Walter Sisulu Square image

Walter Sisulu Square

Tourist attraction

One of the Most Reviewed Tourist attractions in Soweto


Address

Cnr Klipspruit Valley Road & Union Road Kliptown, Pimville Zone 9, Soweto, 1809, South Africa

Website

www.waltersisulusquare.co.za

Contact

+27 11 945 2200

Rating on Google Maps

3.90 (2.7K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Sunday: 7 am to 6 pm
  • Monday: 7 am to 6 pm
  • Tuesday: 7 am to 6 pm
  • Wednesday: 7 am to 6 pm
  • Thursday: 7 am to 6 pm
  • Friday: (Good Friday), 7 am to 6 pm, Hours might differ
  • Saturday: 7 am to 6 pm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: history (12) Walter (11) visit (10) square (10) great (9) Soweto (8) Freedom (8) Sisulu (8) Square (7) nice (7)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 3/5 Enya F. 1 year ago on Google • 121 reviews
    The memorial tower with the 10 chapters of the freedom charter worth a visit. However, the whole area very neglected and dirty. Why the residents of Soweto take so little pride in their history is a mistery to me.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Yolin B. 5 years ago on Google
    They have great customer service but its better to go during the week
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Malcolm T. 5 years ago on Google • 222 reviews
    The flame was out, but its ideas burn on. The Freedom Charter Monument is part of the Walter Sisulu Square (also referred to as Freedom Square) with The Soweto hotel providing an interesting architectural flank to the one side. The monument is a cone shaped building with the 10 core Freedom Charter statements (adopted in 1955) in a circle where a flame was ignited when the building was commemorated. One door looks out over Kliptown and is particularly dramatic when seen at sunset. Don’t forget to look up and see the cross in the roof structure. On leaving we reflected that the flame may be out for now, but the ideas of the Charter certainly burn on in the hearts and minds of most South Africans. Certainly worth a visit.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Sandeep P. 4 years ago on Google • 155 reviews
    A very usual run-of-the-mill playground which has been converted into a memorial and a square named after the famous Walter sisulu. Walter was alongside Nelson Mandela during his famous fight against apartheid. The memorial in itself is not very impressive does not actually provide any kind of extra information or has any photographs or history behind it. Majorly the ground has been converted into a shopping complex and can conveniently be given a miss.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Mathulare Ashler M. 5 months ago on Google • 95 reviews
    Great heritage site. It's important to be vigilant for tourists given the traffic in the area. It's near an informal settlement.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 sihle z. 4 years ago on Google
    Amazing
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Cyril N. 2 months ago on Google • 419 reviews New
    Place is vandalised it needs beefing up of security and the municipality to take care of this hertatios place for the upcoming generation

  • 5/5 Muzi M. 4 years ago on Google • 129 reviews
    Quite interesting history even though they don't do enough advertising for the area but that's one place that all kids leaving around Soweto should know and understand what Walter Sisulu Square came about

  • 5/5 Manoko A. 3 weeks ago on Google • 7 reviews New
    This place is giving vibes of our history and heritage as a nation. Walter sisulu square is perfectly located making it easier to visit....🔥❤️❤️

  • 5/5 Siphiwe B. 3 years ago on Google
    Best place to remember the fallen heroes from the Soweto uprising

  • 2/5 Sebastian Van R. 3 years ago on Google
    Service is bad, people walking around without masks. Security dont say anything and I had to tell people to wear them

  • 5/5 Vuyisile T. 3 years ago on Google
    It is very important and historical. That is where the Freedom Chapter was adopted.

  • 3/5 jimmy sizwe m. 3 years ago on Google
    It's a community center, where you can find public services like post office sassa and more.

  • 3/5 Edmund NdabazeThongo T. 3 years ago on Google
    Very much crowded place but with good service.

  • 4/5 Kgosi M. 4 years ago on Google
    Greatest land mark to visit but it aint safe at night By chance, if u want any traditional wear, visit shop no. 2

  • 3/5 Mpho M. 3 years ago on Google
    It used to be better, also when there is an event... it looks amazing!

  • 4/5 Monty s. 3 years ago on Google
    Oh my it was nice to there, most ot their goods are cheap, hope to visit them again

  • 2/5 Maseeullah B. 3 years ago on Google
    Neglected, i felt unsafe here.. There's a lack of police presence as there are many pocket thiefs lurking around

  • 5/5 Thabeng Isaac M. 3 years ago on Google
    Historical places

  • 5/5 Chinemhute S. 3 years ago on Google
    Great place to be

  • 5/5 Ncane M. 3 years ago on Google
    ❤️🔥

  • 4/5 Mandla M. 3 years ago on Google
    Although it was first there but the place is overcrowded taxes around no parking if you want to stop an take pictures.

