Lebowakgomo

Lebowakgomo
Lebowakgomo

 Lebowakgomo shown within South Africa

Coordinates: 24°18′18″S 29°33′54″E / 24.305°S 29.565°ECoordinates: 24°18′18″S 29°33′54″E / 24.305°S 29.565°E
Country South Africa
Province Limpopo
District Capricorn
Municipality Lepelle-Nkumpi
Area[1]
 • Total 25.68 km2 (9.92 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Total 35,087
 • Density 1,400/km2 (3,500/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)[1]
 • Black African 99.3%
 • Coloured 0.2%
 • Indian/Asian 0.2%
 • White 0.1%
 • Other 0.2%
First languages (2011)[1]
 • Northern Sotho 87.2%
 • English 2.8%
 • Zulu 1.5%
 • Tsonga 1.5%
 • Other 6.9%
Postal code (street) 0737
PO box 0737
Area code 015

Lebowakgomo was the capital of the former bantustan of Lebowa. Lebowakgomo lies southeast of the Limpopo capital of Polokwane. Lebowakgomo is surrounded by villages, Mogodi and Phutimolle north east, Mamaolo on the east, Makurung and Lekhuswaneng being south east.

History

The township was established in 1974 for Bapedi, and was enlarged and developed in the early 1980s. The name is derived from two Sepedi (Northern Sotho) words: "Lebowa" (north) and "Kgomo" (cow).

The town falls within the Lepelle-Nkumpi Local Municipality. The population of Lepelle-Nkumpi Municipality was estimated at 230,350 in 2011.[2]

Lebowakgomo was one of the eight townships in the former state, the others being Mahwelereng, Seshego, Mankweng, Lenyenye, Namakgale, Praktiseer, Mashishing, and Bochum.

Lebowakgomo has grown as a township, from its humble beginnings in the late 70s, when the township had one section (Zone A). In the late 80s, two new zones where developed (Zone F and Zone B, also known as FnB).

In the early 90s Lebowakgomo had three primary schools in Zone A (Little Bedfordview, Mogodumo and Ntseekgopu), in Zone F (Dr Dixon Mphahlele) and in Zone B (Eureka), and three high schools: Derek Kobe High School, Lebowakgomo High School, SJ van der Merwe and towards the late 90s Lebowakgomo Commercial, and Mathomomayo High School.

Mahwelereng lies two kilometres from the town of Mokopane. It is surrounded by the semi-rural areas of Ga-Madiba, Moshate, Sekgakgapeng and Masethlaneng.

The land where Lebowakgomo is based was donated to former Lebowa government by Chief Mmutle Mphahlele of Bakgaga ba Mphahlele. The chief's palace lies 10 kilometres south east of the township in Seleteng. Other villages under Chief Mphahlele include Makurung, Mamaolo, Dithabaneng, Mogodi, Morotse, Mashite, Bolopa, Lenting, Marulaneng, Lekurung, Tooseng, Hwelereng, Malemati, Thamagane.

Notable people from Mphahlele include Eskia Mphahlele, Moses Mphahlele, Lilian Ngoyi (née Matabane), Sefako Makgatho, Bokang Montjane, Cedric Phatudi Mphahlele, Stan Mathabatha, Lehlogonolo Masoga and Letlapa Mphahlele The Mphahlele tribe originated from Tzaneen where they were ruled by Matsobane.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Main Place Lebowakgomo". Census 2011.
  2. ↑ census2011.adrianfrith.com - Lepelle-Nkumpi Retrieved 19 November 2013.