KwaThema is a
township south-west of
Springs
Spring(s) may refer to:
Common uses
* Spring (season), a season of the year
* Spring (device), a mechanical device that stores energy
* Spring (hydrology), a natural source of water
* Spring (mathematics), a geometric surface in the shape of a he ...
in the district of
Ekurhuleni,
Gauteng,
South Africa. It was established in
1951
Events
January
* January 4 – Korean War: Third Battle of Seoul – Chinese and North Korean forces capture Seoul for the second time (having lost the Second Battle of Seoul in September 1950).
* January 9 – The Government of the United ...
when Africans were forcibly removed from Payneville because it was considered by the
apartheid government to be too close to a white town. The new township's layout was designed along modernist principles and became a model for many subsequent townships, although the envisaged social facilities were not implemented. The typical South African township house, the 51/9, was one of the plans developed for KwaThema. A black local authority with municipal status was established in
1984
Events
January
* January 1 – The Bornean Sultanate of Brunei gains full independence from the United Kingdom, having become a British protectorate in 1888.
* January 7 – Brunei becomes the sixth member of the Association of Southeast A ...
. In
1985
The year 1985 was designated as the International Youth Year by the United Nations.
Events January
* January 1
** The Internet's Domain Name System is created.
** Greenland withdraws from the European Economic Community as a result of a ...
KwaThema experienced violent unrest and right-wing vigilante activity.
KwaThema is a multi-racial township where most of South Africa's eleven official languages are spoken but the predominant ones are Sotho and Zulu. KwaThema has given birth to many successful individuals who have helped in the development of the town.
History
KwaThema was named after
Selope Thema who was a South African political activist and leader.
Notable residents
*
Andries Maseko (1955–2013), South African footballer
*
Nelson Dladla
Nelson "Teenage" Dladla (born 10 June 1954) is a retired South African former association football, soccer player who played as a midfielder for Pilkington Young Brothers and most notably Kaizer Chiefs. During his spell at Kaizer Chiefs he wor ...
(b. 1954), South African footballer
*
Eudy Simelane
Eudy Simelane (11 March 1977 – 28 April 2008) was a South African footballer who played for the South Africa national team and an LGBT rights activist. She was raped and murdered in her hometown of KwaThema, Springs, Gauteng.
Early life
Sim ...
(1977–2008), South African footballer and LGBT-rights activist, raped and murdered in the town
*
Lucas Sithole (1931–1994), South African sculptor
*
Madi Phala (1955–2007),
South African __NOTOC__
South African may relate to:
* The nation of South Africa
* South African Airways
* South African English
* South African people
* Languages of South Africa
* Southern Africa
Southern Africa is the southernmost subregion of the Afric ...
artist and designer
*
Hilda Tloubatla (b. 1942), South African
mbaqanga singer
*Simon "Tsipa" Skosana (1957–2009), South African bantamweight champion
*Innocent Mayoyo, South African goalkeeper
*
Joe Nina (b. 1974), South African musician and producer
*
Khensane Khoza (b. 1990), South African musician and vibe dealer
References
More information
The KwaThema Project
Townships in Gauteng
Populated places in Ekurhuleni
{{Gauteng-geo-stub