Overview | Profile | Projects

Heritage and tourism

Despite the profound historical significance of Kliptown, its tourist potential remains untapped. The development programme will focus on promoting business opportunities in the area, which will be achieved by:

• Developing the square as a monument;
• Developing urban public spaces and places for gathering and celebration;
• Creating facilities, exhibitions and activities that support and increase visitor numbers;
• Developing educational activities that target learners, and
• Integrating the site into existing tourist routes, education programmes and school curricula.

Walter Sisulu Square of Dedication

The redevelopment project for Kliptown centres on the heritage site of the Walter Sisulu Square of Dedication. Formerly known as Freedom Square, this is where the Freedom Charter was adopted in 1955 at the People's Congress. It was renamed the Walter Sisulu Square of Dedication in 2002.

Out of 35 designs that were submitted for consideration, the design by StudioMAS Architecture and Urban Design was selected. It comprises a monument, museum, informal and formal retail activities and an open-air area for community gatherings.

When they announced the winner in June 2002, the judges described it as an "exemplary design on a bold scale, with the potential to change Soweto into a city".

A temporary visitors' centre is under construction, which will be used as a tourist site until the Walter Sisulu Square of Dedication is developed.

Construction began in June 2003 and the monument will be completed in time to mark the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Charter in June 2005.

Structures constructed on the site include a memorial to be known as the Freedom Charter monument and a museum.

Read more about the design

'Kliptown Our Town Trust'

The 'Kliptown Our Town Trust' has established a photographic exhibition, which will be transferred to the Walter Sisulu Square of Dedication once it is complete.

Capturing the political and social landscape of Kliptown, the exhibition is temporarily housed at the Kliptown education and training centre. It comprises pictures and artefacts that celebrate Kliptown's rich political and social history.

The Kliptown Community Centre, a building previously used by the municipality as a store for building materials, has been refurbished and extended to include an exhibition hall, a media centre, a restaurant specialising in local cuisine and a shop.

The exhibition uses photographs and artefacts to tell the social and political history of Kliptown. "It presents the history of the home of the Freedom Charter, its recent evolution, challenges and problems of urban renewal," said Gene Duiker, the chief executive of the 'Kliptown Our Town Trust'. Black and white photographs, dating back to the 1930s, are hung with more colourful contemporary portraits.

Economic growth

The development of the retail sector and related commercial activities in the area will be targeted to this growth through:

• Formalisation of the informal sector in Kliptown;
• Creation of new and diversified formal business opportunities;
• Development of tourism facilities and the increase in tourist spending in the area, and
• Marketing and investment programme to attract visitors to the area.

• Refurbishment and re-development of Kliptown station;
• Creation of a network of public open spaces, roads and pedestrian routes and the development of a major taxi rank;
• Development of parking for private vehicles, and
• Provision of bulk and reticulation services for new developments in line with a 10-year infrastructural investment plan.

Kliptown Railway Station

Future plans for this project aim to revitalise this historic area by developing Kliptown into a prosperous, desirable, well-managed residential and commercial area, as well as a major national and international heritage and tourism site.

The K43

The K43 is the major north-south route through Kliptown. The project includes the upgrading of the K43 road, which provides a link between Kliptown and the Old Potchefstroom Road in Soweto.

This road, which starts in Klipspruit valley road and goes across the Soweto Highway, improves direct links between the southern and northern parts of the area. Phase 1 and 2 of the K43 have been completed. Phase 3 extends the K43 from the Walter Sisulu Square of Dedication to the Golden Highway. In doing so, it provides important access and allows people to travel to and through the area easily. As such, it is a critical component of both transport and economic infrastructure. This programme is expected to be completed by 2006.

Cleaning up

The sewer infrastructure, including the bulk sewer supply system around the river, will also be upgraded and redeveloped in a move to reduce pollution levels in the river.

Set within a waste management strategy; the measurement indicators of this project are:

• Reduce pollution levels in the Klipspruit River to within internationally acceptable norms;
• Create at least 50 new employment opportunities;
• Train at least 100 people during the reed harvesting and processing programme.

It is expected that the upgrading of the sewer system will be completed in 2004.

The goals for this project include:

• Construction of 1 200 new social housing units and the upgrading or new freehold development of 5 700 units;
• Creation of local job opportunities, and
• Growth of small and medium construction enterprises.