#PhotoEssay: The sad urban decay of the once-proud suburb of Bellevue

On one of my recent drives through the eastern suburbs of Johannesburg, I found myself in Bellevue off Louis Botha Avenue. Although I never expected much, I was still saddened and disheartened to see the total destruction, decay and neglect of this once peaceful and prosperous suburb!

Everywhere I looked I saw litter piled up in the streets and on corners. The stench was stomach-churning and the atmosphere threatening. I never felt comfortable or really safe driving around. In my younger days I remember visiting mates who lived in Bellevue and the shops and restaurants/cafes were great places to frequent.

Street art and overgrown hedges on the once-thriving Bezuidenhout Street.

Broken glass panes and urban decay is all too evident now in the once-leafy garden suburbs of Bellevue and Yeoville.

The disgraceful and disgusting conditions of the pothole-riddled roads in Bellevue.

A colourful “ supermarket “spaza shop serves the now poor local community.

Litter and filth is all over. Service delivery is non-existent and the residents have long given up being “house-proud”.

An art deco block of flats from the 1920s is now strewn with debris, decay and looks sad.

This once-handsome and prestigious block of flats is now a danger to pedestrians and residents with the broken and uneven pavement… another example of complete neglect by the local authorities.

High Park Mansions was once an elite address.

A giant tree separates two micro businesses that have sprung up in Bellevue, obviously non-compliant with any laws and regulations.

Saturday Star

Dr Norman Cahi