known town suburb south_africa legendary black cultural hub destroyed rebuilt officially returned original oldest black areas destruction represents south_africa despite violence poverty politics jazz blues 1940s 1950s produced south_africa famous writers musicians politicians artists history originally farm time included neighbouring areas purchased acquired acres miles west centre private township surveyed divided small stands township named wife streets named children toby victoria enactment natives land act black south rights bought properties suburb distance city centre seen built sewage plant nearby area attractive reasons whites moved leaving vibrant multi racial community late 1940s population nearly black indians chinese forced neighbouring white working class areas developed adjacent perception arose suburb close white onwards planned black population western areas including election victory relocation plans debated level national politics amendment act people mixed races reside possible government different races scheme residents united protest forced creating slogan won father played important role involved resistance february policemen armed rifles clubs known moved black families ethnic groups moved coloured people moved south indian community moved chinese people moved central years flattened removed maps forced demolition carried natives act area whites renamed triumph government social engineers tried create suburb white working class end turned suburb mainly poor white showed failed designed benefit restoration took decision old suburb saturday february process finally came fruition mayor reverted geography geology located ridges called lies dates billion years ago lie base sediments form represents sea shores shallow beds ancient sea forms lowest level world known geological features fairly narrow layers gravel deposited late sequence bearing heavy elements famous gold bearing main reefs represents features gold bearing rock gold occurs millions years later kilometres higher sequence years immigrants arrived remains walls found area culture early life unlike south_africa township meant rare places south african urban areas blacks allowed land land belonged municipality developed form municipal houses built row row lack character houses built according people ability pay tastes cultural background houses built brick rooms smaller built like homes rural areas single room iron scrap sheet metal majority families living tenants sub tenants people lived single room houses hid built cardboard flattened cans black property owners poor order pay properties paying tenants residents determination construct respectable lifestyle shadow state actively hostile ambitions respectable lifestyle rested pillars religious devotion reverence formal education desire law order people struggled survive rich culture based informal illegal music beer developed main forms entertainment people came illegally self alcoholic talk daily worries political ideas fears hopes politicians tried influence conform form thinking disagreed immediately suspect classified police informer conflicting images stand romantic vision unique community violent township dangers corner arts literature cultural process intensified latin akin harlem new_york 1920s referred renaissance musical sponsored described ultimate achievement final flowering multi racial cultural exploits 1950s legend gained popularity famous boxer notorious king musical depicted street life illicit violence music township jazz penny work songs black miners premiered vocalist played female lead role musical later went london west end years boys told father discovery music found trumpet interest making music caught boys formed stay long orchestra international reputation images initially built literature generation south african writers lived stages 1950s shared certain elements common experience education living working drum magazine exile banning suppression communism act writing autobiography later images found novels autobiography comfort novel focuses suburb recounts daily lives family poor white book turned movie called won best south african movie award crime crime violence reality urban life culture poverty misery violence city led growth gangs sections society anti social behaviour like despised anti social second world war large increase number gangs reason african teenagers city school jobs township youths unable find jobs easily employers reluctant employ teenagers work experience able read write considered weak 1950s crime day day reality nucleus reef crimes city bred spoke mixture english known known gangs russians americans names reflect admiration hitler saw kind hero taking whites europe best known gang period best studied russians group workers banded absence effective law enforcement owners state primary goal gang protect members gangs workers acquire defend resources found desirable notably women jobs urban space necessary parties staged fights formed bulk weekend entertainment successful community campaigns emerged early 1950s informal initiatives known civic guards mobilized combat rising crime attempt restore law order attracted widespread support prior series bloody clashes criminal society poorer provided state excuse ban guard groups eyed suspicion communist_party connections supposed law order engaged series brutal street battles members russians gang early 1950s representation literature drum magazine went different stages 1950s early 1960s representation characterized consistent crime urban phenomenon threatens rural identity tribal blacks second complete turn portrayed urban survivors able achieve standard living normally denied blacks final period extended period nostalgia culture disappeared destruction landmarks old architect designed churches south_africa church constructed bell tower added little money available construction architect called holy barn church distinctive feature mural longer visible painted church icon liberation struggle south_africa appointed rector outspoken opponent forced recalled england ashes reside church north eastern church mural depicting walking dusty streets mural painted apprentice students patronage shows children famous yellow houses entire community removed end church sold 1970s bought sunday school church changed hands bought building altered significantly nave enclosed large font built wooden false organ pipes changed look interior bought church changes reversed building largely restored self hall gallery built retained house medical doctor trained united_states united_kingdom local celebrity president western areas anti house landmark toby street declared february currently house location houses escape destruction government late 1950s built named second wife hall lived writer actor journalist modest buildings stand home remembers widowed mother ran looked house model good life separate room sitting eating room reading thinking shut south_africa black good street good street significant life described street writer house called good street steps steps walk flight steps looked accounts met sold type drink beer wine etc supplied good street renowned indian chinese jewish shops street criminals home opened doors built memorial coloured men paid ultimate sacrifice country run anglican order margaret remained charge left south_africa protest boys house priests house designed architect church successfully opposed removal home property farm land proclaimed township cinema cinemas larger time largest africa seat people cinema lower class movie house cinema market pride owned white couple known provide loved entertainment available political meetings parties stage performances international acts played multi racial audiences site series jazz jam sessions featuring white black musicians meeting ultimately unsuccessful resistance destruction began freedom square freedom square located corner victoria famous 1950s political meetings held utilised meetings chaired freedom square facilitated cooperation aforementioned political parties parties worked regime freedom square confused freedom square freedom charter adopted public allusion violence armed resistance legitimate tool change earned replaced president current remnants freedom square found beneath school playing field alongside christ king church primary school site religious educational significance school located established largest primary school taught passionate education school boys dug pool house order swimming pool school boys later went father ross father father tried later idea come doctors oak tree street tree gained sinister reputation people hanged branches subjected forced tree designated champion tree south africa champion trees trees south_africa exceptional importance deserve national protection notable residents
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