That was a good address back in the day, I was in awe every time my mom drove us past Ponte. Then it became a rathole filled with garbage. The Worlds largest rubbish bin.
In the early 90's I lived about 4 streets away from this building- over one Easter weekend a friend and I were walking past this building as an ambulance rushed past us. The next day, on the front page of the newspapers, was a photo of a man, arms and legs spread out batlike falling to his death. The photographer was on the ground, lens pointed upwards at this falling soul. Apparently it was a white dude, he called the newspaper to say he's gonna commit suicide as his family was against his relationship with a black woman - they sent a reporter out there and that's how they managed to capture that amazing yet frightening pic. I recall this was the same day that Chris Hani the South African Communist leader was assassinated
My uncle was caretaker there in the early 1970's It cost R1000 per month for the top floors (you had 3 floors plus the top of the building as well) which was about 800 dollars. If you didnt like the furniture you would phone up and they would come and change to your liking, amazing place.
I love it I wish the person that buys it can clean it up and do something great with that building Brings back so many memories 😪 😢 😔 Salute Eb South africa ❤️ 🇿🇦
Is there any plans to restore this building or is it going to be torn down. 55 floors holy s*** that's a big building! As a child my dad worked on the Prudential building in Boston it was 52 stories, I think it was either the second or third tallest building in the United States at the time. (1960s-1970s) most countries at this time didn't have very tall skyscrapers,
I wanted to rent an apartment in this building (Ponte) about 31 yrs ago after I got married but my wife was scared, she had a phobia for extreme heights. It was very nice then. The view from the top floor was unbelievable. 🇿🇦
Probably the most dangerous building in South Africa. Why not mention it has been taken over by drug dealers and criminals? And that you probably needed an armed escort to go in there? It's beautiful but has been completely destroyed by the rampant crime in the area
The centre used to be a place to get together but when it became a slumbuilding people just threw their trash out over the balconies to the floor in the centre. Many bodies were recovered there as well from suicides and murders
People also have used the building to commit suicide. Makes you look at that uneven rock differently. Btw be safe where you are going I hope you went with security for protection. Its very dangerous in that area.
Except it doesn't allow light or ventilation into the centre, except at midday it is dark and cold particularly on the lower half. It was a tip when it was built and stayed that way.
People would throw their rubbish out of their windows into the inside of the building, and the rubbish pile reached up to the 14th floor. When most of the people moved out, drug dealers and addicts moved in. They also threw rubbish into the large pile. They also dumped bodies there aswell and they'd get covered by the rubbish. Once the government got them all out and started collecting the rubbish to take away, they found 28 bodies 😢
It's actually a gorgeous building and very well designed It's no wonder that it got ruined based on the population who lived in it. And then they wonder why they can't have anything nice.
As a south African, i can tell you that walking around with an expensive camera in any area in or around a township and clearly being a foreigner based off accent is a great way to get mugged Edit: this was an overly aggressive comment. Sorry for the rudeness dude. You made a really good video about the Ponte city tower
@@ArnoBachof course it will likely be the majority population which are black in that area. Go to the cape flats and you'll be robbed by colored go to Phoenix you'll be robbed by Indian people. Same way if you go to a white majority country you'll be robbed by white people stop your racism buddy crime is not only committed by black people
@@ArnoBach I mean whites, indians and coloureds are minorities in most places so it makes sense that the majority of people would be responsible for majority of the crimes
Jawelnofine....now in the absolute worst part of Joburg. Was hijacked for years, center filled up with rubbish. Has been renovated, but no one wants to live in the slum hillbrow.
For many years this building was taken over by gangs and became one of the biggest a big mess. Garbage would build up in the centre because people would just throw their garbage out the window and many people jumped to their deaths and bodies where just left there. Different these days but it's definitely worth looking it up on RUclips, alit of good videos.
Doesn’t mention it’s one of the most dangerous places in Africa and people jump to their death regularly. Drug dealing prostitution and murders there. I’m surprised he didn’t get robbed
For a person who passes this building EVERYDAY for the last 5 years this is the most information I've heard of it... I just knew it was a residency and that it isn't the best place to live in.
I've always wondered about how the inside of this building looked. I grew up thinking it was a Vodacom office 😂😭
Actually that sign is biggest sign in southern hemisphere
Me 2 I use to think it's Vodacom headquarters😂
Bra ek het iik so gedink tot nou toe
Me to lol
It's not 😂. It's first to...🤣😭
You entirely skipped over the main part that it used to be a slum for criminal activity. Bodies and trash were found in the middle of the building.
That’s in another video
@@ArchitectRussell 🤣🤣🤣
Ironically, the viral video that you got your information from was actually made by Architect Russell.
Piled 13 stories high
I heard that the bodies were from people that got thrown down into the middle of the building by gangsters.
For those who had a good eye. Yes this is the tower used in multiple movies like Chappie or Resident Evil :D
Also Planet of the apes maybe??
@@artu262 Ooh i almost forgot thanks! Indeed!
Robocop too no?
Realistically its a cool concept for a appartment building just was built in wrong city and time 😵💫😖
@@MrJaVization indeed. Now its mostly a tower filled with bad people. But not all people there are bad.
