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decisively separated residential areas on racial lines, especially by
legislation such as the Group Areas Act of 1950. Apparently, these
individuals who afforded township houses – albeit with difficulty – earned
better wages and they were also tired of the hardships they endured in
compounds. They also wanted to stay with their wives (mostly not children)
in those four roomed “matchbox” houses. According to Tlhaahlaa Ngwepe,
some of the first Makgabeng workers to own location houses around
Pretoria, Kempton Park and Johannesburg townships were himself,
Mpompala Ngwepe, Phihledi Ramoroka, Agym Ramotsepane, Milford
Ramotsepane, Samson Ramoroka, and a few others 566 . Those who
afforded these township houses apparently had better, skilled jobs 567 .
In addition to high prices involved in the purchase of such houses, the terms
and conditions of acquiring such houses were also difficult, hence so few
people afforded such housing. However, some men objected the idea of
owning a “second home” as that would destroy their families back home.
Israel Ramoroka pointed out that most of the men, who bought houses in
townships, faced a serious dilemma 568 . The wives at home should either
come down to the township to the new house, or the men should find
another wife to live with in the new house. This was a two–edged sword
because, should the original wife abandon the house in Makgabeng and
566 Interview, Tlhaahlaa Samuel Ngwepe, Early Dawn village, 13 May 2003.
567 Ibid.
568 Interview, Israel Ramoroka, Lehwaneng village, 16 September 2003.
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