Dobsonville

Last updated

Dobsonville is a township in greater Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa. It lies to the west of Meadowlands, a part of Diepmeadow, and is adjacent to Mofolo North and Zondi, which are suburbs of Soweto on its southern border.

Contents

Dobsonville
South Africa Gauteng location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Dobsonville
South Africa adm location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Dobsonville
Coordinates: 26°13′26″S27°51′49″E / 26.22389°S 27.86361°E / -26.22389; 27.86361
Country South Africa
Province Gauteng
Municipality City of Johannesburg
Area
[1]
 • Total2.73 km2 (1.05 sq mi)
Population
 (2011) [1]
 • Total40,328
 • Density15,000/km2 (38,000/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
[1]
 •  Black African 99.1%
 •  Coloured 0.4%
 •  Indian/Asian 0.1%
 •  White 0.1%
 • Other0.3%
First languages (2011)
[1]
 •  Tswana 38.2%
 •  Zulu 22.1%
 •  Xhosa 14.9%
 •  Sotho 7.4%
 • Other17.4%
Time zone UTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)
1863
PO box
1865
Website http://dobsonville.co.za/

Description

The first shopping centre in Soweto, Dobsonville Shopping Centre, is located in Dobsonville. It has many small suburbs within it, namely extensions 1, 2 and 3, Mmesi Park, Snake Park (Thulani) and many others. It has many primary and high schools, including Hector Peterson Primary School, which was built in memory of Hector Peterson.

There are recreational facilities such as Dorothy Nyembe Park, a local library, and a swimming pool. Opposite the swimming pool is Dobsonville stadium. Kopanong community hall and the municipal offices can be found close by. Other amenities include a recycling centre, a police station, and a public health clinic. There are many businesses in Dobsonville that range from franchise restaurants to street vendors who sell anything from cellphone chargers to traditional herbs and medicines to sweets and fruit. While more attention has been given to the more prominent Meadowlands - with its roots in the famous Sophiatown - and Orlando o home to the Mandela's and Tambo's, but Dobsonville's history has yet to be written.

History

It was formerly under the Roodepoort Municipality until 1994, when it was merged with Soweto. Dobsonville is an important but understudied suburb of Soweto. Its roots lie in the "old location" in Roodepoort. Between 1955 and 1967 this location was gradually destroyed through government forced removals. The old location was known for the strong presence and influence of many churches. While the removals were not particularly noted for resistance (perhaps because of the violence with which resistance to removals was met with in Sophiatown), the links between the old location and Dobsonville remained strong and emotive.

The cemetery of the old location in Roodepoort West for example maintained a physical link between old and new location. While some heritage projects and research around the histories of the old Roodepoort location were undertaken, there has been little work on the history of Dobsonville itself. More than a 100 oral testimonies of Dobsonville residents have been collected by researchers from the Wits History Workshop (University of Witwatersrand) for their Dobsonville History Project. However some oral interviews remain unpublished. See " Return to Juliwe Cemetery: A Community Journey" Article by Eric Itzkin 6 April 2019. The Research was conducted by Wits History Workshop Researchers: 1. Prof. Phil Bonner. 2. Dr. Michelle Hay. 3. Mr. Sello Mathabatha. 4. Dr. Tshepo Moloi. 5. Prof. Noor Nieftagodien. 6. Mr Muzomuhle Caluza.(Intern)

The St Ansgars Swedish Mission

Complex in Roodepoort West East of the Westgate Shopping Mall (South Africa) | Westgate Shopping Mall over Ontdekkers Road and Bordered by Pheasant Street and Crous Drive was the area where the above complex was situated. The area has changed from what it looked like before the removals where many residents of Roodepoort West Location (Juliwe) earned their living one way or another. The History of the area is groundbreaking and largely ignored or unknown to Historians. The complex was home to: (a)The St Ansgars Swedish Institution Established in 1913. closed in 1958.[5] (b) The Ezenzeleni School for the Blind Established in 1939. Later moved to Pretoria, Established by Arthur William Blaxall[6] (c) The Kutlwanong School for the Deaf and Dumb Established in 1939 [7] Precursor to Sizwile School for the Deaf in Dobsonville. (Suzan Kabane interviewed by Dr. Tshepo Moloi, WITS) (d) The Margaret Ballinger Home for Crippled or Orphaned Children Established in 1948 [8] by Margaret Ballinger (Teacher and Politician) (e) The Wilgespruit Fellowship Centre Established in 1948 and hotbed of struggle politics of the 70s and 80s.[9] (f) MSAHO: The International Library of African Music . (Hugh Tracey - Rhodes University)[10]

