The adjacent suburb of Pageview, along with the part of Vrededorp populated by non-whites, south of 11th Street,[1][2] were commonly and onomatopoeically known as "Fietas" after the Men's Outfitters that traded from 14th street in Vrededorp - hence "Fitters" and "Fittas" or, as commonly spelled, "Fietas".

[citation needed] The then well-known 14th street was the area's business lane where everybody from across Johannesburg met to snatch up bargains.

[3] Vrededorp ("Village of Peace"), was named as such in 1895 because of the decision taken to give poor people squatter rights in the area.

[clarification needed] On 19 February 1896 Vrededorp, Braamfontein, Fordsburg and the Malay Location (later renamed Pageview) were flattened as a result of a huge explosion caused by a locomotive that reversed into two railway trucks that contained 1955 tons of unstable dynamite.

Many homes were bulldozed, and housing for white people was built on some of the land, with large parts remaining undeveloped.