Pageview (formerly known as ‘Fietas’) is located next to Fordsburg, and like most of the suburbs dotting Gauteng, has made the history books due to the injustices of the white apartheid government.

Prior to the 1970’s, Fietas was inhabited by people of all races. When gangsterism became a huge concern for the community, a group of strong and determined individuals - the late Omar ‘Rusdam’ Ali, Abdul Bhamjee and the late Mr. Haque, to name a few - formed sporting outlets for the youth, to direct their energies towards positive actions. The famous Southern Transvaal Football Union (STFU) was born and became the glue that held everyone together, and the soccer events were also an excuse for social gatherings for everyone. Fietas grew from strength to strength and became a relatively peaceful and united community.

Mohammed Docrat, a former young resident of Pageview said that even the youth played their role in defying the previous government.

“Many of our friends were from the neighbouring White suburbs, and they did not approve the rules that governed all our lives – so much so, that they were willing to accept their parents wrath when they persisted to befriend us.”

He said that beautiful and significant memories were created in Fietas were the youth learnt that all South Africans can live in peace together.

“Everyone got along and respected the equality and rights of individuals; people supported one another irrespective of which race was under attack or in trouble. There was closeness amongst the Fietas residents.”

The successful traders of 14th Street, fondly called “Petticoat Lane”, brought vibrancy to the area, where all kinds of things were sold – clothing, hardware, kitchen wares, toys, material. There were ladies selling foodstuff such as koeksusters and samoosas, which were absolutely delicious.

However, no thriving multi-cultural community could remain unnoticed - when it was decided that White people should get the most promising suburbs, one of those places was the Fietas area.

This move not only benefited the new White residents and traders, but also the government, as their main political policy was Divide and Rule (Apartheid). Fietas needed to be divided and relations between races made redundant.

Therefore, in the early 1970’s, Fietas residents and traders were forcefully removed from their beloved homes and well-established businesses. They protested the move, but were unable to fight against the strong military that was present to ensure that they left peacefully.

It was a tremendous blow to the non-Whites – comprising of Indians, Coloureds and Chinese – to be relocated to different areas of Gauteng (then Transvaal), when Fietas had formed such a tight-knit community. It was difficult to be parted from their friends – but the choice was not theirs.

The traders were relocated to the Oriental Plaza while residents where sent to areas that were inhabited by people of their own race - - - which resulted in the STFU’s disintegration.

Today, Fietas is known as Pageview and one of the most important frameworks drawn up by the current government - to be implemented - is the restitution of land to displaced landowners of the apartheid era. All previous residents will get their lands back – or alternate properties. This, in itself, is a huge step towards ensuring justice to those who have been victims of the old government.

 Pageview has been through many changes since its inception but it is hoped that, with government’s input, it will improve over time.

Suffice to say, Pageview has become - through its past - a Heritage area that a person should visit, to get a feel of the multi-cultural community who lived together in peace during the apartheid regime. And to see the old buildings that were not broken down during the removals, that just inspires an architect’s or a writer’s creative mind – that would encourage you to spin a yarn around those impressively beautiful buildings.