Nothing beats an early morning in Joburg, especially on those summer days when the sunlight is soft and the birds are singing. Add a black coffee and a wake-up call by four hyper-energetic chihuahuas, and it’s a perfect start. I wasn’t always a fan of early mornings, but I’ve come around to them. Now I love getting up, doing a little work, and then heading to the local pool or park, ready to embrace the gift that is Johannesburg’s public space — as complicated and unpredictable as it can sometimes be.
For many of us, exercise is about so more than just the physical. It’s as essential for our minds as our bodies. Whether you’re into marathon running (for that sweet post-run endorphin rush), the challenge of a 10km obstacle course (which, let’s be honest, is just a grown-up version of nightmarish school gym classes), the privacy of a gym, or the buzz of CrossFit, you understand the benefits.
For me, wellness revolves around using public spaces. As I live just a short distance from Emmarentia Dam and the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens, these places have been part of my life for as long as I can remember. There’s even a grainy 1980s photo of me learning to ride my first bike in the gardens to prove it.
Fast-forward 35 years and I’m still a regular park-goer. So are the canoeists and water sports enthusiasts training in the dam, not to mention the runners, cyclists, picnicking families, and tai chi and yoga-class participants. There’s also the wonderfully diverse cross-section of Joburg’s communities who use the tiered greens of the rose garden for wedding photos. Walking through this parade of bridal parties is like a mini tour of the city’s kaleidoscopic cultures — as well as a front-row seat to the latest on-trend colours when it comes to nuptials.
In 2023, I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and, after enduring months of chronic pain, found solace in aqua aerobics at Linden’s public pool. I wasn’t keen on committing to a gym with expensive contracts and endless restrictions, but the accessibility of public spaces — and the sense of community they provide — has always been important to me. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but it is certainly mine.
From Peter and Nick (the car guards at Emmarentia dog park) to Isabel and Thando (who fuel my mornings with the best cortados ever from their coffee stand) as well as the countless walkers (both human and canine) I encounter, these little interactions give public spaces their special energy. At the pool, it’s my amazing aqua aerobics class members, the ever-cheerful maintenance crew, and the lifeguards keeping a watchful eye on everything going down who really make the difference.
Tiny sparks of human connection are vital in a complex city where walls, safety concerns and barriers often govern much of our daily lives. The celebrated Danish architect and urban planner Jan Gehl said, “It’s very important that there’s public life in public spaces. That means people from all walks of life will naturally meet in the streets, squares and parks of the city. You can see what society you belong to, and you can see your fellow citizens eye to eye as they go about their daily lives.”
Unfortunately, this ideal isn’t always realised, and many of our public spaces remain inaccessible to everyone — a challenge the City of Johannesburg has been struggling with far too often in recent years. The Johannesburg City Library in Beyers Naudé Square, for example, has been closed for four years. Regrettably, many of the city’s swimming pools have also been shut down for long stretches — sometimes years — owing to contractual issues, maintenance delays and poor management. This is an absolute tragedy, especially given how crucial it is for city residents to be able to swim during the sweltering Joburg summers, as well as to learn to swim in a country where water safety should be a priority.
Successful, well-managed and open public spaces are crucial. They are the most democratic of spaces, where people from all walks of life can come together, health is promoted, a sense of belonging and ownership is fostered, and the life of each individual (and his or her furry friend) is enriched. The Linden public pool is regularly used by athletes, coaches, schools, a local version of the Special Olympics, and students from the University of Johannesburg’s emergency medical care diploma programme. Over the past year, it’s been an absolute joy to watch these students learn to swim, supported by the raucous enthusiasm of their classmates.
But with the good comes the not so good, and sometimes even the weird, wacky and downright hilarious. Aside from the usual issues that arise in Joburg’s public spaces ( such as rundown facilities, water shortages and electricity cuts), there’s always an element of unpredictability — from the occasional Wookiee-like hairball drifting past you in the pool to the bewildering World War 1 re-enactor stalking through the park, clad in a gas mask and playing a piano accordion. Honestly, though, isn’t that all part of the fun?
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