Trevor Huddleston CR Memorial Centre, Corner of Good & Herman Streets, Sophiatown, Johannesburg . Post: PO Box 468, Westhoven 2142.  

Email: thmcentre@mweb.co.za   Tel: +27 (0) 11673 1271   Fax: +27 (0) 11 477 3490

Registered section 21 not-for-profit association no 2000/006377/08

The Trevor Huddleston Memorial Centre. NPO no 020 393

Patrons: Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, Archbishop Thabo Makgoba, Mr Abdul Minty, Lord Attenborough

The Trevor Huddleston CR Memorial Centre Sophiatown

Sophiatown was an exception, a one-off, a loophole.   In the 1920s and 1930s it was the one place in Johannesbug where people of any race could rent a place, build a shack, own a freehold, start a business. And it flourished. Because it was free and multiracial, it made its own unique style and culture. Musicians, writers and artists rubbed shoulders with entrepreneurs, lawyers, activists, gangsters and teachers. The young Mandela had many clients there. Hugh Masekela got his first trumpet there – a gift from Father Trevor Huddleston.  Huddleston was passionate about education, and he taught, with Oliver Tambo, children from the largest primary school in South Africa, St Cyprian’s Sophiatown.  

The old Sophiatown was an exceptional place because of the freedom, respect, open-mindedness, creativity and opportunity that it represented. As the buildings were destroyed in 1955 the Freedom Charter was adopted and Huddleston was awarded the very first ‘Isitwandalwe’ Medal, with Chief Albert Luthuli and Yusef Dadoo.

SOPHIATOWN 100: MOTSWAKO CELEBRATION!   

This year sees Sophiatown celebrating 100 years as a neighbourhood – a mix of communities over a century, experiencing all the attendant richness and tragedy of life before, during and after apartheid.

The Northcliff Melville Times, a publication by Caxton Papers, is running a dose on Sophiatown every week as part of our Centennial Celebrations.  

Sophiatown100: Motswako Celebration! Events

April 27 - Encounter Sophiatown - live jazz evening                 with Lucas Senyatso

See our news page for more information

NEW CULTURAL CENTRE FOR  SOPHIATOWN

The Huddleston Centre is hosting community consultations to hear ideas and comments on the proposed new spaces for Sophiatown residents, past and present, as well as neighbouring communities.  To participate see the Sophiatown Community website for dates or call the heritage team: 011 673 1271

Did you know?

Crime and violence were a reality of urban life and culture in Sophiatown. The poverty, misery, violence and lawlessness of the city led to the growth of many gangs. Sections of society frowned on gangsterism as anti-social behaviour and gangsters like Kortboy and Don Mattera were despised by many as "anti social".

(Source - Wikipedia)

Welcome

The Trevor Huddleston Centre’s aim is to act as a catalyst for solutions to societal challenges through supporting people to learn, take action, evaluate and achieve their goals for life, while linking to, and serving, the wider community.   

Our training priorities focus on technology based programmes for the benefit of young people who want to make a difference, but who are not yet able to access skills training or other tertiary education.   We combine this with a value system and proven framework for experiential learning, action and reflection including the arts and creative processes such as drama and oral history.  

The Huddleston Gateway Initiative

Corporate partners, philanthropic funders and individuals are invited to get involved

Go to our Pledge page to get involved; or click on the icon below to print the Gateway pledge card