produce its wealth, which meant
black people had to be allowed to
live near white areas in the
townships, government-planned
ghettos built to house black
workers, like Soweto. The township
was where you lived, but your
status as a laborer was the only
thing that permitted you to stay
there. If your papers were revoked
for any reason, you could be
deported back to the homelands.
To leave the township for work
in the city, or for any other reason,
you had to carry a pass with your ID
number; otherwise you could be
arrested. There was also a curfew: