx of poor people. It was the perfect poverty storm. Good blocks We continued our walk and entered Alexander Street, a wide, clean, tree-lined street with enormous high-rises all around. Here, there were street cameras, visible security, and Cynthia explained that there are small shops and ATMs inside the buildings and pointed out the superette on the corner. It felt like a decent neighbourhood, and that's the thing about Hillbrow: it changes from block to block, from bad buildings, as locals call them, to good ones. This was a good block with good buildings, largely because of the efforts of property owners, in partnership with civil society and the private sector. Our tour took us past the house of mining magnate Barney Barnato and through the scruffy Alec Gorshel Park. We saw cleanliness next to filth, brothels alongside churches. We walked under the now defunct Hillbrow Tower, a strange beast, and to the Gumtree of Hillbrow, as it's called, a wall where people literally use gum to stick up their notices, mainly ads for accommodation and work seekers. A balcony was going for R1,000, a stairwell for less. There was even a call for a shared bed (not for nefarious purposes), often the only way people can cover their rent. Gumtree is poignant. We walked under high-rises that are called building schools, unregistered and mainly for foreign national kids who have no hope of cracking a model C school. As we walked, Delight pointed out some of the rooftop houses on the high-rises that were built as 'servant's quarters', now occupied by entire families. Then we headed up Claim Street and into the heart of Hillbrow, featuring everything from butcheries, hair salons and mahala shops, to a clinic, bars and electronic outlets. It was noisy, vibrant, chaotic. Nostalgia kicked in among my fellow walkers. Wasn't that where the old Hillbrow Records was? Isn't that the old Chelsea? Wasn't that where so-and-so lived? But today, Hillbrow is a rough pan-African neighbourhood. People are polite, curious. Everyone is just trying to survive. The Summit Club is still there, Hillbrow's premier nightclub, as it advertises itself, but Delight tells us it's pretty much a fancy brothel. Hillbrow Radio continues to broadcast from Claim Street. The diversity of architecture continues to crumble – Victorian, Art Deco, brutalist, Sixties, overlaid now with spaza shops, beauty parlours and nursery schools. We didn't visit the skankiest parts, such as the infamous syndicate-run Vannin Court with its sewage, slimy ground-floor water and rubbish piled high, women and children peeking out of cracked windows. We felt quite safe, however, as we wandered the pavements of Pretoria Street. The Saturday morning market offered cabbage and plump tomatoes for half the price of the suburbs, as well as okra, bananas, dried fish and spices. An iconic address We walked back to Ponte via Fife Street where several buildings have been revamped – a love bomb instead of a hijack. Successes like these come about through property owners keeping their buildings well maintained with lighting and private security, enabling residents to build communities inside buildings and feel agency. Companies such as the Johannesburg Housing Company, Trafalgar, Ithemba and eKhaya Neighbourhood are doing good work, block by block. eKhaya, for example, started in 2004 with two previously hijacked buildings and now manages more than 80. Organisations such as Jozi My Jozi and the Joburg Inner City Partnership are helping with clean-ups, lighting, cameras and repairs. But it's tough, and water and electricity services are sketchy. We were all still processing it all by the time we returned to Ponte, a place that is in the psyche of every Jozi city person, as a fellow walker observed. It was one of the most desired addresses in the cosmopolitan suburb of Berea in the Seventies, but by the mid-1990s, writes the Joburg In Your Pocket guide, 'Ponte was in such a bad state, overrun by gangs and piled high with trash, that there were even proposals to take the building over and turn it into a high-rise prison'. Ponte's turnaround from a panopticon to a well-run and occupied building is remarkable. And the views from the Dlala Nje shebeen on the 51st floor are the best in the city. We had cold beers and a warm lunch as Cynthia and Delight told us how Ponte was cleaned up and restored in 2009, with more than 10 floors of rubbish removed from the legendary pit, the heart of darkness, the hollow centre of the building built on