About Kliptown
Kliptown, Johannesburg
Kliptown is the oldest district in Soweto, famous as the site known as the Congress of the People, where 3 000 gathered together in 1955 to write the Freedom Charter. It later served as the basis for South Africa's liberal constitution.
There is more history. The place where they met was declared a national heritage site, and in 2005 what was a dusty field saw Thabo Mbeki light a flame of freedom to mark its space as the Walter Sisulu Square of Dedication – some 50 years on from the Freedom Charter. It is now a park with a marketplace for traders, shops, offices and a hotel. Kliptown has also been the site of a R375 million upgrade, a huge effort to re-develop the largely dilapidated settlement.
At the edge of the square is a museum, which one can enter free of charge, about the Congress of the People. The museum stands where once there was an old hardware shop, owned by an Indian family called the Jades – the Congress has a multicultural history. The museum is beautiful and well worth a visit, even if there is little information about it in your average tourist guide to Johannesburg.
In Kliptown is a youth centre that helps neglected children in the area, known as SKY (Soweto Kliptown Youth). Kliptown has a real feeling of tolerance and multiracial integration. As one blogger on Jhb Live put it: 'I saw white people walking around freely in a squatter camp like they were in Melville.' To experience it firsthand, take a tour of Soweto that includes Kliptown.
In the vicinity
Hotels & other accommodation options
The Peech Hotel
The Peech Hotel is Joburg's newest boutique hotel. Situated centrally in Melrose, The Peech features luxurious rooms, contemporary design and ple...
The Munro Boutique Hotel
Located in the affluent suburb of Houghton in Sandton and overlooking one of the world's largest urban forests is The Munro Boutique Hotel. The H...
Topaz Cove Luxury Villas
Topaz Cove Luxury Villas is situated in the secure Emerald Estate in Modderfontein. Sandton and Midrand are within 15 km of the estate and there ...
Insignia Luxury Apartments
Insignia Luxury apartments offers luxury serviced apartment suites and features modern and contemporary furnishings. Every unit has two bedrooms ...
El Ridge Living
Elridge Living offers affordable and luxurious fully furnished apartments. Located in safe proximity to business and retail outlets, the units ar...
aHa Kopanong Hotel
Situated in Benoni, the Kopanong Hotel and Conference Centre is found within a well maintained country estate. The hotel has 56 fully detached ch...
Fifteen On Orange Guest Lodge
Fifteen on Orange is an unpretentious guest lodge located within the Joburg suburb of Orchards. The accommodation is centrally located, safe, sec...
Highgrove Guest House
Situated in the heart of Sandton is Highgrove Guest House where guests can be assured of receiving personal attention. Each well-appointed bedroo...
Enigma Luxury Apartments
Located within the Sandton area and just over 3kms from the CBD, Enigma Luxury Apartments offers accommodation in Morningside in a selection of s...
Things to do in the area
Walter Sisulu Square
Walter Sisulu Square in the heart of Kliptown, Soweto, is South Africa’s first township entertainment explosion centre, the very first of its kin...
Jazz Maniacs Restaurant
The music of the townships served as an important platform and vehicle for developing singers and instrumentalists. The 1950's was the era of Jaz...
Noteworthy attractions
Observatory Golf Club
Observatory Golf Course is one of the less well known Johannesburg courses, but just as good as many of its more famous neighbors. A sophisticate...
Randpark Golf Club
With two very distinct but different golf courses, Randpark offers golfers of varying ability an unforgettable experience on two of the finest an...
Royal Johannesburg Golf Club
The World Atlas of Golf, which lists the great courses and how they are played, features just two South African clubs on its hallowed pages. One ...
OR Tambo International Airport
Formerly officially known as Johannesburg International Airport, the OR Tambo International Airport is a large airport near the city of Johannesb...
East Rand Flea Market
Just outside Johannesburg in Boksburg, the East Rand Flea Market lies right next to the East Rand Mall, and as a result, is open just about all w...
East Rand Mall
The popular East Rand Mall takes full advantage of the prime position of this area and offers a variety of restaurants, boutiques, chain stores a...
Absa Money Museum
Home to the largest collection of money used in South Africa’s past in the world, Absa Money Museum lies in downtown Johannesburg on Fox Street. ...
Apartheid Museum
The Apartheid Museum is the story of the triumph of the human spirit over adversity. Beginning in 1948, the white elected National Party governme...
Hector Pieterson Museum
The Hector Pieterson Memorial and museum opened in Soweto in 2002, not far from the spot where 12 year-old Hector was shot on the 16 June 1976 du...
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