  • 1/5 Jimmy M. 3 years ago on Google
    Dirty

  • 1/5 Justin J. 3 years ago on Google
    Place is very dirty and people dont adhere to Covid19 rules

  • 5/5 Biddy 3 years ago on Google
    Nail techs did a great job for my girls .

  • 5/5 Amzo A. 3 years ago on Google
    Walter Sisulu Square if only he be alive to see it and enjoy it.... What a man! It's a beautiful historical place to visit when in SOUTH AFRICA JHB

  • 2/5 Jasmine S. 3 years ago on Google
    Crowded

  • 2/5 Aaron K. 3 years ago on Google
    Place need maintenance

  • 5/5 Kgantshang M. 3 years ago on Google
    Perfect place with a great history of the country

  • 3/5 sherelle w. 3 years ago on Google
    It was ok

  • 4/5 Muzomuhle X. 3 years ago on Google
    Historic place

  • 1/5 Sipho N. 3 years ago on Google
    It was raining on the day and we ask if the lady that was packing our meals to use a bigger bag and she refused and claimed that our meals a too small that she can't give us the bigger bag and I begged her for the sake of the rain #dololo 🤷

  • 2/5 Malekgetho Zoe V. 3 years ago on Google
    Loved the vibe

  • 5/5 Premilla M. 3 years ago on Google
    This is a vibrant landmark site in Soweto where one can safely purchase affordable fruit and vegetables at a fraction of the cost one would pay for the same products in supermarkets. You can also buy a variety of arts, crafts, traditional medicines and delicious cooked foods. There is outdoor seating, benches and lots of space to move around. Physical distancing is possible and one can feel more relaxed whilst shopping in this outdoor setting. It's one of the only places where one can buy a decent amount of fresh ginger for R10.00. It's also great to see the iconic and symbolic architecture. The place is steeped in history and there is a sense that everyone working there and visiting is able to recognize the signicance of the location and the greatness of the icon, Walter Sisulu. Aside from shopping here, I have also attended some amazing cultural events with indoor and outdoor activities. The venue enables many set ups and options for event organizers.

  • 5/5 Dioke M. 3 years ago on Google
    Wonderful

  • 3/5 Takali L. 3 years ago on Google
    Nice place for Tourists too

  • 3/5 Ayanda B. 3 years ago on Google
    Its okay

  • 3/5 Makoma M. 3 years ago on Google
    Not well preserved

  • 5/5 Prince M. 3 years ago on Google
    It was so exciting

  • 4/5 Solani M. 3 years ago on Google
    Is nice

  • 3/5 THABO R. 3 years ago on Google
    awesome

  • 5/5 Horisani De H. 3 years ago on Google
    It's people and everything is so nice

  • 5/5 Arão Rubens C. 3 years ago on Google
    (Translated by Google) Good (Original) Bom

  • 5/5 Mancoba T. 3 years ago on Google
    I was there for a learners and i passed

  • 1/5 Gift M. 3 years ago on Google
    Went to License department at Walter Sisulu Square to renew my vehicle license disk,they want your proof of address and copy of your id,meanwhile at Maponya license department they only want your id and your done.They need to do standard thing as a department.(Not happy with that license department at Walter Sisulu Square)aka Kliptown

  • 3/5 Tsholofelo M. 3 years ago on Google
    Not that bad

  • 3/5 Snipes E. 3 years ago on Google
    Extremely busy on a daily

  • 5/5 Vumile V. 3 years ago on Google
    All in one shopping space

  • 5/5 Tinotenda M. 3 years ago on Google
    amazing place

  • 4/5 Kgaogelo M. 3 years ago on Google
    User friendly not complicated and crowded

  • 5/5 Kamogelo I. 3 years ago on Google
    Very nice place

  • 1/5 Takalani M. 3 years ago on Google
    Closed Traffic dept

  • 3/5 sabelo n. 3 years ago on Google
    It's a lovely small square nothing fancy. Its perfect for picking up some fresh fruits and veggies but not worth the drive if you stay more than 20 KM away from the location. FYI: hide your valuables, they will grow a pair of legs and run from you.

