October 15, 2007
By Millicent Kgowedi
Abseiling down a 52-storey building takes adrenaline junkies to the edge - and that is exactly what happened at Ponte City this weekend.
People flocked to Berea's famous round building, the tallest residential building in Africa, on Saturday, 13 October, for a once-in-a-lifetime abseiling experience. A very windy morning didn't stop adventure spirits from queuing up for the quest.
The event was organised by the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) and Investagain, Ponte's developers, to raise awareness of current developments in and around the city.
There was a lot of excitement in the registration queue, with many asking about their safety and if the adventure was worth their money. "I'm a bit shaken by the windy weather but I'm not going to miss the opportunity to go down this building," said Mike Levy, a participant.
After registering, waiting for a lift seemed to take forever - and once inside it was clear why it took so long. The lift stopped at floors and opened for no reason, before continuing on its journey. It was a scary ride - more daunting than the actual abseiling.
"This lift is transporting people 52 floors; it shouldn't be so bumpy," said one participant making conversation.
But there was surprisingly little talk about the possibility of losing your life in the endeavour - a relief to those of us who were unsure about the safety of the challenge.
In a bid to ease the nerves of those about to jump, snacks and drinks were served in the waiting room at the top of the building. Looking at the amazing view and talking about the beauty of the city seemed to calm most people down.
One by one people were called to the top of the roof to gear up. Co-ordinators were on standby, dressed in blue overalls and yellow helmets, with dozens of ropes tied around their waists. Officials were keenly focused on safety.
Each participant had to complete an indemnity form before they put on the abseiling gear. I kept asking about the safety of the ropes, the helmet, the harness and the gloves, as well as other equipment - to make sure that when my turn came I was confident about the risk I was taking.
On average, it took participants between 45 minutes and an hour to get down from the roof. It was quite windy and halfway down the building we - the jumper and the accompanying officer - would stop to cool our gloves before continuing.
"Oh my God, I can't believe I'm doing this," said one woman as she looked down to see how far she had to go. Of course, there were those who were more experienced and did it in half an hour with no visible signs of fear.
After hours of waiting, it was time for me to get dressed - and ask again about my safety. Instructions on co-ordinating the ropes were given before I took off. "I have tied you like I am the one going down - you are safe. Don't be scared; there is an extra rope that I will be controlling in case anything happens to you. You are not going to fall, just relax," said one official.
Leaning back and balancing delicately, I was a bit hesitant to make another move; yet now I was told to start moving. The first couple of steps were wobbly, but then the journey became very smooth. I decided to make sure I was aware of every moment.
Ponte City, the tallest residential building in Africa
Knowing you are so very high-up, the trip down was somewhat nerve-wracking. I kept think … what if.
About halfway down I stopped and peered down the core of the building. It seemed to sway. At the bottom of the building a group of people were peering up. They were indistinct. The wind was whipping past and the noise was intense.
It was time to take another deep breath and continue. And so I completed the challenge with no scratches or bruises – and a great sense of having done something extraordinary.
The experience was incredible, and it left most of us wanting more adventure. And there were no injuries on the day, thanks to the fantastic safety measures.
And while the fearless flew down the side of Ponte, the more earth-bound enjoyed refreshments, music and clowns on the ground.
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