Duduza

Duduza is a township west of Nigel on the East Rand, Gauteng, South Africa. It was established in 1964 when Africans were resettled from Charterston because it was considered by the apartheid government to be too close to a white town. A local authority was established in 1983. Duduza experienced violent school, consumer, bus, and rent boycotts from 1984 to 1987. A state of emergency was imposed in July 1985 and the South African Army was called in as the violence peaked.

Duduza
Duduza Show map of Gauteng Duduza Show map of South Africa
Coordinates: 26°23′S 28°24′E
Country	South Africa
Province	Gauteng
Municipality	Ekurhuleni
Established	1964
Area [1]
• Total	11.23 km2 (4.34 sq mi)
Population  (2011)[1]
• Total	73,295
• Density	6,500/km2 (17,000/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011) [1]
• Black African	98.9%
• Coloured	0.4%
• Indian/Asian	0.2%
• White	0.1%
• Other	0.4%
First languages (2011) [1]
• Zulu	64.7%
• Sotho	16.2%
• Xhosa	5.8%
• Northern Sotho	2.6%
• Other	10.7%
Time zone	UTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)	1496
PO box	1494

The name Duduza means "to comfort" in English; this was to comfort the forced removal of the residents of the then-Charterston township, which was also known as Beirut.^[2]

Duduza was one of the most highly active townships in South Africa in the fight against apartheid. It is also recorded as the first place where a 'Necklacing' was filmed, when 'Maki Skosana' was burned to death by using a tire filled with petrol.^[3]

Duduza has produced prominent figures such as Speaker of the Gauteng Province Legislature Ntombi Mekgwe, Vuyo Mokoena named the King of South African gospel, Emma Mkhwanazi former lead singer of the IPCC, Professor Njabulo Ndebele, and Mondy Johannes Motloung who was an MK Cadre and political activists in pursuit of social justice, freedom and equality in South Africa.

Famous sportsman include Bafana Bafana football player Bongani Zungu and South African international cricketer Mangaliso Mosehle^[4]

References

1. "Main Place Duduza". Census 2011.
2. Cowell, Alan (5 August 1985). "A Reporter's Notebook: Long Roots of South African Violence". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
3. Oliver, Mark (19 May 2018). "Death By Tire Fire: A Brief History Of "Necklacing" In Apartheid South Africa". All That's Interesting. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
4. "Player Profile: Mangaliso Mosehle". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 2 April 2021.