– By Gerald Garner There are so many surprises to the story of Cape Town and South Africa. Especially so as our history was told in a distorted way during the Apartheid era. It was told to suite the preferred narrative of that time. The fact is, our real, shared history is far …
Cape Town’s population has more than doubled since 1990, while its racial demographics have changed drastically. How did it happen? By Gerald Garner The growth and development of Cape Town during the last 35 years is fascinating. Glancing back to the city of 1990, when Apartheid crumbled and Nelson Mandela walked out of …
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City development in South Africa should embrace the African Dream, based on village life. By Gerald Garner What is holding South Africa back, is its fixation with the American Dream. The idea that urban living should be based on single homes, each located on a single plot, fenced in and housing a single family. …
Scrap Black Economic Empowerment (BEE). Instead focus on employment equity and a State Bank to finance small business. Remove all red tape for small businesses and change the way our cities are planned and managed. Now that would result in real black economic empowerment and a thriving non-racial society for all. By …
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History is simply fascinating. Especially when viewed in the context of international relations and how various events in the world have affected other regions over the centuries. This is exactly what Gerald Garner of @LocalPlaces sets out to do in his series of Cape Town-based storytelling dinners. An example being the astonishing events that resulted …
Hello! It is us. We are still around. We have morphed, pivoted and adapted – and we are ready to host you. After a slow start to 2024, with business nearly halting by early May, things have finally taken off in July again. We are building momentum, and our booking schedule is looking healthy again. …
Our latest news: 4 July 2024. With mid-Winter weather surrounding us, we are dreaming of the imminent summer ahead. But we have lots installed for you before the summer sunshine hits, and beyond that too. Cold, misty and wet. I am writing from the Company’s Garden restaurant in the heart of Cape Town, sipping coffee …
It has finally happened. A tourism publication has recognized Johannesburg for the fantastic food destination it is! Ever since starting JoburgPlaces tours 13-years ago, we have been in love with the incredible quality, freshness and diversity of food in Jozi. So much so, that we have hosted many food-oriented tours and events in the city …
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If you want to understand a country, do not travel to its beautiful landscapes and nature spaces only. Instead, engage with its culture and people – and there is no better place than to do this, than it its cities. A city represents a conglomeration of contemporary culture and gives a glimpse into the future …
We have reached the final stretch of 2023. To celebrate the arrival of the festive season, LocalPlaces presents enthralling stories and tours – for both Cape Town and Johannesburg. New newsletter format Welcome to our new newsletter format, which we will publish monthly as a blog and share with our readers here on Whatsapp, …
‘Betta’ ‘Betta’ is the colloquial South African way of saying ‘better’. It is also the theme for a new series of blog posts by Gerald Garner of LocalPlaces – JoburgPlaces & IkapaPlaces, inspired by the Springbok Rugby World Cup victory of October 2023 and what it means for South Africa. We are stronger together, …
Empty supermarket shelves in Kloof Street is but a side effect of the ongoing taxi strike in Cape Town – picture taken on Wednesday 9 August 2023. Mr Geordin Hill-Lewis Executive Mayor, City of Cape Town Dear Mr Mayor, AN OPEN LETTER: CAPE TOWN DESERVES BETTER PUBLIC TRANSPORT I am exhausted. I am usually an …
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At LocalPlaces, we tell the history of both cities we operate in: Johannesburg & Cape Town. In the firs series of blog posts, we will be unpacking the history of Johannesburg – a city that has been rebuilt 7 times in its short history! This is the story that we tell as background to all …