Langa

Story of place by the girls

Our neighborhood of Langa is Cape Town’s oldest township in South Africa. We celebrated our 100th anniversary in 2023. As a result, Langa has a rich history and a powerful collective memory. This history and the heritage that accompanies it are deeply embedded in our DNA and that of the people of Langa. The fight against apartheid is part of our shared consciousness. Being from Langa means something, and we, the girls of Girls Make the City, carry that with us.
Langa is an engaged community. We are aware of the challenges the neighborhood sometimes faces, particularly gender-based violence. But this awareness strengthens us, motivating us to take action against the violence. While everyone agrees that Langa is relatively safe compared to other townships, its history also fosters a tradition of resilience and self-reliance. People have established small businesses here, including restaurants, and even Airbnb’s have started to appear.
Culture and sports are everywhere. We have street art, the Langa DJs (also known as The Uncles), the Langa Bicycle Hub, and girls’ football, hockey, and rugby teams. Besides the Cooking Ladies, there are also Langa Township Tours. Many well-known figures call Langa home.
In short, Langa is a vibrant township, with entrepreneurial women acting as catalysts for change. That is the true potential of Langa.