  • 2/5 Charlotte M. 3 years ago on Google
    Place to many vendors not as clean as before garden no more attractive water pipe leaking buildings others demolished

  • 5/5 Austine S. 4 years ago on Google
    Security, peace. There is no noise. Place to rest indeed. Carrying Service from every one who is working there. Clean. Affordable prices.. And wonderful food.

  • 5/5 Phum'zile M. 3 years ago on Google
    So sad 🥺 that such a Beautiful Historical place is ABANDONED LIKE THAT. The Freedom Chatter is there but the OWNERS HAVE NEGLECTED ITS MEANING. South Africa is being NEGLECTED 🥺🥺🥺 5* it's for reasons it is there. It's appearance doesn't deserve any 🌟

  • 5/5 Khayelihle M. 3 years ago on Google
    Excellent

  • 3/5 Itseng R. 3 years ago on Google
    Average

  • 5/5 Mokone Moks L. 3 years ago on Google
    Had a decent African meal prepared

  • 5/5 Kedibone M. 3 years ago on Google
    It was the best 👌

  • 3/5 Andrew S. 3 years ago on Google
    Everything essential is available, the roads are just too clattered

  • 5/5 Alain K. 3 years ago on Google
    As usual

  • 5/5 Sbu Teboho T. 3 years ago on Google
    Our South African pride,our history, knowing who are we and where are we from,,,,,,amaizing.

  • 2/5 Nokuthula N. 3 years ago on Google
    Crowded and dirty

  • 3/5 Sfundo gratitude S. 3 years ago on Google
    A tidy place

  • 4/5 Justice M R. 3 years ago on Google
    Great history place. I wish government can do more to keep place cleaner especially sewage system

  • 5/5 Linda M. 3 years ago on Google
    It's excellent

  • 4/5 Pizza_ D. 3 years ago on Google
    Good place to be

  • 2/5 Sam M. 3 years ago on Google
    Pavements are occupied by street vendors

  • 4/5 Thembalakhe S. 3 years ago on Google
    Nice and clean place..

  • 5/5 Onus F. 4 years ago on Google
    One of the best tour operators I have met. The knowledge and passion that Mbali shows is amazing. Great merchandise for sale all the time, this tour is worth booking!!

  • 3/5 Mbali Z. 9 years ago on Google
    To whom it may concern Ihlaba Isamila Tour Operators was my tour operator they organized a full day tour for me around Johannesburg and Soweto they provided a professinal and personal service. .I enjoyed their informal approach and detailed knowledge of the sites we visited togather. Including the workers museum,museam africa,HectorPetreson and Mandela house.I also founded their local knowledge very impressive specially when it came to using shared taxi service.To get us from Sophiatown to newtown to soweto. In summary i would regard Ihlaba Isamila Tour Operators as an excellent value for money .You can consider during your South Africa visit. Regards Darry Butcher,$1 london United Kingdom

  • 5/5 Ricky R. 4 years ago on Google
    Love it

  • 5/5 Patience S. 5 years ago on Google
    Adventurers place

  • 4/5 Sifiso N. 6 years ago on Google
    It is friendly

  • 5/5 Lackson S. 3 years ago on Google
    First visit the museum nice experience of the place

  • 4/5 Muzi N. 2 years ago on Google
    A good place for shopping and has a hotel in the area. A lot of vendors who sell different things. There's a traffic department too.

  • 3/5 zinhle.bandile m. 2 years ago on Google
    Its a beautiful place to explore and learn more about our fallen heros. There is a hotel for accommodation. Across the street from there, there are shacks

  • 5/5 Muzi M. 2 years ago on Google
    Its very nice place to visit with some south african history in it

  • 4/5 Sandra M. 2 years ago on Google
    Beautiful place to go and have an adventure. Local cuisine is delicious and the Soweto Hotel is breathtakingly beautiful and a great escape for a night or two, Ubhukhosi Spa just relaxes your tired muscles its a definite must do.

  • 5/5 Themba M. 2 years ago on Google
    This as many would know is one of the historic places in SA. This is where the Freedom Charter was drafted and adopted. It is also where woman gathered in 1956 for defiance campaign against having to carry Dompasses (Identity Book) with them all the time when they go or move around, which was not the case with Europeans living in SA.

  • 4/5 Lawrence N. 2 years ago on Google
    Cool good when you are running a business but you must be on alert to much pick pockets.

