THE Heartlands area of Braamfontein, traditional centre of gay nightlife in Jozi, is to get four new party venues, in line with City plans to create an entertainment area here.

FOUR new clubs are to open next month in the area known as Heartlands, on one of the oak-lined streets of western Braamfontein. The area, just across the railway line from Newtown, has been earmarked by the City as an entertainment node.

Workers busy on the site of the new venue

Husband and wife team Peter and Stacey van Rijn of PlatinumX Entertainment, have dusty boots inspecting the building site on the corner of Juta and Henri Streets in Braamfontein, where they intend opening four new entertainment venues by 29 April 2005. The renovations started on 17 January.

The new venues will be Sugar Reef, a live student music club open from 7am to midnight; DCM, a club that opens twice a week at which international DJs will appear and which will be available for rent for events and photo shoots; Cruise, an up-market gay club with expensive finishes like crystal chandeliers, open seven days a week; and Rhino Bar, a cocktail bar with a large outdoor area with a martini pool, braai facilities and canopies shading an open lounge.

Heartlands has traditionally been a gay area. It is located immediately south of Wits University and encompasses about four city blocks. The four venues, all located in one building, replace a nightclub and restaurant called Therapy and Seamen respectively in the same building, which have become rundown and disused.

Stacey van Rijn says a club in Randburg called Bitch recently closed down, and she and her husband felt the city needed a new gay venue. She says they have received the City's support through the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA).

Paul Arnott-Job, the JDA project manager for Braamfontein, says there are big regeneration plans for the suburb in the pipeline, largely centred on turning it into an area known for its people and entertainment, with new branding - similar to what has been done in Newtown and Sandton.

Van Rijn has also spoken to the South African Police Service and a satellite police station will be opened on the corner of Juta and Henri Streets. One already exists in central Braamfontein.

They have also put in an offer on the building directly behind the one from which they are now operating; if they buy it they will consider converting the ground floor into a restaurant and work their way up the building.

In September 2002 Johannesburg Executive Mayor Councillor Amos Masondo announced a plan to regenerate Braamfontein, to complement the regeneration of the Old Fort complex and Newtown, creating a cultural arc running into the city. Already there have been changes to the eastern edge of Braamfontein: last September the newly created Theatre Gardens was opened, just below the Civic Theatre. It is a private sector initiative.

Imaginative, reed-shaped, green fencing now contains the area, previously a grassy patch crisscrossed with paths. It has paved walkways, newly planted trees, a raised central, circular podium, elegant lighting and a water feature trickling down from the theatre entrance. The development cost R1,8-million, and with 24-hour surveillance, the space has been transformed.