| KwaThema | |
| Other Name: | last Town |
| Pushpin Map: | South Africa Gauteng#South Africa |
| Coordinates: | -26.2975°N 28.4025°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | South Africa |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Gauteng |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Type3: | Municipality |
| Subdivision Name3: | Ekurhuleni |
| Subdivision Type4: | Main Place |
| Established Title: | Established |
| Leader Title: | Councillor |
| Area Total Km2: | 13.93 |
| Population Total: | 99517 |
| Population As Of: | 2001 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Demographics Type1: | Racial makeup (2001) |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Black African |
| Demographics1 Info1: | 99.7% |
| Demographics1 Title2: | Coloured |
| Demographics1 Info2: | 0.2% |
| Demographics1 Title3: | Indian/Asian |
| Demographics1 Title4: | White |
| Demographics1 Title5: | Other |
| Demographics Type2: | First languages (2001) |
| Demographics2 Title1: | Zulu |
| Demographics2 Info1: | 56.8% |
| Demographics2 Title2: | Sotho |
| Demographics2 Info2: | 8.7% |
| Demographics2 Title3: | Northern Sotho |
| Demographics2 Info3: | 8.6% |
| Demographics2 Title4: | Xhosa |
| Demographics2 Info4: | 8.6% |
| Demographics2 Title5: | Other |
| Demographics2 Info5: | 17.3% |
| Timezone1: | SAST |
| Utc Offset1: | +2 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code (street) |
| Postal2 Code Type: | PO box |
| Area Code Type: | Area code |
KwaThema is a township south-west of Springs in the district of Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, South Africa. It was established in 1951 when Africans were forcibly removed from Payneville because it was considered by the apartheid government to be too close to a white town. The new township's layout was designed along modernist principles and became a model for many subsequent townships, although the envisaged social facilities were not implemented. The typical South African township house, the 51/9, was one of the plans developed for KwaThema. A black local authority with municipal status was established in 1984. In 1985 KwaThema experienced violent unrest and right-wing vigilante activity.
KwaThema is a multi-racial township where most of South Africa's eleven official languages are spoken but the predominant ones are Sotho and Zulu. KwaThema has given birth to many successful individuals who have helped in the development of the town.
KwaThema was named after Selope Thema who was a South African political activist and leader.[1] [2]