A view of a courtyard, washing lines and cars in Langa African Township near Cape Town, South Africa
Image details
Contributor:
Eden Breitz / Alamy Stock PhotoImage ID:
CT8FDDFile size:
29.2 MB (2.3 MB Compressed download)Releases:
Model - no | Property - noDo I need a release?Dimensions:
3916 x 2610 px | 33.2 x 22.1 cm | 13.1 x 8.7 inches | 300dpiDate taken:
25 January 2012Location:
Langa Township, Cape Town, Western Province, South Africa, AfricaMore information:
South Africa, Western Cape, Langa - January 2012 Langa is Cape Town’s oldest township, established in 1923. It was established prior to the apartheid era and was designated for Black Africans. The name Langa means “sun” in the Xhosa language, but the name of the township is actually derived from the name Langalibalele – a famous chief who was imprisoned on Robben Island for rebelling against the government. Langa is also where people were killed on March 21, 1960 on same day as the Sharpeville massacre, during the anti-pass campaign. In 2010, 50 years later, a monument was unveiled by the government in remembrance of the people who lost their lives. In recent years, the township has started to be rejuvenated as the government has invested in improved infrastructure. The living conditions and homes cover a huge range - from simple corrugated iron shacks and small houses to attractive modern homes. The hostels which previously housed migrant workers are now the homes of couples and families. Many of the shacks have no water supplies and the occupants use public toilets and outdoor taps for their ablutions. Paraffin stoves are often used for cooking and present a fire hazard in the highly flammable homes.