Dentist tells of Florida: Drugs, explosives and a brighter tomorrow

Kraut, who has practiced dentistry in the area since 1972 tells colourful, engaging stories of the Florida he got to know then and the area he’s “become used to by now”. Although he lives in the Northern suburbs of Johannesburg, he fell in love with “towny” Florida all those years ago and decided to open his first practice here.

“Like every suburb, Florida has experienced its ups and downs,” he told the record adding, “however the contrast has been quite extraordinary.”

“Businesses have opened and closed and flourished in this cosmopolitan area,” he said.

A flourishing stationary shop is just around the corner, Goldman Street is busy and interesting as ever and a number of welfare organisations including a drug rehabilitation centre’s good work has Kraut believe that the neighbourhood is on the up.

Kraut took some time away from his patients to write an anthology of stories derived from interesting incidents occurring at and around his practice. He hopes to publish the anthology in future but gracefully shared some memories with the record.

Umkhonto we Sizwe cell found under his practice

“People tend to forget there were harrowing times then, too, mainly as a result of the political entities grappling to gain the upper hand in their struggle for power,” Kraut said about the 80s and 90s in Johannesburg.

“Sabotage acts were at the order of the day.

“AK47s obtained from the Soviet Union were plentiful and were being used in robberies and acts of terrorism; together with explosives they were used in daily sabotage acts, blowing up electricity pylons and railway tracks.”

As it turned out, he told the record, one of the main storage cells for these illegal weapons was located in a basement of the building in which his practice remains today.

“One of my patients, a colonel at the time, told me that the amount of firepower contained beneath my practice was capable of sending me and my faithful drill rocketing to the moon,” he joked.

Library not the drug haven it once was

As years passed and the late Nelson Mandela was released from prison, political disturbances gradually came to an end. One of the side effects were the migration of unemployed individuals from rural areas to overcrowded urban areas, he said.

“Florida was badly hit by these individuals, squatters took up residence in the gardens around the Florida Regional Library,” Kraut told the record.

“The ruckus they caused was nothing short of catastrophic,” Kraut said, telling of liquor bottles and garbage strewn around the area and drugs being used in broad daylight.

“In a panic I called the local politician at the time and he told me nothing could be done and that the area’s demise was inevitable.”

Kraut contacted Caxton Local Newspapers, getting hold of a previous record editor.

“We did a beautiful article about its delapidated state,” he said.

“The Roodepoort municipality, separate from City of Johanesburg at the time, heard our pleas and came along and put up beautiful fencing.”

The perimeters being secured meant that squatters could no longer stay on the property or use the municipal bathrooms.

“It was a change like you can’t believe,” Kraut said, “my patients were once again safe.”

More stories in the years to come

Crime in the area has peaked and lowered during his time at the practice. Kraut said that security in the area has been upgraded and the neighbourhood watches, crime policing forums, security companies and local police have been doing a great job of curbing crime.

Kraut has hopes of retiring in the years to come and has invested money in revamping his practice. He will also be welcoming a new partner in the new year.

“I have no doubt in my mind that more interesting stories will develop and take place in and around this practice in the next 44 years,” he said.

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