Public realm as the city welfare, Johannesburg, Case Study
By GUSTAVO TRIANA | Published: DECEMBER 11, 2013
"City within the City", Johannesburg 2013, Photo by Gustavo Triana
In 1964, Nelson Mandela was imprisoned after following the idea of fighting for equality by all means.
His idea of equality and forgiveness was his main leitmotiv, but their economic expectations were composed around a plan that included a lot of work to do.
His “economic dream” was based on the “Freedom Chárter”, where work and education for all, as well as a sharing of the country's vast natural resources, are mentioned.
After receiving a country with serious problems in all areas and an economy in decline, he managed to get water and electricity for many millions of people, but the infrastructure was neglected, and inefficiency and corruption became serious problems.
Johannesburg is the economic capital of South Africa, with four million inhabitants within the city area and 7 million people living in the Metropolitan Area. The city is the economic motor of Subsaharan Africa.
The gap between rich and poor is one of the highest in the world, and some recent measurements show that it is now higher than in the days of apartheid.