Orlando West, Soweto , livre ebook

WITS University Press - Noor Nieftagodien , Sally Gaule

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102 pages

English

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Until the end of the First World War, urban growth in Johannesburg proceeded unevenly and haphazardly, but under the impact of a wave of militant struggles by black workers and in the context of the devastating impact of the 1918 influenza epidemic, the state became determined to better manage the movement of Africans into the urban areas and to place them in properly controlled locations. The promulgation of the Native (Urban) Areas Act of 1923 was intended to meet these objectives. The Act was a hybrid piece of legislation. On the one hand, it espoused the principles enunciated by the Stallard Commission of 1922, which had infamously declared that an African ‘should only be allowed into the urban areas, which are essentially the white man’s creation, when he is willing to enter and minister to the needs of the white man, and should depart therefrom when he ceases so to minister’. On the other hand, when it empowered local authorities to set aside land for black residential purposes, it recognised the need to create conditions for the settlement of an urban African population in order to provide a reliable supply of labour to secondary industry. The growing demand for housing led the government to establish Orlando (named after the chairman of the Native Affairs Committee, Edwin Orlando Leake) in 1931, when thousands of African families were evicted from urban slums in and around the city centre and moved there. The authorities described this as a ‘model native township’ that was supposedly planned along the lines of a garden city. The new location, it promised, would be characterised by tree-lined streets, business opportunities and recreation facilities. Reflecting the views of a somewhat conservative section of the African urban elite, the popular African newspaper Bantu World predicted on 14 May 1932 that the new township ‘will undoubtedly be somewhat of a paradise [that] will enhance the status of the Bantu within the ambit of progress and civilisation.’ Orlando West, Soweto illuminates the genesis of Orlando township and its well-known subsequent history, which is inextricably linked with the lives of prominent South Africans such as Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu, amongst many others. A beautiful photographic essay complements the testimony from residents, who describe the way things were, and the way they are now, in the heart of Soweto, South Africa’s most iconic African township.

Sujets

Africa

History

General

History of Africa

General officer

Histoire

Social History

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Publié par	WITS University Press
Date de parution	01 août 2012
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781776141142
Langue	English
Poids de l'ouvrage	4 Mo

