Meadowlands Tourism Development Center

25/06/2017

27/05/2015

THE CHURCH OF RESURRECTION

During the forced removals most of the structures in Sophiatown were flattened by bulldozers but Christ the King Church survived. Over the following years the church went through a turbulent time. When the Sophiatown community was removed a new church was build in Meadowlands, the communities new home. It resembles the original church, with a long church building ending with a slightly shorter bell tower. Some items were removed to the Meadowlands church and are still there; a beautiful silver chalice, six wooden gold coated candelabras and two small silver candlesticks.

The Church of the resurrection was dedicated by archbishop Edward Puget on August 27 1961. Some of the congregation are now attending Sunday service at the original Christ the of king in Sophiatown.

27/05/2015

FREDERICK S MODISE HOUSE AND SEFIKENG

The house was formerly used by the Native Resettlement Board as an administrative reception office for residents arriving from the Western Areas during the forced Removals that commenced in 1955. Most residents remember this house as the place where on arrival in Meadowlands, they were given a pint of milk and two loaves of bread, before being allocated to their new homes. The house now belongs to the Rev Frederick Modise of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church.

Sefikeng formerly Dutch Reformed Church, played a very important role to the community of Meadowlands, for mass mobilisation against apartheid, student organisation meetings, political meetings, community activities, weddings and burials services. Another Dutch Reform Church was built in zone 4 in 1958.

27/05/2015

The Police station, Post office and Bapedi hall

The construction of Meadowlands Police Station at an estimated cost of £88.600, was completed in 1957 and was official opened by the Minister of Bantu Administration and Development, Mr Christian De Wet Nel on the 4th December 1958.

The Meadowlands Post Office was erected at an estimated cost of £7,000. The building was completed and occupied with effect from the 2nd January 1959. On the suggestion of the residents the Post Office was named IKETLO. (RELAXATION)

The Board decided to erect a small central community hall in one of the residential areas by way of experiment. If the smaller type of community hall meets the requirement of the community more satisfactorily, then the er****on of several smaller halls will be given preference over one central community hall. On the 31st March 1959 the hall was completed on stand No 219 in Area 3

27/05/2015

FIRST RESIDENTIAL AREA

Zone 3 Meadowlands is mostly occupied by the first residents that were forcibly removed from Sophiatown in 1955. Shops were not built at that stage and business owners were allocated what was referred to as house-shops, that is the five roomed house with fifth house room extended serve as a little shop. The houses were divided to serve different products, groceries, fruit and vegetables, butcheries and tailor shop.

Very few people owned motor cars then, coal dealers and fruit and vegetables merchants resorted using horse drawn carts. To prevent horse and other draught animals from roaming around the location uncontrolled, the board decided to erect stables for thirty horses and to rent them to owners of draught animals. Later on a soccer stadium was build just across the stables for soccer teams of Meadowlands

27/05/2015

MEADOWLANDS HOSTEL

Within the Apartheid legislation of the amended Urban Areas Act was a notion based on fiction that an urban black population did not exist while it was simultaneously conceded that a presence of such a population was necessary. U***d black males were required to take accommodation in new single-sex barracks-hostels the first of which was built in the designated in “Nguni” township of Dube. Three additional hostels were completed in Meadowlands, Nancefield and Jabulani.

In recent years the City council of Johannesburg started a process of upgrading the hostels and legislation was changed to accommodate opposite sexual partners, thus allowing some units to be transformed into family units.

27/05/2015

THE SOPHIATOWN FORCED REMOVALS OF 1955

In 1899 Herman Tobiasky bought 237 acres of land and laid out the streets, he named the streets after his children and named the suburb after his wife Sophia to SOPHIATOWN. Sophiatown was quite unlike any other African location it was a freehold Township, it was one of the very few South African urban areas where black people allowed to own land, the land never belonged to the Johannesburg Municipal.

In 1951 the government announced that it would be clearing Johannesburg’s Western Areas-declared it whites only suburbs. On the 9th of February 1955 approximately two thousand heavily armed police forcefully removed about 110 families to the new townships of Meadowlands and Diepkloof. The removal of all the families took several years, it left a destroyed Sophiatown and emotionally traumatized people.

Meadowlands is one of the iconic Township of Soweto in terms of the rich history where great leaders have been incubated, the Township also forms a beacon of hope for the new generation where they daily get vast knowledge and skill in terms of past history and activities in the centre

17/10/2014

National Tourism and Hospitality Association (NTHA) celebrated their annual Liquor Month. NTHA was formed early 1999 in the location of Meadowlands with the view of creating job opportunities within the Tourism and Hospitality industry. Within the 24 branches they have each branch was requested to bring 10 patrons with them learn about the business of liquor outlets and also to celebrate day with them. The THEME of the day was CODE OF CONDUCTS where patrons and traders were educated about code of conducts of NTHA and LIQUOR ACTS itself. Also patrons we educated about the danger of drinking and driving and how should they stay safe during the festive season.

They were also donations from branches to give back to the needy families, donations like blankets, groceries and clothes. Among the
guest was liquor board representative Mr Jabu Khumalo, Mogale City Fm presenter Mr Antony Sello and Captain Ontimile from the Gauteng Province.

