Ex-deputy mayor had his home bombed in the 80s

Soweto is known for its rich history in the Struggle against the brutal apartheid regime.

Many icons have lived and died in the township.

As part of the township’s heritage, their legacies are not only etched in the memories of those who remember their heroic feats, but their names have become part of the township’s landscape till today.

Some popular street names include Sofasonke Street in Orlando, which is in honour of James Sofasonke Mpanza.

An activist in civic politics, Mpanza is also revered as “Father of Soweto” for playing a big role in the establishment of the world famous settlement.

While Soweto residents might be well acquainted with the history of such figures, very little is known about other important history makers.

One such is Isaac Buthelezi, a former councillor in the Greater Soweto City Council. He has a street named after him in Protea North, the middle class suburb of Soweto he is credited for its planning and development.

“As a councillor during the apartheid era, I was part of a team that was responsible for the development of areas in Soweto. This included making sure there were clinics, water, and recreational facilities.”

He said the council agreed to name the streets of Protea North not only after the councillors of the time, but also after iconic black leaders such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

“It was a decision that was taken then. We didn’t know which names to use for those streets and that’s how they came about,” he said.

Despite his efforts at bettering Soweto, the former deputy mayor of Soweto was later smoked out of his home in Zondi by vigilantes who labelled him and others who worked for the state as “sell-outs”.

“I was forced to move out of my house because it was bombed during the civil unrest that engulfed Soweto in the early to mid ’80s.”

The 84-year-old who now resides in Power Park said it was heart-wrenching to see the