Dlamini

Dlamini Township

1. History of Dlamini

Founded: 1956 Location: South-western Soweto, Gauteng, near Chris Hani Road / Klipspruit Valley Road, adjoining Tshiawelo (Chiawelo) and close to Bara (Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital)

Dlamini (sometimes spelled Dhlamini) was one of the earliest townships laid out in 1956 as part of the apartheid government’s mass housing and ethnic-zoning programme that would go on to form Soweto. Along with Tladi, Zondi, Senoane and Chiawelo, Dlamini was among the first areas developed in that wave, which together housed close to 29,000 people in their initial construction.

Under the segregation policy of the time, townships were deliberately assigned to specific language groups as part of the state’s broader strategy of dividing Black South Africans along ethnic lines. Dlamini was designated for Zulu- and Xhosa-speaking residents, alongside Senaoane, Zola, Zondi, Jabulani, Emdeni and White City. This stood in contrast to areas like Naledi, Mapetla, Tladi, Moletsane and Phiri (set aside for Sotho- and Tswana-speakers) and Chiawelo (for Tsonga- and Venda-speakers). The development of these townships was aided by a R6-million (some sources cite £3 million) donation from mining magnate Sir Ernest Oppenheimer.

In 1963, Dlamini and the surrounding townships — built on the former farms of Doornkop, Klipriviersoog, Diepkloof, Klipspruit and Vogelstruisfontein — were officially united under the collective name Soweto (SOuth WEstern TOwnships).

Dlamini sits close to two of Soweto’s most significant institutions: Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital (“Bara”), one of the largest hospitals in the world, and the University of Johannesburg’s Soweto campus — both major employers and community landmarks bordering the area. Like the rest of Soweto, Dlamini’s residents lived through the harsh realities of apartheid-era township life and the political upheavals of the following decades, including the 1976 Soweto Uprising, before the post-apartheid period brought gradual infrastructure investment, new retail development, and improved municipal services.

Today, Dlamini is a well-established residential township known for its proximity to major transport routes (Chris Hani Road, Klipspruit Valley Road), its growing retail nodes, and its recreational and community facilities.

2. Businesses in Dlamini

Dlamini’s business landscape reflects a mix of long-standing retail anchors, newer shopping developments, and the small/informal enterprise economy typical of Soweto townships.

Formal retail and services

  • Shoprite Dlamini — Dlamini Retail Centre, corner of Chris Hani Road & Mtambo Street. Offers grocery shopping plus a car wash, ATMs, free parking, money market services, a meat market, bakery and deli counter.
  • Shoprite (Lakeview) — corner of Chris Hani Road & Klipspruit Road, Dlamini.
  • Dhlamini Junction (Soweto Mall) — a newer shopping destination on the corner of Chris Hani Road & Klipspruit Valley Road, styled as “Soweto’s new shopping destination” with fashion, food and family-oriented retail, plus prayer facilities on site.

Informal and small business economy

  • Spaza shops, hair salons, and street vendors — form the backbone of everyday retail throughout Dlamini, as across greater Soweto.
  • Shebeens and taverns — informal (now largely licensed) social and drinking establishments, part of the area’s everyday social economy (see Cultural Activities below).

3. Cultural Activities

  • Zulu and Xhosa heritage — As one of the townships originally designated for Zulu- and Xhosa-speaking families, Dlamini carries a strong Nguni cultural identity, reflected in language, music, dress, and community customs still practised today.
  • Shebeen culture — As in the rest of Soweto, shebeens historically served as informal social and political gathering spaces during apartheid, when public assembly was restricted. They remain part of the community’s social fabric, now legal and often featuring live music.
  • Community and church gatherings at the Dlamini Multipurpose Centre Hall — a large venue used for church services, weddings, and community events, noted by visitors for its size and secure premises.
  • Broader Soweto cultural life that Dlamini residents engage with includes kwaito and afro-jazz music traditions, township tours, and major nearby cultural and sporting events (Soweto derbies at FNB Stadium, cricket at the Soweto Cricket Oval).

4. Entertainment Activities

  • Dhlamini Junction — combines retail with food and family entertainment offerings (“Fashion, Food & Fun for the whole family”).
  • Dlamini Multipurpose Centre Hall — doubles as an entertainment and events venue, hosting weddings, church services and community functions; also houses a well-regarded community gym.
  • Shebeens and taverns in and around Dlamini — offering music, food and a social gathering atmosphere typical of Soweto’s entertainment scene.
  • Nearby major entertainment landmarks accessible to Dlamini residents include Bara Mall (just off Chris Hani Road, near Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital) and FNB Stadium, one of Soweto’s most iconic entertainment and sporting venues, hosting the famous Soweto football derbies between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.

5. Parks and Recreation Facilities

  • Dlamini Multipurpose Recreation Centre — a City of Johannesburg-run recreation facility located at 2332 Luthuli Street (Koma Road), Dlamini, falling under Region D (Greater Soweto) recreation facilities.
  • Dlamini Multipurpose Centre Hall gym — a popular, non-commercial community gym operating from the same multipurpose hall complex.
  • Sports fields and courts — as with other Soweto townships, local soccer pitches and multi-purpose courts serve everyday recreation and community tournaments.
  • Regional recreation context — Dlamini residents are also within reach of larger Soweto sporting and recreational landmarks, including the Soweto Cricket Oval (opened 1973, capacity 8,000) and FNB Stadium.

6. Shopping Centres

  • Dhlamini Junction — Cnr Chris Hani Road & Klipspruit Valley Road, Soweto, 1723. Open 07:00–22:00. A modern shopping destination with fashion, food and family retail plus prayer facilities.
  • Dlamini Retail Centre — home to Shoprite Dlamini, corner of Chris Hani Road & Mtambo Street, Tshiawelo.
  • Lakeview Shopping Centre — corner of Chris Hani Road & Klipspruit Road, Dlamini (also referred to during development as “Lakeview Junction/Dlamini Mall”).
  • Nearby regional shopping centres frequently used by Dlamini residents include Bara Mall (near Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital) and Protea Gardens Mall on Chris Hani Road.