The M1 De Villiers Graaff motorway is a metropolitan route and major freeway in the City of Johannesburg, South Africa. The highway connects the southern areas with the city centre and extends further north through Sandton into the Ben Schoeman Highway towards Pretoria. Construction began in 1962 and resulted in the demolition of many properties and houses including numerous historical Parktown Mansions.
The M1 as it passes between the east and west campuses of the University of the Witwatersrand.
The M1 freeway southbound at the M30 Corlett Drive exit
Aerial view from the north
Sir De Villiers Graaff, 2nd Baronet, known as Div Graaff, was a South African politician who succeeded his father, Sir David Pieter de Villiers Graaff, 1st Baronet, to his baronetcy in 1931. He died in 1999 and was succeeded by his son, Sir David de Villiers Graaff, 3rd Baronet. He was the leader of the centrist United Party which was the official opposition in the then all-white South African Parliament from 1956 to 1977.
Sir De Villiers Graaff in 1960.
Graaff in military uniform during World War II.