About the neighborhood
Place in Gauteng, South Africa
Braamfontein (English: blackberry spring, or more prosaicly blackberry springs; also known as Braam) is a central suburb of Johannesburg, in South Africa, seat of the Constitutional Court of South Africa and some of South Africa's major corporations such as Liberty Holdings Limited, JD Group (part of Steinhoff Africa), Sappi, and Bidvest (formerly Rennies) Bank and Hollard. Situated due north of the city centre, Braamfontein is the fourth-largest office node in the city of Johannesburg containing many multi-storied buildings representing various architectural styles including Art Deco and Brutalist. Numerous office buildings have been and are in the process of being converted to residential apartments. The offices of the Johannesburg City Council and the University of the Witwatersrand are situated in Braamfontein. The Nelson Mandela Bridge is a landmark that connects Braamfontein to the city centre, traversing South Africa's most extensive passenger train marshalling yard. Jan Smuts Avenue and Empire Road are two major road thoroughfares that run through the suburb.
History
The name "Braamfontein" dates from as early as 1853, when a farm with this name to the north-west of Randjeslaagte belonged to Gert Bezuidenhout. In that year he applied to the government of the Transvaal to have his farm surveyed. In 1858, Gert sold his farm to F.J. Bezuidenhout.
Like many farms on the Witwatersrand, Braamfontein was subdivided early on, indicating a fairly dense population in the area. Two other Bezuidenhouts, Gerhardus Petrus and Cornelis Willem, each purchased one third of the farm in 1862, and a third part went to Frans Johannes van Dijk. Between 1862 and 1886 different portions were further subdivided.
Three other well-known owners were Johannes Jacobus Lindeque, who in 1884, bought a section where the Country Club was later established in 1906, and Frans Eduard and Louwrens Geldenhuys.
The first suburb established on the farm Braamfontein in 1888-1889 was unofficially named after the farm, as an official extension of the city of Johannesburg. This area is still called Braamfontein. There was, however, an earlier but unsuccessful effort to create a suburb prior to this.
On February 19, 1896, a freight train containing 56 tonnes of dynamite exploded in Braamfontein, killing 78 people.
During the apartheid era, large-scale commercial development in the area was encouraged. Until the middle of the 1980s an electric trolley-bus line traversed some of the area's roads. After the abolition of apartheid, the area began to deteriorate. However, intervention by both the city of Johannesburg and large corporate business, acting as the "Braamfontein Management District", initiated a process of urban renewal in this district. Urban renewal efforts and the establishment of the Braamfontein Management District by the Johannesburg Development Agency and property owners have prevented the district from decaying to the same extent as the Johannesburg CBD; however, considerable work remains to be done in order to restore the area's economic infrastructure to developed-country standards, eliminate dangerous and unsanitary buildings owned by the private sector, eliminate violent crime, reduce petty crime to tolerable levels, and prevent infringements of road traffic laws.
Government
The Railway Safety Regulator once had its head office in Braamfontein.
