Osizweni is a township in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal

Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal

Newcastle is the third largest city and urban center in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Newcastle is located in the North West corner of the province along the Ncandu River and is moderately industrial....

, 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...

, situated 24 kilometers from Newcastle CBD. Osizweni is one of the largest townships in the province with an estimated population of 110 000 people.

Amenities

Four government-owned medical clinics service the community of Osizweni and surrounding area. The Osizweni Medical Centre was recently opened with three doctors.

The township has a small shopping centre, with popular retailers like Pick n' Pay, Shoprite

Shoprite (South Africa)

Shoprite is a South African based retail and fast food company. It operates over 1200 corporate and 270 franchise outlets in 16 countries across Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands.- History:...

 and Pep

Pep (store)

Pep is a multinational retail company based in Cape Town, South Africa. Founded in 1965, Pep operated in 11 countries in Southern Africa with the opening of an outlet in Lobito, Angola in November 2008. As of November 2009, the company reported over 1400 stores in operation, with total employment...

.

The Osizweni Cultural Village is one of the many tourist attractions in the township. Nodlela Tavern and the Hlanganani and Khuzani Bars are favourite haunts for locals.

Osizweni has a soccer stadium, netball

Netball

Netball is a ball sport played between two teams of seven players. Its development, derived from early versions of basketball, began in England in the 1890s. By 1960 international playing rules had been standardised for the game, and the International Federation of Netball and Women's Basketball ...

 courts and a cricket

Cricket

Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...

 Stadium. The Osizweni Park offers a safe environment for children to play.

The township also has several banks, a police station with overnight cells and a library.

Notable residents

Osizweni is home to some of South Africa's top soccer players, including Siyabonga Nkosi

Siyabonga Nkosi

Siyabonga Nkosi is a South African footballer who currently plays for Golden Arrows.-Honours:* Telkom Knockout Cup winner: 2007* Premier Soccer League champion: 2009-10-International goals:...

and Sizwe Motaung

Sizwe Motaung

Sizwe Motaung was a South African football player who played for Jomo Cosmos, Mamelodi Sundowns, St. Gallen, CD Tenerife, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, as well at international level for the national side....

. Bonginkosi "Zola" Dlamini

Zola (entertainer)

Bonginkosi Dlamini, aka Zola, is a South African musician, actor and presenter. He also presents Zola 7, a television show named for him, on SABC 1.-Cultural Influences:...

also lived there when he was younger. Other famous people from the township include Thokozani "L'Vovo" Ndlovu, Pastor Khathide ,Thokozani 'HustlaDJ' Nkwanyana and Former Miss South Africa

Miss South Africa

Miss South Africa is an annual beauty pageant in South Africa that began in 1956. The winner of the pageant represents her country at the Miss Universe and Miss World pageants....

Peggy-Sue Khumalo, Lucky Dube and Bongi Dube.