We can say that the complex was a vibrant extended part of the Roodepoort West Location with the St Ansgars Institution "The Lovedale College of Roodepoort" at the center. Some of the renowned South Africans passed through the gates of this once illustrious Institution. [11] The schools of Ezenzeleni or Kutlwanong, [12] creations of that dedicated clergyman, Father William Blaxall were places of hope for the disabled persons of Roodepoort West Location and South Africa at large. [13] The Wilgespruit Fellowship Centre was, as indicated above, the political struggle Institution which further gave impetus to the freedom struggles of South Africa's Black Population. [14] Lastly, Hugh Tracey, that famous collector of many African Music Genres and Eric Gallo set up a Vinyl Record Pressing Plant at Msaho in the very early 1950s. [15] The first of its kind in South Africa and created employment for many residents of the location (Township). In the foreground of photo No 4 (Aerial Photograph taken in 1967 after demolition of Juliwe Township) In Eric Itzkins Article "Return To Juliwe: A Community Journey" Bordered by a line of trees, Is an open veld crisscrossed by footpaths, stands today 7-1-20 the Westgate Shopping Mall, the veld being called "Mr. Browns Farm" by neighbouring residents of the location (Township). The Border is still visible and noticeable next to the Ontdekkers Road off-ramp circle into the mall from Johannesburg. Beyond the straight line of trees and South West of the St Ansgars Mission Complex is the location of Roodepoort West now the suburb of Horizon View which we will deal with next.

Roodepoort Location

Like its sister locations on the Reef, the evolution of the location was, in many respects the same. [16] Before its removal as a "Black Spot" to Dobsonville (So named after Denis Dobson, Location Superintendent at t he dawn of the removals) It had evolved for more than 50 yrs with Its multi ethnic inhabitants much like its sister locations. [17] Just like in every community, adversity has to be overcome by various means, by religion, the arts, politics, sport, business and so on. Like in very community or society there will be outstanding individuals or groups of individuals who will triumph over adversity. We will try as best as we can, to focus on the day-to-day lives of the inhabitants, the conditions under which they had to survive. The laws that controlled their lives. Their contributions to the development of the economies of the town they lived in. 'The Survey of Reef Locations' gives us a remote picture of the state of affairs in Roodepoort Location in the mid to late 1930s. From that can be deduced the "Primitive" Sport Facilities that had to be utilized by Sportsmen of the location for example. [18]

There was for example the menace of criminal gangs (Multi Ethnic) who would turn against each other along ethnic lines later in Dobsonville ("The Black Swines") in the Nguni Section and ("The Apaches") in the Tswana Section. These being former neighbours in the Roodepoort Location [19] Their demise would be brought about by the eruption of the June 1976 Student Riots. Things would never be the same for the gangs. The recognition given to Piet "Oom Piet" Gwele is no fluke.[20] Gwele, (longtime inhabitant of Roodepoort West Location) and father of celebrated Jazz Pianist Boycie "Piano Fingers" Gwele pioneered the game of Cricket on the Rand. Having played the game in the Eastern Cape early last century, on to the diamond field of Kimberly, and finally to the Rand (Rand Leases/Gold Mine). His contribution to African Cricket on the Rand in the 1930s and 1940s is unsurpassed. During his cricketing career, he had groomed the likes of prolific all-rounder Samson Ntshekisa and the mecurical Sydney Hashe to name but a few. Gwele was also instrumental in the formation of the Cup Winning Local Cricket Club "DobsonXI" Gwele,s remains lie in the Juliwe Cemetery, Horizon View. Roodepoort. [21] Ntshekisa and Hashe's remains lie in the Doornkop Cemetery, in Dobsonville. The bread and butter sport of football in Native Locations (Townships) is extensively written about elsewhere and its not dealt with in this article. "Khawuleza" meaning (Hurry Mama Hurry)

