Hillbrow

Hillbrow is an inner city residential neighbourhood of Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is known for its high levels of population density, unemployment, poverty, prostitution and crime.

Hillbrow

What is Hillbrow famous for?

The Hillbrow Tower, a telecommunication tower, dominates the Johannesburg city skyline, featured in many picture postcard views of the city. It has become a symbol of the city and appears in the city seal.

What is Hillbrow like now?

As apartheid ended in South Africa, Hillbrow’s middle-class, mostly white residents trooped to the suburbs. Today, the area has lost its former glory. Crime and gang activity are common. A local tour company organizes tours to expose people to the vibrancy that Hillbrow offers.

How did Hillbrow become a slum?

Hillbrow and its surrounding area, started to get flooded by immigrants from other countries in Africa. Drugs, poverty, prostitution, gun crime and urban degradation were rife. Gang activity had caused the crime rate to soar in Ponte Tower’s neighbourhood.

Which part of Johannesburg is Hillbrow?

Hillbrow is located on the far northern section of Randjeslaagte road found at the heart of Johannesburg. The area was established in 1895 to be an upscale residential area with only detached houses.