kliptown

Kliptown is a suburb of the formerly black township of Soweto in Gauteng, South Africa, located about 17 km south-west of Johannesburg. Kliptown is the oldest residential district of Soweto, and was first laid out in 1891 on land which formed part of Klipspruit farm.

kliptown

What is Kliptown known for?

Kliptown is the oldest district in Soweto, famous as the site known as the Congress of the People, where 3 000 gathered together in 1955 to write the Freedom Charter. It later served as the basis for South Africa’s liberal constitution.

What kind of settlement is Kliptown?

Kliptown is a mixed-use district, centering around Freedom Square (the Walter Sisulu Square of Dedication). The most dominant land use in the region is residential housing with rental housing (including flats, backyard shacks, and hostels) being the most common form of tenure in the broader region.

What does the name of Kliptown mean?

Kliptown is the oldest residential area of Soweto. It was formed in 1891 on land which formed part of Klipspruit Farm. The farm was named after the nearby Klipspruit, or rocky stream.

Is Kliptown a settlement?

Established in 1903, Kliptown is the oldest urban settlement in the Johannesburg area to accommodate people of all races. It is a sprawling collection of settlements with a thriving informal business sector.