Lebowakgomo

Lebowakgomo
Lebowakgomo
 Lebowakgomo shown within Limpopo
Lebowakgomo
Lebowakgomo (South Africa)
Lebowakgomo
Lebowakgomo (Africa)
Coordinates: 24°18′18″S 29°33′54″E / 24.305°S 29.565°E / -24.305; 29.565Coordinates: 24°18′18″S 29°33′54″E / 24.305°S 29.565°E / -24.305; 29.565
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%
Time zone UTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street) 0737
PO box 0737
Area code 015

Lebowakgomo is the seat of the Lepelle-Nkumpi Local Municipality and was the capital of the former Bantustan of Lebowa. Lebowakgomo lies 45 km southeast of the Limpopo capital of Polokwane.

History

The township was established in the early 1970s to become the capital of Lebowa, and was enlarged and developed in the 1980s. The name is derived from two Northern Sotho word Lebowa ("north") and Kgomo ("cow"). The land where Lebowakgomo is located was donated to the former Lebowa Government by Chief Mmutle Mphahlele of the Bakgaga ba gaMphahlele. The chief's palace lies 10 km southeast of the township in Seleteng village.

Lebowakgomo was one of the eight townships in the former Bantustan, the seven others being Mahwelereng, Sešego, Mankweng, Lenyenye, Namakgale, Praktiseer, Mašišing and Senwabarwana. Lebowakgomo is also the birth place of the Great Kamza Mbathero.

Institutions of Education

In the early 1990s, 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. Before 2005 two more primary and secondary schools were built in Zone A and Zone S

Notable people

Notable people from Mphahlele and Lebowakgomo include:

Shopping Centres

Lebowakgomo has founded three major shopping centres just near Zone B and Zone F. Mall@Lebo was constructed between the year 2013 and 2014 where it first opened its doors on April 2014 and houses over 60 retail stores and major stores. Metropolitan Life Plaza and Mapudi Phasa Shopping complex which have both been in existence years prior to the construction of the new mall.

Radio Station

Greater Lebowakgomo Community Radio (GLFM) is the only local radio station broadcasting at 89.8 FM. The radio station targets the communities within its frequency reach and the youth with content such as news, sports, talk and music.

Neighbouring Communities

The township of Lebowakgomo is built around small to medium villages that in each with their own characteristics contribute the vast majority of day dwellers in its business district. These villages include, Makotse, Ga-Ledwaba home to the Traditional Authority of Ga-Ledwaba, Ga-Rakgoatha home to singer and songwriter Steve Kekana, Ga-Mphahlele, Sepanapudi, Ga Masemola and Zebediela home to the Zebediala Citrus Farm which in its prime prior to land redistribution exported citrus to international and local markets and its oranges were famous among locals. Just 13km out of Lebowakgomo lies the Zion Christian Church former headquarters Podingwane from 1937 to 1942 before moving to Moria.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Main Place Lebowakgomo". Census 2011.

[1] [2] [3]

  1. ↑ "Greater Lebowakgomo Community Radio", 31 July 2014. Accessed 28 September 2018.
  2. ↑ "Mall@Lebo" Accessed 28 September 2018.
  3. ↑ "Traditional Leaders Capricorn District Municipality", Accessed 04 October 2018.
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