Soweto is an urban area within the city of Johannesburg in the Gauteng Province, bordering the city's mining industry in the south. Its name is an English syllabic abbreviation for South Western Townships. Formerly a separate municipality, it has now been incorporated into the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality.
Soweto is a city of creativity and cultural interaction. It is home to over two million people and a popular tourist destination with sites such as Kliptown (where the Freedom Charter was drawn up), the home of the late former President Nelson Mandela, the Hector Petersen Memorial site and the Orlando towers. It also boasts one of the largest hospitals on the continent, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital.
Suburbs within Soweto include Orlando, Diepkloof, Devland, Dlamini, Mofolo, Zola, Naledi, Protea Glen, Dobsonville and Jabavu.
Soweto is accessible from major road links including the N1, N12, N17, M1 and M70. Minibus taxis and a bus rapid transit system are popular forms of transport for Soweto commuters and are accessible everywhere in Soweto. Infused with the history of the South African struggle against apartheid and abuzz with the energy of the city of gold, Soweto is the place to be for those who are looking for more than sun, sea and the big five. Properties range from big beautiful mansions to RDP houses and informal settlements made from various materials.
With great heritage sites, restaurants, shebeens, Soweto is well worth visiting. With its close proximity to Johannesburg, the economic hub of the country, it is the most urban township in the country, setting trends in politics, fashion, music, dance and language.
