Brixton, Gauteng
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Brixton is a predominantly working class suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa. It is the site of the landmark
Sentech Tower The Sentech Tower, previously named the Albert Hertzog Tower and commonly known as the Brixton Tower, is a concrete television tower in the Brixton suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa, near the top of the Brixton Ridge. It is a well-known and e ...
, and is near the suburbs of
Auckland Park Auckland Park is a suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa. It lies on a gentle slope, and is in close proximity to the suburbs of Melville, Brixton, Westdene and Richmond. Auckland Park is one of the few suburbs close to the Johannesburg city c ...
and Melville.


History

The suburb of Brixton was first surveyed in 1902 from a portion of the farm ''Braamfontein''. The suburb was named after the
Brixton Brixton is an area of South London, part of the London Borough of Lambeth, England. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London. Brixton experienced a rapid rise in population during the 19th century ...
suburb in
London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
with many of the area's streets taking their names from districts in the British capital. The ridge on which the area was developed in the early 20th century offers a panoramic view of most surrounding areas of Johannesburg. Brixton consists of wide, neat streets containing some 980 houses, many of which are traditional semi-detached homes with low set walls.


Architecture

The suburb possesses several distinctive churches, with one having been built by
Sir Herbert Baker Sir Herbert Baker (9 June 1862 – 4 February 1946) was an English architect remembered as the dominant force in South African architecture for two decades, and a major designer of some of New Delhi's most notable government structures. He was ...
and Frank Fleming. A few Brixton houses have been declared provincial heritage sites. The area also features one of the largest cemeteries in
Johannesburg Johannesburg ( , , ; Zulu language, Zulu and Xhosa language, Xhosa: eGoli ) (colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg, Jo'burg or "The City of Gold") is the most populous city in South Africa. With 5,538,596 people in the City of Johannesburg alon ...
. Laid out in 1912, Brixton Cemetery has a historic
Hindu Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...
crematorium which was organised by
Mahatma Gandhi Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (2October 186930January 1948) was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalism, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethics, political ethicist who employed nonviolent resistance to lead the successful Indian ...
shortly before his departure from South Africa in 1914. The commanding
Sentech Tower The Sentech Tower, previously named the Albert Hertzog Tower and commonly known as the Brixton Tower, is a concrete television tower in the Brixton suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa, near the top of the Brixton Ridge. It is a well-known and e ...
overlooks the area. Built in 1962, the tower is used for broadcasting television and radio stations across the country. The tower once featured a restaurant at its top, but this was closed in 1982 due to political tensions.


Kingston Frost Park

The area is also home to the Kingston Frost Park. Originally called the Brixton Park when it was laid out in 1925, the park was renamed the Kingston Frost Park in 1939 in honor of the Johannesburg city councillor, AC Kingston Frost. Visitors to the park are greeted with a tall beacon commemorating those who died in
World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
. In recent years, local residents have taken it upon themselves to actively maintain, clean, and finance the upkeep of the park, as part of an initiative led by local actress, cabaret artist, an
Zietsies guesthouse
owner
Elzabé Zietsman.


Gentrification

Due to the diversity of residents in terms of education, income and cultural heritage, the people of Brixton are establishing a proud tradition of community building and upliftment projects to unify and connect its inhabitants. The suburb is composed of artists, architects, students, celebrities and immigrants from across Africa with people of varying faiths and cultures living side by side. Initiatives such a
The Brixton Light Festival
a free open air market and performance space created by members of the community, as well as Shade Kids Saturday Art Classes, that provide creative outlets and often, meals for the children of Brixton, have done much to bolster the social cohesion of the district. Brixton is home to th
South African National Youth Orchestra
headquarters, as well as the legendar
Hugenote Amateur Boxing Club
established by "Naas Botes in 1961 and has produced regional, provincial and national champions, as well as Springbok boxers." The image of the Brixton
Central Business District A central business district (CBD) is the Commerce, commercial and business center of a city. It contains commercial space and offices, and in larger cities will often be described as a financial district. Geographically, it often coincides wit ...
is still perceived as negative, the area's disheveled High Street stores are in need of business investors and the parking remains scarce. However, with its close proximity to two prominent universities, population and low property and rental prices, investment in the area may prove to be profitable. Brixton has traditionally been a working class suburb, but has seen an influx of a few professionals in recent years. The area's low property prices and the ridge's panoramic views have attracted new residents to the area although there are many areas that are perceived as dilapidated and overcrowded. There is also a large, ever growing student population, which attend the nearby
University of the Witwatersrand The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (), commonly known as Wits University or Wits, is a multi-campus Public university, public research university situated in the northern areas of central Johannesburg, South Africa. The universit ...
and
University of Johannesburg The University of Johannesburg, colloquially known as UJ, is a public university A public university, state university, or public college is a university or college that is State ownership, owned by the state or receives significant fundi ...
. These students may prove to be a lucrative market that som
African finance consultants
suggest still remains untapped.


References

Brixton, the Caring Suburb The city's history {{Greater Johannesburg, communities Johannesburg Region B