Lenasia, Gauteng
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Lenasia is large Indian township south of Soweto in Gauteng Province, South Africa. It has now become part of the City of Johannesburg.
Apartheid-era planners situated the group area for Johannesburg's Indians near the Lenz military base. 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.
It is a testament to the people who were abandoned here by the apartheid government, that Lenasia is now a vibrant and thriving community. With the advent of a the new Trade Route Mall, Lenasia continues to expand. Indeed it is worth mentioning that Lenasia is one of the few Indian areas to be wholly supportive of the African National Congress (ANC). Many Indian struggle stalwarts are now living in Lenasia.
Lenasia is now a rapid growing suburb with everything a city needs from shopping malls, churches, mandhirs, mousqes, banks and various commercial and industrial sectors. Two satellite radio stations, Radio Islam and Channel Islam International broadcast from Lenasia. The township is large and divided into extensions including a major suburb produced from Lenasia, which is called Lenasia South and referred to as Daxina by the locals. Listen to radio stations from lenz at [1] and [2]. Lenasia also has its own radio station called East Wave Radio which can be found on the wave 92.2, unfortunately this radio station can only be listened to while in Lenasia and nearby surrounding area's
Although the younger generation tend to travel out of Lenasia, work for the big corporates (braving serious traffice jams daily), the preference of young and old are to remain residence of the area. The growing population of Lenasia is a huge concern, as no additional land is being zoned for suburban development. Hence, properties soar to exhorbatent prices, making it more and more difficult for entry income earners to afford living in this thriving community.
