Langa is a suburb found in Cape Town, South Africa. It was established in 1923. Similar to Khayelitsha, 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.
Although Langa literally means 'sun' in isiXhosa, the name of the township is derived from the name of Langalibalele - a chief and renowned rainmaker who in 1873 was...
more »Langa is a suburb found in Cape Town, South Africa. It was established in 1923. Similar to Khayelitsha, 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.
Although Langa literally means 'sun' in isiXhosa, 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 know 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, Settler's Way to the south, Vanguard Drive (N7 Highway) to the east and is served by Langa Railway Station.
In 2005 Gugas'Thebe, a cultural centre was opened in Langa. The first Township B&B by the name of Ma Neo (mother of Neo) was opened in 1999.
Joe Slovo 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. The Joe Slovo informal settlement has since been removed, and transformed into the N2 Gateway Housing Project (2006), as seen when traveling along the Settler's Way N2 Highway out of Cape Town.
althought towards the world cup, some renovations were made still lot of families live in an hut.
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