1955
Sophiatown forced removals begin
Apartheid authorities began destroying Sophiatown and removing residents under Group Areas policy, a symbolic assault on black urban culture and freehold.
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legislation
Apartheid authorities began destroying Sophiatown and removing residents under Group Areas policy, a symbolic assault on black urban culture and freehold.
Significance
The removals destroyed a major centre of Black urban culture and freehold ownership, displaced its community to Meadowlands and demonstrated how Group Areas policy reorganised Johannesburg through racial segregation.
Why it matters
The removals destroyed a major centre of Black urban culture and freehold ownership, displaced its community to Meadowlands and demonstrated how Group Areas policy reorganised Johannesburg through racial segregation.