By Lucille Davie
July 25, 2002
LET'S hope it doesn't rain between 26 August and 4 September when World Summit delegates will be invited to take the topless shuttle bus around the city centre to indulge in some culture, some shopping, some history, some African medicine, or to view some of the exciting projects being prepared for them.
Provided by the city as a free service, two topless buses are to run at 15-minute intervals, starting from the revamped Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown. From there the bus goes west to the Oriental Plaza in Fordsburg for a shopping extravaganza at this Indian bazaar. The bus then goes east up to Braamfontein to the Civic Theatre, where passengers can take in shows at the Theatre, or catch a tour of the complex.
From there the bus moves across to Constitution Hill, where delegates can view the former women's prison, part of the original 1899 Old Fort built by President Paul Kruger, now a historic monument. The women's prison is still in good condition, and is therefore to remain (the Gender Commission will use it) although part of the men's prison is to be demolished in the redevelopment of the Hill. The new Constitutional Court building is being built on the site, to be completed in next year in a new community-oriented complex.
Next stop is back into the city, to the Johannesburg Art Gallery in Joubert Park. The Gallery will be running seven separate exhibitions for the duration of the Summit. Delegates will be invited to take a stroll over to the Greenhouse Project in the Park, a showcase project consisting of an education resource centre encouraging environmentally-friendly principles.
Delegates can hop on the bus again to go into the heart of the city, to the Smal Street Mall, an area of ethnic shops, including Vlisco, which sells African fabrics. The Carlton Centre is across the road, and at 50 storeys it offers a great view of the city. While you're up there grab a table at Marung, a restaurant offering local dishes. There's good shopping on two floors at the base of the building.
The bus moves east to Fox Street, where, between Phillips and Greene Streets is Jewellery City, a secure closed-off section for shoppers of diamond and gold jewellery.
The next stop is not for the faint-hearted - the bus drops delegates at Faraday Muti (medicine) Market with a display of African herbs, snake skins, bark, animal horns and tails, and other traditional African remedies. Visitors can consult with an inyanga or traditional doctor, at the market.
The last stop is Gandhi Square, where a large decorative plaque to Mahatma Gandhi is about to be displayed. Gandhi used to have his legal offices on the Square. Some 15 huge pots were recently destroyed in a municipal strike, but the pots will be replaced by the start of the Summit, and planted with trees that have significance for him, including olive trees representing peace, and Pride of India shrubs.
The bus moves back to Mary Fitzgerald Square again. A shuttle bus to Ubuntu Village and Nasrec, two Summit venues, also leaves from the Square every 10 minutes.
So, bring your umbrella, just in case.
Permission to use web site material
Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as:
- Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website
(www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency
(www.joburg.org.za)";
- If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original
article on this website;
- The name of the article's author is acknowledged;
-
The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill
in this brief online form).
Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 |
