Johannesburg Introduction Walking Tour (Self Guided), Johannesburg

Gandhi Square is in Johannesburg's Central District. This square is named after Mahatma Gandhi, the famous Indian pacifist, and political activist. During the early 20th century, the area was known as Government Square, with the Court House being the focal point. Prior to its naming as Government Square, the area was known as Van Der Bijl Square.

Gandhi had legal offices at the corner of Anderson and Rissik. During much of the 20th century, the square fell into a state of disrepair, leading to an extensive project that began in the 1990s and finished in 2002. The developer spent 2 million Rand to complete this project.

One of the outcomes of the project was to allow for new shops to open along the square. Today, the square is a broad, open plaza that is a perfect place to enjoy the relaxing atmosphere. A statue of Gandhi is also present here that visitors will enjoy taking photos of.

Johannesburg City Hall was constructed between 1910 and 1914. This building has enjoyed National Monument status since 1979. The style is known as Edwardian Baroque, with distinctive features like a neo-Renaissance half-dome entrance and a portico featuring Ionic columns. A two-half design places the Town Hall and municipal offices on opposite sides.

There is a paved square in front of the main entrance, with obelisks and a fountain. Visitors will appreciate the collection of mosaics and the marble used to decorate the vestibule. Two staircases lead up to the gallery area.

The Town Hall area features decorative gilding, plaster, and woodwork that are still impressive to see. One of the highlights of this area is a Norman & Beard of Norwich-built pipe organ that was used for recitals during the 1920s. This organ once enjoyed status as the largest organ in Africa and the second-largest organ in the Southern Hemisphere.

Ansteys Tower is a historic gem amongst the modern skyscrapers of Johannesburg’s Central Business District, known locally as Newtown. Opened in 1937, it is an 82 meter high, asymmetrical art deco construction. The stone clad frontage has a cubist element, resembling an abstract stack of bricks. It is named after Norman Anstey, the owner of an elegant department store which once occupied the first four floors of the building. Anstey’s was renowned for its elaborate window dressings, seen through plate glass shop frontages. Whilst the store has now closed, many of the fittings still remain, including floor to ceiling mirrors and brass shop fittings.

The building was the tallest in Africa when it was first opened, and is now a National Monument, meaning that its architectural features are protected by the government. In addition to its aesthetic value, the tower has also played a part in the troubled history of South Africa. The residential portion of the building was once home to Cecil Williams, an actor, playwright and a member of Umkhonto we Sizwe – the radical wing of the African National Congress (ANC) political party. Nelson Mandela was also a member, and it was whilst posing as Williams’ driver in 1962 that he was captured and imprisoned.

The Johannesburg Art Gallery, located in Joubert Park at the heart of Johannesburg, stands as the largest art gallery on the African continent. This esteemed institution boasts a substantial collection, surpassing even the renowned Iziko South African National Gallery in Cape Town.

Constructed in 1915, the gallery's architectural design was masterminded by Sir Edwin Lutyens, with Robert Howden serving as the overseeing architect. The gallery complex comprises 15 exhibition halls and includes splendid sculpture gardens. Its extensive holdings encompass a diverse range of artworks, including 17th-century Dutch paintings, 18th- and 19th-century British and European art, 19th-century South African pieces, a substantial contemporary collection of 20th-century art from both local and international artists, and a print cabinet housing works spanning from the 15th century to the present day.

Today, the gallery's rich assortment encompasses works by esteemed artists such as Auguste Rodin, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Pablo Picasso, Camille Pissarro, Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Herbert Ward, and Henry Moore. Additionally, it showcases creations by prominent South African artists, including Gerard Sekoto, Walter Battiss, Alexis Preller, Maud Sumner, Sydney Kumalo, Ezrom Legae, and Pierneef. The gallery also takes pride in its extensive collection of contemporary works by local artists, ensuring a vibrant and ever-evolving cultural experience for its visitors.

Joubert Park is the Johannesburg Central Business District's largest park. Some of the highlights of the park include beautiful landscaping and a peaceful atmosphere that attracts visitors of all ages to enjoy the relaxing setting. An informal chess club likes to gather here, and visitors enjoy watching the members at work.

As the city's oldest park, this area has seen a lot of changes over the years. As many as 20,000 people head to the park every month, making it one of the city's most popular hangouts. One of the park's major highlights is that it is host to the Johannesburg Art Gallery, which has been around since 1910.

The big TV screens host movies and other types of entertainment. In addition to the art gallery, the Victorian Conservatory is worth seeing. Another exciting highlight is the two-story building constructed from mud, serving as an example of sustainable construction.

The Old Fort complex began in 1892 when a high-security prison was built to house white male prisoners. In 1896, Paul Kruger, then president of the South African Republic, decided to build a fort around this prison to protect the country from the threat of British invasion. In later years, the fort was also used as a prison. Ironically, it was at this place where the Boer military leaders of the Anglo-Boer War were imprisoned by the British.

The Old Fort prison complex was later extended to include "native" cells, called Section 4 and Section 5, and, in 1907, a women's section was added. An awaiting-trial block was constructed in the 1920s. Both political activists opposed to apartheid and common criminals were held at the prison. Mahatma Gandhi was imprisoned here in 1906, and striking white mineworkers in 1907, 1913 and 1922.

Under the apartheid government, only whites were held in the Old Fort itself, except for Nelson Mandela, who was given a bed in the hospital section when he was as an awaiting-trial prisoner in 1962 prior to the Rivonia Trial. Joe Slovo, Bram Fischer, Albert Luthuli, and Robert Sobukwe were also inmates. The site housed prisoners until 1983 when it was closed.

Nowadays the site hosts the Women's Gaol Museum, Number Four Museum, and the Old Fort Museum with exhibitions on history and human rights in South Africa.

Tips:
You can go into the cells, see and touch. There are signs everywhere in English to give you more information, as well as an orientation film to start. There is also an exhibition on Mandela and Gandhi.

Go for the guided tour. You'll get so much more out of it (and it's only a few dollars extra)!