Origins of the name Soweto
Soweto obtained its name from the first two letters of South Western Township which was the original description of the area. “Soweto is a symbol of the New South Africa, caught between old squatter misery and new prosperity, squalor and an upbeat lifestyle, it’s a vibrant city which still openly bears the scars of the Apartheid past and yet shows what’s possible in the New South Africa”
Rich political history
Soweto’s rich political history has guaranteed it a place on the world map. Those who know very little else about South Africa are often familiar with the word “Soweto” and the township’s significance in the struggle against apartheid. The area has also spawned many political, sporting and social luminaries, including Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu – two Nobel peace price laureates, who once lived in the now famous Vilakazi Street in Orlando West.
The township has also produced the highest number of professional soccer teams in the country. Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs and Moroka Swallows all emerged from the township, and remain among the biggest soccer teams in the Premier Soccer League. Just a few kilometres drive from Diepkloof is Orlando, home to Nelson Mandela’s first house, not surprisingly a popular tourist attraction.
Mandela stayed here with his then wife, Winnie, before he was imprisoned in 1961 and jailed for 27 years. The house is now a museum, run by Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, and contains memorabilia from the short time they lived there together before Mandela went into hiding. Mandela now lives in Houghton, a suburb several kilometres north of Johanneburg’s city centre, with his third wife, Graca, widow of the late Mozambican president Samora Machel.
A place to party
Recent years have seen Soweto become a site of massive development projects and a major tourist attraction in the country. With such investments happening, shabeens( local bar / club ), history attraction and restaurants make Soweto a great place for a good day/night out.
Travel with Moafrika tours
See the great wonders of Soweto when you travel with MoAfrika Tours. We cater for both day and night trips. Go to all the local hang out spots and take a look at all the historical monuments that give Soweto such a wonderful culture. View the tours we offer below:
