Top Things to See and Do in Soweto, Johannesburg

Kliptown is a Johannesburg must-visit, as it is the site where 3000 people came together in 1955 to write The Freedom Charter, a statement of core values that served as the foundation for South Africa’s liberal constitution. The Walter Sisulu Square of Dedication is also found here, which is filled with shops, galleries and traders of all sorts.

The Hector Pieterson Museum and Memorial officially opened in 2002, near the spot where Hector Pieterson, a young Soweto boy, was shot on June 16, 1976 during the Soweto Uprising. Over 500 youths were killed on this day, now known as Youth Day in South Africa, and the iconic image of Hector Pieterson’s body being carried by a fellow student has been recognised the world over.

Soweto is filled with the best spots to get a taste of true South African cuisine. The uBuntu Kraal and Soweto Brewing Company breweries are best for tasting local beers, while Vuyos is a lively restaurant set in the heart of Soweto. Try the slow-cooked and crispy Mogodu (tripe) and finish the meal with a traditional malva pudding.

Vilakazi Street is the most renowned street in the township. Former president Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu both lived here, making it the only street in the world to have housed two Nobel Prize winners. Wander the street and spot public art, memorials and, of course, visit Nelson Mandela House.

Credo Mutwa was a traditional healer and Zulu artist, and the museum-slash-exhibition space displays his sculptures created between 1974 and 1986. Mutwa’s artworks comment on African traditions and how they are juxtaposed with Western civilisation.

Rosa Parks is known as ‘the first lady of civil rights’. In 1955, in Alabama, USA, she was expected to give up her seat to a white person, which she refused to do. Her arrest resulted in the Bus Boycott, which lasted for 13 months. Given the racial turmoil in South Africa, her actions were celebrated by the oppressed. Today, a library stands in her honour.

The Soweto Theatre is a must-visit Johannesburg attraction | Courtesy of The Soweto Theatre

See Soweto on two wheels by booking a bicycle tour with Soweto Backpackers. A local guide shares knowledge of important sites for either a half or full day. During the tour you’ll get a glimpse into life in Soweto, meet some of the locals, have a drink at a shebeen and stop for a bite to eat at some of the less-visited spots in town.

The famous graffitied cooling towers of Soweto, Johannesburg | © Gil.K/Shutterstock

The largest Roman Catholic Church in the country, Regina Mundi, is found in Soweto. The church was completed in 1962 and was a shelter for anti-Apartheid groups and activists.