This weekend, hundreds of Johannesburg residents and myself took part in the third annual JDA-sponsored walking tours, called #JoziWalks.
Aimed at getting Joburg residents to explore the city on foot, connecting with neighbours and encouraging people to reflect on what makes neighbourhoods work.
Every year, the JDA invites local community activists, influencers, tourism entrepreneurs, walking tour operators, heritage specialists and enthusiastic residents who want to create a #JoziWalks experience in their neighbourhood.
I chose to participate in the Alexandra leg of the #JoziWalks, which highlighted the significant heritage sites and artistic culture of the area that is embalmed with a glimpse of hope that things can change for the better. I will cherish the walk I participated in.
This tour further revealed that we, as the City of Johannesburg along with all other spheres of Government, have a lot of work to do to turn things around in Alexandra.
While City entities like the Johannesburg Development Agency, through its work with the Department of Development Planning, are able to develop some new social and economic developments to improve access to such services for the residents, , a holistic approach is required to bring about the transformation required.
I encourage residents to take part in such tours as they are an opportunity for residents to explore parts of the City they would not otherwise take a tour of.
The 12 walks hosted this year:
• Sloot de Tour – Bike riding through Diepsloot with Black Bite Productions
• Unknown history of Braamfontein Cemetery – Tour arranged by Friends of Johannesburg Cemeteries
• International Nurses Month – Heritage tour celebrating nurses with Sehonong sa Thuto NGO in Dube, Soweto
• Hillbrow Youth Tours – Meet Hillbrow with Outreach Foundation
• Braam Comedy Walking Tour – Spotlight on history of stand-up comedy in Braamfontein
• Sports, heritage and culture walk with Maboneng Township Arts Experience in Alexandra
• Fashion District walk – Fashion District Institute fun walk in bustling Fashion District
• Johannesburg Literary District – Bridge Books tour of libraries and book shops
• Noordgesig Historical Arts Alive – Exaltation Women’s Projects walk in Pennyville and Noordgesig
• In-touch Transect Walk – In-touch Youth Development in Orange Farm
• Woman on Fire – Tour of Hillbrow, Constitution Hill and Newtown by Miz Buttons
• La Rochelle and Talk – Art My Jozi artist Lungile Mabizela hosts Turffontein walk
For media queries, please contact:
Poppy Louw
Stakeholder Manager: Office the MMC for Development Planning
Email: poppyl@joburg.org.za
Call: 081 235 4999
OR
Susan Monyai
Johannesburg Development Agency
Email: smonyai@jda.org.za
