Thembisa
Thembisa, formerly Tembisa (Dindela),[2] is a large township situated to the north of Kempton Park on the East Rand, Gauteng, South Africa. It was established in 1957 when black people were resettled from Alexandra and other areas in Edenvale, Kempton Park, Midrand and Germiston.
Thembisa
Tembisa | |
|---|---|
 Thembisa township | |
  Thembisa  Thembisa  Thembisa | |
| Coordinates: 26.0055°S 28.2102°E | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Gauteng |
| Municipality | Ekurhuleni |
| Established | 1957 |
| • Councillor | (ANC) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 42.80 km2 (16.53 sq mi) |
| Population (2011)[1] | |
| • Total | 463,109 |
| • Density | 11,000/km2 (28,000/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011) | |
| • Black African | 98.9% |
| • Coloured | 0.2% |
| • Indian/Asian | 0.1% |
| • White | 0.1% |
| • Other | 0.7% |
| First languages (2011) | |
| • Northern Sotho | 33.1% |
| • Zulu | 21.7% |
| • Tsonga | 13.3% |
| • Xhosa | 7.0% |
| • Other | 24.9% |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Postal code (street) | 1632 |
| PO box | 1628 |
| Area code | 011 |
History
The township was founded in 1957. After the Afrikaner-dominated National Party gained power in 1948 and began to implement apartheid, the pace of forced removals and the creation of townships outside legally designated white areas increased. The Johannesburg council established new townships for black people evicted from the city's freehold areas.
In 1956, townships were laid out for particular ethnic groups as part of the state's strategy to sift black people into groupings that would later form the building blocks of the so-called "independent homelands". It is the second largest township in Gauteng, following Soweto.
In 1977 the government initiated the Community Councils and in 1982 upgraded them to Town Councils, under the Black Local Authorities Act. The government vested limited powers on these councils but without financial muscle. Therefore, to raise revenue for purposes of developing the townships, the councils increased rent and service charges. This caused the residents in different townships, including Thembisa, to establish civic structures to resist the rent and service charge increases.[3]
On 26 July 2016, residents were caught off guard when a tornado hit the area. The twister started in Kempton Park and moved over to Thembisa, causing the most destruction here. Around 20 individuals were seriously injured and in excess of 400 were left destitute. A standout amongst the most noticeable sights was the damage caused to the Phumulani Mall, where the rooftop crumbled after the tornado passed through it.[4]
Notable people
- Lerato Chabangu - soccer player
- Panyaza Lesufi - Gauteng MEC for Education
- Tsietsi Mahoa -soccer player
- George Maluleka - soccer player
- Thabo Matlaba - soccer player
- Pearl Modiadie - TV presenter, radio DJ, producer
- Rosemary Ndlovu - serial killer
- Refiloe Nt'sekhe - Deputy Federal Chairperson of the Democratic Alliance (South Africa) (DA)
- Jerry Sikhosana former soccer player, most famously for Orlando Pirates F.C., coach
- Claude Tshidibi - rugby union player
- Mthokozisi Yende - soccer player
- Lady Zamar - singer, songwriter
- Themba Zwane - soccer player
- Moses Taiwa Molelekwa - Pianist
- Aymos - singer, songwriter
References
- "Main Place Tembisa". Census 2011.
- Mbuli, Mbekezeli. "Tembisa to get missing 'h' back after years of misspelling". The Citizen. Retrieved 2020-09-04.
- "SAHA - South African History Archive - Tembisa in the 1980s - Civic structures". www.saha.org.za. Retrieved 2018-05-03.
- "Roof of Tembisa mall collapses after tornado rips through area". TimesLIVE. 26 July 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
Communities of Ekurhuleni, Gauteng | ||
|---|---|---|
Seat: Germiston | ||
| Places in Ekurhuleni | .svg.png.webp) Ekurhuleni within South Africa | |
| Suburbs of Kempton Park | ||