ABSTRACT
The Johannesburg inner city lies at the heart of greater Johannesburg. Starting in the late 1960s, the inner city (including both the city centre or business district and the surrounding residential areas), has experienced a long process of decline. It continues, however, to play a vital role in the city as a whole, particularly in the process of addressing the geography of the apartheid city. This article explores the redevelopment the inner city, examining the nature and role of the city centre, as well as the processes that are used to promote its regeneration. It draws on the work and ideas developed by the many professionals, city council officials and political and business leaders who have participated in this process of reinterpreting and understanding the city centre within a context of a city that has moved rapidly from a city governed by apartheid laws of exclusion to one of democratic governance premised on ideals of economic and social inclusion; from an isolated city to one increasingly integrated into the region and one that is proud of its position as a leading African city.
