Langa, Cape Town
Encyclopedia
Langa is a suburb
found in Cape Town
, South Africa
. It was established in 1927 interms of the 1923 Urban Areas Act. Similar to Nyanga
, Langa is one of the many areas in South Africa
that were designated for Black Africans before the apartheid era. It is the oldest of such suburbs in Cape Town and was the location of much resistance to apartheid. Langa is also where several people were killed on March 21, 1960 same day as the Sharpeville massacre
, during the anti-pass campaign. In March 21, 2010, now 50 years later, a monument was unveiled by the government in remembrance of the people who lost their lives.
Although Langa literally means 'sun' in Xhosa
, the name of the township
is derived from the name of Langalibalele
- a chief and renowned rainmaker who in 1873 was imprisoned on Robben Island for rebelling against the Natal
government. Various prominent people fought for his release and he was subsequently confined to a farm called "Uitvlugt", which is on the site of present day Pinelands
. Langa, which adjoins Pinelands, commemorates this folk hero as it was developed in 1898 on the land known as "Langalibalele's Location". Hence Langa is often called "Kwa-Langa" meaning 'place of Langa'.
Langa is bordered by Jan Smuts
Drive to the west, the N2 to the south, the N7 to the east and is served by Langa Railway Station.
In 2005 Gugas'Thebe, a cultural/ multi-purpose centre was officially opened in Langa after being in operation for a number of years (unofficially). The first Township B&B by the name of Ma Neo (mother of Neo) was opened in 1999.
Joe Slovo which was established in 1990 is the largest informal settlement in Langa and one of the largest in the country. It is currently being threatened with forced removal to make way for the N2 Gateway Housing Project. Some parts of the Joe Slovo informal settlement has since been removed, and transformed into the N2 Gateway Housing Project (2006), as seen when travelling along the Settler's Way N2 Highway out of Cape Town.
Langa has over the years produced some prominent figures in sport, entertainment and other social fields. These famous people in recent times include the late musician Brenda Fassie, former Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates captain Thabo Mngomeni, boxer Nika Khumalo, South African wicket-keeper
Thami Tsolekile and many others. Even decades ago some well known public figures emerged from Langa.
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
found in Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. It was established in 1927 interms of the 1923 Urban Areas Act. Similar to Nyanga
Nyanga, Cape Town
Nyanga is a township in Cape Town, South Africa. Its name in Xhosa means ‘moon’ and it is one of the oldest black townships in Cape Town. It was established as a result of the migrant labor system. In the early fifties black migrants were forced to settle in Nyanga as Langa became too small. ...
, Langa is one of the many areas in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
that were designated for Black Africans before the apartheid era. It is the oldest of such suburbs in Cape Town and was the location of much resistance to apartheid. Langa is also where several people were killed on March 21, 1960 same day as the Sharpeville massacre
Sharpeville massacre
The Sharpeville Massacre occurred on 21 March 1960, at the police station in the South African township of Sharpeville in the Transvaal . After a day of demonstrations, at which a crowd of black protesters far outnumbered the police, the South African police opened fire on the crowd, killing 69...
, during the anti-pass campaign. In March 21, 2010, now 50 years later, a monument was unveiled by the government in remembrance of the people who lost their lives.
Although Langa literally means 'sun' in Xhosa
Xhosa language
Xhosa is one of the official languages of South Africa. Xhosa is spoken by approximately 7.9 million people, or about 18% of the South African population. Like most Bantu languages, Xhosa is a tonal language, that is, the same sequence of consonants and vowels can have different meanings when said...
, the name of the township
Township
The word township is used to refer to different kinds of settlements in different countries. Township is generally associated with an urban area. However there are many exceptions to this rule. In Australia, the United States, and Canada, they may be settlements too small to be considered urban...
is derived from the name of Langalibalele
Langalibalele
Langalibalele , also known as Mtetwa, was king of the amaHlubi, a bantu tribe in what is the modern-day province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. He was born on the eve of the arrival of European settlers in the province. During the diamond rush, many of his young men worked on the mines in...
- a chief and renowned rainmaker who in 1873 was imprisoned on Robben Island for rebelling against the Natal
Colony of Natal
The Colony of Natal was a British colony in south-eastern Africa. It was proclaimed a British colony on May 4, 1843 after the British government had annexed the Boer Republic of Natalia, and on 31 May 1910 combined with three other colonies to form the Union of South Africa, as one of its...
government. Various prominent people fought for his release and he was subsequently confined to a farm called "Uitvlugt", which is on the site of present day Pinelands
Pinelands, Cape Town
The "garden city" suburb of Pinelands is located on the edge of the southern suburbs of Cape Town in South Africa and is known for its large thatched houses. The suburb is primarily residential and is often praised for its peacefulness and abundance of trees...
. Langa, which adjoins Pinelands, commemorates this folk hero as it was developed in 1898 on the land known as "Langalibalele's Location". Hence Langa is often called "Kwa-Langa" meaning 'place of Langa'.
Langa is bordered by Jan Smuts
Jan Smuts
Jan Christiaan Smuts, OM, CH, ED, KC, FRS, PC was a prominent South African and British Commonwealth statesman, military leader and philosopher. In addition to holding various cabinet posts, he served as Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa from 1919 until 1924 and from 1939 until 1948...
Drive to the west, the N2 to the south, the N7 to the east and is served by Langa Railway Station.
In 2005 Gugas'Thebe, a cultural/ multi-purpose centre was officially opened in Langa after being in operation for a number of years (unofficially). The first Township B&B by the name of Ma Neo (mother of Neo) was opened in 1999.
Joe Slovo which was established in 1990 is the largest informal settlement in Langa and one of the largest in the country. It is currently being threatened with forced removal to make way for the N2 Gateway Housing Project. Some parts of the Joe Slovo informal settlement has since been removed, and transformed into the N2 Gateway Housing Project (2006), as seen when travelling along the Settler's Way N2 Highway out of Cape Town.
Langa has over the years produced some prominent figures in sport, entertainment and other social fields. These famous people in recent times include the late musician Brenda Fassie, former Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates captain Thabo Mngomeni, boxer Nika Khumalo, South African wicket-keeper
Thami Tsolekile and many others. Even decades ago some well known public figures emerged from Langa.