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.
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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.
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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.
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Italo Bernicchi
ITALO Bernicchi is mad about movies. After the Victory Theatre closed in the 1980s, he set up a cinema in his home.
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Penelope Thloloe
PENELOPE Thloloe devotes her time to teaching Joburg's young school children to dance.
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Pastor Thabile Mnisi-Msibi
PASTOR Mnisi-Msibi has devoted her life to helping others, but her heart is in Orange Farm.
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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.
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Taddy Blecher
HIS feet are firmly on the ground, but Taddy Blecher, the founder of CIDA City Campus university, steers by the stars.
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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.
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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.
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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'
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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.
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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"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
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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
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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.
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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
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'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
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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
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Don Mattera: poet of compassion
Poet and journalist, gangster turned community activist, Don Mattera,
voice of compassion, has personified his community for decades
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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
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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
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