Matsitsileng

Matjitjileng
Matjitjileng

 Matjitjileng shown within South Africa

Coordinates: 23°28′52″S 28°49′59″E / 23.481°S 28.833°ECoordinates: 23°28′52″S 28°49′59″E / 23.481°S 28.833°E
Country South Africa
Province Limpopo
District Waterberg
Municipality Mogalakwena
Area[1]
 • Total 7.69 km2 (2.97 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Total 805
 • Density 100/km2 (270/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)[1]
 • Black African 99.9%
 • Other 0.1%
First languages (2011)[1]
 • Northern Sotho 95.6%
 • Zulu 2.1%
 • Other 2.2%

Matjitjileng (also Wisconcin) is a village in Waterberg District Municipality in the Limpopo province of South Africa. It is situated some 100 km northwest of Polokwane and Mokopane. It is a rural area about 1700m above sea level.

Many former residents of Matjitjileng have moved to urban areas such as Mokopane, Polokwane (Pietersburg), Pretoria, Johannesburg and other towns. Matjitjileng continues to rely on traditional farming and livestock farming. Residents of Matjitjileng own their land; they are a self-ruled village, as they have no king but an Induna (currently Acting Chief Peter Ramaloko).

The language spoken in Matjitjileng is Northern Sotho (sometimes referred to as Sepedi). Although there is some ethnic diversity, like Tsongas (the Ndlovus, Mokwenas and the likes), most of the people call themselve Bakone under Kgosi Matlala in bavaria ga-Mathapo, though he is not the king of Matjitjileng. The bona fide king of the village is Kgoshi Machaka of the Batlokwa tribe, though the rurals respect King Matlala Phuti for his position as a king of the Matlala area.

The people of Matjitjileng have embraced education as the key factor to the success of every family.

Ploughing is the most significant source of poverty eradication in Matjitjileng. Sugar beans, corn, mabela, mafela, morogo and livestock farming are the source in this regards.

Matjitjileng does not have a source of water like a river. Back in the days before people start having their own boreholes, they used to get water from the local well next to ga-Mahlatsi (sedibeng) and the community borehole (pomping ya sechaba). Now there is a water supply, thanks to a government initiative.

School in Matjitjileng

The village has two schools, namely Mafasa High School and Ratinke Primary School. Ratinke Primary was formerly known as Matjitjileng Community Comprehensive School. Ratinke teaches children from grade 'R' to grade 7 and Mafasa High School teaches from grade 8 to grade 12.

There is no college or university in Matjitjileng. Those who wish to further their studies have to go to Mahwelereng or Seshego for a teacher's diploma, or Mankweng for the University of Limpopo (Turfloop campus) for other qualifications, while some opt for Gauteng and job hunting.

87% of the people in Matjitjileng are teachers, 6% in the military, 2% police, 2% health, 2% other and 10% unemployed (stats to be verified).

Infrastructure

There is some infrastructure in Matjitjileng. The roads are mostly graveled roads and some were created by cattle tracks over centuries. There is one visible road that crosses Matjitjileng from ga Thapedi supermarket and post office.

Ga Thapedi was a white-owned store where the locals used to buy anything from salt to school uniforms, wedding gowns and suits. It was known as Treves as it was a postal area code. The post office has now been moved to Ga-Mathapo, but the postal code (0618) still remains the same.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Main Place Matjitjileng". Census 2011.