Mabopane
Encyclopedia
Mabopane is a Township
in South Africa
. It is situated in the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, in the north of Gauteng.
. Before its proclamation the area was little more than grazing lands with small communities in Boukenhout and Hebron. With the financing coming from the South African government the first block houses were constructed similar to those found in Soweto
, beginning with Block B, Block B2, Block C, Block E and Block E. The areas within Mabopane were planned according to the class of its citizens; for example Block D (with many mansions which housed the politically connected) in comparison to Block E (block–houses). Mabopane grew mainly due to protection of blacks under Mangope rather than P.W Botha although they being little difference.
In the Apartheid days Mabopane was an active base for P.A.C and A.N.C members who mobilized workers against the government and playing the South African government against the Bophuthatswana Administration. The times were tough particularly in the mid 1980s as the local authority were holding on to power. Mabopane Square used to be the gathering ground for activists and communists protesting against the then government. School riots were plentiful in the 1976 Student Uprising. Several township administration halls were burnt, and the bus depot opposite what is now Ace wholesalers was vandalized. With democracy on its way in the early 1990s the face of Mabopane started to change. The old authorities were replaced with new leaders in what was then the Town of Mabopane. Hon. Lehobye was the first mayor along with Hon. Molema deputy mayor who were elected to administer the town.
Many institutions where built by then “President Mangope” like MANPOWER, hospitals, homes, police stations, government departments schools and prisons at such a rate that is to this day unattainable by the present government. He provided good education and security for the citizens of Mabopane. During the late 1990s Mabopane's growth slumped in line with the national recession which had negative consequences for the citizens of Mabopane. In the advent of the new millennium Mabopane has seen new growth and repairs and maintenance of its infrastructure.
Bophuthatswana government started to rule Mabopane in 1976 not 1970, Students riots erupted again in 1986 @ Bana sports ground and carried on until September 1986 where many students were killed. Mangope's government only build houses for his puppets, unlike this government who build for every one who qualifies. Pensioners were paid by monthly unlike this government who pays them monthly. Malose Lehobye was never a first mjor of Mabopane but he was the second after James Mohapi who resigned after being hijack the major's car.
The majority of residents are of the Christian faith with different nominally sects like Zcc, Lutheran, Twelve apostle and John Wesley. Non-Christian faiths in the minority include Islam and Atheism. Mabopane like most townships in South Africa has a wide range of income groups, the poorest earn between US$100-$US300 of which comes mostly from State social grants, the second group middle class earnings is generally between US$400-US$1400. There is a definite class distinction within this group. The upper class in the township as the minority enjoys low property value taxes and rates they income bracket does exceed US$5000 along with large equity in assets. The upper class is comparable to the middle class in any developed country.
Most residents in the township rely on public transport to commute and this is through rail (Mabopane Station),bus and the Taxi. The trains usually take working residents to the main industrial area's in Tshwane, whilst the taxi is used for local travel (within Mabopane, Soshanguve, Ga-Rankuwa and Hebron) it cost about US$0.70 for a trip that can span 8 miles. Transport to the main city is through the larger taxis which carry 14-22 passengers. The taxis are available from about 05:00-19:00 and will cost US$2 to commute about 26.66 miles to town. Most taxis are efficient, clean and the drivers will show courtesy to their passengers. About 20% of citizens own cars.
The languages in Mabopane mostly are from the Bantu origins. Tswana, Sotho, Sepedi, Ndebele,Tsonga,Zulu and English are the languages spoken in Mabopane, most residents can only speak two or three languages. The overwhelming majority of residents understand and speak Tswana.
municipality (Pretoria
), which in fact is in the Gauteng
province.
Some of the counselors serving the district include struggle heroes MMC S. Nkhwashu, MMC D Lehobye, Couns. J Letebele. Mabopane has good representation at Muntoria through the counselors.