Two words: Judge Dredd.
Very similar situation happened, no city services cause mass gang issues and cause a gang war/take over
Oh and there was no garbage collected so they just threw it down the center shaft and also people committed no alive the same way
Ma Ma would be proud
No, not judge Dredd. The building was featured in the movie chappie though.
That was a good address back in the day, I was in awe every time my mom drove us past Ponte.
Then it became a rathole filled with garbage. The Worlds largest rubbish bin.
one of the most Brutalist buildings ever.
That's not brutalism. It may be tall and monolithic but just because it's intimidating doesn't mean it's brutalist.
@@angusevans0621 Built in 1975 - the hight of Brutalism, made of concrete, monolithic says brutalism to me. What style would you say it is then?
@@fryoung1 from the inside it's brutalist
From the outside no
@@angusevans0621 it is.
this building was run by gangs and was the place many people came to take their lives by jumping down the middle
@@dxmentxa you miss understand brutalism then. It's about form and function not about use and misuse. Brutalism isn't evil or oppressive, it's 'raw'.
It was also the most dangerous building in the world surrounded by the most dangerous area in the worlld
In the world? Mxm
@@glen_mash Yes
What are saying nd where do uu get this information like I live here bro nd non of what uur saying is true
@@glen_mashdawg wa hlanya o
@@randomperson8148 every single person living in Jburg knows this bru
In the early 90's I lived about 4 streets away from this building- over one Easter weekend a friend and I were walking past this building as an ambulance rushed past us. The next day, on the front page of the newspapers, was a photo of a man, arms and legs spread out batlike falling to his death. The photographer was on the ground, lens pointed upwards at this falling soul. Apparently it was a white dude, he called the newspaper to say he's gonna commit suicide as his family was against his relationship with a black woman - they sent a reporter out there and that's how they managed to capture that amazing yet frightening pic. I recall this was the same day that Chris Hani the South African Communist leader was assassinated
You and see much of that online nowadays
😢my childhood ruined, I thought it was Vodacom's HQ
😂😂😂sorry man. If you had a friend living there, you were the coolest 18yr old, was our fav hang out.❤❤❤
The Ponte. Brings back memories.
I lived on the 52nd floor of this building in 2013 - incredible experience. :)
I love to hear about that, I understand this building has quite a history.
I've only seen shorts..
This building has a fascinating history.
Please make a full video if you can 😊
That building is awesome
Chappie
I knew this too haha
Yush!!!
My uncle was caretaker there in the early 1970's It cost R1000 per month for the top floors (you had 3 floors plus the top of the building as well) which was about 800 dollars. If you didnt like the furniture you would phone up and they would come and change to your liking, amazing place.
i really like the concept. no more windowless bathrooms and kitchens!!
I love it
I wish the person that buys it can clean it up and do something great with that building
Brings back so many memories 😪 😢 😔
Salute
Eb South africa ❤️ 🇿🇦
They cleaned it up quite a bit
Anyone else remember seeing it in Chappie?
Please show how apartments look inside. I’ve always wondered
So that's how it looks inside 😮 I stayed close to that tower when I was younger.. And when the area was safer 😂
Is there any plans to restore this building or is it going to be torn down. 55 floors holy s*** that's a big building! As a child my dad worked on the Prudential building in Boston it was 52 stories, I think it was either the second or third tallest building in the United States at the time. (1960s-1970s) most countries at this time didn't have very tall skyscrapers,
I think a garden with a pond in the center would spice things up better.
Suicide rate 📈📈
Most of the time assisted "suicide " !
I wanted to rent an apartment in this building (Ponte) about 31 yrs ago after I got married but my wife was scared, she had a phobia for extreme heights. It was very nice then. The view from the top floor was unbelievable. 🇿🇦
It was also used in Ice Cubes movie Dangerous Ground
the tallest is 88 building in Kenya
A residential building without residents. Only in Africa.
It does have now its been fixed up
There is residents sir
They kill whitey as a thank you for bringing them infrastructure and tools to built their country
This building is fully occupied. Always has been, even if not always legally.
Probably the most dangerous building in South Africa. Why not mention it has been taken over by drug dealers and criminals? And that you probably needed an armed escort to go in there? It's beautiful but has been completely destroyed by the rampant crime in the area
The building has since been bought back by its original owners and order has been restored
Wow, things have really improved in South Africa....
Lol
Kinda refreshing to see someone talk about this building, beyond it's criminal history
Its amazing how clean theyve gotten it coz it certainly didnt look like this 6 years ago when we were doing construction projects next door
Will this building be revived and renovated?
@@petrichor259 probably not, this isnt the first world
Where is it???? I live in south Africa pleaseee
Hillbrow i believe
The centre used to be a place to get together but when it became a slumbuilding people just threw their trash out over the balconies to the floor in the centre. Many bodies were recovered there as well from suicides and murders
I have been inside back when I was living in Berea.
absolutely fascinating
Quite the contrast from the Wilshire/Grand building or salesforce tower
It was so modern and posh in it's day! Up until the late 80's😊 it is now a slum...
