KwaThema, Gauteng
Encyclopedia
KwaThema is a township
south-west of Springs
on the East Rand, Gauteng
, South Africa
. It was established in 1951
when Africans were resettled from Payneville because it was considered by the apartheid government to be too close to a white town. The new township's layout was designed along modernist principles and became a model for many subsequent townships, although the envisaged social facilities were not implemented. The typical South African township house, the 51/9, was one of the plans developed for KwaThema. A black local authority with municipal status was established in 1984
. In 1985
KwaThema experienced violent unrest and right-wing vigilante activity.
Township (South Africa)
In South Africa, the term township and location usually refers to the urban living areas that, from the late 19th century until the end of Apartheid, were reserved for non-whites . Townships were usually built on the periphery of towns and cities...
south-west of Springs
Springs, Gauteng
Springs is a city on the East Rand in the Gauteng province of South Africa.It lies 50 km east of Johannesburg. The name of the city derives from the large number of springs in the area; it has a population of more than 200,000, and is situated at 5,340 ft a.s.l...
on the East Rand, Gauteng
Gauteng
Gauteng is one of the nine provinces of South Africa. It was formed from part of the old Transvaal Province after South Africa's first all-race elections on 27 April 1994...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. It was established in 1951
1951 in South Africa
-March:* 30 March - The Group Areas Act which was passed in 1950 becomes law-May:* 14 May - The cabinet voted for the removal of the Coloured people from the voters roll...
when Africans were resettled from Payneville because it was considered by the apartheid government to be too close to a white town. The new township's layout was designed along modernist principles and became a model for many subsequent townships, although the envisaged social facilities were not implemented. The typical South African township house, the 51/9, was one of the plans developed for KwaThema. A black local authority with municipal status was established in 1984
1984 in South Africa
-Events:* 8 January - The South African Defence Force begins withdrawal from southern Angola-February:* 3 February - A bomb destroys the offices of the Ciskei consulate in Durban* 23 February - A Escom installation in Georgetown is slightly damaged by explosion...
. In 1985
1985 in South Africa
-January:* Three guerrillas and a policeman are killed in a skirmish near Nongoma* 31 January - Pieter Willem Botha, State President of South Africa offers a release proposal to jailed African National Congress leader Nelson Mandela...
KwaThema experienced violent unrest and right-wing vigilante activity.
Famous KwaThemans
- Hilda TloubatlaHilda TloubatlaHilda Semola Tloubatla is a South African mbaqanga singer, and the lead singer of the acclaimed group the Mahotella Queens. Tloubatla was born in Payneville, Springs in South Africa before moving to kwaThema township in 1951 as a result of the apartheid government's 'Group Areas Act' in the...
(b. 1942), South African mbaqangaMbaqangaMbaqanga is a style of South African music with rural Zulu roots that continues to influence musicians worldwide today. The style originated in the early 1960s.-History:...
singer - Eudy SimelaneEudy SimelaneEudy Simelane was a South African footballer who played for the South Africa women's national football team and an LGBT-rights activist. She was raped and murdered in her hometown of KwaThema, Springs, Gauteng.-Football:...
(1977–2008), South African footballer and LGBT-rights activist, raped and murdered in the town - Lucas SitholeLucas SitholeLucas Sithole was a South African sculptor best known for his work in mainly indigenous woods, as well as for his sculptures in bronze, stone and other media....
(1931–1994), South African sculptor