The word ‘township’ is the name of any place where a group of people live together (like a city or a village). However, in South Africa, ‘township’ has a very specific meaning.

During apartheid, the government forced non-white residents out of the centers of cities. Townships were built outside of the cities. This allowed the government to keep the non-white residents ‘contained’, but close enough to commute to work.

The townships were overcrowded and houses were poorly built. Many people living in townships lacked basic services like running water and electricity.

This are still poor living conditions and widespread poverty in all townships in South Africa.

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Text: John Stokvis; Image: Meredith Claire