A piercing whistle cuts through the haze. In the south-west of Gauteng, bordering the city’s mining belt, Soweto is bustling. From sharply-dressed youth kick starting their latest venture to waiters laying out crystal glasses and cutlery, this township thrives on a constant influx of people. Taxis plastered with bright advertisements rattle past gleaming sports cars. Vendors walk by, carrying heaps of fruit and vegetables. These roads are full of history, yet Soweto is pulsing with the promise of tomorrow.
The South Western Townships – shortened to Soweto – was only named in 1963. Three years later, the name was splashed across headlines after the student uprising. Hector Pieterson was one of the first students to be killed in the protests, and today his memorial is a pivotal stop for visitors. Take a moment to pay your respects here for the lives that were lost. Ten minutes away is another crucial site. In Kliptown, Soweto’s oldest suburb, thousands of people united in 1955. At Walter Sisulu Square, they wrote out the Freedom Charter. Local traders now come to this spot to show off their wares. It’s also the location of the Kliptown Open Air Museum, which tells the story of this area’s past.
In Orlando West, a first-hand experience of a presidential home awaits. Vilakazi Street is the only one in the world to have had two Nobel prize winners reside on it. Archbishop Desmond Tutu and late president Nelson Mandela both lived here. Stop at house number 8115 to see Soweto from the perspective of Madiba himself. Down the road, eateries such as KwaLichaba offer an authentic chesa nyama menu. While restaurants and clubs fill the township with kwaito beats, black metal group Demogoroth Satanum breaks convention with its bold musical genre.
This community continues to take innovation to new heights at the brightly-painted Soweto Towers. Here, you can find the world’s first bungee jump between two cooling towers. A leap from this level will send adrenaline racing through your veins. At the base, paintballing, rock climbing, and quad biking take place. Cool off by heading to one of the taverns for a pint of traditional umqombothi.
Soweto’s streets are a testament to both our humble beginnings and glittering future. The unique cuisine, colourful culture, and eye-catching sights of this place are quintessential to our identity. Here, the spirit of South Africa shines.
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