Soweto

Soweto — short for South Western Townships — resembles a city far more than a simple township. Its origins are rooted in the gold mines that drew thousands of workers to Johannesburg. But after the National Party came to power in 1948, Soweto grew at a staggering pace as apartheid tightened its grip, forcing black populations to leave the “white areas.”

This neighbourhood went on to write some of the most harrowing pages of modern history. The Hector Pieterson Memorial pays tribute to the child victims of the Soweto Uprising of 1976, on the very spot where this young boy was shot during the riots of 16 June.

No visit to Soweto would be complete without walking along Vilakazi Street — the only street in the world to have been home to two Nobel Peace Prize laureates: Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. Mandela’s house, now converted into a museum, bears witness to the modest life of a man who became a legend.

For your safety, it is advisable to be accompanied by a guide, who will allow you to discover the contemporary reality of Soweto while learning its history. Whether on foot, by bicycle or through visits to traditional homes, each experience will bring you a little closer to the soul of this extraordinary neighbourhood.