Soweto marks 100 years
2004-10-12 11:22
Johannesburg - Soweto's 100 years of existence is to be marked with the planting of a tree on Tuesday, SABC reported.
Gauteng MEC for conservation and agriculture Khabisi Mosunkutu was set to plant a tree at the Musi High School, the first high school in Soweto on Tuesday.
Pam Ndaba, the CEO of Soweto 100, said by planting the tree in Pimville, the residents of the township would be marking Soweto's significance as the first location that gave birth "to what is a true South African icon, the entire township of Soweto".
"The nature of planting a tree is to mark the whole reinstallation of pride ... a tree stands for growth, it stands for renewal."
Soweto, the country's largest township, was established in Klipspruit in 1904.
The township's purpose was to house mainly black labourers, who worked in the mines and industries in the city, away from the city centre. As apartheid took root the inner city was reserved for white occupation.
In 1963, the acronym Soweto was adopted as the official name for the South Western Townships, following a four-year public competition on an appropriate name for the sprawling township.
Since its inception, Soweto experienced problems such as poor housing, overcrowding, high unemployment and poor infrastructure.
Shacks of corrugated iron, planks and even plastic came to mark the township.
Running water, electricity, parks and trees were only more recently introduced.
Soweto has been a hotbed of many political campaigns, the most memorable of which was the 1976 student uprising.
Soweto was home to many political, sporting and social figures, including Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu - two Nobel peace price laureates.
Other prominent figures from Soweto include boxing legend Baby Jake Matlala, singing diva Yvonne Chaka Chaka and soccer maestro Jomo Sono.
Others include mathematician Prof Thamsanqa Kambule, medical doctor Nthato Motlana and prominent journalist Aggrey Klaaste.
The township produced the highest number of professional soccer teams in the country, such as Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs and Moroka Swallows.
Additional information from the official website of the City of Johannesburg.