Local time Thursday 10:39 AM | PO box 9870 | |
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A day in thabong welkom thanksgiving
Thabong (meaning 'place of happiness' in Southern Sotho) is a large township on the goldfields of the Free State province in South Africa. The township was established during the years of segregation of black people as well as the township of Bronville for coloured people adjacent to the city of Welkom, to accommodate workers at the world's richest gold mines.
Contents
- A day in thabong welkom thanksgiving
- A roadblock led by police minister nathi mthethwa thabong township in the northern free state
- Population dustribution
- Suburbs of Thabong
- Economy
- Shopping and Retail
- Community Service Centres
- Other Services
- Other prominent places include
- Music
- Sport
- Hospitals and Medical care
- Bongani Regional Hospital
- Education
- Transformation of Hani Park
- Notable people
- References
The township forms part of Matjhabeng Local Municipality in the Lejweleputswa District Municipality, that includes Welkom. The township is filled with diversity of people due to people who came from various counties like Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, etc. to work in mines of Goldfields. The most spoken languages in Thabong is Sesotho followed by Xhosa.
A roadblock led by police minister nathi mthethwa thabong township in the northern free state
Population dustribution
Today the townships of Thabong and Bronville have a population of approximately 200,000 residents. Usually Thabong is referred to the combination of both Thabong and Bronville (former Coloured township) though Bronville is classified as an independent township of Welkom.
Suburbs of Thabong
Thabong consists of 49 suburbs of which can classified as follow
The number of middle-class black South Africans or so called Black Diamonds in the township has risen dramatically with suburbs like Oppenheimer Park, Jerusalem Park, Mshongoville, Soweto and Las Vegas.
Economy
The majority of the people work in the richest mines of the Goldfields since the township was formed originally to accommodate people who worked in the mines.
Shopping and Retail
People from both Thabong and Bronville do their shopping in Welkom, however, at the rate at which the township of Thabong is growing a new shopping mall, "Boitumelo Junction" has been opened. At 25,500 m2, it is anchored by Shoprite, Boxer and the usual others.
Community Service Centres
Other Services
The most fashionable and lovely place of interest especially during December Holidays is Shopong Tsa Kgale meaning 'Old shops' That's where Thabong Kids figuratively or 'Black Diamonds' meet to enjoy themselves especially the ones who have moved out of Thabong to places like Johannesburg, Sandton, Randburg, Roodepoort, Pretoria, etc.
Other prominent places include
Music
Kasi Rap which is a style of Hip-hop specific to South Africa is prominent in the Township
Sport
Sport Centre - A municipal sport centre offering rugby, soccer, netball, tennis, hockey, cricket, bowling, swimming and snooker facilities
Stadium Zuka Baloyi Stadium, a multi-sport facility, that is currently mostly used for soccer.
Hospitals and Medical care
Thabong hosts Bongani Regional Hospital and together with Bronville host various primary care clinics, some are open 24 hours per day.
Bongani Regional Hospital
Bongani provides specialized secondary services and admits patients referred by Primary Health Care Institutions from surrounding towns and District Hospitals. Services include:
Other facilities include:
Education
Primary schools
Secondary schools
Tertiary level
Tosa F.E.T college situated near the suburb of Jerusalem Park is geared towards employment opportunities with Engineering been the main focus
Transformation of Hani Park
Informal settlements are being transformed into formal settlements especially the one of Hani park near the coloured township of Bronville and multiple Extensions have been formed from Hani park all the way to Straighting near the Bridge (Ext 15 to Ext 21)
Notable people
Famous choir