House of Selope Thema

Table of Contents

About House of Selope Thema

Blue plaque repaired in September 2023

Address

152 Malatjie Street Rockville, Soweto
2015

Inscription

This was a home of Selope Thema (1886 Ð 1955), after he moved from Limpopo Province to Johannesburg, where he became politically active. He is remembered as a founding figure and prominent leader of the early ANC, and from the early 1920s through to 1940s, he led struggles against racial discrimination. A persuasive writer and journalist, he served as an editor of the Bantu World from 1932 Ð 1952.

Photo courtesy: Kabelo Mokoena (Sunday Times)

Explore Joburg

A culmination of research gathered over many years, the Online Johannesburg Heritage Register is being launched on Nelson Mandela Day 18 July 2025.

Among the many heritage sites featured is Chancellor House, the downtown offices of Mandela and Tambo Attorneys in the 1950s. After having been vacant and shuttered for more than a decade, this iconic building is being revived and brought to life once again as offices for the Community Development Department, which oversees the City’s Arts, Culture & Heritage Services.