Soweto Area Profile

Soweto at a glance

Soweto (South Western Townships) is a thriving urban area within the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality. Home to over two million people, Soweto has 37 suburbs. Some of the popular suburbs include Orlando, Diepkloof, Devland, Dlamini, Mofolo, Zola, Naledi, Protea Glen, Dobsonville and Jabavu. 

Property in Soweto ranges from RDP houses to luxurious mansions. The need for easy access to the city centre is one of the main reasons as to why residents flock to Soweto. Successful businesses have also sprung up in Soweto to improve the lifestyle of residents in the area.  

A brief history of the area
Soweto was established in the 1930s and became the largest black city in South Africa. It experienced civil unrest during the Apartheid regime with riots in 1976 and 1985. It continued until the first democratic election was held in April 1994. 
In 2010 Soweto hosted the FIFA Soccer World Cup final and caught the attention of more than a billion soccer spectators from all over the world.

Climate
Soweto has a warm and temperate climate. Rainfall averages 750 mm, with July being the driest month with 7 mm of rainfall. Most rainfall occurs in January, averaging 136 mm. January is the warmest month of the year with an average temperature of 20.4 °C, while June is the coldest month, with temperatures averaging 9.0 °C.

Distance from key points (Airport/CBD)
Soweto is accessible from major road links including the N1, N12, N17, M1 and M70. Residents travelling from Soweto will enjoy a 1-hour drive (62km) to the O.R Tambo International Airport via the N12. 

Schools in the area
There are several outstanding schooling facilities available for residents in Soweto. They include: Bona Secondary High School, Job Rathebe Junior Secondary School, Zifuneleni Junior Secondary School, Altem High School, Selope-Thema Secondary School, Tswelelang Higher Primary School, Noordgesig Secondary School, Forte Secondary School, Mafori Mphahlele High School, and Boikanyo Primary School.

Medical facilities
Soweto boasts one of the largest hospitals on the continent, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital. Other medical facilities include U-Care Medical Centre, Advanced Soweto Day Hospital, Top Care Women's Clinic -Dube, Moroka Clinic, Mandela Sisulu Clinic, Zola Gateway Clinic, Mofolo South Clinic, Freedom Park Clinic, as well as Marie Stopes Soweto. 

Shopping Malls
Maponya Mall, Jabulani Mall, Protea Glen Mall, Protea Gardens Mall, Bara Mall, Sizwe Shopping Centre, Efresh Mala Magodu, and Masingita City are some of the nearby shopping facilities available for residents in Soweto.

Restaurants
For residents who fancy a quick bite or a scrumptious dinner, some of the great eateries to visit in Soweto includes Sakhumzi Restaurant, Chaf Pozi, Wandies Place, Restaurant Vilakazi, Masakeng Bistro, Kwalichaba Chesa Nyama, Ditsaleng, McCoy's Restaurant, Just Badela Food & Wine, along with Moja Cafe. 

Nearby Attractions
The Hector Pieterson Museum is a large museum located in Orlando West, just two blocks away from where Hector Pieterson was shot and killed on 16 June 1976. The museum covers the events of the anti-Apartheid Soweto Uprising, where more than 170 protesting school children were killed. The museum also features films, newspapers, personal accounts and photographs. 

Declared a National Heritage Site in 1999, the Nelson Mandela National Museum (Mandela House) is the property where Nelson Mandela lived from 1946 to 1962. The single-story red-brick matchbox house was built in 1945. It has bullet holes in the walls and the facade has scorch marks from attacks with Molotov cocktails. The inside features some original furnishings and memorabilia including photographs, citations given to Nelson Mandela, and the world championship belt given to Mandela by Sugar Ray Leonard.

The Orlando Towers consists of two massive cooling towers, known for their brightly drawn exteriors that are seen from miles away. Adrenaline junkies visiting Soweto enjoy bungee-jumping or free-falling from the towers. 

The Soweto Wine Festival was started in 2004. The three-night festival is hosted at the University of Johannesburg's Soweto Campus. Organised by the Cape Wine Academy, the festival attracts over 6000 wine enthusiasts, over 100 of South Africa's finest wineries and well over 900 fine wines. 

Make Soweto your home today!
With great heritage sites, restaurants, schools, and medical facilities, Soweto is a thriving destination for your next property. If you are interested in investing or finding your next home in this lovely area contact RealNet Soweto today.