KwaThema

KwaThema
KwaThema

 KwaThema shown within Gauteng

Coordinates: 26°17′51″S 28°24′9″E / 26.29750°S 28.40250°E / -26.29750; 28.40250Coordinates: 26°17′51″S 28°24′9″E / 26.29750°S 28.40250°E / -26.29750; 28.40250
Country South Africa
Province Gauteng
Municipality Ekurhuleni
Area[1]
  Total 13.93 km2 (5.38 sq mi)
Population (2001)[1]
  Total 99,517
  Density 7,100/km2 (19,000/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2001)[1]
  Black African 99.7%
  Coloured 0.2%
First languages (2001)[1]
  Zulu 56.8%
  Sotho 8.7%
  Northern Sotho 8.6%
  Xhosa 8.6%
  Other TN%

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.

KwaThema is a multi-racial township where most of South Africa's eleven official languages are spoken but the predominant ones are Sotho and Zulu. KwaThema has given birth to many successful individuals who have helped in the development of the town.

History

kwaThema was named after Selope Thema who was a South African political activist and leader.[2][3]

Famous KwaThemans

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Main Place KwaThema". Census 2001.
  2. "Olive Schreiner Letters Online". www.oliveschreiner.org. Retrieved 2015-09-06.
  3. "Richard Victor Selope Thema | South African History Online". www.sahistory.org.za. Retrieved 2015-09-06.
  4. Kelly, Annie (12 March 2009). "Raped and killed for being a lesbian: South Africa ignores 'corrective' attacks". The Guardian. Retrieved 2009-03-14.

More information


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