  • 3/5 Abdul wajied K. 2 years ago on Google
    Unfortunately the square is not as beautiful and safe as it was you must be very vigilant when you there

  • 5/5 Gordon K. 2 years ago on Google
    Walter Sisulu a great warrior and the fighter for liberation. He is also one of the greatest people to have walked in this planet called Earth

  • 4/5 Prince da G. 1 year ago on Google
    The place is actually nice, one can get a feel of the historical presence while at the same time experience the present shift of the cultural surroundings

  • 4/5 Paballo P. 2 years ago on Google
    My event at the place was beautiful although older guests were not impressed with the state the venue is in now, of course they're comparing it to the 90s.

  • 4/5 Thato 5 years ago on Google
    The square is dedicated to the Congress of the People (COP) which was a gathering held here on June 25, 1955. At this gathering, the Freedom Charter was drawn up. The cone shaped brick structure has 4 openings at each adjacent side and you can go inside and read up on the tenets of the freedom charter. It's an interesting structure and I imagine the geometric architecture is meant to mean something I'm too unpolished to comprehend. The real deal here though, for me, is the market on the south wing of the square. The 'get up and grind' energy at this wing is commendable. You can find anything from second-hand bras to the freshest fruit and vegetables. At this point it also links up with the Kliptown's 'business district' where the shops are mostly run by the muslim- Indian community. Here, you can literally find and and every knick-knack under the sun. You name it, there's probably a shop around the corner that supplies it. If not the shop, then the vendor on the street has it. Go with an open mind, submit to the hustle and bustle and you'll be amused and inspired.

  • 5/5 Inolofatseng L. 4 years ago on Google
    Vibrant public space with a great street market culture where you can find great African wooden artifacts and when you exit the square, there's an equally exciting fresh produce market. I got a packet of 7 small avocadoes for R7. I loved it! You can also cross over the nearby railway line into 'Racecourse'- the oldest part of Kliptown- to find great graffiti murals on walls of heritage houses, shops and taverns. Kliptown has so much culture!

  • 3/5 Mandy v. 3 years ago on Google
    Guide Busi, very informative, place untidy not maintained properly. There should plant grass and make the place attractive for tourists

  • 4/5 Tefo M. 1 year ago on Google
    Lovely area with so much rich history. A bit neglected by the Joburg municipal

  • 3/5 Simon C. 1 year ago on Google
    it's ok, however the looting left a trail of destruction, hope our people recognize and treasure this national key point.

  • 5/5 Sizwe K. 1 year ago on Google
    Love this place ,it's vibrant and filled with fruit and vegetables stalls

  • 1/5 Anver D. 1 year ago on Google
    A friend took me there to show me what Kliptown looked like.When we arrived at the square we were shocked at the state the place was in.The place is basically destroyed,as all the glass windows/frames are gone and some still lying smashed on the ground.Whatever could be removed was taken away.There is a water leak coming from the building and the underground parking is completely flooded.What a waste of public money

  • 4/5 makhoso k. 1 year ago on Google
    1955 Freedom Charter, the beginning of the end of Apartheid South Africa. History of the people's revolt against institutionalize discrimination called Apartheid well preserved in the Walter Sisulu Square... The Parliament of the New Democratic South Africa... Beautiful square with A Hotel, Museum, Government Service delivery point, Business Stalls buzzing with traders and customers... The Monument. If only it can be well maintained...

  • 5/5 Lerato T. 1 year ago on Google
    The hotel staff and management make one feel at home the food the rooms every thing is top notch, the minute you walk in they welcome you and they never get tired of their guests and they are questioning

  • 1/5 Ursie T. 11 months ago on Google
    It's sad that the building has been vandalised 2hat is being done about it. As a person born and breed in Kliptown it's sad to see the state of what was supposed to have been a tourist attraction is left to rot

  • 3/5 Andrew A. 10 months ago on Google
    Alas, this historic square has been allowed to fall into disuse and disrepair. Given what happened here it's so unfortunate. The surrounding neighborhoods are filled with excitable children and entrepreneurial adults.

  • 2/5 Dion K. 3 months ago on Google New
    It is so sad that this iconic part of our history is so run down and dilapidated. Government should fix and repair it since th dage done 3 years ago from the looting

  • 5/5 Pontso S. 3 months ago on Google New
    𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒐𝒍 𝒍𝒐𝒕𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒆𝒕 𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒓𝒖𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒗𝒆𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒕𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆

  • 4/5 Jacky M. 4 months ago on Google
    It's been badly damaged due to the covid unrest and building vandalism, but Soweto Hotel still looks good.

  • 5/5 Akhona Victor E. 3 weeks ago on Google • 4 reviews New
    Great historic place and very informative in relation to the history of our country


Call +27 11 945 2200 Open on Google Maps

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