Local government C.o.T manages the area through agencies such as Sandspruit Water works and Eskom, locally it operates from Boukenhout. Residents enjoy tax rebates on property, discounted electricity and water services. The local government has put effort into cleaning and maintaining Mabopane Square and surrounding gardens. The local government however has being slow in improving the infrastructure of Mabopane many roads remain untarred, manhole open and lack of security (Tshwane Metropolitan Police department to open up in 2011/2012 on Lucas Mangope st Block U)
There are about two F.E.T (Further Education Training) institutions in Mabopane offering transferring skills mainly to unemployed residents, the elderly and women.
There are several doctors and specialists in Mabopane who are qualified and have access to the latest technology and innovations. These doctors are mostly in Lucas Mangope street. There are non-franchise pharmacies in Mabopane in Terminus and Block C being the most respected.
There is a small home for those infected with HIV/AIDS in Block X. Currently there are no mental institutions in Mabopane.
Township
The word township is used to refer to different kinds of settlements in different countries. Township is generally associated with an urban area. However there are many exceptions to this rule. In Australia, the United States, and Canada, they may be settlements too small to be considered urban...
in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. It is situated in the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, in the north of Gauteng.
History
Mabopane was proclaimed in the early 1970s as a black-only residential settlement by the then puppet government of Bophuthatswana under Kgosi Dr. Lucas MangopeLucas Mangope
Kgosi Lucas Manyane Mangope is the former leader of the Bantustan of Bophuthatswana and current leader of the United Christian Democratic Party, a minor political party based in the North West province of South Africa....
. Before its proclamation the area was little more than grazing lands with small communities in Boukenhout and Hebron. With the financing coming from the South African government the first block houses were constructed similar to those found in Soweto
Soweto
Soweto is a lower-class-populated urban area of the city of Johannesburg in Gauteng, South Africa, bordering the city's mining belt in the south. Its name is an English syllabic abbreviation for South Western Townships...
, beginning with Block B, Block B2, Block C, Block E and Block E. The areas within Mabopane were planned according to the class of its citizens; for example Block D (with many mansions which housed the politically connected) in comparison to Block E (block–houses). Mabopane grew mainly due to protection of blacks under Mangope rather than P.W Botha although they being little difference.
In the Apartheid days Mabopane was an active base for P.A.C and A.N.C members who mobilized workers against the government and playing the South African government against the Bophuthatswana Administration. The times were tough particularly in the mid 1980s as the local authority were holding on to power. Mabopane Square used to be the gathering ground for activists and communists protesting against the then government. School riots were plentiful in the 1976 Student Uprising. Several township administration halls were burnt, and the bus depot opposite what is now Ace wholesalers was vandalized. With democracy on its way in the early 1990s the face of Mabopane started to change. The old authorities were replaced with new leaders in what was then the Town of Mabopane. Hon. Lehobye was the first mayor along with Hon. Molema deputy mayor who were elected to administer the town.
Many institutions where built by then “President Mangope” like MANPOWER, hospitals, homes, police stations, government departments schools and prisons at such a rate that is to this day unattainable by the present government. He provided good education and security for the citizens of Mabopane. During the late 1990s Mabopane's growth slumped in line with the national recession which had negative consequences for the citizens of Mabopane. In the advent of the new millennium Mabopane has seen new growth and repairs and maintenance of its infrastructure.
Geography
The climate is sub tropical.Bophuthatswana government started to rule Mabopane in 1976 not 1970, Students riots erupted again in 1986 @ Bana sports ground and carried on until September 1986 where many students were killed. Mangope's government only build houses for his puppets, unlike this government who build for every one who qualifies. Pensioners were paid by monthly unlike this government who pays them monthly. Malose Lehobye was never a first mjor of Mabopane but he was the second after James Mohapi who resigned after being hijack the major's car.
Demographics
Almost all of Mabopane's residents are in race black with a few Somali traders and shopkeepers. The age groups in the township is generally in line with the country's age groups, with teenagers as the largest age group.The majority of residents are of the Christian faith with different nominally sects like Zcc, Lutheran, Twelve apostle and John Wesley. Non-Christian faiths in the minority include Islam and Atheism. Mabopane like most townships in South Africa has a wide range of income groups, the poorest earn between US$100-$US300 of which comes mostly from State social grants, the second group middle class earnings is generally between US$400-US$1400. There is a definite class distinction within this group. The upper class in the township as the minority enjoys low property value taxes and rates they income bracket does exceed US$5000 along with large equity in assets. The upper class is comparable to the middle class in any developed country.