bedrock. Rubbish included old fridges, beds, appliances and skeletons. (Ponte was once a preferred suicide spot. Apparently the men jumped outwards, the women into the pit.) What a fascinating walking tour. It gave Hillbrow a human face, and perhaps that is the best starting point for any discussion about what to do with the area. People are living there. Going up to the top and right to the bottom of Ponte had a wow factor. In fact, it was all so interesting, I went back and spent a night at the top of Ponte. And, boy, was the view beautiful. Sleep on the 52nd floor For the quintessential Jozi experience, head 52 floors up and spend a night at the top of Ponte in an Airbnb. It's definitely not for those who are afraid of heights. But if your curiosity can override your fear, you will be rewarded with the best nighttime city views you'll probably ever see in Jozi, plus a crazy sunrise. The self-catering apartment sleeps four people in two en-suite rooms, and has an open-plan kitchen lounge and dining room area. If you're not in the mood to cook, order a pizza from the joint on the ground floor. Amazingly, you can open the windows (they're at chest height) and look down at the view below – miniature buildings, ant-sized people, tiny highways. It's so high up you can barely hear a sound, not even gunshots. Do I get a refund for that? I asked the manager the next morning. The Airbnb gets mainly international visitors, he told me, from Japan, Russia, the UK and neighbouring countries. Apart from a strange feeling in my solar plexus and somewhat wobbly legs, I felt totally safe. There is secure parking for visitors and a friendly check-in. I was so startled by the views I barely slept. Would I do it again? Absolutely. DM
Korea Herald
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
EXO's Baekhyun sets solo record with 4th million-seller
The fifth solo EP from Baekhyun exceeded 1 million copies sold in three days, agency INB100 said Wednesday, citing a local tally. 'Essence of Reverie' became the artist's fourth million-seller as a solo act, making him the first K-pop solo singer to achieve the feat in the 21st century. Baekhyun's three previous albums — the second to fourth EPs, 'Delight,' 'Bambi' and 'Hello World' — each sold over 1 million copies, but the new mini album set the record in just three days, marking the shortest time for Baekhyun. He also has seven million-selling albums under his belt as the leader of EXO. Meanwhile, 'Essence of Reverie' topped iTunes top albums chart in 24 regions, as did lead single 'Elevator' on top songs charts in 14 regions. Next month, he will embark on an international tour starting with a two-day show in Seoul.
Korea Herald
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
EXO's Baekhyun sets solo record with 4th million-seller
The fifth solo EP from Baekhyun exceeded 1 million copies sold in three days, agency INB100 said Wednesday, citing a local tally. 'Essence of Reverie' became the artist's fourth million-seller as a solo act, making him the first K-pop solo singer to achieve the feat in the 21st century. Baekhyun's three previous albums — the second to fourth EPs, 'Delight,' 'Bambi' and 'Hello World' — each sold over 1 million copies, but the new mini album set the record in just three days, marking the shortest time for Baekhyun. He also has seven million-selling albums under his belt as the leader of EXO. Meanwhile, 'Essence of Reverie' topped iTunes top albums chart in 24 regions, as did lead single 'Elevator' on top songs charts in 14 regions. Next month, he will embark on an international tour starting with a two-day show in Seoul. glamazon@
Korea Herald
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
EXO's Baekhyun tops iTunes Chart in 24 regions with EP No. 5
Baekhyun of EXO landed at the top of the iTunes Top Albums Chart in 24 regions with his fifth solo EP 'Essence of Reverie.' Main track 'Elevator' notched No. 1 spot on its Top Songs Chart in 14 of them. The mini album was rolled out on Monday and sold more than 800,000 copies in two days, raising expectations for it to become his fourth consecutive million-selling album, following his three previous EPs — 'Delight,' 'Bambi' and 'Hello World.' Meanwhile, the artist is set to launch his first solo world tour 'Reverie.' He will kick off the tour with a two-date show in Seoul on June 7 and will visit 28 more cities across the world, taking a step further from his solo Asia tour 'Lonsdaleite' which took him to 14 in the region last year.
