Orlando, Soweto
Encyclopedia
Orlando is a township
in the urban area of Soweto
, in the city of Johannesburg
(South Africa
). It is the most densely populated area of South Africa.Regina Mundi, Queen of Soweto The township was founded in 1931 and named after Edwin Orlando Leake, Mayor of Johannesburg
from 1925 to 1926. It is divided in two main areas: Orlando West and Orlando East.
The township of Orlando was directly involved in some of the most important events of the fight against the apartheid system. Some of the most dramatic clashes between the South African police and anti-apartheid demonstrators occurred in Orlando West; this include the Soweto uprising where 12 year old Hector Pieterson
was killed. The Hector Pieterson Memorial Museum was established in Orlando West to commemorate those events. In the surroundings of the museum is also the house where Nelson Mandela
lived for several years while practicing law
; the house now hosts the Mandela Family Museum was established in the house.
Orlando East was also involved in dramatic shoot-outs in the apartheid era. One of these occurred at the Regina Mundi
church, which is the main Roman Catholic church in South Africa, the same day that Pieterson was killed in West Orlando. The facade of the church and the interior still show bullet holes. After the apartheid system was dismissed, several meetings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
were held in Regina Mundi.
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...
in the urban area of Soweto
Soweto
Soweto is a lower-class-populated urban area of the city of Johannesburg in Gauteng, South Africa, bordering the city's mining belt in the south. Its name is an English syllabic abbreviation for South Western Townships...
, in the city of Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
(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 is the most densely populated area of South Africa.Regina Mundi, Queen of Soweto The township was founded in 1931 and named after Edwin Orlando Leake, Mayor of Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
from 1925 to 1926. It is divided in two main areas: Orlando West and Orlando East.
The township of Orlando was directly involved in some of the most important events of the fight against the apartheid system. Some of the most dramatic clashes between the South African police and anti-apartheid demonstrators occurred in Orlando West; this include the Soweto uprising where 12 year old Hector Pieterson
Hector Pieterson
Hector Pieterson became the subject of an iconic image of the 1976 Soweto uprising in South Africa when a news photograph by Sam Nzima of the dying Hector being carried by another student while his sister ran next to them, was published around the world. He was killed at the age of 12 when the...
was killed. The Hector Pieterson Memorial Museum was established in Orlando West to commemorate those events. In the surroundings of the museum is also the house where Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
lived for several years while practicing law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
; the house now hosts the Mandela Family Museum was established in the house.
Orlando East was also involved in dramatic shoot-outs in the apartheid era. One of these occurred at the Regina Mundi
Regina Mundi
Regina Mundi is the largest Roman Catholic church in South Africa. It is located in Orlando East, Soweto, a populous black urban residential area within the city of Johannesburg...
church, which is the main Roman Catholic church in South Africa, the same day that Pieterson was killed in West Orlando. The facade of the church and the interior still show bullet holes. After the apartheid system was dismissed, several meetings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Truth and Reconciliation Commission
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was a court-like restorative justice body assembled in South Africa after the abolition of apartheid. Witnesses who were identified as victims of gross human rights violations were invited to give statements about their experiences, and some were selected...
were held in Regina Mundi.