Apartheid in South Africa: forced removals
The 1913 Land Act prohibited "black" people from buying or renting land in areas designated as "white". This legislation was one of the cornerstones of apartheid and paved the way for further legislation restricting the rights of black people and their ownership of land. In order to fulfil this legislation the government took measures to forcibly remove black people from areas set aside for white people.
Forced removals (1955)Original Source: Baileys African History Archive
1954: The Native Resettlement Act
The first sixty families in Sophiatown, Johannesburg, had been given orders to leave their houses, and offered accommodation in the new location in Meadowlands.
"You are hereby required in terms of the Native Resettlement Act 1954 to vacate the premises in which you are residing..." The first date given is February 12th.
1955: the move
The first sixty families in Sophiatown, Johannesburg, have been given orders to leave their houses, and have been offered accommodation in the new location in Meadowlands. "You are hereby required in terms of the Native Resettlement Act 1954 to vacate the premises in which you are residing..."
Forced removals (1959-10-25)Original Source: Baileys African History Archive
1959: Sophia Refugee crying in the street
"I used to play here with my mates when this was our house, when Mom and Dad and Me lived here. But then the Big Men and The Big Machines came and knocked down all the houses and my friends have gone away and I'm lonely and I don't know where we're going now. That's why I'm crying."
Forced Removals (1974)Original Source: Paul Alberts
Cape Town, 1974
Reality of District 6.
Forced removals (1974)Original Source: Paul Alberts
1974: Forced removals
Buildings in Cape Town's District Six being demolished.
Apartheid Land Removals (1983-01-08)Original Source: Gille de Vlieg / South Photos
1983: Dumped!
Beestekraal was a 'dumping ground' for those forcibly removed under the apartheid system. They were given tents and toilets. Farmworkers evicted from their farms also were sent here.
Women, Housing, Apartheid Land Removals, Rural Townships (1984-06-26)Original Source: Gille de Vlieg / South Photos
1984: Number 239
Home in Valspan, an area threatened by apartheid forced removals. The residents were not allowed to repair their homes, and only very basic services were provided. The Apartheid government then designated the area a 'slum'. The number on the door indicates that removal is immanent
Women, Gender lifestyle, Farmworkers, Apartheid Forced Removals (1984-10-05)Original Source: Gille de Vlieg / South Photos
1984: Mrs Hlatswayo
Mrs Hlatswayo built a new home in Driefontein,
which was an area deemed a 'black spot' by the apartheid government. Farmworkers who were evicted from neighbouring white owned farms were given refuge in Driefontein.
Mr Timothy Hlatswayo had been injured when the tractor driving farmworkers home, overturned. The farmer refused to accept responsibility for the accident, and evicted him from the farm.
Rural Leader, Apartheid Land Removals, Housing, Rural Townships (1984-06-18)Original Source: Gille de Vlieg / South Photos
1984: Mr Cwaile, Valspan activist, outside his home
Valspan was an area threatened by apartheid forced removals. The residents were not allowed to repair their homes and only very basic services were provided. The apartheid government then designated the area a 'slum'. The number on the door indicates that removal is immanent.
Women, Apartheid Land Removals (1984-09-03)Original Source: Gille de Vlieg / South Photos
1984: A 'black spot'
Tinkie, a praise singer, with Jill, a member of Black Sash. Mathopiestad was a productive farming area deemed a 'black spot' by the apartheid Government and threatened by forced removal.
Mogopa Community/Forced Removals (1984-01-01)Original Source: Paul Weinberg / South Photos
1984: Packed and forced to leave
A man has been forced to leave his home in Moogopa.
Rural, Women, Gender lifestyle, Apartheid Land Removals (1985-06-02)Original Source: Gille de Vlieg / South Photos
1985: Woman plastering walls with mud
Daggakraal was an area deemed a 'black spot' by the apartheid government and was threatened with forced removal. Maintaining the home was seen as resistance to removal.
Apartheid Land Removals, Homelands, Toilets (1986-07-02)Original Source: Gille de Vlieg / South Photos
1986: Toilets and thorn bushes
People who were forcibly removed by the Apartheid Government, were sometimes given tents but toilets were always available. This sight of rows of toilets in desolate areas would give knowledge of immanent forced removals.
Apartheid Land Removals, Women, Resistance (1987-03-12)Original Source: Gille de Vlieg / South Photos
1987: The resistance
Women clearing communal areas as part of the resistance against removal. The people of Oukasie (Brits) were threatened with removal to Lethlabile an area in Bophuthatswana.
Forced removals (1987)Original Source: Guy Tillim
1987: Betty Nakona
Betty Nakona dumped with her possessions in a resettlement area in Botshabelo.
Apartheid Land Removals, Rural, Meetings (1988-11-22)Original Source: Gille de Vlieg / South Photos
1988: What's next?
Meeting under tree to discuss possible removal from their land at Ntombi's Camp in KwaZuluNatal.
Apartheid Land Removal, Mogopa, Court, Lawyers (1989-04-26)Original Source: Gille de Vlieg / South Photos
1989: Preparing for court
Lawyer Nicholas (Fink) Haysom with Lydia Kompe explaining to Mogopa people what may happen in court. The Bakwena ba Mogopa were removed from their farms on 14 February 1984 to Pachsdraai, an area in the Bophuthatswana 'homeland'. From there some of them preferred to live on their Paramount Chief's land and some were later moved to Onderstepoort.
Land removals (1989)Original Source: Paul Grendon / South Photos
1989: The resistance to the removals
Residents and representatives of various organisations take part in a march on municipal offices in Port Nolloth to demand that Tente Dorp not be moved.
Apartheid Land Removals, Music, Homelands (1986-07-02)Original Source: Gille de Vlieg / South Photos
The resilient spirit of Africa
Music was a solution to make the most of being forcibly removed.
Forced removals (1991)Original Source: Graeme Williams / South Photos
1991: Squatters
Police watch squatters whose homes have been demolished.
Photographer — Gille de Vlieg / South Photographs
Photographer — Paul Weinberg / South Photographs
Photographer — Paul Grendon / South Photographs
Photographer — Graeme Williams / South Photographs
Photographer — Cedric Nunn
Photographic Archive — Baileys African History Archive
Photographer — Paul Alberts / South Photographs
Photographer — Guy Tillim / South Photographs
