Katlehong

Katlehong is a township 35 km east of Johannesburg and south of Germiston between two other townships of Thokoza and Vosloorus next to the N3 highway in the City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality of Gauteng Province of South Africa.

Katlehong
Katlehong
Katlehong
Coordinates: 26°20′S 28°09′E
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceGauteng
MunicipalityEkurhuleni
Government
 • LeaderRasta Hlokomelo
Area
 • Total55.36 km2 (21.37 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total467,890
 • Density8,500/km2 (22,000/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
 • Black African98.4%
 • Coloured0.5%
 • Indian/Asian0.8%
 • White0.1%
 • Other0.3%
First languages (2011)
 • Zulu37.1%
 • Sotho22.4%
 • Xhosa13.1%
 • Tsonga9.7%
 • Other17.7%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)
1431
PO box
1432
Websitehttp://katlehong.co.za

History

Katlehong (place of success) was established in 1945 and has become a high-density area in Gauteng with 6 informal settlements in its southern part. There is serious overcrowding e.g. in each tiny yard, shacks are set up for rent – one toilet often serves five to six families. Despite being surrounded by an industrial area, there is a high level of unemployment. Katlehong is one of the most poorly served areas in Gauteng in terms of community development. Together with Thokoza and Vosloorus it forms the second biggest black township after Soweto.

As a historic site Katlehong together with Thokoza township share a region formerly known as Palmietfontein Airport, which was a wartime air force base converted to a temporary airport to serve Johannesburg whilst the new airport, Jan Smuts Airport (now OR Tambo International Airport), was being built. Palmietfontein was transformed into a motor racing circuit for the 1956 Rand Grand Prix, which was won by Peter Whitehead. The township of Katlehong was eventually established on the site, although parts of the original runway are still visible on Google Maps to this day.

Notable people

Katlehong is home and gave birth to some of the South Africa's celebrated personalities and sports players, notably:

See also

References
  1. "Main Place Katlehong". Census 2011.


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