15/10/2014

Ndofaya Caterers learners who are on a catering learnership programme at Meadowlands tourism Development center were presented with basic first aid certificate and basic fire fighting certificate. These certificates were issued by the City of Johannesburg Emergency Services (EMS), the first aid and firefighting is part of the student programme in their learnership of which the purpose is to equip them with first aid and fire fighting skills. Among the guest there JMPD rep, EMS rep, Meadowlands Pick N Pay, Maponya Pick N Pay rep, cash build Rep, Engen Rep and Voltex Rep. Students they were very much overwhelm about the presentation and they were encourage to work hard on the learnership.

26/09/2014

Meadowlands Tourism Development center celebrated Heritage day with senior citizens of Meadowlands who experienced the Sophiatown removals. Seniors were dancing to the Sophiatown music and were enjoying the African beer, they enjoyed African cuisine prepared by Ndofaya Caterers. There were arts and craft stalls.

03/09/2014

More pictures of woman's day which was hosted by National Tourism and Hospitality Association on the 28th of August. The Event was held a Meadolwands Tourism Development Center, Ndofaya caterers
learners provided a well deserve catering to the guest which is what they do best. The Ndofaya Caterers Learners are on a 12 months learnership which they will be certified with NQF Level 4 professional cookery certificates accredited by CATHSSETA.

28/08/2014

Meadowlands tourism development Center in conjunction with National Tourism and Hospitality Association are hosting woman month

25/07/2014

Sophiatown's Cultural and Enterprise Development by the Trevor Huddleston Memorial Centre, invited the senior citizens of Meadowlands to a Ground-Breaking Ceremony @ Sophiatown. The ground breaking is about building a new cultural hub that will preserve history, present and the future of Sophiatown

18/07/2014

National Tourism and Hospitality Association (NTHA) celebrated their annual event Christmas in July which is now nationally known as 67 minute's. They donated blankets to senior citizens of of Soweto which is their way of giving back to community.

18/07/2014

National Tourism and Hospitality Association (NTHA) celebrated 67 minutes by donating blankets to the senior citizens of Meadowlands and surroundings. The event is one of the annual events of NTHA called Christmas in July which they donate to senior citizens as their way of giving back to the community. The event took place at Meadowlands Conference Center situated at MTDC formally known as Chief's House. The seniors were treated with respect and dignity and they were entertained by various group dancers and they were even served with lunch prepared by Ndofaya Caterers. Ndofaya Caterers are the students who are on a learnership program at MTDC, the event was a very great success and which will be followed by Heritage day which also will be hosted at the Center.

13/07/2014

67 minutes its MADIBA's legacy; that its mandate is to encourage people to give back to their communities in different ways. Sphiwe Mbuthi known as (PICAT member of a well known kwaito group Alaska - AKA PICAT DE DJ) played his part by donating blankets to Ithuteng Old Age Home in Zone 4 Meadowlands. As a member of Meadowlands community Picat in his speech he mentioned that he always wanted to give back to his community of Meadowlands, which he decided to start with elders of Ithuteng Old Age Home. The event took place at Meadowlands Conference Center situated at MTDC formerly known as Chief's House. Ndofaya Caterers Class of 2014 played their part by serving the elders with meals for a day.

11/07/2014

Ndofaya Caterers class of 2014 were showcasing the executive members of NTHA and MTDC what the have learn in 4 months since they started their learnership programme. They dressed the tables and chairs, they decorated the conference centre and they even cooked, on their menu we had African Cuisine and WESTERN Cuisine. The executive was very impress and their encourage them to keep up the good work.

08/07/2014

The Johannesburg Retired Teachers Association (JRTA) Meadowlands Branch, held their monthly meeting at MTDC which is their venue to utilize as the community. The Association has has various activities that keeps them going strong, they play indigenous games, they invites motivational speakers and they also invite health practitioners. Thabiso Matlaila was presenting dental awareness and her wife was presenting Podiatrist awareness which is about foot sickness.

08/07/2014

Ndofaya Caterers Class of 2014 celebrates the June 16 Youth day in style at MTDC wearing their school uniforms, remembering the students who took part in the 1976 June 16 Soweto riots. The learners also on that day they went straight to class to continue with their catering lessons.

08/07/2014

National Tourism and Hospitality Association (NTHA) the mother body of MTDC donated school uniform to various schools in Meadowlands. This part of NTHA initiative of giving back to the community.

01/07/2014

01/07/2014

The Conference Center at MTDC, a home for Meadowlands community and surroundings to host their events raging from Workshops, Business Expo, Seminars, Meetings and Birthdays. The conference center can accommodate about 150 persons.

01/07/2014

Councillor Takalani Nefotoni in the middle wearing a white shirt. He is the Councillor of Ward 42 in Meadowlands officially opened both buildings in the center. He also congratulated all MTDC board members in bringing tourism and hospitality skills within the area of Meadowlands.

01/07/2014

Mrs F***y Mokoena MTDC Chairperson and Mr Monde Dhladhla MTDC board member shake hands congratulating each other on their milestone of building the Conference Center for the community of Meadowlands and surroundings.

01/07/2014

The launching of the Conference Center at MTDC

01/07/2014

The Original Chief's House which was used to accommodate Bantustans Chief's on the their visit to Apartheid Government. . MTDC has partnered with the GTA to restore and make use of the original house that used to accommodate the Bantustans Chief’s on their visits to the apartheid government and convert it into a Heritage Precinct. Approximately 2.5km Heritage Trail has also been developed to provide an intriguing journey back in time to highlight the social, political and cultural dynamics in Meadowlands and the critical role that the populace played pre and post apartheid.