13 Facts About Sophiatown

Sophiatown was a black cultural hub that was destroyed under apartheid, It produced some of South Africa's most famous writers, musicians, politicians and artists.

Sophiatown was one of the oldest black areas in Johannesburg and its destruction represents some of the excesses of South Africa under apartheid.

Sophiatown is located on one of Johannesburg's ridges called Melville Koppies.

Sophiatown, unlike other townships in South Africa, was a freehold township, which meant that it was one of the rare places in South African urban areas where blacks were allowed to own land.

Sophiatown residents had a determination to construct a respectable lifestyle in the shadow of a state that was actively hostile to such ambitions.

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Sophiatown was in the orchestra of King Kong and then made his own international reputation.

Images of Sophiatown were initially built up in literature by a generation of South African writers: Can Themba, Bloke Modisane, Es'kia Mphahlele, Arthur Maimane, Todd Matshikiza, Nat Nakasa, Casey Motsisi and Lewis Nkosi who all lived in Sophiatown at various stages during the 1950s.

Later, images of Sophiatown could be found in Nadine Gordimer's novels, Miriam Makeba's ghostwritten autobiography and Trevor Huddleston's Naught for your comfort.

Some more well-known gangs in Sophiatown were the Russians, the Americans, the Gestapo, the Berliners and the Vultures.

One of the few tangible reminders of the old Sophiatown is the Anglican Church of Christ the King in Ray Street.

The entire Sophiatown community was removed by the end of 1963; the church was deconsecrated in 1964 and sold to the Department of Community Development in 1967.

Sophiatown was a local celebrity, President of the African National Congress and Chairperson of the Western Areas Anti-Expropriation and Proper Housing Committee.

Sophiatown's house was a landmark in Sophiatown and was declared a National Heritage Monument on 11 February 2006.