Forced removals from Sophiatown had started in 1955 and by 1963 the demolition of the existing houses started. The area was reassigned to White residents and called Triomf (meaning triumph).
Click here to read more about Sophiatown.
eventREF E-0011876Revised
31 December 1959
Final evacuation of Sophiatown by black residents
- Updated
- 22 Aug 2019
South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Final evacuation of Sophiatown by black residents. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011876
South African History Online (2011) 'Final evacuation of Sophiatown by black residents', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011876 (Accessed: 6 November 2026).
South African History Online, Final evacuation of Sophiatown by black residents [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011876, (accessed 6 November 2026).
"Final evacuation of Sophiatown by black residents." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011876. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.
South African History Online. "Final evacuation of Sophiatown by black residents." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011876.
Also on 31 December
- 1851Frederick Courteney Selous, traveller, hunter, writer and naturalist is born
- 1980Léopold Sédar Senghor resigns after twenty years as Senegalese president.
- 1986The Esso Oil Company closes its business in South Africa
- 1989Ex-mutineers consider resigning from the ANC
- 2003Eight British tourists are killed
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