They call it the City of Gold, and it’s not just a name. From the moment I landed in Johannesburg, I could feel that this wasn’t like anywhere else on the continent. With over 15,000 millionaires, Africa’s largest stock exchange, and luxury neighborhoods that rival Beverly Hills, Joburg (especially Sandton) lives up to its title.
But underneath that glittering surface? A city divided. A city where Ferraris and food vendors share the same block, and where a private estate borders a township. This is Johannesburg: stunning, shocking, and full of stories.
How Did Johannesburg Become So Rich?
It started with gold. In 1886, massive gold reserves were discovered under the Witwatersrand Hills, and Johannesburg exploded into a financial powerhouse. Today, it’s home to global headquarters, major mining empires, and towering skyscrapers.
Sandton, known as Africa’s richest square mile, is where the money moves. It’s where you’ll find:
• Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE)
• Luxury malls and 5-star hotels
• Supercar dealerships on nearly every block
• Residential skyscrapers like The Leonardo, South Africa’s tallest building
And yes, I even found a Bitcoin ATM in Sandton City Mall.
From $90 Apartments to $150M Mansions
I spent 100 hours trying to understand how people live in Johannesburg, from affordable rentals to mansions the size of villages.
• I stayed in a stylish $90/night apartment with rooftop views of Sandton.
• I visited The Leonardo, where one-bedroom suites go for $1,500 per night, and penthouses can sell for up to 250 million rand.
• In Steyn City and Waterfall Equestrian Estate, I saw homes valued between 15–100 million rand, built on land the size of football fields.
• One estate offered equestrian centers, golf courses, private schools, and round-the-clock surveillance — basically, cities within a city.
These neighborhoods are built for the 1%. And they know it.
Supercars, Vintage Machines, and Luxury Coffee
Johannesburg is the only African city where I casually saw Rolls-Royces, Lamborghinis, and Porsches parked outside coffee shops. One spot (part garage, part café) lets people sip lattes next to million-dollar vintage Jaguars.
When I asked who buys these cars, one dealer told me:
“People here can afford it. Some buy them just to collect. They don’t even drive them.”
But What About Everyone Else?
Here’s where the story gets uncomfortable.
Just a few kilometers from Sandton is Alexandra Township, one of the poorest areas in Johannesburg. Tiny shacks, crumbling buildings, and high unemployment rates exist side-by-side with billion-dollar corporations.
I met locals who told me:
“This isn’t a city of shared wealth. It’s a city of two worlds.”
And it’s not just income, it’s history. I visited the Apartheid Museum, where I walked through “White” and “Non-White” entrances, learned about the Reservation of Separate Amenities Act, and saw haunting images of black miners stripped naked and inspected for “fitness.”
I left the museum quiet. That past still echoes loudly.
Soweto: A Township with a Revolutionary Soul
In Soweto, I met passionate locals who educated me on how black South Africans were forced out of the city and dumped into townships during apartheid. Despite the hardship, Soweto remains a proud place — a home to two former presidents, a cultural epicenter, and a place where people own their homes, even if three generations share one roof.
One local told me:
“Classism is the new monster. Even in the township, we have upper, middle, and poor.”
Real Estate Reality Check
• A two-bedroom home in Soweto might be priceless, because it’s shared by an entire extended family.
• A super-luxury mansion in Waterfall Estate could go for 100 million rand, with neighbors like CEOs and billionaires.
That’s Johannesburg. A city where homeownership is a dream for some and a portfolio line for others.
Is Johannesburg Safe for Tourists?
Yes and no.
Affluent areas like Sandton, Rosebank, and Melrose Arch are well-guarded and safe during the day. But inner cities and townships can be unpredictable. I saw viral footage of a TV presenter being robbed on live television — proof that crime is a real concern here.
Even locals told me:
“I dare you to walk with your camera at night for 3 kilometers.”
So, be smart, stay aware, and stick to well-traveled areas unless you’re with a trusted local guide.
Final Thoughts: A City of Gold and Gaps
Johannesburg is more than Africa’s richest city. It’s a city of extremes:
• Wealth and struggle
• Opportunity and exclusion
• Skyscrapers and shack settlements
This is what makes Joburg so fascinating — and so difficult to forget.
If you want to understand modern Africa, this is where you start.
Not just with gold and glass towers, but with the stories of the people who live in their shadows.
Until the next journey,
— Steven Ndukwu