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People of the City

PORTRAITS of those caring people whose passion for their work or for community causes has made a tangible difference to life in Johannesburg

Revil Mason Humans settled in Johannesburg hundreds of thousands of years ago, their history uncovered by Revil Mason. Read more
Phillip Tobias More than a great academic and renowned palaeontologist, Phillip Tobias is a humanist committed to high standards of personal integrity. Read more
MaSisulu Ma Sisulu is South African royalty, a stalwart of the struggle and one of the most beloved people in the country - and a Joburg resident. Read more
Nelson Mandela Born in Eastern Cape, Nelson Mandela moved to Johannesburg in the 1940s; and it was to Joburg that he returned after nearly three decades in prison. Read more
Stompie Manana Although a founder member of the famous African Jazz Pioneers, Stompie Manana has been described as one of the country's most overlooked trumpeters. Read more
Gus Malgas In the 1960s he defied his peers and spent his days learning to swim. Today, "they all come to me for training", says Gus Malgas. Read more
Sara Gon WITH a lawyer and former judge at the helm, the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra has gone from strength to strength, and Sara Gon is not resting on her laurels just yet. There is much work still to be done, she says. Read more
Italo Bernicchi ITALO Bernicchi is mad about movies. After the Victory Theatre closed in the 1980s, he set up a cinema in his home. Read more
Penelope Thloloe PENELOPE Thloloe devotes her time to teaching Joburg's young school children to dance. Read more
Pastor Thabile Mnisi-Msibi PASTOR Mnisi-Msibi has devoted her life to helping others, but her heart is in Orange Farm. Read more
Dr Carol-Ann Benn DR Carol-Ann Benn is hard to pin down. The breast disease expert is rather busy healing women, running a foundation and a home, teaching and saving stray animals, among other things. Read more
Taddy Blecher HIS feet are firmly on the ground, but Taddy Blecher, the founder of CIDA City Campus university, steers by the stars. Read more
Paul Verryn The Methodist Bishop of Johannesburg has found some peace, though no calm, in his busy life. He is a grass roots activist who needs little sleep, packing as much work into his day tending to his flock as he can. Read more
Gerald Olitzki Call him Mr Joburg, or just a citizen who really cares about the city he lives in. Either way, Gerald Olitzki is deeply committed to Joburg's future - and he won't rest until the city regains its former glory. Read more
Chris van Wyk Skinder and the use of a wicked sense of humour as an anti-apartheid weapon are the secrets of his success, says Chris Van Wyk, author of the sparkling 'Shirley, Goodness and Mercy' Read more
Artist William Kentridge ARTIST William Kentridge is one of Johannesburg's most famous residents. His art, now selling at prices few can afford, commands respect around the globe. Read more
Dr Nthato Motlana Having lived in Joburg for almost 70 years, Dr Nthato Motlana has seen enormous changes taking place - from the city's "difficult" past to the "thrilling" developments taking place today Read more
Jurgen Schadeberg One of the country's top photographers, Jurgen Schadeberg, has been taking pictures of Joburgers for the past 50 years. Now in his 70s, he is still capturing Joburgers in dramatic black and white images Read more
Reverend Sam Buti The Reverend Sam Buti saved Alexandra from apartheid's bulldozers. Then he became mayor of Alex and his troubles started. But he's come full circle, and is again sought after by Alexandrans. Read more
Len Sak Cartoon character Jojo is much loved by readers of the Sowetan. He's a person who demonstrates ubuntu to others, giving his opinion and advice on all sorts of issues in the warmest way. His creator, Len Sak, speaks about Jojo's conception Read more
"Baby Jake" Matlala One of Joburg's most famous celebrities, he is very involved in the Soweto community where he was born, making a tangible difference to its residents Read more
David Koloane Artist David Koloane has always been aware that black artists have had to work harder to get their art recognised. He has actively worked to improve their work conditions and help them to broaden their artistic perspectives Read more
Aggrey Klaaste Former editor of the Sowetan, Aggrey Klaaste, is acknowledged across the country for the Nation Building initiative he introduced when he took over leadership of the newspaper in 1988. The programme still goes strong, as does the Sowetan. Read more
Richard Hall: 'Mr Melville Koppies' AT 82, Richard Hall, also known as "Mr Melville Koppies", still spends two mornings a week tramping around his beloved hills, organising one of the city's great natural attractions Read more
'Mr Kapitan': curry chef to the kings Madanjit Ranchod, a sprightly 76-year-old, is the chef at the legendary Kapitan's, one of the city's oldest restaurants, best known as the place where the young Nelson Mandela lunched each day Read more
Flo Bird - Jo'burg's diminutive dynamite "Don't ask me dates," says Flo Bird, amateur historian and fiery five foot tall (156cm) campaigner for preserving old Johannesburg Read more
Don Mattera: poet of compassion Poet and journalist, gangster turned community activist, Don Mattera, voice of compassion, has personified his community for decades Read more
Neil Fraser - passionate city man He's got a full white beard and moustache to match his white hair, he smiles often, and he's passionate about cities, particularly Johannesburg . . . he's Neil Fraser, executive director of the Central Johannesburg Partnership (CJP), an inner city renewal initiative Read more
Winnie Mabaso Winnie Mabaso cares for Aids sufferers, runs a soup kitchen, helps her neighbours obtain ID documents, finds foster homes for orphans. Why? It has to start somewhere, she says Read more