SAAM STORIES

Rising above the neighbourhood of Hillbrow, Ponte Tower has been part of Johannesburg’s skyline since 1975. Its distinctive shape makes it instantly recognisable, yet for many people, Ponte remains a place they know more by reputation than by experience. Stories of crime, urban decay and danger have shaped the way the building is perceived for decades.

I wanted to see it for myself. And I wanted to do so with DlalaNje, an organisation that has been inviting people to look at Johannesburg differently since 2012.

Marc, originally from Belgium and a chef by profession, has been living in Johannesburg for quite some time. Today, he shares his skills and experience through weekly baking workshops at Tshepo Community Development Initiative, an organisation supporting people experiencing homelessness as they work towards greater independence.

I joined Marc for one of his Wednesday workshops. On that particular afternoon, we were making apple pastries. There was flour on the tables, plenty to do with our hands, and an easy atmosphere in which people from different backgrounds came together around a shared activity.