International singer and songwriter Mirriam Makeba, in singing this song, later beautifully improvised by equally world renowned Jazz Trumpeter Hugh Masekela would have seen the worst of the dark days of the Liquor and Bantu Beer Prohibition in the locations and slums of the log drawn-out war about (Bantu Beer, Barbeton, Skokiaan, Pineapple etc.) between the "Authorities" and shebeen queens of the Rand, which started as far back as the sunrise of Gold and Coal mining on the Witwatersrand. A somewhat more detailed account of this war is dealt with by (Eales). [23] The "Authorities" would finally win the day in the lucrative African Beer Brewing and Selling Business in almost every "Native" (As they were called then) Location on the Reef. The livelihoods of many an African woman (especially the Shebeen Queens) would die a slow death. Naturally, booze and music go together, starting with (Marabi of the 1930s to Tsaba - Tsaba pf t eh 1940s and Kwela of the 1950s) and being an attractive element in the patronage of Shebeens in Roodepoort West Location (Juliwe). A vivid picture of this scenario is elegantly captured i (Allen's) work. [24] The role of the "Church Music" will be dealt with later in the article.

Many former residents, in their oral testimonies have fondly reminisced about the good old days of the local "Edwin Fieldhouse Hall" A Recreational Centre of the location. Rev Fieldhouse was mayor of Roodepoort 1947-1948 and was instrumental, together with D.W. Mooki and T. Huddleston in the establishment of that famous high school "Orlando High School".[25] As we attempt to deal with the evolution of Roodepoort West "Native" Location (Later to become the township of Dobsonville) up to the forced removals, it is important to refer the reader to the entire work by B.E. Mongalo. [26] His, is an enlightenment account of how some of these "townships" on the Witwatersrand came into being and their very early years from "Native" concentration camps to "Native" Locations to Black Townships.

It is hoped that historians will further research and interrogate the history of these "Native" concentration camps as very little is written about them compared to the "White" Camps though their histories are brought about by the same subject. However, there is renewed enquiry by various parties to unravel the histories of these camps which later became today's black townships. We submit that the Roodepoort Location started out as one of these camps. Further research is needed and remote traces of this are in the "Juliwe" Cemetery in Horizon View Suburb in Roodepoort. The reader is also referred to "The Annual Report for the year ended 30th June 1903" by the Transvaal Commissioner for "Native" Affairs. [27]

The above article is contributed by Kgatitswe Raborife, Nomfanelo Renene and Lerato "Shimi" Setlhare.

References:

[2]

[3] [4]

[5]

[6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soweto</span> Township in Gauteng, South Africa

Soweto is a township of the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality in Gauteng, South Africa, bordering the city's mining belt in the south. Its name is an English syllabic abbreviation for South Western Townships. Formerly a separate municipality, it is now incorporated in the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality, and one of the suburbs of Johannesburg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johannesburg</span> Largest city in South Africa

Johannesburg is the most populous city in South Africa with 4,803,262 people, and is classified as a megacity; it is one of the 100 largest urban areas in the world. It is the provincial capital and largest city of Gauteng, which is the wealthiest province in South Africa. Johannesburg is the seat of the Constitutional Court, the highest court in South Africa. Most of the major South African companies and banks have their head offices in Johannesburg. The city is located within the mineral-rich Witwatersrand hills, the epicentre of the international-scale mineral, gold and (specifically) diamond trade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Johannesburg</span> Aspect of history

Johannesburg is a large city in Gauteng Province of South Africa. It was established as a small village controlled by a Health Committee in 1886 with the discovery of an outcrop of a gold reef on the farm Langlaagte. The population of the city grew rapidly, becoming a municipality in 1898. In 1928 it became a city making Johannesburg the largest city in South Africa. In 2002 it joined ten other municipalities to form the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality. Today, it is a centre for learning and entertainment for all of South Africa. It is also the capital city of Gauteng.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Witwatersrand Gold Rush</span> Gold rush in Johannesburg, South Africa

The Witwatersrand Gold Rush was a gold rush that began in 1886 and led to the establishment of Johannesburg, South Africa. It was a part of the Mineral Revolution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greater Johannesburg</span>

