Red Location (township)

These corrugated iron structures were sourced from a de-constructed concentration camp established in Uitenhage during the South African War.

Many prominent political and cultural South African leaders were born or spent time in the township.

White location became the first economic housing scheme built after the urban areas of 1923 in South Africa.

[5] Benefits of housing schemes included physical space and privacy, financial security and social status.

[6] In South Africa the word location originally referred to Mfengu settlements on the colonial side of the Kei River after the frontier war of 1835–1836.

During the late 1940s a famous criminal 'Mabuli' killed many people in Jabavu Road, his time of power was described as 'the reign of terror'.

After his death, young boys from Red Location used the name 'Mabuli' as protection against rival gangs and criminals.

Another well known criminal from Red Location was 'Bra Sixteen' whose weapon of choice was a bicycle spoke like the character "Butcher" in Athol Fugard's novel Tsotsi (1980).

Fugard put the New Brighton township on the literary map in the 1960s through multiple plays including 'Tsotsi' and 'The Coat'.

Mount Rod's Paterson High School was multiracial but mainly provided for Indian and Coloured students.

[11] Segregation in the Cape Colony started in the 1770s to avoid conflict between the Xhosa people and the British settlers.

They were evicted due to fears of violence and social disorder that would follow the fast rate of immigration of black people to the towns and cities.

Black people resisted the governments laws of segregation with the passing of the Native Reserve Location Act of 1903.

This law was passed due to an increasing number of black people dwelling near white settlements.

The occupants of Gubbs Location refused to live in western cottages and would build their own round huts.

Kloof, Gubbs and Coopers Locations were declared health hazards and the people were evicted.

After the 1902 Act many did not want to move to Red Location even though the living conditions in Korsten were declared 'unfit for human habitation'.

Matyu, a resident who was evicted said, 'Furniture was broken and people and their goods, including dogs, were crammed into the back of military trucks'.

The tour guides allow visitors to interact with the new generation of the people of Red Location and surrounding townships.

The first phase of the project entailed the erection of a Freedom Struggle Museum and the reconstruction of corrugated iron houses in the Red Location.

[5] Red Location Museum was closed in 2013 due to community protests related to housing.