The inner city was the winner when the Johannesburg Development Agency honoured pioneers with its Halala Joburg Awards.

Ruby Mathang, councillor for development planning and urban management, at the award ceremony

IT was a cold night but the walls of the Round House on Constitution Hill twinkled with the Joburg skyline as the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) handed out its Halala Joburg Awards.

Amid burgundy and cream table décor and several elegant chandeliers, and those twinkling skyline walls, JDA chief executive Lael Bethlehem proudly gave awards to winners in five categories.

Launched for the first time in September last year, the awards serve to recognise investors and their regeneration efforts in the inner city, thereby encouraging other investments in the area.

Judges were Alan Mabin, a professor at the University of the Witwatersrand and the head of architecture and planning; retired conservation architect, Herbert Prins; Central Johannesburg Partnership head, Anne Steffny; development manager of the JDA, Paul Arnott-Job; and independent consultant, Frank Meintjies.

"Halala" means "to celebrate", and Bethlehem did just that on Wednesday night, 11 June. "The tide has turned in the inner city - tremendous projects are happening every day, and we want to thank those involved and acknowledge these projects.

"The idea tonight is to claim our victories."

Mabin, the chairperson of the judging committee, agreed. "These are extraordinary projects and extraordinary collective and individual endeavours." He said that the judging had been a lot of fun. "We want to celebrate with those living and working and playing in the city."

The JDA's Halala Joburg Awards celebrate regeneration

There were three tenets to judging the entries:

• Encouraging and recognising extraordinary effort that breaks new ground in urban regeneration, while advancing sustainable economic growth and community wellbeing and quality of life for residents;
• Fostering originality and recognising pioneering programmes and innovative projects initiated by investors with the passion to transform decaying areas; and
• Encouraging participation, equality and inclusivity by recognising commitment and dedication to fostering partnerships, initiating joint programmes and catalysing sustainable development, thereby promoting social harmony.

Keynote speaker Ruby Mathang, the councillor for development planning and urban management, commented on how much the projects had contributed to "building this beautiful city of Joburg". Besides recognising and encouraging the investors and developers in their efforts, the awards would engender ubuntu.

"The winners are most deserving. If you are not winning today it does not disqualify you from entering again. All nominees are winners."

There were five categories of awards.

Winners
The first, Living Joburg, had three sub-categories. The first was for a lower income developer not houses but homes, and the winner was the Johannesburg Housing Company's Brickfields Housing Project. The project transformed an empty and derelict area of the CBD into attractive social housing; it opened in 2005 and houses 2 000 people.

JDA CEO Lael Bethlehem handing a wood sculpture to winner Neil Fraser, with councillor Ruby Mathang to her right

The second sub-category was for lower income management not houses but homes. The winner was the Madulamoho Housing Association, a three-year-old organisation that refurbishes and manages residential buildings. In particular, it has converted several buildings into low-cost residential units: the Europa Hotel, Cornelius House, the New Regent, El Kero House and the BG Alexander Estate.

The third sub-category was for upper income not houses but homes. Here the winner was Mapungubwe Hotel Apartments, a joint venture between developer and owner Atterbury Property and marketing agent Circlevest Properties. Mapungubwe is an upmarket, four-star hotel catering for the business and leisure market in downtown Joburg; it opened in October 2007.

The second category was Working and Buying Joburg - creating a business destination. The winner was WORKS@registry. Previously a derelict building occupied by vagrants, it is now a building housing retail and workshop units for small, medium and micro enterprises, and entrepreneurs.

The third category was Relaxing and Playing Joburg, the recreation destination, where the winner was Gandhi Square. Formerly a soulless bus terminus, the square has been transformed into an active hub of refurbished quality office space, trendy restaurants and pavement cafes, the brainchild of developer Gerald Olitzki.

Neil Fraser with his wooden carved award, depicting the Hillbrow Tower

Caring Joburg, supporting Joburg's citizens, was the fourth category. The winner, Metro Evangelical Services, a section 21 company, has been working in the inner city for the past 22 years. It addresses the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual needs of the homeless and unemployed. Its aim is to encourage people to take responsibility for their lives and become independent.

The undisputed winner of the fifth category, Believing in Joburg - Joburg the home of innovators, investors and implementers, was Neil Fraser, for his "tireless efforts and his steadfast belief in Joburg's inner city regeneration".

"It is hard to think about the inner city without thinking of Neil Fraser," Bethlehem said. She described how he had been active in guiding the rejuvenation of the inner city for many years, displaying passion and steadfastness.

Fraser took to the podium and paid tribute to those with whom he had worked. "I want to thank three women in my life: my long-suffering wife, who has put up with my workaholism for so many years; my business partner Katherine Cox, who has been a great encouragement and fantastic support; and my mistress, the city of Joburg."

Bethlehem encouraged those who did not make it to the finalist list, to apply again next year. "We've started something tonight. Each year the Halala awards will grow. Get your pencils ready for your nominations next year."

The awards took the form of carved wooden sculptures depicting various Joburg iconic buildings, like the Hillbrow Tower.

Projects submitted for the awards were confined to the inner city, or Region F. The projects were required to have made a substantial difference to the City's regeneration mandate, with a bias towards projects undertaken in the last 10 years.

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