MZANZI TRAVEL - ISSUE 1

SOWETO
THE WORLD’S MOST
FAMOUS TOWNSHIP
Explore the history, sights and
sounds of Soweto
Pictures by: Cedric Weber
Soweto is a must-see for tourists
(and locals) who are looking for
more than just sun, sea and the big
five. Being the most populous black
urban residential area in the country,
trend-setting Soweto, is infused with
the history of the struggle against
apartheid and has that distinct Jozi
energy thanks to its proximity to
Johannesburg, the economic hub
of the country. With heritage sites, restaurants, shebeens
and accommodation aplenty, this trendy town offers guided
bicycle, tuk tuk, walking and bus tours so there is something
for everyone’s taste and needs. Soweto is well worth the visit.
Only In Soweto
Must see places to visit
The Regina Mundi Church
With its classic high A-frame structure, sleek wooden beams
and trimmings, and myriad stained-glass windows, the Regina
Mundi Church is a sight to behold. Modest on the outside,
the inside of the church is a remarkably vast area that can
accommodate 2 000 people seated or 5 000 standing.
Built in 1961 and officially opened in 1962, this is South Africa’s
largest Roman Catholic Church and it lives up to its name –
the Latin reginae mundi means “queen of the world” and is a
reference to the Virgin Mother Mary.
Located in Rockville in the middle of Soweto, the church played
a significant role in the anti-apartheid struggle and displays the
bullet holes to prove it. Notably, it bears scars from the Soweto
Uprising, which culminated on 16 June 1976 when students
sought refuge within its walls.
Policemen pursued them and fired live ammunition inside the
building, damaging the marble altar and crucifix. Today the
bullet holes in the church ceiling and the damaged marble
serve as tangible evidence of South Africa’s violent past.
Because of its role in the fight for freedom, the church is often
referred to as “the people’s church”.
A plaque at the church details its long and eventful history.
An honorarium – a mural of the faces of distinguished freedom
fighters, including Nelson Mandela, Steve Biko, Tutu and
student leader Tsietsi Mashinini – donated by the Azanian
People’s Organisation pays further tribute to the struggle
heroes of the time.
Present-day Regina Mundi is still an integral part of social life
in Soweto, hosting weddings, funerals and baptisms of the
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