26°15S 27°52E, pop (2000e) 1 073 000. Black African township in NE South Africa; the name derives from the official title of South-West Township; linked by rail (8 km/5 mi) to industrial W Johannesburg; resistance to the teaching of Afrikaans in schools led to student riots in June 1976, when several hundred people were killed.
Soweto is an urban area in the City of Johannesburg, in Gauteng, South Africa. Its name is an English syllabic abbreviation, short for South Western Townships.
History
The history of black townships south west of Johannesburg that would later form Soweto was propelled by the increasing eviction of black Africans by city and state authorities. In 1904 British-controlled authorities removed black African and Indian residents of Brickfields to Klipspruit (Kliptown) outside the Johannesburg municipal boundary, following a reported outbreak of plague .
Industrialization during World War II drew thousands of black workers to the Reef. Partly as a result of Mpanza's actions, the city council was forced to set up emergency camps in Orlando (1944), Moroka, and Central Western Jabavu (1946) .
Soweto's only hospital came courtesy of World War II. In 1997 another name change followed, with the sprawling facility now known as Hani-Baragwanath Hospital, in honour of the African National Congress leader who was assassinated in 1993 by white extremists .
After the Afrikaner-dominated National Party gained power in 1948 and began to implement apartheid, the pace of forced removals and the creation of townships outside legally-designated white areas increased. The following year houses were built in the newly proclaimed townships of Meadowlands and Diepkloof .
In 1956 townships were laid out for particular ethnic groups as part of the state's strategy to sift black Africans into groupings that would later form the building blocks of the so-called "independent homelands."
In 1963, the name Soweto (SOuth WEstern TOwnship) was officially adopted for the sprawling township that now occupied what had been the farms of Doornkop, Klipriviersoog, Diepkloof, Klipspruit and Vogelstruisfontein.
Soweto came to the world's attention on June 16, 1976 with the Soweto Riots, when mass protests erupted over the government's policy to enforce education in Afrikaans rather than English. The impact of the Soweto protests reverberated through the country and across the world. Soweto and other townships became the stage for violent state repression.
In response, the apartheid state starting providing electricity to more Soweto homes, yet phased out financial support for building additional housing .
Soweto became an independent municipality with elected black councillors in 1983, in line with the Black Local Authorities Act . Previously the townships were governed by the Johannesburg council, but from the 1970s the state took control .
Soweto's black African councillors were not provided by the apartheid state with the finances to address housing and infrastructural problems.
In Soweto popular resistance to apartheid emerged in various forms during the 1980s. One of the most well-known "civics" was Soweto's Committee of Ten, started in 1978 in the offices of The Bantu World newspaper.
In 1995 Soweto became part of the Southern Metropolitan Transitional Local Council, and in 2002 was incorporated into the City of Johannesburg . A series of bomb explosions rocked Soweto in October 2002.
Demographics
As Soweto was counted as part of Johannesburg in South Africa's 2001 census, recent demographic statistics are not readily available. It has been estimated that 65% of Johannesburg's residents live in Soweto (2002 figures).
Soweto's population is overwhelmingly black.
Suburbs
By 2003 the Greater Soweto area consisted of 87 townships grouped together into Administrative Regions 6 and 10 of the City of Johannesburg Regional Spatial Development Framework.
Estimates of how many residential areas make up Soweto itself vary widely. Some say that Soweto comprises 29 townships , others find 32 . The differences may be due to confusion arising from the merger of adjoining townships (such as Lenasia and Eldorado Park) with those of Soweto into Regions 6 and 10.
