Soweto - Johannesburg
Soweto is an urban area in the City of Johannesburg, South Africa. Its name is an English syllabic abbreviation, short for South Western Townships. However, some feel it came from the relocating residents asking “So Where To”. Soweto is well known for its past history of struggle and uprisings.
The history of the black townships that would later form Soweto was propelled by the increasing eviction of black Africans by city and state authorities. Black Africans had been drawn to work on the gold mines that sprang up after 1886. From the start they were accommodated in separate areas on the outskirts of Johannesburg. The economic development of Soweto was severely shortened by the apartheid state, which provided very limited infrastructure and prevented residents from creating their own businesses. Roads remained unpaved, and many residents had to share one tap between four houses. Soweto was meant to exist only as a dormitory town for black Africans who worked in white houses, factories, and industries. More…