The term Greater Johannesburg may mean:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">N1 Western Bypass (Johannesburg)</span> Road in South Africa

The Western Bypass is a section of the N1 and the Johannesburg Ring Road located in the city of Johannesburg, South Africa. Known at the time as the Concrete Highway, the freeway was initially opened in 1975 as a route to avoid the city centre of Johannesburg and to provide access to the western areas of the Witwatersrand. From the south, the Western Bypass begins at the Diepkloof Interchange in Soweto, where it splits from the N12 freeway and ends at the Buccleuch Interchange, where it merges with the N3 Eastern Bypass, M1 South and N1 Ben Schoeman freeways.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sophiatown</span> Suburb of Johannesburg

Sophiatown, also known as Sof'town or Kofifi, is a suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa. Sophiatown was a black cultural hub that was destroyed under apartheid, It produced some of South Africa's most famous writers, musicians, politicians and artists. Rebuilt under the name of Triomf, and in 2006 officially returned to its original name. Sophiatown was one of the oldest black areas in Johannesburg and its destruction represents some of the excesses of South Africa under apartheid.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roodepoort</span> Place in Gauteng, South Africa

Roodepoort is a town in the Gauteng province of South Africa. Formerly an independent municipality, Roodepoort became part of the Johannesburg municipality in the late 1990s, along with Randburg and Sandton. Johannesburg's most famous botanical garden, Witwatersrand National Botanical Gardens, is located in Roodepoort.

Meadowlands is a suburb of Soweto, Gauteng Province, South Africa. It was founded in the early 1950s during the apartheid era for black residents from Sophiatown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suburbs of Johannesburg</span>

The suburbs of Johannesburg are officially demarcated areas within the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa. As in other Commonwealth countries, the term suburb refers to a "neighbourhood", although in South Africa most "suburbs" have legally recognised borders and often separate postal codes. The municipal functions for the area, such as municipal policing and social services, are still managed by the city government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Rand</span> Western region of Gauteng, South Africa

The West Rand is the urban western part of the Witwatersrand that is functionally merged with the Johannesburg conurbation. This area became settled by Europeans after a gold-bearing reef discovered in 1886 and sparked the gold rush that gave rise to the establishment of Johannesburg.

Randpark Ridge is an upmarket suburb of Randburg, South Africa. It is located in the Randburg region of the City of Johannesburg. It fell into the town of Randburg during the apartheid era. Developed in the early 1980s and still relatively new, Randpark Ridge is bordered by several other suburbs including Weltevreden Park, Sundowner, Boskruin, Bromhof, Honeydew and Fairland. It is located on the north-west extremity of Johannesburg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo</span> Government entity responsible for Johannesburgs greenspaces

Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) is a not-for-gain company established under Section 21 of the South African Companies Act and wholly owned by the City of Johannesburg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dobsonville Stadium</span> South African stadium

The Dobsonville Stadium, formerly Volkswagen Dobsonville Stadium and also referred to as Dobsie Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium in Soweto, a suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa. The venue is managed by Stadium Management SA (SMSA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metrorail Gauteng</span> South African commuter rail network

Metrorail Gauteng is a network of commuter rail services in Gauteng province in South Africa, serving the Johannesburg and Pretoria metro areas. It is operated by Metrorail, a division of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA).

Noordgesig is a township in Soweto, situated at the edge of area's northernmost boundary, but within its territory. It is the first township seen on entering Soweto from the frequently used New Canada Road. Noordgesig is a Coloured township. It is colloquially called "Bulte"(meaning Hills) by its residence and neighbors, as depicted by the Mine Dumps surrounding the Township. The name "Bulte" was coined as a form of endearment by the residence for the longest time.

Mary Malahlela-Xakana was the first Black woman to register as a medical doctor in South Africa. She was also a founding member of the Young Women’s Christian Association.