References
External links
Braamfontein Management District
Climate 2016 flooding
2018–2021 drought
Cradle of Humankind Taung Child
Mrs Ples
Little Foot
Rising Star Expedition Underground Astronauts
Biodiversity Highveld grasslands (ecoregion)
Montane grasslands and shrublands (biome)
Afrotropical realm (biogeographic realm)
Palaeotropical kingdom (floristic kingdom)
Northern Provinces (WGSRPD area)
Timber trees
Human impact Acid mine drainage
Mine dumps
Urbanisation Sprawl
Civic buildings Johannesburg City Hall
Johannesburg Central Police Station
Office buildings 11 Diagonal Street
Chamber of Mines Building
Chancellor House
Consolidated Building
Corner House
Corona Lodge
Cuthberts Building
Eskom Centre
Johannesburg Trades Hall
Kimberley House
Logistics House
London House
Luthuli House
Markham Building
Megawatt Park
Natal Bank Building
National Bank Building
Shell House
Standard Bank Building
Victory House
Residential buildings Ansteys Building
Arop House
Astor Mansions
Beacon Royal
Circle Court
Dorkay House
Houghton Heights
Kingsway Mansions
Lauriston Court
Manners Mansions
Radoma Court
Structures Brixton Tower
Hillbrow Tower
Nelson Mandela Bridge
Grayston Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge
Urban planning Alexandra Renewal Project
Heritage conservation Johannesburg Heritage Foundation
Provincial government Gauteng Provincial Legislature
Executive Council of Gauteng
Municipalities City of Johannesburg Seat: Johannesburg
Mayor: Dada Morero
Elections
Flag
Coat of arms
City of Ekurhuleni Seat: Germiston
Mayor: Nkosindiphile Xhakaza
Elections
West Rand Merafong Seat: Carletonville
Mogale Seat: Krugersdorp
Rand West Seat: Randfontein
African Union Pan-African Parliament Bureau
Secretariat
NEPAD Secretariat
Historical companies and organisationsEvents Jameson Raid
Braamfontein explosion
Battle of Doornkop
Battle of Witpoort
Rand Rebellion
Empire Exhibition Schlesinger African Air Race
1946 African Mine Workers' Union strike
Sophiatown forced removals
Congress of the People Freedom Charter
Treason Trial
1957 Alexandra bus boycott
Soweto uprising
Concert in the Park
Westdene dam disaster
Eerste Alternatiewe Afrikaanse Rockkonsert
Storming of the Kempton Park World Trade Centre
Shell House massacre
Ellis Park Stadium disaster
Bredell land occupation
World Summit on Sustainable Development Johannesburg Declaration
2002 Soweto bombings
Jacob Zuma rape trial
Live 8 concert
Live Earth concert
Miss World 2008
Miss World 2009
Occupy Johannesburg
Murder of Mido Macia
Death and state memorial service of Nelson Mandela
2015 train crash
#FeesMustFall
Life Esidimeni scandal
10th BRICS summit
Zondo Commission
2019 riots
Shooting of Nathaniel Julies
Zuma riots
Murder of Babita Deokaran
2022 Soweto shooting
Boksburg explosion
2023 Boksburg gas leak
15th BRICS summit
2023 building fire
Events and festivals Abantu Book Festival
Encounters South African International Documentary Festival
Joburg Art Fair
In the City
Johannesburg International Motor Show
Johannesburg Pride
Jozi Book Fair
Naledi Theatre Awards
Out In Africa South African Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
RAMFest
Rand Show
South Africa's Children's Book Fair
Transforming Stories International Christian Film Festival
Ultra South Africa
Museums and art galleries Apartheid Museum
Constitution Hill Museum
Fietas Museum
Gold Reef City
Goodman Gallery
Hector Pieterson Museum
James Hall Transport Museum
Joburg Contemporary Art Foundation
Johannesburg Art Gallery
Johannesburg Holocaust and Genocide Centre
South African Airways Museum
Mandela House
Market Photo Workshop
Maropeng
Military History Museum
Museum Africa
Satyagraha House
Workers' Museum
Clubs and societies Afrikaanse Taal- en Kultuurvereniging
Automobile Association
Nippon Club
Rand Club
SAA Museum Society
South African Radio League
Southern African Vexillological Association
Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Saints Constantine and Helen
Latter-day Saints Johannesburg South Africa Temple
Lutheran Friedenskirche
Synagogues Progressive Beit Emanuel Progressive Synagogue
Temple Israel
Mosques Jumah Mosque
Nizamiye Mosque
Hindu temples Madhya Kailash Shiva Temple
Scientology centres Castle Kyalami
Newspapers Caxton local newspapers (various)
Beeld
Business Day
The Citizen
City Press
Daily Maverick
Daily Sun
Jewish Report
Mail & Guardian
Mayihlome News
Rapport
The South African
The Sowetan
The Star
The Sunday Independent
Sunday Times
TimesLIVE
Wits Vuvuzela
Radio stations 5FM
702
947
ArrowLine Chinese Radio
Boervolk Radio
ChaiFM
Channel Africa
Ekurhuleni FM
Hot 1027
Jozi FM
Kasie FM
Kaya FM
Metro FM
Munghana Lonene FM
Power FM
Radio 2000
Radio Sonder Grense
Rock FM 91.9
SAfm
UJFM
YFM
Television channels CNBC Africa
eNCA
M-Net
Me
SABC 1
SABC 2
SABC 3
SABC Children
SABC Education
SABC News
SABC Sport
Soweto TV
Film studios Film Resource Unit
Quizzical Pictures
Record labels Ambitiouz Entertainment
CCP Records
Family Tree Records
Gallo Records
Kalawa Jazmee Records
Game studios Celestial Games
Cultural references District 9
Egoli: Place of Gold
"Gimme Hope Jo'anna"
Johannesburg Festival Overture
The Real Housewives of Johannesburg
Sarafina!
