Great Johannesburg: What Happened?

'Johannesburg's evolution encapsulates the resilience of a city constantly navigating change. It's easy to think its current challenges have delivered its ultimate fall from
grace. But Johannesburg has always been a dodgy mining town on the brink of chaos or catastrophe with the chance of something spectacular being not that far behind.'

Zama zamas running riot, water cuts, blackouts, exploding streets, political instability. The list goes on. Is the City of Gold in a death spiral?

Award-winning journalist Nickolaus Bauer examines the current crisis by starting right at the beginning, with Johannesburg's origins as a cauldron of cultures and a
hustler's haven. He looks at how a city of migrants turned into a xenophobic hotspot, how the politics of gold, the shadow of apartheid and the evolution of the tsotsi - crime and criminality - affect life in Johannesburg today, and what can be done about these. With chapters on redlining, the walkability of the city, corporate corruption, mayoral musical chairs and the proliferation of illegal backyard buildings, Great Johannesburg provides a comprehensive analysis of the current malaise, as it outlines possible solutions.

Bauer, an inner-city activist and former City of Johannesburg Deputy Director, offers incisive insights into everything from Rea Vaya to Ponte City to how the crisis at Eskom affects service delivery, ultimately providing hope about how we can rescue Africa's economic powerhouse.