Soweto- Travel Tips

What to See, How to Plan & Tours

Soweto, short for South Western Townships, is a historically significant urban area within the City of Johannesburg in Gauteng, South Africa. Established during the 1930s under segregationist policies, it became a central site of anti-apartheid activism, most notably during the 1976 Soweto Uprising when students protested the imposition of Afrikaans in schools. Today, Soweto is home to over a million residents and features a mix of formal housing and informal settlements. Landmarks include Vilakazi Street, where both Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu once lived, and the Hector Pieterson Memorial. Soweto played a prominent role in shaping modern South African identity and continues to evolve as a culturally and economically active part of Johannesburg.