Langa is a township found in Cape Town, South Africa. Similar to Khayelitsha, Langa is one of the areas that were designated for black Africans before the apartheid era. It is the oldest of such townships in Cape Town and was the location of much resistance to apartheid.
In 1873 a Tribal chief and renowned rainmaker, Langalibalele, was imprisoned on Robben Island. Various prominent people fought for his release and he was subsequently confined to a farm called "Uitvlugt", which is on the site of present day Pinelands. Langa, which adjoins Pinelands commemorates this folk hero as it was developed in 1898 on the land know as "Langalibalele's Location".
Langa is bordered by Jan Smuts Drive to the west and Settler's Way to the south and is served by Langa Railway Station.
In 2005 Guga Sthebe, a cultural centre was opened in Langa. The first Township B&B by the name of Ma Neo (mother of Neo) was opened in 1999.
Joe Slovo is the largest informal settlement in Langa and one of the largest in the country. It is currently being threatened with forced removal to make way for the N2 Gateway Housing Project.
Although Langa literally means 'sun' in the local Xhosa language, the name of the township is derived from the name of Langalibalele - a tribal chief and renowned rainmaker who in 1873 was imprisoned on Robben Island for rebelling against the Natal government. Various prominent people fought for his release and he was subsequently confined to a farm called "Uitvlugt", which is on the site of present day Pinelands. Langa, which adjoins Pinelands commemorates this folk hero as it was developed in 1898 on the land know as "Langalibalele's Location". Hence Langa is often called "Kwa-Langa" meaning 'place of Langa'.
Visit Sonke Cape Route in LangaREAD MORE