"Soweto Blues"
Welcome to Our Hillbrow
Zoo City
Construction and engineering Concor
Murray & Roberts
Energy DLO Energy Resources
Total South Africa
Financial
Absa Group
Alexforbes
Discovery
Evolution Group
Hollard Group
Investec
Liberty Holdings
Livestock Wealth
MiWay Insurance
Lesaka Technologies
Old Mutual
RMB Holdings
RMI Holdings
STANLIB
Venmyn Rand
Hospitality Southern Sun Hotels
Sun International
Tsogo Sun
ICT Afrihost
BCX
Cell C
Datatec
Dimension Data
iOCO
MTN
Neotel
OTEL Telecoms
Rain
Sybrin
Teraco Data Environments
Vodacom
Defunct Internet Solutions
Luma Arcade
Vision Software
Legal Bowman Gilfillan
ENSafrica
Webber Wentzel
Werksmans
Defunct Deneys Reitz
Mandela and Tambo
Manufacturing Adcock Ingram
AECI
African Explosives
All Joy Foods
Bakers
Clover Industries
FEW
IWC
Isuzu Trucks South Africa
Land Systems OMC
Nampak
Paramount Group
PPC
Premier FMCG
Rand Refinery
Rembrandt Group
Sappi
Simba
SkyReach Aircraft
Sling Aircraft
South African Breweries
Tiger Brands
Truvelo Armoury
Union Carriage & Wagon
Defunct Basil Green Motors
New PowerChutes
Media Arena Holdings
Caxton and CTP Publishers and Printers
MultiChoice
Nu Metro Cinemas
Primedia
SABC
StarSat
Ster-Kinekor
Mining Alexkor
Asa Resources
African Rainbow Minerals
AngloGold Ashanti
Drdgold
ERPM
Gold Fields
Harmony Gold
Impala Platinum
JCI
Metorex
Northam Platinum
Sibanye-Stillwater
Defunct Simmer and Jack
Retail and marketing AutoTrader
Bidorbuy
Cadac
CNA
The Creative Counsel
Dis-Chem
Exclusive Books
Hyundai South Africa
Incredible Connection
Massmart
Wantitall
Defunct Edcon
OK Bazaars
Restaurant franchises Chicken Licken
Debonairs Pizza
Mugg & Bean
Nando's
Roman's Pizza
Steers
Wimpy
Services Netcare
SA Waste Holdings
Defunct Bosasa
Transport Avis Southern Africa
Comazar
PUTCO
Surtees Rail Group
State-owned enterprises Airports Company South Africa
Denel Aeronautics
Development Bank of Southern Africa
Eskom
Rand Water
South African Broadcasting Corporation
Sasol
Sentech
South African Airways
Transnet Freightdynamics
Defunct Lema
Companies based in Ekurhuleni
Companies based in Johannesburg
Professional associations Gauteng Institute for Architecture
South African Institute of Chartered Accountants
South African Institute of Electrical Engineers
South African Institute of Professional Accountants
Mining Minerals Council South Africa
Rand Refinery
Shopping centres Carlton Centre
Cresta Mall
Dobsonville Mall
Eastgate
Fourways Mall
Hyde Park Corner
Mall of Africa
Maponya Mall
Nelson Mandela Square
Northgate
Northmead Square
Oriental City
Oriental Plaza
Protea Glen Mall
Sandton City
Southgate
Hotels and resorts The Leonardo
Michelangelo Towers
Montecasino
Venues Ellis Park Arena
Gallagher Convention Centre
Restaurants, bars, clubs and cafés The Bassline
The Radium
Tourism Gold Reef City
Road transport Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport
Johannesburg Roads Agency
Roads
Freeways e-tolling
Buses and taxis PUTCO
Trolleybuses
Rail transport Gautrain
Metrorail Gauteng
Johannesburg–Durban high speed rail (proposed)
Trams
Rugby Golden Lions
