Johannesburg, June 25 (IANS) Once infamous for some of the most gory crimes in the city, the Gandhi Square here has become the melting pot of football fans at the World Cup.
Gandhi Square was the place where Mahatma Gandhi, as a young lawyer, began his fight for human rights in the early 1900s. But in the twilight of apartheid, Gandhi Square was a forbidden zone and it became the popular hangout for beggars, muggers, glue-sniffers, pickpockets and tramps.
But now, the once dark alleys of Gandhi Square have turned into a safe cosmopolitan downtown neighbourhood, complete with art galleries, cafes, boutique hotels and pedestrian precincts attracting football fans from all over the world.
From diski dancing, a popular South African jig, to watching matches on giant screens and beer festivals, the Gandhi Square is buzzing with all manner of activities.
Ask Pablo Almeida, an Argentine fan, for whom the Gandhi Square is now the most happening place in Johannesburg.
‘We were aware of the dark side of Gandhi Square. We were warned never to venture out alone in this place. It was hard to believe the area, which got its name from such a famous personality, was so infamous. But once we came here we were surprised to see how the local administration has worked to change the face of Gandhi Square,’ Pablo told IANS.
Pablo is not the only overseas football fan for whom the Gandhi Square has become the pulse of this vibrant city.
Germans, Britons and Brazilians, for all football fans, Gandhi Square is now the place to party.
Jamie Sutherland, a British fan, feels that Gandhi Square has now become the face of the city.
‘This place is apt for all football fans. We watch the matches on the big screen with fans of all countries cheering for each other. It is a fascinating experience here,’ Sutherland told IANS.
For locals, Gandhi Square has become a prized possession.
‘Earlier we used to tell outsiders to avoid the place. But now it has become the face of the city and we are proud of it. We have showed the world that we have prepared well for the biggest sporting party in the world,’ said Moses Bruckner.