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Published in South Africa by:
Wits University Press
1 Jan Smuts Avenue
Johannesburg
www.witspress.co.za
Copyright © Noor Nieftagodien and Sally Gaule 2012
Photographs © Individual copyright holders 2012
First published 2012
ISBN 978-1-86814-544-7 (Print)
ISBN 978-1-86814-595-9 (Digital)
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher, except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act, Act 98 of 1978.
Edited by Monica Seeber
Cover design and layout by Hothouse South Africa
Printed and bound by Creda Communications
CONTENTS FOREWORD ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS LIST OF INTERVIEWEES CHAPTER ONE ORIGINS CHAPTER TWO A RIGHT TO LIVE IN THE CITY CHAPTER THREE PLACE OF DEFIANCE CHAPTER FOUR UNCERTAIN TIMES CHAPTER FIVE GOOD TIMES CHAPTER SIX WORK AND EDUCATION CHAPTER SEVEN INSPIRED BY BLACK CONSCIOUSNESS CHAPTER EIGHT THE BEGINNING OF THE UPRISING CHAPTER NINE THE MAKING OF A MIDDLE CLASS CHAPTER TEN MAKING A REVOLUTION SELECTED REFERENCES CHAPTER ELEVEN PHOTOGRAPHIC ESSAY
FOREWORD
One of the tragedies of apartheid was the marginalisation of the history of the black majority of this country. Since at least the 1980s the project to recover this history, which was then called ‘People’s History’, and which was driven by anti-apartheid activists and radical historians, has made great strides in redressing the imbalances of past historical accounts. The rewriting of history has gathered momentum since the advent of democracy and a considerable body of literature has been published about the key figures in the liberation struggle as well as the main events that contributed to overthrowing apartheid. And yet so much more needs to be done to uncover the hidden stories of our communities.
It is in this context that Orlando West, Soweto , an oral history documentation of the joys and struggles of the Orlando community should be understood. Orlando West is renowned for its historic contributions to the liberation of our people. It is here on 16 June 1976 where thousands of students shouted with one voice: ‘To hell with Afrikaans’ and ‘Down with apartheid’. Their courage and determination heralded the beginning of the end of minority rule.
Orlando West, and in particular Vilakazi Street, is the known home of two Nobel Peace Prize winners, the former state president, Nelson Mandela, and Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu. Orlando East is associated with the Sofasonke Party and is home to its founder, James Mpanza, the first man to own horses in the township. Orlando is indeed the home of the struggle and, perhaps, can even be referred to as the ‘political’ home of South Africa and the bedrock of our nation’s march towards freedom.
The township of Orlando (the area now known as Orlando East) was established in 1932 as one of the first township settlements developed to house the increasing number of African migrant workers drawn to the burgeoning mining camp of Johannesburg. In 1937 , not long after the establishment of Orlando, a group of young soccer players formed what has become one of South Africa’s biggest soccer teams of all time, Orlando Pirates.
In its eighty years of existence, Orlando has represented an evolving kaleidoscope of South Africa’s modern history. This book is the story of the people of Orlando, and is told largely through their accounts. It is a recollection of fond and of painful memories..
This book demonstrates the commitment of the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality to contribute to the important task of uncovering the history of our communities and we hope this will be the start of a trend that explores communities’ histories through their people.
Councillor Ruby Mathang
Member of Mayoral Committee:
Development Planning and Urban Management
City of Johannesburg
20 April 2012
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The proposal to undertake a history project in Orlando West was raised at a community meeting of the Vilakazi Street Precinct Upgrade Project. It was an interesting idea, considering the area has received considerable attention due to its centrality in the 1976 student uprising and being home to two Nobel Peace Laureates, Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. Research conducted on the iconic event and on these leaders has illuminated some aspects, especially the politics, on Orlando’s history. Nonetheless, residents expressed the view that the rich and diverse histories of the local community had not received adequate attention. The Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) was therefore mandated by the community to include an oral history of the area in its project plans. In 2009 the History Workshop (University of the Witwatersrand) commenced with this work and after consultation agreed on a number of modest objectives, which included recording life histories of between thirty and forty residents and undertaking archival research, producing a documentary based on the interviews and photographing various aspects of everyday life in the area. In addition local researchers were to be trained and a manuscript written. The achievement of these objectives is due to the support and contributions from numerous people.
The JDA not only provided funds but offered all sorts of logistical support and advice. Kirsten Harrison and Tanya Zack embraced the community’s proposal with enthusiasm and were the early drivers behind the project. Their insistence on proper historical research was crucial in defining its character. Thanduxolo Ntoyi played a critical role as the liaison between our work as researchers, the JDA and the community. Thando Mendrew, the current CEO of the JDA, and Susan Monyai were exceedingly helpful and were critical in steering the project to its conclusion in the form of this book.
Ali Hlongwane played an important role in facilitating relations with the existing heritage organisations. The Hector Pieterson Museum, Mandela Museum and the June 16th Foundation supported and encouraged our work. The former also hosted our workshop with teachers. Several other local entities and people, including the Ward Committee, local councillors and political activists engaged us throughout the life of the project. Sifiso Ndlovu, the key historian on the Soweto Uprising, was always generous in his response to our queries.
Dumisane Khesa, Sakhile Mthabela and Tshepo Ramutumbu were the main local researchers on the project. Two others, Joy Matthews and Boitumelo Khoza left when they found long-term employment elsewhere. The remaining three attended training workshops, conducted interviews and spent many weeks in the archives. Despite some challenges their collective effort added value to the research. It was agreed at the outset to photograph contemporary life in the area and to collect photos from residents. Sally Gaule brought her skills and experience to bear on both these aspects and mentored Sakhile in the process. The two of them mounted a successful exhibition based on the photographs taken during the course of the project. In addition, Sally has produced an insightful and sensitive photo-essay as the last chapter of the book.
Wonderboy Peters and his crew of young film-makers spent a number of weekends video-recording interviews with several residents, and produced a documentary on the history of Orlando, which has been enthusiastically received in the community. Copies have been distributed to interviewees and schools in the area.
The research team based at the History Workshop was, as usual, outstanding. Tshepo Moloi played a pivotal role in conducting interviews and acting as a mentor to the local researchers. His expertise as an interviewer is evident in the documentary and this book. Transcribing interviews is a critical but often neglected part of oral history. Plantinah Dire, Tshegofatso Leeuw, Sibongile Mgwebi, Reabetswe Kgaruwe, Mojabeng Liholo, Bongani Khumalo and Musawenkosi Malabela ensured the interviews were reliably transcribed and translated. Our administrators, Zahn Gowar, Gugulethu Nyathikazi and Ms Sifiso Ndlovu often went beyond the call of duty to address a steady stream of demands. Phil Bonner was always supportive and participated in the training workshop.
The librarians and archivists at the university’s William Cullen Library were very helpful and exceedingly patient in assisting our local researchers. Without the support of Wits Press this book would not have seen the light of day. Monica Seeber was a patient and professional editor, and Melanie Pequeux steered the project to its conclusion.
Many residents of Orlando West welcomed us into their homes to be interviewed and photographed. Their stories are at the heart of this book. We hope our various efforts have met their expectations of contributing to an understanding of the rich history of the area.
Noor Nieftagodien
History Workshop
University of the Witwatersrand
LIST OF INTERVIEWES
Lungiswa Bacela
Toto Davashe
Alfred Jacobs
Mogari Khomo
Ntombi Khumalo
Setshebi Kota
Sechaba Lepote
Patrick Madibe
Grace Kekeletso Mafafane
Mary Makola
Mirriam Mankula
Rebecca Matthews
Sonnyboy Matthews
Ndukuzakhe Isaac Mazibuko
Ntlantla Daniel Mazibuko
Mbulelo Mbele
Rev. Lulama Walter Mbete
Zamo Mbutho
Peter Mkhasibe
Reverend Ishmael Papi Morris
Tseko Mothopeng
Ms. Motopanyane
Shadrack Mutau
China Ngema and Mrs Masoma
Enoch Nhlapho
Collin Nxumalo
Eric Osiba
Nukuthula Cynthia Ramoitheki
Sidney Ramokgopa
Patrick Sekuthe
Andronica Bahedile Sithole
Mr Sithole and Mrs Sithole
Rita Tandy
Wilfred Boy Thabethe
Shirley Thathi
Elizabeth Nonki Tsimo
Catherine Vilakazi
Jacky Vilakazi
Mzwakhe Washington Sixolo
Mrs Sixolo
Thami Zitha
Map by Wendy Job
CHAPTER ONE
ORIGINS
SOWETO AND JOHANESBURG, INEXTRICABLY LINKED. THEIR SEPARATE histories cast light on each other.
Formally established in