Lions
Valke
Jozi Cats
Cricket Central Gauteng Lions
Easterns
Easterns Women
Highveld Lions
Imperial Lions
Joburg Super Kings
Titans
Basketball Egoli Magic
Jozi Nuggets
Soweto Panthers
UJ men's basketball team
Equestrian sports National Horseracing Authority
South African Lipizzaners
Sports events 1992 Return Test
1995 Rugby World Cup final
2003 Cricket World Cup final
2010 FIFA World Cup final
Joburg Open
Joburg Ladies Open
South African Derby
South African PGA Championship
Soweto Derby
Sports venues Golf courses Glendower Golf Club
Randpark Golf Club
Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club
Equestrian venues Turffontein Racecourse
Motorsports venues Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit
University of the Witwatersrand Campuses
Evolutionary Studies Institute
Global Change Institute
Industrial and Mining Water Research Unit
Johannesburg Planetarium
Philosophical Papers
Wits Theatre Complex
Wits Vuvuzela
CIDA City Campus
IIE MSA
Other tertiary institutions AFDA
Central Johannesburg College
CityVarsity
Damelin
Damelin Correspondence College
Eduvos
Inscape Design College
State schools Hoërskool Alberton
Allen Glen High School
Athlone Boys' High School
Barnato Park High School
Boksburg High School
Bopasenatla Secondary School
Bryanston High School
Hoërskool Dinamika
Hoërskool Florida
Germiston High School
Greenside High School
Hyde Park High School
Jeppe High School for Boys
Jeppe High School for Girls
King Edward VII School
Hoërskool Marais Viljoen
Meadowlands Secondary School
Moletsane High School
Hoërskool Monument
Morris Isaacson High School
Naledi High School
Northcliff High School
Orchards Primary School
Parktown Boys' High School
Parkview Senior Primary School
Sandown High School
Sandringham High School
Sir John Adamson High School
Springs Boys' High School
Thutolore Secondary School
Hoërskool Voortrekker
Waverley Girls' High School
Westbury Secondary School
Private schools Ashton International College
Auckland Park Academy of Excellence
Aurora Private School
Charter College
Crawford College, Lonehill
Crawford College, Sandton
Helpmekaar Kollege
Holy Family College
Japari School
Johannesburg Muslim School
King David Schools
Kingsmead College
Lenasia Muslim School
Marist Brothers College
Redhill School
Roedean School
Sacred Heart College
St Barnabas College
St Benedict's College
St Catherine's School
St David's Marist College
St Dominic's Catholic School for Girls
St Dunstan's College
St John's College
St Martin's School
St Mary's School
St Peter's College
St Stithians College
Torah Academy School
Yeshiva College of South Africa
Yeshiva Maharsha Beis Aharon
Alternative schools African Leadership Academy
Branson School of Entrepreneurship
Khanya College
Michael Mount Waldorf School
International schools American International School
Deutsche Internationale Schule
Japanese School
Lycée Jules Verne
Water supply and sanitation Rand Water
Lesotho Highlands Water Project
Encyclopedic content adapted from the Wikipedia article on Braamfontein, used under CC BY-SA 4.0.
