Many people know of Soweto as the sprawling township located outside Johannesburg, and the site of a violent uprising in 1976 that helped to bring international attention to the struggle against apartheid. The vast township is home to vibrant communities with a fascinating history. Here are 10 things you didn’t know about Soweto, South Africa.
Sources: WhyJoburg.com, SowetoVibe.co.za, South Africa Census 2008, Official Website of the City of Johannesburg, SAHistory.org.za, AfricanHistory.About.com
As black South Africans were drawn to work on gold mines in the Johannesburg area in the late 1880s, they were increasingly evicted out of the city center by city and state authorities. Hostels and other accommodations were set up in the outskirts of Johannesburg for the growing black worker population.
During this time, residents of the area began an organized occupation of vacant land in the area, as more informal settlements sprang up to meet the growing lack of housing in the area. It became known as Soweto in 1963, representing the sprawling area known as the SOuth WEstern TOwnships. The area encompasses the former farms of Doornkop, Klipriviersoog, Diepkloof, Klipspruit, and Vogelstruisfontein.
In 1983, Soweto shifted from being governed by the Johannesburg council to electing its own black councilors, in line with the Black Local Authorities Act passed by the apartheid government. The move was not popular among residents, however, as councilors were not given the financial resources to adequately address housing and infrastructure issues, and were seen as puppets of the apartheid government. Elections were often boycotted, and little voter turnout was seen during this time.
Due to apartheid-era laws, employment was not allowed within Soweto. Many residents had to commute to other parts of the city, but an unofficial marketplace sprang up in Soweto. Though this is changing, many people continue to commute and public transportation such as Metrorail operates commuter trains between Soweto and central Johannesburg.
According to the 2008 census, the population of Soweto is approximately 1.3 million people. The area is defined as just over 200 square kilometers with nearly 6,400 residents per square kilometer. Accurate demographic statistics are difficult to gather, however, given the fluctuating nature of the community and lack of distinct infrastructure to calculate households.
In 2001, the area considered to be Soweto was just 106.44 square kilometers, with a population of 858,644. This meant that there were more than 8,000 people per square kilometer, leading to cramped conditions and overcrowding.
Kwaito and Kasi Rap are styles of hip hop unique to South Africa, blending different elements of house music, American hip hop, and traditional African music. They have become popular among black South Africans, and have been sampled by international artists as well.
This has led the Johannesburg City Council to invest more heavily in Soweto, providing more infrastructure for the township such as street lights and paved roads, as well as constructing malls, hotels, and entertainment centers.
Thanks to many important landmarks and key sites of South African history located in Soweto, many tourists have flocked to the township over the years. Nelson Mandela’s former home, transformed into the Mandela House Museum, is a big draw, along with the Hector Pieterson Museum, the Orlando Stadium (home of the Kaiser Chiefs) and lots of nightlife opportunities.
While Soweto does share many of its media sources with the greater Johannesburg area, it has several outlets that are dedicated to the township itself. Soweto TV, a community TV channel, offers local news to residents, while the township’s newspaper, “The Sowetan,” has a readership of more than 1.6 million.