Hillbrow being one of the first racially diverse towns in Johannesburg led people to have no government amenities, becoming a grey space within the city. The government was hostile to the black people moving into the city, despite the decline of racial barriers between blacks and whites. This demonstrated to the people that despite the apartheid formally being over, its legacy would remain for much longer. Since the black people moving into the area were of similar economic status to the white people who lived in the area, the white people responded with delight about their blocks being integrated. The white people found that black people were more willing to help their neighbor, creating that Ubuntu in the community.
Walking into Ponte Tower I felt a bit of insecurity because it was a heavily guarded place and it seemed unkempt from the outside and a little sketchy on the inside. However, once we got into the community center I could already feel the sense of community within the building and how they tried to create a place for children to stay away from the streets. During our elevator ride, and after hearing that the building had previously been a dangerous place I did not imagine to see the apartment that we did. It was a three-floor apartment with several rooms which had art installed in all of them. I was amazed, not only that I had this complete misconception of the building, but of the view from the tower as well. It was one of the best views of the tower I had seen.
The gentlemen who started this touring company within the building made use of a great space. The space of the building is not comparable to the place the space was just a few years back. It has not only turned into a tourist attraction, but a space of community. The owner of the company was not only able to make a living off of his home, but he created a community center for kids to stay out of the streets.
During our tour of Constitution Hill, I witnessed how injustice ruined the lives of hundreds of black men and women, for such petty crimes. The conditions that the men had to live in were absolutely disgusting. Small living spaces, overcrowding, rotten food, monthly showers; the conditions were unimaginable. Space played a huge rule for the prisoners’ living conditions. White people not only having had better living conditions, better food, and an overall better quality of life demonstrates how inhumane the guards were at the time, humiliating both the black and colored men and women who were imprisoned at the time.
Despite the atrocities and inhumane conditions that occurred in that space in the mid 1990’s, the space was transformed into the new democratic South African Constitutional Court. The design of the court was made purposely for accessibility to the public and a rebirth of the city. The court has the new South African Bill of Rights which is read in its eleven official languages, as well has the eleven court justices, one for each of the eleven official languages. The site of incarceration, abuse, neglect, and humiliation was turned into justice, honor, and kindness.
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