Group Areas Act and Forced Removals: Sophiatown and District Six (1955–1983)

1. Group Areas Act becomes law in South Africa

   Jul 7, 1950Labels: Group Areas

   • Britannica
   • SAHO

2. Natives Resettlement Act strengthens removal powers in Johannesburg

   Jun 4, 1954Labels: Natives Resettlement

   • NRA 1954
   • Britannica

3. Group Areas Development Board takes over Group Areas planning

   Jan 1, 1955Labels: Group Areas

   • Britannica

4. Sophiatown removals begin under Western Areas Removal Scheme

   Feb 9, 1955Labels: Sophiatown

   • Smithsonian
   • Britannica

5. Sophiatown is cleared and rebuilt as whites-only Triomf

   Jan 1, 1960Labels: Triomf

   • Sophiatown
   • M G

6. District Six declared whites-only under the Group Areas Act

   Feb 11, 1966Labels: District Six

   • SAHA
   • UCT News

7. Group Areas Act 1966 consolidates and continues the system

   Oct 26, 1966Labels: Group Areas

   • GAA 1966
   • SAHA

8. Forced removals from District Six begin

   Jan 1, 1968Labels: District Six

   • SAHA
   • SAHO

9. District Six is renamed “Zonnebloem” by the government

   Jan 1, 1970Labels: Zonnebloem

   • SAHO
   • District Six

10. Bulldozing of District Six continues through the 1970s

    Jan 1, 1975Labels: District Six

    • SAHA
    • UCT News

11. Final clearing of remaining District Six houses

    Jan 1, 1982Labels: District Six

    • SAHO
    • SAHA

12. District Six Foundation is formed to preserve memory

    Jan 1, 1989Labels: District Six

    • Museum
    • Mott

13. Abolition of Racially Based Land Measures Act repeals Group Areas Act

    Jun 30, 1991Labels: Abolition Act

    • Gov za
    • ARBLMA

14. District Six Museum opens in a former Methodist church

    Jan 1, 1994Labels: District Six

    • Museum
    • UCT News