The list below provides the dates when some of Soweto's townships were established, along with the probable origins or meanings of their names, where available:
Chiawelo (1956), "Place of Rest" (Venda) Dhlamini (1956), Unknown, Nguni family name Diepmeadow, comprising Diepkloof (1957; "Deep Ravine", Afrikaans), originally a farm Meadowlands (1958), Originally Meadowlands Small Holdings (1938) Meadowlands West Dobsonville including Dobsonville Gardens Doornkop, "Hill of Thorns" (Afrikaans) Dube (1948), Named for John Langalibalele Dube (1871-1946), educator , newspaper founder, and the first ANC president (1912-17) Emdeni (1958), "At the family" (Zulu, from umndeni - family), including extensions Jabavu (1948), Named for Davidson Don Tengo Jabavu (1885-1959), educator and author Jabulani (1956), "Rejoice" (Zulu) Klipspruit/ Kliptown (1904), "Rocky Stream" (Afrikaans), originally a farm map Mapetla (1956), including Mapetla Extension (1962), Unknown Sotho family name Mmesi Park Mofolo (1954), including (Mofolo Central, Mofolo North, Mofolo South), Named for Thomas Mofolo (1876-1948), Sotho author, translator, and educator Molapo (1956), Name of a Basotho tribe Moletsane (1956), Name of a Batuang chief Moroka (1946), including Moroka North (1955), Named for Dr James Sebe Moroka (1891-1985), later ANC president (1949-52) during the 1952 Defiance Campaign Naledi (1956), "Star" (Sotho/Pedi/Tswana), originally Mkizi Noordgesig, "North View" (Afrikaans) Orlando (1932), including (Orlando East, Orlando West, 1946), Named for Edwin Orlando Leake (1860-1935), chairman of the Non-European Affairs Department (1930-31), Johannesburg mayor (1925-26) Phiri (1956) and Phiri Extension, "Hyena" (Sotho) Pimville (1934), Named for James Howard Pim, councillor (1903-07), Quaker , philanthropist, and patron of Fort Hare Native College ; originally part of Klipspruit Power Park, in the vicinity of the power station Protea Glen, Unknown (The protea is South Africa's national flower) Protea North Protea South Senaoane (1958), Named for Solomon G Senaoane (-1942), first sports organiser in the Non-European Affairs Department Tladi (1956), "Lightning" (Sotho) Zola (1956), "Calm" (Zulu/Xhosa) Zondi (1956), Unknown (Zulu)Other Soweto townships include Braamfischerville, Killarney, Mzimhlope, Phefeni, Phomolong, Snake Park, and White City .
A full description of the origins of the names of these suburbs can be found at Urban legends - what's in a name?.
Economy
Many parts of Soweto rank among the poorest in Johannesburg, although individual townships tend to have a mix of wealthier and poorer residents.
The economic development of Soweto was severely curtailed by the apartheid state, which provided very limited infrastructure and prevented residents from creating their own businesses. Soweto was meant to exist only as a dormitory town for black Africans who worked in white houses, factories, and industries. The 1957 Natives (Urban Areas) Consolidation Act and its predecessors restricted residents between 1923 to 1976 to seven self-employment categories in Soweto itself.
By 1976 Soweto had only two cinemas and two hotels, and only 20% of houses had electricity. Residents resorted to using fire for cooking and heating, resulting in respiratory problems that contributed to high infant mortality rates (54 per 1,000 compared to 18 for whites, 1976 figures
The restrictions on economic activities were lifted in 1977, spurring the growth of the taxi industry as an alternative to Soweto's inadequate bus and train transport systems .
In 1994 Sowetans earned on average almost six and a half times less than their counterparts in wealthier areas of Johannesburg (1994 estimates). The Soweto Electricity Crisis Committee argues that Soweto's poor are unable to pay for electricity. Soweto has also become a center for nightlife and culture.
Famous Sowetans
Soweto was the birthplace of:
Cyril Ramaphosa (born 1952), lawyer, trade union leader, activist, politician and businessman Tokyo Sexwale (born 1953), businessman and former politician, anti-apartheid activist, and political prisoner Jomo Sono (born 1955), a South African soccer club owner and coach and also a former star soccer player Doctor Khumalo (born 1967), soccer player Lucas Radebe (born 1969), former soccer player and national team captain Mandoza (born 1978), kwaito musician Bonginkosi Dlamini, aka. Nelson Mandela (born 1918) spent many years living in Soweto. His Soweto home in Orlando is currently a major tourist attraction. Hector Pieterson (1964-1976) student who died during the 1976 uprising in Soweto. Steven Pienaar (born 1982), Borussia Dortmund and national team soccer playerOther Interest
Well-known artists from Soweto, besides those mentioned above, include:
The Soweto Gospel Choir. Songs and interview from NPR's All Things Considered Soweto Gospel Choir: 'Voices from Heaven', February 4, 2005. The Soweto String QuartetFilms that include Soweto scenes:
Tau ya Soweto (2005). Hijack stories (2000)Landmarks
Soweto landmarks, apart from those mentioned above, include :
Chris Hani-Baragwanath Hospital, Diepkloof Cooling Towers, Orlando Electricity Plant Credo Mutwa village, Central Western Jabavu Freedom Square, Kliptown Hector Pieterson Memorial Museum, Orlando West Mandela Family Museum, Orlando West Regina Mundi Catholic Church, Orlando East
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