In-depth 2019: Louis Botha

Louis Botha Avenue’s ‘Little Italy’: What is left of la dolce vita?

By: Gemma Gatticchi

Amid Louis Botha Avenue’s shift in demographics, a few businesses stand out as relics of the former Italian migrant community that made the area home.

When you hear “Buongiorno!” from Samson Muvhali, you know you have arrived in Johannesburg’s slice of what was once dubbed “Little Italy”.

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Johannesburg’s historic vet hospital stays healthy

By: Rose Clemence Shayo

Over a long period of time, Louis Botha Avenue has undergone a drastic turn in many aspects from what it used to look like a century ago.

Commerce there has had its highs and lows, with several businesses coming and going.

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A safe place in a strange land

By: Jabulile Mbatha

A courageous Malawian woman making big life changes to ensure her own happiness, she first left her country of birth to attain financial freedom and then her husband, who tried to rape his stepdaughter.

A mother, friend, mentor and sister, she lives in Orange Grove and works in a fruit and vegetable store on Louis Botha Avenue.

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My brothers’ keeper

By: Imaan Moosa

Family, for some, is not written into the branches of ancestor charts but lies in the interlocking characters whose lives flow into each other daily.

One unlikely family, whose lineage can be traced to the plot of land they share in Savoy Estate at the corner of Louis Botha and Grenville avenues, are a hodgepodge of characters from South Africa, Zimbabwe, West Africa and Bangladesh.

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Feeling at home with charity on Louis Botha Avenue

By: Molebogeng Mokoka

If we were to draw inspiration from spiritual books, we would learn that the hand that gives is more blessed than the hand that receives.

On Louis Botha A venue, however, sometimes it is giving inspired by experience, yet without expectation, which contributes to changing lives.

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It’s a family affair, forging a historic institution

By: Tumelo Modida

In a bar and grill on Louis Botha Avenue there sits a tale of how a man and his family came to own a heritage site honoured by the City of Johannesburg.

A cheerful man wearing a blue-striped shirt walks into the Radium Beer Hall on the corner of Louis Botha Avenue and 9th Street in Orange Grove, Johannesburg.

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CHURCH: Home for the broken, the bruised and displaced

By: Anathi Madubela

“So then, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household.”     – Ephesians 2:19

“Fire! Fire! Fire!” screams the congregation after the man of God tells them to curse the demons out to get them.

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‘My barber’s shop is my culture’

By: Lwandile Shange

Hustlers Corner Shop is a barber’s where relationships are formed, advice is given and a brotherhood has developed. It represents the community and the many cultures that thrive on Louis Botha Avenue. 

For the past three years Professor Nkomo has left his home in Orange Grove at 8am, placed a batch of energy drinks he sells in his barber’s shop into the boot of his rusty old white Toyota Corolla, and then made his way to work on Louis Botha avenue.

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Home away from home on the Avenue of Africa

By: Leneo Leteba

Finding the perfect dish that will fill your belly, along with a pinch of nostalgia, is no longer too difficult a task on Louis Botha Avenue with ‘the Place of Help’.

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The rainbow nation’s wall of silence

There has recently been a new addition to the haunted Louis Botha death bend, bringing to the community a whole new array of bright colours and strong opinions.

“Dumela,” greets 23-year-old Mahlatse Sachane as he climbs into the taxi and settles into his favourite window seat directly behind the driver.

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Christ my culture, Christ my home

In a land foreign to your own, where do you turn? Who do you call? Where do you belong?

HURRYING across the streets to assemble inside various buildings and shop-like structures on Louis Botha Avenue on a Sunday morning are families of African migrants.

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The survivalists of Louis Botha Avenue

In contrast to the avenue’s larger businesses, its informal economy represents a different kind of entrepreneur who works on the pavement, looking desperately at the fast-moving traffic as a means to glean a livelihood.

Among the three hair-cutting stations in the shade of large trees in front of the Balfour Alexandra Football Club, a barber wearing a Highlands Park football jersey and yellow MTN cap wields a buzzing razor with skill as he shaves a customer’s head.

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Tsholanang Rapoo_Louis Botha Avenue, Johannesburg’s Tar Nile

Corridors of Freedom rains new hope on Johannesburg’s Tar Nile by offering renewal and new investment for the once economic hub.

Lonley petrol pumps stand with employees settled on the sidelines outside the manager’s office, waiting for the midday rush of motor vehicles to flow through the petrol station to wet their beaks.

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Living under Louis Botha Avenue’s patched quilt

Three migrant tailors play tug-of-war with the unrelenting Chinese clothing industry to assert their own economic dominance on a snoozing avenue they call home.

Seated in his dark shop that bears his name, Daniel “Legend” Osakwe, a tailor anchored on the corner of Louis Botha Avenue and 2nd Street in Johannesburg, let out a defeated sigh. It was 9am and load-shedding had hit, drawing the life from his electric sewing machine.

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A taboo economy waits for revival

Louis Botha Avenue is a street in transition where small businesses that once thrived are battling to attract customers, but with the prospect of revival there lies hope for the future in a declining economy.

PERCHED on an oil-stained wooden table, a bicycle wheel spins and wheezes. 

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The team

Lwandile Shange

My barbershop is my culture 

Ortal Hadad

The survivalists of Louis Botha Avenue

Anathi Madubela

Church, home for the broken, bruised and displaced 

Lineo Leteba

Home away from home on the avenue of Louis Botha 

Sisanda Mbolekwa

Christ my culture, my home

Tsholanang Rapoo

Louis Botha Avenue tar nile

Lwazi Maseko

A taboo economy waits for revival

Jabulile Mbatha

A safe space in a strange land 

Imaan Moosa

My brothers keeper 

Molebogeng Mokoka

Feeling at home with charity at Louis Botha 

Click here to view the 2020 In-depth reporting project: Counting the cost of covid