Soweto, my hometown
Soweto, my birthplace, comprises of several smaller townships to form one big residential area - probably one of the biggest in the southern hemisphere. The name "Soweto" is an acronym for "South Western Townships" (SOuth WEstern TOwnships), the reason being that the area is situated on the south west of the City of Johannesburg.
Historically, Soweto made world headlines on June 16, 1976, when a group of schoolchildren who were marching against the use of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction were shot dead by the police.
Today Soweto is steadily developing into a decent town. Development is taking place all over the township and now Soweto boasts several malls. The value of property in places like Protea North and Diepkloof Ext has been going up steadily.
All the same, a lot still has to be done. Many Sowetans still live in squatter camps like Mshenguville. But no one can deny that progress has been made.
Tours to Soweto are conducted regularly, because the area remains one of the biggest tourist attractions in South Africa.
