The Transforming Landscape of Soweto LIFE Is A Beautiful Collage of Hope

The average Soweto resident represents a mirror of hope waiting to unfold, transformation in the lives of most people now, since 1994 has become part of the evolution and change we see in the township. Dating back in the 70’s to today, we have homeowners, extending and reconstructing their match box houses into luxury habitable homes. The effect of change and the new dispensation has given opportunists and entrepreneurs a challenge to find other means of survival, converting their existing homes into thriving successful businesses.

With the advent of South Africa hosting the 2010 FIFA soccer games; it is not surprising that those who are awake “enterprising” and ready to make investment risks will benefit from the economic boom South Africa will enjoy. When you drive around the streets of Soweto you can almost hear the silent heart beat of anxiety humming with the ground throbbing – as if to say “I have to be ready; to make a new start in life”.

The Provincial Government of Gauteng is up to the challenge and ensuring the “City” of Soweto can step up to the plate i.e. when the main event takes place. The streets are tarred, pavements cleaned, trees are planted, there is so much activity it is convincing. The Joburg City Parks has even gone an extra mile to ensure every other location in Soweto has at least a decent park for people to relax. The most prominent being the Thokoza Park in Rockville, near Regina Mundi Church.

Taxi ranks are being renovated and improved; The Baragwanath Hospital taxi rank is undergoing rapid renovations with phase II almost nearing completion. Orlando Stadium is unrecognizable, considering it was where Jomo Sono (Owner of Cosmos Soccer Club) in 1970’s used to go for his practise sessions in the early years of his soccer career. The stadium is not far from Orlando High School, the most famous and prominent High Schools in Soweto in the early 70’s to late 2000’s. This school produced great leaders and legends of our time. Sipho “Hot Stix” Mabuse was a student of Orlando High, Kaizer Motaung of (Kaizer Chiefs), Vusi Khumalo of (World Newspaper), Siphiwe Nyanda, Webster Dichaba just to name but a few.

In fact! Orlando East has yet to be placed highly on the Map of Soweto, besides producing academics, politicians and celebrities; it also boasts great artistic recognition of the great musical talents of The Mahotella Queens Band, of which Mr “Mahlathini” Nkabinde was their leader and resident.

Wandie’s Place has even undergone change beyond recognition for the last 12 months. Dube Village the same vicinity around Wandie’s Place is becoming a big tourist Mecca. Small businesses situated around the railway line in Dube, are beefing up their professional image and skills as “Car Wash” enterprises, small fast foods shops opposite the YMCA are fast becoming tourists’ popular hot spots. I have never in my life seen such vibrancy and activity since the opening of KFC in Dube in the 1990’s.

Almost all major location with major busy taxi routes from Baragwanath-Diepkloof to Zola and Emdeni; have robots and tar roads improved. Although the traffic in Soweto in general never ceases to ease, it is worth sight-seeing. Convenience and shopping lifestyles is changing. Families are starting home-hair care salons, B&B are thriving in leaps and bounds. We have to keep history of these improvements alive and write about it for the next generations to appreciate and acknowledge. For me it is a new experience and a dawn or beginning of great things to come.

Construction and development to meet the needs of the growing population is also a special marked phenomenon. Something leaders and communities are very proud of, i.e. “home-ownership” for black people. The new township recently completed by FNB and Emerging Contractors Consortium, is GLEN RIDGE, just west of Protea Glen but East of Randfontein is yet another extension of Soweto much unknown to tourists. It is unfortunate that these new townships will least benefit from tourism spin-off, because of their awkward locality and position in the geography of tourism in Soweto LIFE.

With recession almost about to knock our doors, I’m wondering what else will keep Soweto LIFE bouncing back and forth when the new tide of unemployment attacks our current economic shores. Economists are worried that it will affect the livelihood and the future of those completing their university studies and entering the job market.

Well! They are right, but with every recessionary period comes a new breed of opportunities and entrepreneurs. There is always something new for people to find their way around hurdles and challenges of day to day grind. The Hair-Care industry in Soweto boomed during recession in the early 80’s. A group of black business people started an association (ABHASA) African Black Hairdressers Association of S.A.. This is where Mr. Alex Molokoane’s of (Alex Hair) and Stanley Mkhabela of (Dr. Finger Tips) established their reputation and an elite status as African Hair “specialist” was born.

The same period when Herman Mashaba owner of Black Like-Me, (Black Hair Care Products) pioneer millionaire was in the making. Where there is a will – there’s a way. So will recession find its next generation of capable entrepreneurs to create a new face of our beautiful dawn for yet another 28 years.