On Thursday 10 March, the matric girls set out on their urban tour of Johannesburg for their Geography focus day. The first stop was Victoria Yards to take a close look at inner city development, rejuvenation and gentrification. The girls were taken on a fascinating guided tour around Victoria Yards which included strolls through artisan studios and an immense vegetable garden which forms part of an urban agriculture project seeking to stimulate job creation and income-generating opportunities. After buying hot chocolate, croissants and sorbet from local vendors, the girls hopped back onto the bus and continued the tour through Maboneng and the Johannesburg CBD.

During this portion of the journey, the girls were exposed to examples of hijacked buildings and the many issues around urban blight. The settlement concepts taught in class came to life as the girls were able to appreciate the concepts of high land values, the transition zone and urban renewal. The bus then took the girls to 44 Stanley in Braamfontein, where, apart from the excellent shopping and delicious lunch that was happily (and rapidly) consumed, the girls were able to see tangible examples of facadism and functional magnetism. To conclude the day’s journey, the bus drove through the Rosebank precinct where the girls kept an eye out for examples of urban greening and hostile architecture.

JESSICA BEALL
GEOGRAPHY LOCUM TEACHER