Hype Malaysia
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hype Malaysia
BIGBANG's Daesung's Road To Solo Success; What Fans Can Expect From His Concert In KL
K-pop fans have a lot to look forward to as our favourite stars are announcing their tours, and KL is in their lineup of cities! BIGBANG's Kang Daesung (강대성) or more fondly known in Japan as D-Lite, is set to bring his 'D's Wave' tour to KL this June, and fans grow excited to be graced by the soulful and high-energy that is Daesung. With 19 years of experience in the entertainment field, Daesung proves to be a powerhouse, where his vocals speak volumes about his prowess as a vocalist. From his history with BIGBANG to his successful solo career in Japan, let's look at Daesung's journey towards solo success. Debuting With BIGBANG Daesung debuted with BIGBANG in 2006, and from a young age had known that he always wanted to be a singer. His parents had rejected the idea at first, which led the singer to leave home for a week, but they then succumbed to his determination. Daesung debuted under YG Entertainment along with four other members, T.O.P, Seungri, Taeyang and G-Dragon. They had a fairly successful debut with their first studio album, 'BIGBANG Vol. 1', receiving sales of over 100k copies. The album also featured Daesung's first solo song, titled 'Try Smiling'. Shortly after debuting with BIGBANG, Daesung was diagnosed with vocal cord nodules, which led to him developing social anxiety disorder and stage fright. He was able to overcome this with the help of fellow YG FAMILY singer, Park Jiyeon (박지연), better known as Gummy. Start Of His Solo Career Journey After treating his anxiety disorder and stage fright, Daesung made it a point to work on himself and his solo career by trying something new. On 16th June 2008, he released his first single, 'Look At Me, Gwisun', which played into the trot genre. Despite fears of him ruining BIGBANG's reputation with his traditional debut, the song was warmly received by younger audiences, which was then featured in a full album later released in 2014 called 'Delight (D-Lite EP)'. With the success of his first single, Daesung released his second trot single titled 'Big Hit' in 2009. He continued his solo journey as he remained active by having been featured in multiple variety shows, hosted music programs and made his musical debut in the Korean Production of 'Cats', where he played the role of Rum Tum Tugger. Success of D-Lite In Japan Beginning his music activities in Japan in 2013, Daesung has achieved an outstanding amount of fans in the land of the rising sun, which prompted him to adopt a new stage name, D-Lite. He released his first solo Japanese album titled 'D'scover' on 13th February 2013, which ranked second on the Oricon Daily, the Japanese albums popularity chart. His success in Japan did not end there as he released two more albums namely, 'D-Day' and 'Delight 2' as well as three mini albums, 'Rainy Rainy', 'D'slove' and Delight'. His mini albums had topped the Japanese iTunes chart and the Oricon Daily Album Chart and his album 'D-Day' reached number one on both the Oricon Album Chart and the Billboard Japan Chart. His success in Japan created opportunities for him to tour around Japan on multiple occasions, with his most successful concert being his 2017 Japan Dome tour, which had 150,000 fans in attendance. He is the first Korean artist to have over 100,000 fans participate in his solo concert tour for two consecutive years. Current Career & Upcoming Concert in Malaysia The BIGBANG member had since left YG Entertainment in December 2022, but is still actively promoting with BIGBANG under the group's activities. In April 2023, he signed with RND Company to stay active in solo activities. The singer has also opened up on new prospects on YouTube as he launched an anonymous account in 2020, but was discovered in March 2021. He continues to make music as he released a new single titled, 'Falling Slowly' in March 2024, as well as his first Korean extended play, 'D's Wave' on 8th April 2025. In conjunction with the release of his mini album, he announced a world tour, 'D's Wave', where fans eagerly await his return. The 'D's WAVE' Asia Tour kicks off in April at Seoul's Olympic Hall, followed by stops in Ho Chi Minh City, Taipei, Hong Kong, Kobe, Yokohama, and more. Amid fan anticipation, Daesung's agency, R&D Company and D-Label have officially included Malaysia on the tour map. The tour also coincides with the release of Daesung's first solo mini-album, 'D's WAVE', making this his first major performance featuring brand-new tracks and a refreshed concept. Renowned for his soulful voice and dynamic stage presence, Daesung promises an unforgettable show filled with heartfelt music and high-energy performances. This concert is not only a musical celebration, but also a heartwarming reunion between Daesung and his fans. Who knows, just like his member Taeyang, perhaps he too will perform some BIGBANG classics. We sure hope so! Are you excited for Daesung's comeback to the stage? Sources: KBizoom, Kpop Fandom Wiki Alyssa Gabrielle contributed to this article
