I and my grandmother’s journey was to the Johannesburg Art Gallery (JAG), in Joubert Park.

The landmarks we saw include the Masjid Siratul Jannah Mosque, Gold Reef City and
Booysens. This was fascinating due to the abrupt change in environment coming ahead,
considering our commute from the calm and peaceful South of Johannesburg.

Imagine being stuck in a taxi, at the glimpse of the Standard Bank building the chaos to
come to Noord Taxi Rank is foretold. Such a harsh transition, don’t you think? Getting off at
Noord, personal safety is a prime concern due to the taxi drivers aggressive nature and the
congestion caused by commuters and street vendors on sidewalks. On arrival to the gallery,
you are greeted by a 108-year-old imposing structure, masking the diverse cultural
experience you are about to walk into.

Immediately you are immersed into the gallery’s historic colonialist architecture, which is
overshadowed by the fact that the Johannesburg Art Gallery is home to over ten thousand
art pieces created by African artists. The barrel vault ceilings, merge seamlessly with the art
pieces. A courtyard is present to allow the public to relax and still interact with wooden
carved statues. The JAG transports its users into a whole new world outside of Joubert Park
and its surroundings, this is as a result to the feeling of safety and comfort it induces.

Hence there is huge juxtaposition between the Johannesburg Art Gallery, Joubert Park and
Johannesburg CBD when it to aspects of comfort and safety.

The great divide between Johannesburg CBD and Kibler Park which is in the south of
Johannesburg, is because of two men namely, Johannes Joubert and Johannes Rissik.
During the apartheid era they both worked in land and surveying mapping, History of
Johannesburg - Wikipedia. The spatial and town planning were racially inspired, due to the
apartheid regime. As white were placed in the city centre close to the businesses and mines.
Resulting in financial exclusion between white people and people of colour. Suburbs and
cities were both farms. Examples include the farm of J.S Booysens, Langlaagte, turffontein
and Doornfontein. The history of kibler park, is that it was initially inhabited by white people
this was without the impression of black people moving in to a white suburb.Which resulted
in the white people moving out of the area.

The areas, KIbler Park, Booysens and Johannesburg are divided into three depending in the
category as kibler park is residence in CBD area , Booysen is individual together with
Johannesburg which is bother mixed as there area apartments.

Thank you