A Cylindrical Giant Rises
In 1975, a striking 173-meter skyscraper emerged in Johannesburg’s Berea district. Named Ponte City, the 55-storey concrete cylinder featured a hollow core that funneled sunlight into its wedge-shaped apartments. Designed by Mannie Feldman, Manfred Hermer, and Rodney Grosskopff, its structure borrowed inspiration from Chicago’s Marina City.
With panoramic views of the city and built-in commercial spaces, Ponte was designed as a “city within a city,” even featuring plans for an indoor ski slope. Its neon rooftop sign—once advertising Coca-Cola—became the largest in the Southern Hemisphere.
From Prestige to Infamy
Originally a sought-after address, Ponte City’s reputation declined sharply in the late 1980s. Gang activity spread through Hillbrow and Berea, and the building became a focal point of rising crime. Owners abandoned the site, and the central core filled with five stories of garbage.
By the 1990s, there were serious discussions about converting the tower into a high-rise prison. Despite the decay, Ponte remained occupied—many residents were migrants from Francophone Africa who found shelter amid the growing urban neglect.
Revival and a Halted Dream
In 2007, developers David Selvan and Nour Addine Ayyoub launched the “New Ponte” redevelopment. Backed by Investagain, the plan included hundreds of refurbished apartments and upgraded retail areas.
Simultaneously, the Johannesburg Development Agency prepared to invest R900 million in nearby districts, aided by the momentum of the upcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup. However, the global subprime mortgage crisis hit. Financing evaporated. The project was canceled, and Ponte returned to the Kempston Group, who took over maintenance and promotion.
A Landmark in Culture and Concrete
Despite its turbulent history, Ponte City never lost its fascination for artists. South African photographer David Goldblatt documented its early years. In the 2000s, Mikhael Subotzky and Patrick Waterhouse’s multi-year photographic project won international acclaim.
The building has appeared in numerous films, including District 9, Chappie, and Resident Evil: The Final Chapter. It was the exclusive filming location for the documentary Africa Shafted, filmed entirely in its elevators. As of 2022, the tower—now fully refurbished—hosts a diverse, predominantly Black community, with apartments marketed as affordable and safe, even as Johannesburg’s infrastructure continues to face challenges.
The concrete cylinder still stands, lit by its rooftop sign, towering above a city that has shifted around it for nearly half a century.
In 1975, a strange tower rose in Johannesburg. Ponte City, a 173-meter concrete cylinder with a hollow core, was built as a luxury vertical city.
It became Africa’s tallest residential skyscraper and offered panoramic views and built-in commercial spaces…🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/AQCIXsuSXx
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) June 5, 2025