Lenasia, also known as Lenz, is a suburb south of Soweto in the Gauteng province, South Africa, originally created to house Indians. It is located in Region G of the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality.
A panoramic view of Lenasia as seen from the nearby N12 Freeway.
Origins and Apartheid Era
The name "Lenasia" is thought to be a combination of the words "Lenz" and "Asia". The Lenz in question was one Captain Lenz who owned the original plot on which Lenasia is situated. According to Parnell and Pirie the foundations for Lenasia were laid in 1963. Many of its early residents were forcibly removed under the Group Areas Act from Pageview and the portion of Vrededorp populated by non whites (jointly known as Fietas) and Fordsburg, areas close to the Johannesburg city centre, to Lenasia. It originates from 1958.
Back during the days of apartheid, Indians - mainly from Fordsburg - were forced to settle here. The oppressors didn't want the oppressed to mingle, and thus possibly unite. Blacks, coloureds and Indians lived separately. The Indians were sent near the Lenz army base, and thus the name Lenasia.
In 1899, the Vanwyksrust Fort and Gaol of the ZAR was built around the same time as the Old Fort at Constitution Hill in Braamfontein. On the north-western outskirts of Lenasia, west of the Klip River wetland and alongside the N12 highway, is the Zuurbekom Pumphouse. Its purpose was to extract and provide water from the dolomite rocks under the vast wetland to Central Witwatersrand.
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In 1910, Gandhi was gifted land by Hermann Kallenbach on the outskirts of Lenasia and established the Tolstoy Farm which is now situated on land owned by Corobrik.
TOLSTOY FARM #GANDHI# LENASIA#SOUTH AFRICA-50
Mahatma Gandhi and Hermann Kallenbach at Tolstoy Farm in 1910
Lenasia Today
The township is large, and divided into extensions (Extensions 1-13) including a major suburb south of Lenasia, called Lenasia South and referred to as Daxina by the locals. Lenasia South is located separately from the main extensions of Lenasia. It is found on the R558 road before Ennerdale. It has a population of 37 110.
The growing population of Lenasia is a huge concern, as no additional land is being zoned for suburban development. Lenasia is now a vibrant and thriving community. The rapidly growing suburb has shopping malls (Trade Route Mall & Signet Terrace Shopping Centre), churches, temples, mosques, shops, banks and various industrial and commercial sectors.
Here are some key features of Lenasia South:
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- Variety of properties such as freestanding homes, apartments and estates that offer great value for money.
- O.R Tambo International Airport is approximately 62 km away while Lanseria International Airport is a 56-minute drive (65,5 km) via the N1.
- Warmest months are January, February and December at 27.3 °C. The month with the lowest average high temperature is July at 17.6 °C.
- Good schools and wonderfully operated restaurants.
Role in the Anti-Apartheid Movement
The community of Lenasia played a prominent role in opposing the national tricameral elections held in 1984 and 1989 under the apartheid era National Party government. This was an attempt to create separate legislative assemblies in South Africa for Whites, Indians and Coloureds in order to entrench racial segregation and perpetuate the disenfranchisement of the African majority in South Africa. Lenasia also played a role in the creation and activities of the United Democratic Front (UDF), the mass democratic movement that opposed apartheid in the 1980s and early 1990s before the unbanning of the African National Congress.
Many of Lenasia's residents played a prominent role in the UDF structures and the broader anti-apartheid movement. Rose Park a popular venue amongst Lenasia residents for public events and for family relaxation on weekends.
Sport as a Vehicle of Protest
Many South Africans battled apartheid by continuing to play cricket during the isolation years, refusing to join teams that were based on policies of segregation. The cricket stadium in Lenasia, where sport often became a vehicle of protest. Sport, though, was not black and white in those days. You wanted to play the sport, but you wanted your country to be isolated from international competition. You made sacrifices to play, but you couldn't join a white team because you would then let the struggle down.
There were times when Transvaal would be playing Western Province at the Wanderers, and on the same day the same two teams would be playing each other in a non-racial match in an open field in Lenasia, which had four grounds: Turfs 1, 2, 3 and 4. Back in the day, the outfield would be gravel, stones, broken glass, and the pitch a coir mat. When Rohan Kanhai played for Transvaal, the whole of Lenasia would turn up with their baskets of food and thermoses of tea.
The Lenasia Stadium, situated in Rainbow Valley, was a better facility. This stadium too was taken away by the city council. Bang in the middle of the Indian settlement, this ground could now be used by white teams only. So one day, knowing full well they would get arrested, with money kept aside for bail, cricketers from two clubs - Pirates and Crescents - "invaded" the field.
