Nyanga means 'the moon' and is one of the oldest black townships after Langa.
It was established as a result of the migrant labor system. In the early fifties black migrants were forced to settle in Nyanga as Langa became too small.

Nyanga became a fully established township in 1955 as the number of people coming from the eastern Cape increased drastically. The first hostels were built for men only. These men had to share very small rooms and their wives were forbidden from joining them. Family's now live in these inadequate living conditions. Some families have to share a bathroom and a small kitchen.
As a result of these poor living conditions most of the migrant workers moved out of the hostels seeking privacy and build themselves shacks in Crossroads and later in K.T.C.
Formal houses with three rooms were built and allocated to some of the people. Some of the oldest hostels can be found in the Mau-Mau area of Nyanga.