The History of Fordsburg - Brief Overview

Fordsburg was named after Lewis Peter Ford of the Jeppe and Ford Estate Company, which laid out this suburb on the western side of Johannesburg. It was a village created for the sole purpose of being inhabited by the white gold miners and artisans. As time went on, Indians settled there too.

Fordsburg has a history of prominent figures who have played crucial roles in doing away with the oppressive laws created by the white Government. They continuously faced imprisonment, hard labor and bans to ensure freedom for their people. Nelson Mandela, Dr. Yusuf Dadoo, Dr. GM Naicker, GHI Pahad, Zainub Asvat, Amina Cachalia and Rev. Michael Scott are just a few names amongst many of political figures to be remembered for their courage, determination and commitment in fighting the apartheid government. They constantly spoke to the people of Fordsburg at the Red Square (now called Freedom Square), encouraging them to join the passive resistance campaigns against the "Unjust Laws" imposed on all non-Whites.

There was the humiliation and injustice of pass laws, licensing and trading restrictions, taxes imposed, racial land barriers and much more imposed on Indians, Africans and Coloureds.
There was the 1922 "Red Revolt", where the white miners went on strike and open revolt against the government, because it was decided to employ more Black workers for low wages. They laid siege to Fordsburg. The government's response was to bomb the miners' positions, and many of the men were killed. The revolt was then squashed.
There was the Group Areas Act of 1950, which was created with the sole intention of dividing all race groups so that there would always be divisions and tensions between the groups.
Then the Fordsburg residents were forcibly removed to Lenasia, 32 kilometres away from Johannesburg, which was laid out for this purpose.
Hostile and restrictive business conditions were enforced on the Indians of Johannesburg.

In June 1952, Indians and other non-Whites started the passive resistance campaigns which continued for many years, resulting in imprisonment and hard labor - among them Yusuf Cachalia and Nelson Mandela.
Indian traders from Fietas 14th Street shopping Mecca were forcibly moved to the Oriental Plaza - some traders even lost their businesses. However, due to the traders excellent business sense, they managed to win back many of their 14th Street customers.

 CURRENT POSITION :

The Oriental Plaza has become one of the popular shopping complexes in Fordsburg for visitors' from across the continent. It is a proud example of the strength, courage and determination of the Indian traders who were constantly working under terrible business conditions, and yet came through winners.
The Fordsburg Oriental Plaza (aca Johannesburg's Little India), due to its past, is owned by the shopkeepers, and has an open-air and friendly atmosphere. There are over 360 stores to peruse at your leisure, ranging from clothing to household goods to linen to restaurants and much more. It runs between five blocks namely Bree, Malherbe, Lilian, Main and Avenue Streets.

Fordsburg has hundreds of businesses and warehouses for visitors to choose from, which run throughout Main Road, Mint Road, Bree Street, Dolly Rathebe Avenue and a few others. To name just a few of the establishments: Wonderflooring, M & P Trikam, Fordsburg Artists Studios, Plaza Gardens and the Fordsburg Mall.

Another place where visitors can go and really enjoy the friendly and fashionable Indian atmosphere around the "Square" which has restaurants running through three blocks, on Dolly Rathebe Avenue, Mint Road, Crown Road and Lilian Avenue. You can choose a restaurant depending on your taste buds, such as Steers, Mike's Kitchen, Ocean Basket, My Diners, Al-Mehran and many more. Still too, before or after your meal you can peruse the shops and pavement traders and find many interesting merchandise for sale, during the busy weekends.
Another famous restaurant that is a must-see is the Delhi Palace which was visited frequently by Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo in the 1950's. Still too, there's the popular Bismillah Restaurant on Mint Road.

Visitors can sample the eastern delights of confectionaries around Fordsburg such as the Divine Confectionary on Mint Road, Home Made Delights and Shalimar Delights on Main Road.

Running through Main Road in Fordsburg are the most prominent banking industries namely Standard Bank, First National Bank, Nedbank (opp. Oriental Plaza) and Absa Bank on Central Avenue in Mayfair on the border of Fordsburg, joining Main Road. The Oriental Plaza has branches/ATMs' of most of the banks'. Residents and visitors alike will experience no problems in gaining access to their funds, in order to enjoy the pleasure of experiencing the Fordsburg atmosphere.
Albaraka Bank is situated on Dolly Rathebe Avenue just opposite the Oriental Plaza.

Fordsburg is endowed with an interesting mixture of culture, races, religion, and strong business-orientated personalities who play significant roles in improving the atmosphere of the suburb.
People such as Wonderflooring's Salim Thokan, ANC Councilor Zunaid Pahad, Plaza Garden's Ismail Gattoo, Mike's Kitchen's S. Badrudeen, the Oriental Plaza's and the Mint Road business people are just some of the main players in decreasing the crime rate and improving the infrastructure of Fordsburg. The Community policing forum were instrumental in the purchase of two Golf vehicles. These vehicles' were donated to the Johannesburg Central Police Station, to be used exclusively in Fordsburg. Zunaid Pahad is the ANC councilor who speaks on behalf of the people of Fordsburg at Council meetings.

Article by Fathima Jani