Sebokeng
| Sebokeng | |
|---|---|
  Sebokeng Sebokeng shown within South Africa
| |
| Coordinates: 26°34′37″S 27°50′26″E / 26.57694°S 27.84056°ECoordinates: 26°34′37″S 27°50′26″E / 26.57694°S 27.84056°E | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Gauteng |
| District | Sedibeng |
| Municipality | Emfuleni |
| Area[1] | |
| • Total | 46.45 km2 (17.93 sq mi) |
| Population (2011)[1] | |
| • Total | 218,515 |
| • Density | 4,700/km2 (12,000/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011)[1] | |
| • Black African | 99.1% |
| • Coloured | 0.4% |
| • Indian/Asian | 0.1% |
| • White | 0.1% |
| • Other | 0.3% |
| First languages (2011)[1] | |
| • Sotho | 64.6% |
| • Zulu | 14.7% |
| • Xhosa | 10.3% |
| • Tswana | 2.2% |
| • Other | 8.2% |
| Postal code (street) | 1983 |
| PO box | 1982 |
| Area code | 016 |
Sebokeng is a township in southern Gauteng, South Africa near the industrial city of Vanderbijlpark (located in the district municipality of Sedibeng and the local municipality of Emfuleni).
History
Sebokeng, which literally means "gathering place" in Sesotho, was established by the then apartheid government in 1965 when 18,772 houses were erected. In September 1984 there were violent clashes between the South African security forces and the residents of Sebokeng, who were boycotting rent and service tariffs. The cessation of fighting in 1994 allowed citizens to begin forming a stable community.
Demographics
The township is divided into a number of zones ranging from Zone 1 to Zone 21. After South Africa's democratic elections in 1994, the number of middle-class black South Africans or 'black diamonds' in this township has risen dramatically, with Zones such as Zone 6, 10 and 14 consisting of the largest number of black middle-class citizens and homes with a higher property value than traditional Apartheid 'matchbox houses' (four-roomed houses erected during the township's establishment).
The township is predominantly black, but there has been an influx of people of other racial groups seeking to live there.
Sebokeng's lingua franca is Sotho (this can be explained by the fact that the Vaal Triangle is located very close to the Free State), which is spoken by most residents as either a first, second or third language. Other languages spoken are Zulu and Xhosa.
Economy
Many of the residents of Sebokeng have opted to using entrepreneurship as a means of earning an income since 1994; before then entrepreneurship was strongly discouraged by the Apartheid government and black men were preferred to work in the neighbouring suburbs of Vereeniging, Vanderbijlpark and Meyerton as cleaners, garden workers, delivery boys, etc. The types of businesses run by residents range from formal businesses such as beauty shops, pubs, petrol garages and night clubs to informal, usually home-based businesses such as spaza shops, hair salons and shabeens.
In 2007, Sebokeng's first Plaza, Sebokeng Plaza was opened to serve and employ the residents of Sebokeng and neighbouring townships and in 2009 they build another plaza which is Thabong plaza and they are currently converting it into a Mall.
Infrastructure
Developments to upgrade the railway station near Zone 10 began in 2010 and are still underway. Many roads in Sebokeng have deteriorated and remained untarred for more than 30 years. Developments to re-tar many of these road began in 2009, but have been stalled due to tender disputes. Many of the roads of Sebokeng were left unnamed by the Apartheid-era municipality and thus 7-digit house numbers are depended on for navigation through residential areas. The longest main roads of Sebokeng are Moshoeshoe Rd (named after the Sotho king, Moshoeshoe) and Adams Rd.
Crime
Some of Sebokeng's notorious high-crime zones are Zone 7 and 13. Many gang-related homicides have taken place here since the Apartheid-era until the present. Zone 7 and Zone 13 also have a high unemployment rate. Zone 16 is another high crime area, with locals stating that most of the crime is committed by gangsters living in the hostels located there.
Education
The Vaal Triangle's D7 education district offices are in Zone 16 next to Residentia High School. Vaal University of Technology's Sebokeng campus is also in Zone 16, as well as the Sebokeng Training College.
Neighbouring townships
Neighbouring townships include Evaton, Orange Farm, Small Farm and Lakeside.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Main Place Sebokeng". Census 2011.
External links
- Emfuleni Local Municipality
- Sedibeng District Municipality
- Vaal Triangle Info
- Mallguide: Thabong Mall
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