Gosh, time flies. I had planned to write a summer piece on my return to Johannesburg after more than two years away. It was going to be analytical—especially since 2026 is an important year for the city, with municipal elections on the horizon. As we all know, Johannesburg faces serious challenges: roads, water, electricity, parks, buildings in need of repair, and the persistent issue of crime in the inner city.
But that’s not what this post is about.
After being away for so long, what struck me most was how lovely it felt to reconnect. This is simply a note of thanks—to Johannesburg and its people.
It was wonderful to see people I hadn’t seen in a very long time. Everywhere I went, I was met with warmth and friendliness. Johannesburg is, at heart, a friendly city. And this warmth cuts across all walks of life—from old friends to shop owners, from staff who greeted me with genuine smiles to those who remembered me and went out of their way to be helpful.
It was also exciting to see both new places and familiar ones that have been upgraded, particularly shopping areas and suburbs. Some parts of the city have clearly been well maintained and improved over the past two years. I’m thinking especially of Randburg and Bryanston—areas I frequented for many years when I lived here.
And then there was the weather. Tremendous. From scorching hot, windless sunny days to those always thrilling Highveld thunderstorms. Just last night, while having a meal at J’s Diner in Blairgowrie, we were sitting outside in the warm evening air when the first drops of rain fell. We rushed inside, knowing what was coming. Soon there were brilliant white flashes of lightning and the boom, boom, boom and crack, crack, crack of thunder. Only the Highveld delivers weather quite like that.
I also enjoyed Johannesburg’s public spaces—Delta Park in particular—and the exceptional green spaces in and around the suburbs. Near where I was staying, there’s a municipal pool kept in mint condition: sparkling blue water, attentive and friendly lifeguards, and swimmers of all ages enjoying themselves. Watching children play in the park—kicking a soccer ball, batting at cricket balls with their mothers—and seeing an older woman training youngsters in lifesaving at the pool was a reminder of the city’s energy and spirit.
One afternoon, sitting in the park in the late, golden light, I asked a young man—about 21, dressed in a gangster-rapper style—if I could sit next to him. “Yeah, sure, sir,” he said. The “sir” felt unnecessary, but we got talking. He asked me questions about life and told me about his own complicated journey: having a child, looking for work, trying to find his way. One of his talents is rapping. He pulled out his phone, played a backing track, and delivered a long rap—confident, rhythmic, impressive. A friend joined us and proudly asked whether I’d noticed how he kept the rhythm throughout. I had.
They asked me questions about health, finances, relationships—about life at my stage of living. I didn’t try to be wise; instead, I shared stories about people I’ve known and let the lessons sit quietly within those stories.
Later, when I told a woman in her early forties about this encounter, she said she feels deeply for the youth—how few opportunities there are, how difficult it is to find work, especially in the city. Johannesburg may have high employment in parts, but unemployment remains a heavy burden for many.
And so, onwards. The point of this note is simply to give a nod and a heartfelt thanks to Johannesburg—especially Randburg—for a fantastic time. In the back of my mind, I know it’s still a great place, filled with great people. Yes, it has problems. But people are working on them. And with the determination I saw everywhere, I’m confident that year by year, this city will continue to grow, improve, and thrive.