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Here's a table summarizing key aspects of Lenasia's sporting history during apartheid:
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Segregation in Sport | Blacks, Coloureds, and Indians were excluded from white teams. |
| Non-Racial Matches | Parallel matches were organized in Lenasia featuring the same teams playing at white-only venues. |
| Lenasia Stadium | A key sporting facility that was later restricted to white teams only, leading to protests. |
| Sport as Protest | Playing non-racial cricket was a form of resistance against apartheid policies. |
Ramakrishna Vedanta Society in Lenasia
The first flame of the Ramakrishna Vedanta Society was lit in the year 1970. The start of the journey began at the Ram Mandir, established at Master Mansions and was the brain child of the Shree Bhikhabhai Master. He was inspired by Swami Nischalananda of the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa. Swami Nischalanandahad vision was that the children of Hindu families all over South Africa must learn about Hindu Religion and Culture. In order to promote this vision, Swamijii had organised numerous activities.
Sadly, Shree Bhikhabhai Master passed away in the year 1962. However, the ever determined Shree Dayabhai Hari continued with the objective of developing the Hindu ethos amongst the community. Swami Nisreyasananda would stay on 7th floor Master mansions with Rajnikantbhai Master and the rest of the Master family.
Around 1969/70 Swami Nisreyasananda suggested to Dayabhai Hari and Rajnikantbhai Master that to meet the demands of the people of the Transvaal, a separate entity could be established with its own constitution. This plan was carried out, and Dayabhai Hari encouraged Rajnikantbhai Master to take up the post of the Secretary, a post he held for 17 years. The apartheid government were in the meantime meeting resistance from the Indian community regarding the relocation to Lenasia and they were only too eager to book plots to Indian buyers.
Rajnikantbhai agreed with Dayabhai Hari and four plots were booked in the name of Ramakrishna Vedanta Society in Kingfisher Street, Ext 1, Lenasia. Rajnikantbhai made tape recordings and brought them to South Africa. These tape recordings were heard by Swami Nisreyasananda who, without hesitation, suggested that Shivram Maharaj be invited to South Africa because of his religious knowledge and as kathakar in the Gujarati language. The community were greatly impressed and inspired by Shivram Maharaj’s Katha Programme.
Among the first pioneer donors who enthusiastically gave donations to the Ramakrishna Vedanta Society were late Vasantjee Nagar, the late Jinabhai Parekh, Kikabhai Bawa, Parshotambhai Bijla, the late Bhulabhai Diar, Bhulabhai Chhita, the Bodalia Family, the late Bhanabhai of Malice Spice Works. A concerted effort was made by Rajnikant Master, Thakorbhai Daya, and Maganbhai Morar to fill the coffers and subsequently the 4 plots booked were purchased. Adjacent to these four plots were two other plots, owned by a Muslim family and by a Gujarati Hindu family.
Rajnikantbhai Master approached Sompura Temple Architect in India, who had graciously sent architectural drawings, drawn according to scriptural requirements. The architect designed the Garbha Grah (where the Shree Lakshmi Narayan murtis are placed), the Mandir hall and the entrance area.
A German gentleman, Mr Hoj Melville used to come regularly to attend Swami Nisreyananda’s discourses at Ram Mandir, Master Mansions. One day Hoj Melville saw some wooden carvings of Indian deities in a carpet shop in Johannesburg. These were probably taken (or stolen) from ancient Indian temples. Hoj Melville bought these wooden carvings and showed them to Rajnikantbhai Master. They decided to approach Mr Theo Wald in Johannesburg, who had a business of making rubber moulds and using them, to make decorative ornaments. Mr Wald made rubber moulds from the wooden deities.
It was Mr Hoj Melville’s enthusiasm that persuaded Rajnikantbhai Master and Dayabhai Hari to let Mr Melville make lots of plaster cast copies of the wooden carvings and decorate the frame area of the Garbha Grah and also one line around the inside of the Mandir hall. Mr Hoj Melville experimented with special cement mixture and iron rods to make the plaster casts strong. Jyoshnaben Rajnikantbhai Master assisted Mr Melville and the plaster casts were made onsite as well as in the yard of Arvindbhai and Diwaliben Master’s house in Turtledove Avenue, Lenasia Ext 1. It took many months and very hard work to make all the plaster casts.
The plaster casts were sprayed with colour that would resemble the original. A suitable glue was used to stick the plaster casts inside of the Shree Lakshmi Narayan Mandir. A Bhumi Pujan (Khaatmurat) was performed in 1970/71. Swami Nisreyasanandaji placed copper yantras under the foundations of Shree Lakshmi Narayana Mandir and the Ramakrishna Hall. Shivram Maharaj who performed the Murthi Sthapana (consecration ceremony) suggested that the Mandir should be dedicated to Shree Lakshmi Narayana which was unanamously accepted. The murtis of Lakshmi Mata and Lors Narayan were made in Jaipur and housed temporarily and with great honour in Arvindbhai Master’s house in Turtledove Lane, Ext 1 Lenasia.
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