The neighbourhood was established in 1946 and, in the same year, was proclaimed a township for migrant labour predominantly from the Eastern Cape.

[4] Residents of Nyanga were active in joining a national call to protest against the apartheid laws passed in 1960.

Later they were active in the 1976 student uprisings, which had begun on the other side of the country on 16 June 1976 in Soweto against the use of Afrikaans as the primary medium of instruction in schools.

These cultural differences were allegedly used by the police to stir up violence, and elements of the community were infiltrated by the apartheid regime.

[clarification needed][6] Nyanga comprises nine township subdivisions: Lusaka, KTC, Old Location, Maumau, Zwelitsha, Maholweni "Hostels", White City, Barcelona, Kanana, and Europe.