Soweto History
In 1950, during the apartheid regime, Soweto was constructed as a self-sufficient housing project. African people until then had been living in government designated areas for white settlement (such as the multi-racial area called Sophiatown). It began as a grouping of the farms Doornkop, Klipriviersoog, Diepkloof, Klipspruit and Vogelstruisfontein.
Soweto Riots
Soweto came to the world's attention in 1976 with the Soweto Riots, when mass rioting broke out over the government's policy to enforce education in Afrikaans rather than English. After the riots the question "So Where To from now?" was asked in a drama staged by students at the University of Stellenbosch. See History of South Africa.
A series of bombs rocked Soweto in October 2002. The explosions, believed to be the work of the Boeremag, a right wing extremist group, damaged buildings and railway lines, and killed one person.
Demographics
Today Soweto's population is predominantly black. Some people believe the city has surpassed Johannesburg in population, but the 2001 Census put its population at 896,995.
Suburbs
The suburbs of Greater Soweto also consists of 29 former townships: Chiawelo, Dhlamini, Diepmeadow, Gauteng (Diepkloof, Meadowlands and Medowlands West), Dobsonville including Dobsonville Gardens, Doornkop, Dube, Emdeni, Jabulani, Jabavu, Klipspruit, Mapetla, Mmensi Park, Mofolo (Mofolo Central, Mofolo North, Mofolo South), Molapo, Moletsane, Moroka, Naledi, Noordgesig, Orlando (Orlando East, Orlando West), Phiri,Phiri Ext., Pimville, Power Park, Protea Glen, Protea North, Protea South, Senaoane, Tladi, Zola and Zondi. |