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

Following the official renaming of Sophiatown in 2006 (from Triomf) the Centre responded to a request by the City Council to establish a permanent heritage programme: the Sophiatown Heritage Encounters.

Based in the heritage site of the original 1930s home of political leader Dr AB Xuma, the Centre also hosts the Sophiatown eKhaya Circle, which seeks to research, preserve and share Sophiatown’s unique heritage. We give people an understanding of that heritage, through tours, events and exhibitions.  

Sophiatown Heritage Tours

Between 1930 - 1950 Sophiatown became a symbol of unity and diversity in what was an increasingly racially divided country. It was in this tiny suburb that South Africans of every group co-existed in a peaceful, if chaotic manner. It was particularly known as a centre of arts, literature, music and drama.

During the 1950's the government began a brutal campaign against so-called 'black spots' and racially integrated areas, such as Sophiatown, became a casualty of the government's new system of force removals under the Group Areas Act. From February 1955 Sophiatown was systematically destroyed schools and shops, cinemas and swimming pools. Four buildings survived the removals.

Everyone was displaced and homes lost. Neighbours and families were moved to different areas according to skin colour. The community protests led by African leaders and Trevor Huddleston (who was the local Anglican priest), extended to Britain, but were in vain. On the first day of removals on 9 February 1955, 2000 policemen ousted 100 families to Meadowlands. In all, 65,000 people of all races were affected. A new white suburb was built over the rubble, named Triomf.

After the first democratic elections in 1994, the area was renamed Tromf-Sophiatown, and officially renamed Sophiatown in February 2006 - 51 years after the first removals.

The centre offers a variety of tours: Taster Tour, Family Tour and a Walking Tour.

For more information, go to:

Sophiatown and its people

To book for these tours, contact:

+ 27 (0)11 673 1271,

or email: thmcentre@mweb.co.za