Most residents in the township rely on public transport to commute and this is through rail (Mabopane Station),bus and the Taxi. The trains usually take working residents to the main industrial area's in Tshwane, whilst the taxi is used for local travel (within Mabopane, Soshanguve, Ga-Rankuwa and Hebron) it cost about US$0.70 for a trip that can span 8 miles. Transport to the main city is through the larger taxis which carry 14-22 passengers. The taxis are available from about 05:00-19:00 and will cost US$2 to commute about 26.66 miles to town. Most taxis are efficient, clean and the drivers will show courtesy to their passengers. About 20% of citizens own cars.
The languages in Mabopane mostly are from the Bantu origins. Tswana, Sotho, Sepedi, Ndebele,Tsonga,Zulu and English are the languages spoken in Mabopane, most residents can only speak two or three languages. The overwhelming majority of residents understand and speak Tswana.
Local government
Mabopane falls under the City of TshwaneCity of Tshwane
The City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality is a metropolitan municipality that forms the local government of northern Gauteng Province, South Africa and includes the city of Pretoria.-History:...
municipality (Pretoria
Pretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
), which in fact is in the Gauteng
Gauteng
Gauteng is one of the nine provinces of South Africa. It was formed from part of the old Transvaal Province after South Africa's first all-race elections on 27 April 1994...
province.
Some of the counselors serving the district include struggle heroes MMC S. Nkhwashu, MMC D Lehobye, Couns. J Letebele. Mabopane has good representation at Muntoria through the counselors.
Local government C.o.T manages the area through agencies such as Sandspruit Water works and Eskom, locally it operates from Boukenhout. Residents enjoy tax rebates on property, discounted electricity and water services. The local government has put effort into cleaning and maintaining Mabopane Square and surrounding gardens. The local government however has being slow in improving the infrastructure of Mabopane many roads remain untarred, manhole open and lack of security (Tshwane Metropolitan Police department to open up in 2011/2012 on Lucas Mangope st Block U)
Higher education
Higher Education in Mabopane is seriously under pressure as more students prefer to attend lecture outside the district. There is only one community college, Tshwane South College previously known as MANPOWER. It offers a medium variety of courses, mainly rudimentary and basic and technical skills subjects. There is no option to receive any degree but a national certificate accredited by Umalusi. There is a large failure rate at this campus in comparison to other colleges.There are about two F.E.T (Further Education Training) institutions in Mabopane offering transferring skills mainly to unemployed residents, the elderly and women.
Health care
Mabopane’s healthcare is one of the more advanced in the northern townships. It includes a private (advanced) hospital Legae (owned by Medi-Clinic), Odi Public Hospital (administed by the provincial government) with its hinterland coming in all the way from as far as Botswana. There are several clinics in the community in Boukenhout, Block B, and another clinic also in Block B which is under construction.There are several doctors and specialists in Mabopane who are qualified and have access to the latest technology and innovations. These doctors are mostly in Lucas Mangope street. There are non-franchise pharmacies in Mabopane in Terminus and Block C being the most respected.
There is a small home for those infected with HIV/AIDS in Block X. Currently there are no mental institutions in Mabopane.
Points of interest
There are a number of points of interest in and around the township. Here are some of the most notable ones.See also
- Boputhatswana
- Ga-RankuwaGa-RankuwaGa-Rankuwa is a township located about 37 km north of Pretoria. Provincially it falls under Gauteng province but it used to be under North West Province, as it once fell under Bophuthatswana region ruled by Lucas Mangope under the apartheid regime....
- Soshanguve
- AtteridgevilleAtteridgevilleAtteridgeville, part of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, is a township located on the west of Pretoria, South Africa. It is bordered to the west by Saulsville, to the east by Proclamation Hill; to the south by Laudium and to the north by Lotus Gardens.-History:Atteridgeville was...