Juliwe Cemetery is the last resting place for the population of Juliwe in Johannesburg, South Africa. The cemetery played a great role in cultural, community and religious life and ritual activity; both Christian and African ancestral rites were carried out there.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kloofendal Nature Reserve</span> Nature reserve near Roodepoort, South Africa

Kloofendal Nature Reserve is a municipal nature reserve in Roodepoort, South Africa. It is one of the first nature reserves in Johannesburg. It is also recognized as the place where gold was first mined in Johannesburg. The old gold mine can be visited by appointment. There are hiking trails and a small dam.

The M77 is a short metropolitan route in Greater Johannesburg, South Africa. It connects Moroka in Soweto with Roodepoort via Dobsonville. For its entire route, it is named Elias Motsoaledi Road.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Sub Place Dobsonville". Census 2011.
  2. ↑ Roodepoort - Maraisburg Location A History' P. Bonner, M. Hay, s. Mathabatha
  3. ↑ '"The last thing that tells our story: The Roodepoort West Cemetery 1958 - 2008" Journal of Southern African Studies - Volume 37 (2011 Issue 2) P297 - 311 Michelle Hay'
  4. ↑ Only this cemetery remains as a stark reminder of an uprooted community".City of Joburg 06 October 2017 compiled by Kgatitswe Raborife & Nomfanelo Renene - Dobsonville
  5. ↑ St Ansgars Swedish Institution - In Roodepoort A Study in Adaptation Fredrick Hale, (1994) 1927-1958
  6. ↑ (a)"Ezenzeleni: The Place Where You Work For Yourself" William Arthur Blaxall (b) "Africa My Music - Eskia Mphahlele (c) Desmond Tutu (Early Life (Wikipedia.Org))"
  7. ↑ Helen Keller's Speech to the blind at Ezenzeleni and Kutlwanong in SA 1951
  8. ↑ "Margaret Ballinger"Wikipedia.
  9. ↑ "Dale White: Parish Priest who became a legend in Soweto" The Sunday Times 11-11-2007 PS://www.pressreader.com.
  10. ↑ "Msaho: The International Library of African Music" ILAM (Rhodes University)
  11. ↑ "Rabble Rouser For Peace: The authorized Biography of Desmond Tutu" P24 - 26 John Allen
  12. ↑ "Kutlwanong Deaf & Dumb School" Wits Historical Papers
  13. ↑ "Helen Keller Archive-" https://www.afb.org
  14. ↑ "Wilgespruit Fellowship Centre - Robe of Many Colors" Monique Vanek
  15. ↑ "Recording the Vitamins of African Music: History and Anthropology" Noel J Lobley
  16. ↑ "Survey of the Reef Locations" P34 - 36 www.historicalpapers.wits.ac.za
  17. ↑ "The Implementation of Urban Apartheid on the East Rand, 1948-1973: The Role of Local Government and Local Resistance, Mohamed Noor Nieftagodien, PHD Thesis, University of the Witwatersrand,Johannesburg 2001 "
  18. ↑ "Cricket and Society in South Africa 1910 - 1971: From Union to Isolation" P110 - 117 - Richard Parry, Bruce Murray and John"
  19. ↑ "Bo Tsotsi: The Youth Gangs of Soweto 1935 - 1976" Clive Glazer
  20. ↑ "The Story of an African Game"
  21. ↑ "Horison View Cemetery - Musings of a Curious Individual - At Sea" allatsea.co.za> Musing. 17/02/2008
  22. ↑ "Khwawuleza" Song by Mirriam Makeba
  23. ↑ "Jezebels, Good Girls and Mine Married Quarters". Johannesburg 1912. Kathy Eales
  24. ↑ "Pennywhistle Kwela: A Musical Historical and Socio-Political Analysis" Lara Victoria Allen: M.A. Thesis University of Natal. December 1993 P. 148-173
  25. ↑ "The Rock: The History of Orlando High School 1939-1984". Michael Marake Morapeli. Research Report: (M.ED) University of Witwatersrand 1984. P9-23
  26. ↑ The Myth of the White Man's War: An Historical perspective on the concentration camps for blacks during the South African War of 1899 to 1902. Bushi Eric Mongalo, M.A. Dissertation. Potchefstroom University, for Christian Higher Education. Potchefstroom. 1996
  27. ↑ "Transvaal Annual Report by the Commissioner for Native Affairs for the year ended 30th June 1903" Wits Historical Papers.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.