Dilapidated state of Walter Sisulu Square symbolic of the deteriorating state of Kliptown, says resident

JOHANNESBURG - The African National Congress (ANC) is set to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Freedom Charter at a dilapidated and looted Walter Sisulu Square in Kliptown, Soweto.

Formerly known as Freedom Square, the national heritage site was the location for the historic Congress of the People meeting in 1955, where the charter was adopted.

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The charter served as a blueprint to a democratic South Africa. However, 31 years into democracy, some citizens are complaining that the ideals of the Freedom Charter are yet to be realised.

The Walter Sisulu Square used to stand as a symbol of pride for the residents of Kliptown.

It had a city hall, an open-air museum, a business centre, and its walls were covered in historic literature.

However, it’s now an eyesore surrounded by debris.

All the doors have been looted, the roof is gone, and walls are covered in smoke and grime.

Longtime resident Joseph Parks said the square’s decay was symbolic of the deteriorating state of Kliptown and its surrounding areas.

"It breaks my heart when I look at where we used to come from. We used to have two bioscopes in Kliptown. You could go at midnight with your girlfriend, walking with her hand-in-hand. Today, we are afraid to even go to the backyard."

Johannesburg Ward 22 councillor, Sebenzile Mabuza, said the square was damaged during the July 2021 unrest and the city was making gradual improvements to return it to its former state.