New York City Global Partners Home About Global Partners- Organization- Sponsors- Internship OpportunitiesNewsSummits- Workforce 2009- Public Health 2008- Diversity Summit 2007- Public Art Summit 2005- Technology Summit 2004- Tourism Summit 2003- Security Summit 2003Global Partners JuniorInnovation ExchangeNYC's Sister Cities- Beijing- Budapest- Cairo- Jerusalem- Johannesburg- London- Madrid- Rome- Santo Domingo- TokyoNYC Gateway- China in NYC- Hungary in the City- Egypt in the City- Israel in the City- S. Africa in the City- The UK in the City- Spain in the City- Italy in the City- Dominican Republic in the City- Japan in the CityOutreach Activities- Global Partners Junior- Citizen Support ProjectsContact Global PartnersUNCCP Home
Johannesburg
History of the RelationshipCurrent InitiativesPast ActivitiesJohannesburg at dusk. Photo credit: Walter Knirr, courtesy of South African Tourism
Johannesburg, commonly called Jo’burg, is the largest city in South Africa. It serves as the economic capital of sub-Saharan Africa despite its land-locked position in the middle of South Africa. With the discovery of gold in the 1880s, Johannesburg began to accumulate wealth and was strengthened by the subsequent rush of prospectors. Land value quickly increased, and tensions rose between the Afrikaaners, who controlled the region during the nineteenth century, and the English. The Anglo-Boer War of 1899 to 1902 forced the Dutch to cede the property to Britain, who declared South Africa a Union in 1910.
In the 20th century, the city struggled with racial conflict and the apartheid system. Non-whites were forcibly removed to outlying parts of the city and whites controlled all aspects of wealthy society and government. High crime plagued the ghettos and spread throughout the city, deterring tourists from exploring the riches of the city’s vibrant past. Today, apartheid is gone and Johannesburg is becoming a lively and exciting tourist destination. Artist perfects his painting for the 1st Johannesburg Biennale in 1995. The Johannesburg Biennale consisted of six exhibitions in six different venues around Johannesburg and Cape Town. Participating artists came from 63 countries, 20 of them from Africa. Photo by Lucille Davie
Gandhi Square, named for the Indian Freedom Fighter who spent time in South Africa working as a lawyer. Photo copyright City of Johannesburg
The Randburg Waterfront in Johannesburg was modeled after the Victoria and Albert Waterfront in Cape Town, following that waterfront's tremendous popularity as a site for recreation and entertainment. The artifical lake is surrounded by restaurants, cinemas, fountains, playgounds and shops.
Mayor of NYC
Michael Bloomberg
Executive Mayor of Johannesburg
Amos Masondo
City of JohannesburgSouth Africa Missions in New YorkSouth African TourismJohannesburg Development AgencyThe American Chamber of Commerce in South AfricaThe United States Embassy in South AfricaGateway New York
Gateway Johannesburg: S. Africa in the CityDid You Know
http://www.joburg.org.za
Johannesburg is said to have 6 million trees, more than any other city in the world.