Reminds me of peach trees from Mega City 1
So beautiful 😮
People also have used the building to commit suicide. Makes you look at that uneven rock differently. Btw be safe where you are going I hope you went with security for protection. Its very dangerous in that area.
The building I live in has a middle open section and yes the building never gets too hot or too cold and it is always windy
This is Peach Trees from Dredd.
VERY HAPPY ITS RECLAIMED FM BUILDING HIGJACKERS!! 🎉🎉YOO-HOO❤❤❤❤
I think this building was in a movie named chappie
looks like retunda building in Birmingham ,uk
It's also, a place no person who is sane will want to go to. Crime and death galore
It’s also a burial ground
Shout out to South African 🇿🇦🇿🇦
Don’t forget about lodeshedding
I think it was shown in the movie Chappie
Except it doesn't allow light or ventilation into the centre, except at midday it is dark and cold particularly on the lower half. It was a tip when it was built and stayed that way.
I literally live a few km from this. I can see it outside my window💀
How is it out there bro? This place is so interesting to me, not just the tower but the whole area of course. Insane bro.
People would throw their rubbish out of their windows into the inside of the building, and the rubbish pile reached up to the 14th floor. When most of the people moved out, drug dealers and addicts moved in. They also threw rubbish into the large pile. They also dumped bodies there aswell and they'd get covered by the rubbish. Once the government got them all out and started collecting the rubbish to take away, they found 28 bodies 😢
It's actually a gorgeous building and very well designed It's no wonder that it got ruined based on the population who lived in it. And then they wonder why they can't have anything nice.
South Africa Gauteng province
Reminds me of the movie 'Dredd' 🎬.
Now my question is how aren't robbed yet
it used to be run by gangs and was eventually shut down because of how many people used it for suicide
Is this in south Africa?
Chappie was one good movie
When completed...it was only for the rich...what happened after i wouldnt know. It also had it own shopping mall with like 50 shops.
Oh how south Africa has fallen
It's like Peach Trees from Dredd
We just called it the Vodacom tower. I never knew it was a residential building. I always thought it is an office building
It used to have a bowling alley.
Its in south Africa 😊
I lived in this building 😮😅long time ago😮😮😮
That building needs someone to buy it and renovate it
HOW THE Hell did bro not get scared after 50 floors
I've worked on the sign at the top. Flyting boys ... Centurion Gauteng a Leng 😂
Should invest in it
The hell that went on in that building.🚽
Cool building
Link to video please. Can’t find it on your channel
It was In the movie Chappie
Yes sir and many more
so this is where they got the inspiration for judge dredd
I mean it’s where they filmed the movie lol, judge dredd has been around forever
I bet it was a real spectical in 1990
As a south African, i can tell you that walking around with an expensive camera in any area in or around a township and clearly being a foreigner based off accent is a great way to get mugged
Edit: this was an overly aggressive comment. Sorry for the rudeness dude. You made a really good video about the Ponte city tower
Unfortunately.
The guy is clearly a jerk
And it won't be by white,coloured or Indian people...
@@ArnoBachof course it will likely be the majority population which are black in that area. Go to the cape flats and you'll be robbed by colored go to Phoenix you'll be robbed by Indian people. Same way if you go to a white majority country you'll be robbed by white people stop your racism buddy crime is not only committed by black people
@@ArnoBach I mean whites, indians and coloureds are minorities in most places so it makes sense that the majority of people would be responsible for majority of the crimes
Deep story about that building
Real live Peach trees!
Jawelnofine....now in the absolute worst part of Joburg.
Was hijacked for years, center filled up with rubbish.
Has been renovated, but no one wants to live in the slum hillbrow.
And the thing is I used to live there
In Africa???😮
How did you climb 51 floors ??
It's the gang building from the movie Chappie! A bunch of gangsters in Yoberg took over the building and it was abandoned! Crazy shit!
The most dystopian thing ever
For many years this building was taken over by gangs and became one of the biggest a big mess.
Garbage would build up in the centre because people would just throw their garbage out the window and many people jumped to their deaths and bodies where just left there.
Different these days but it's definitely worth looking it up on RUclips, alit of good videos.
Has it been taken back from hijackers?
I lived there in 1980 flat 2007! 😄
So it’s true then?
@@ArchitectRussellYes of course! 😁👍
You make a lot of videos about this one building
When I was growing I thought it is the head quarters of Vodacom because of the Vodacom sign on the top
Some people think that- but it does have the biggest sign in southern hemisphere
Isn't this Harare or Pretoria?
Little Nigeria.
Looks like the building from Judge dread
Looks like the hotel from Dredd
Straight up pacifica from cyberpunk lol
Wait ..he did not get mugged ?
Doesn’t mention it’s one of the most dangerous places in Africa and people jump to their death regularly. Drug dealing prostitution and murders there. I’m surprised he didn’t get robbed
“ThE PErfEcT LOoP DOESnt ExIS-“
My question is, why don't they clean the open center and provide a green space for the occupants to enjoy. Or do the owners look at it as a toilet.
For a person who passes this building EVERYDAY for the last 5 years this is the most information I've heard of it... I just knew it was a residency and that it isn't the best place to live in.