Primville, Soweto- Johannesburg

In 1904, after the outbreak of Bubonic Plague, near present day Newtown, the African population in the Area was moved to the Farm; 'Klipspruit', twelve Miles South-West of the City. This Settlement became Johannesburg’s first municipal Location and in 1934 was renamed Pimville (after Howard Pim, a man who had dedicated a large part of his life to the ‘upliftment’ of Africans in Johannesburg) Walter Sisulu Square in the heart of Kliptown , Soweto, is South Africa’s first township entertainment explosion Centre, the very first of its kind eMzansi , attracting both National and International attention with its broad variety of Shops and is suitable for local traders, event coordinators and international tourist. The Square embraces a unique Historical background is South African Culture at its best, mingled up with modern Urbanization, trendsetting what South Africa is best known for, its diverse cultures and way of life, a total fascination to the outside World and those abroad. In the early 1950's a planning committee chaired by Mr FE Mentz responded to complaints from White residents in surrounding Areas and recommended that the Potchefstroom Road and Railway be the dividing line between Black and White! As Pimville fell on the ‘White’ side of this line the committee recommended its removal – a long-term project - so that ‘tensions between the races could be eliminated’! The Johannesburg City Council appealed for the retention of Pimville as it was in the process of considering a complete re-layout of the slum dominated area. Unsurprisingly, the request was rejected. The Council was also barred from incurring any further capital expenditure and the Area continued to deteriorate! The Council was reluctant to accept this as the final policy and asked the Johannesburg Non-European Affairs Department (JNEAD) led by WJP Carr to prepare a detailed memorandum which was submitted to Government officials in 1955. The Department replied that nothing could be done until the Group Areas Board had made its recommendations to the Minister regarding the proclamation of Group Areas in and around Johannesburg. This was where the matter remained until July 1958 when the Johannesburg Non European Affairs Committee (JNEAC) decided to make renewed representations. As Government policy had been firm on the issue, the Town Clerk recommended putting together the strongest possible case. It was agreed that the Council should not approach the Government for the relaying of Pimville but rather for the resettlement of families, who would have been housed on Diepkloof land that had been surrendered to the Resettlement Board for housing Africans removed from Alexandra. The impetus returned in 1960 when MC Botha replaced Mentz as Deputy Minister and in December he and Minister Nel visited the South Western Areas to see what was happening on the ground. Patrick Lewis, Chairman of the JNEAC gave a rousing welcome speech expressing his respect and gratitude to the Minister! The Minister of Bantu Development Mr De Wet Nel has reversed a former decision of the Government that Pimville should become a White Area and has agreed to allow us to build new homes there. The re-layout of Pimville and the consequent rehousing of 7,000 families living under slum conditions the Township had! Although the retention of Pimville can be considered a success, it is important to note that over time the Council was stalled in its implementation of the scheme as housing loans from the Government dried up! This was largely due to the focus on developing the Homelands and reducing the attractiveness of Urban Areas in the hope of reversing Urbanization. The Mining Houses came to the rescue and in 1966 they organised a loan of R 750 000 as a gift to Johannesburg on its 80th birthday to facilitate the completion of the Pimville scheme.