Golden City
By Zanele Mji
Golden CityDec 11, 2023
Pt. 2: Lucky City
When the developers who built Steyn City tried to evict an old woman from her home of 62 years, her community once destroyed by forced removals decided to unite and fight for her rights.
Pt. 1: "Those graves were our title deeds"
On the five year anniversary of Zanele Mji's hard hitting yet tender investigation into Fourways' history of forced removals, she presents an audio version of the story with never-before-heard interviews and clips.
Read "Those graves were our title deeds"
Meet Sharon
A behind-the-scenes peek into the world of social media influencing, where the perks are cushy and the competition is stiff. Sharon is a former Instagram influencer who grew tired of feeding the algorithm's insatiable demand for content, and started using her platform to help others.
Meet Sisipho
Sisipho's dream is to help South African women achieve sexual liberation. That starts with coming together to heal their hearts, minds and bodies. Wild Thots, the monthly dance workshop she hosts, has been a safe space for many women for years. Now that Sisipho is processing the grief of a heartbreaking loss, she's really feeling the strength of the sisterhood she's built.
Meet Lesego
Although satirist Lesego Tlhabi's political views could not be more different to Coconut Kelz, the character she created, they share a background story. Growing up a "coconut" - a black girl in an extremely privileged white world - exposed Lesego to amazing opportunities and to "lots of f-ing racism from a very early age." This is the story of how her childhood experiences drove her to build a unique anti-racism platform.
Meet Luyolo
Twelve years after leaving a maximum security psych ward, Luyolo started writing a book about his life with a mental illness. Then, he had another terrifying experience that added a chapter to his story.
Meet Zandi
Zandi's wild night with the South African police.
Meet Sihle
Joburg is the corporate capital of Africa, where ambitious young professionals make their dreams come true. For black women like Sihle, ambition comes at a price.
Meet Ora
Ora’s pretty street smart, and she loves a good night out in Joburg. When she meets a handsome stranger in Braamfontein, she learns about safety and self-worth in a dangerous city.
Golden City Trailer
Welcome to Golden City! I'm your host, Zanele Mji and I love a good story. This podcast is a collection of the greatest stories I've ever heard about life in the City of Gold: Johannesburg, South Africa. True tales set against the backdrop of a glamorous, gritty African city and told by its most entertaining characters.