It is one of the oldest townships in South Africa and home to many stars. This year, Langa township in Cape Town turns 100 years old. This historic township has bred some of the country's biggest artists like Brenda Fassie, Ringo Madlingozi, Dr. Latozi Madosini, Thoko Ntshinga, Victor Ntoni, Louis Moholo-Moholo, Temba Bavuma and Hamilton Nake and McCoy Mrubata, Sydney Hoho, and sports stars Thando Mngomeni, Thami Tsolekile. As well as entertainers such as Kuli Roberts, Thomas Msengana, and international Marimba group Amampondo and Hamilton Nake, a self-taught surgeon who worked alongside Dr. Christiaan Barnard when he performed the first human heart transplant in1967. This year's centenary celebrations started by honouring women and men who came out of Langa and helped put it on the world map.
THE HISTORY
Although the name Langa means Sun, the name of the township is derived from the name of the Xhosa chief Langalibalele, who was imprisoned on Robben Island in 1873 for rebelling against the Natal government. Langa township was established in 1923, making it the oldest in Cape Town. During the inter-World Wars, the Urban Areas Act was passed to enforce the compulsory residence of Africans in townships. Black people were forcefully removed from Ndabeni location in the late 1920s, and moved to the newly established Langa.It was initially built-in phases with shabby, unpaved roads and no electricity and was later completed and officially opened in 1927. With no visitors or illegal gatherings allowed in Langa without the Superintendent's permission, the brewing of sorghum beer became an integral part of local culture. Langa had several people killed on 21 March 1960, during the anti-pass campaign, Sharpville Massacre. Originally it was just men living in dormitory-style hostels with black policemen patrolling from all over the country and would tend to go home during Christmas and Easter. Currently, there are five primary schools and five high schools, all government schools, a local clinic and a police station.
THE RISING CRIME AND MURDER RATE
With the high unemployment rate of 30% in the township, crime has become prevalent despite some residents setting up their own businesses. Langa is just 1.5km square and the last recorded population was 70 000. The crime rate in Langa in the last quarter of 2022 includes murder that has gone up from 13 to 17 and there has been an increase in attempted murders cases, from eight in 2019 to 16 in 2020, and robberies also increased. Recently, the Langa Community Policing Forum warned residents to be vigilant for an alleged "syndicate' terrorising residents after a widespread of robberies since October, targeting young girls. The chairperson of Langa South African National Civic Organisation, Zanele Mbizela said this called for residents to organise themselves at the street level through street committees.
CRIME DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON
During the festive season, Langa saw four people killed in separate incidents of violence. Langa Community Policing Forum (LCPF) chair Alfred Magwaca says the incidents were shocking and inhumane. "Killing people cold-heartedly like that is scary.People must stop being reckless with their lives and respect life. Langa Police Station spokesperson Capt Nondumiso Paul says the incidents occurred in December and murder cases have been opened. Last year, there were 1 015 murders recorded in the Western Cape for the period January to March 2022. Gang-related killings accounted for 23.9% of murders in the Western Cape.
