Kagiso is a

township A township is a kind of human settlement or administrative subdivision, with its meaning varying in different countries. Although the term is occasionally associated with an urban area, that tends to be an exception to the rule. In Australia, Ca ...

situated in Krugersdorp west of Johannesburg in Gauteng Province,

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

. The word ''kagiso'' means peace in Tswana. Kagiso's administration comprises five wards, each headed by a councillor.

History

Kagiso was established in 1920 by ex-miners and squatters from nearby Luipaardsvlei. By 1950, there were about 3 436 people in the Luipaardsvlei Township, an area of only 47

morgen A morgen was a unit of measurement of land area in Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Lithuania and the Dutch colonies, including South Africa and Taiwan. The size of a morgen varies from . It was also used in Old Prussia, in the Balkans, Norway ...

, until another new township - Lewisham - was laid out to the south-east of Krugersdorp.

Demographics

Setswana Tswana, also known by its native name , and previously spelled Sechuana in English, is a Bantu language spoken in Southern Africa by about 8.2 million people. It belongs to the Bantu language family within the Sotho-Tswana branch of Zone ...

is the most spoken language in Kagiso. There is considerable migration into the area from the rural areas, with people seeking work in nearby Krugersdorp and Chamdor. Some people who live in Kagiso travel to

Johannesburg Johannesburg ( , , ; Zulu and xh, eGoli ), colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg, or "The City of Gold", is the largest city in South Africa, classified as a megacity, and is one of the 100 largest urban areas in the world. According to Demo ...

for work. Kagiso has produced many notable men and women, one of them being the Reverend Dr Frank Chikane, the former secretary general of the

South African Council of Churches The South African Council of Churches (SACC) is an interdenominational forum in South Africa. It was a prominent anti-apartheid organisation during the years of apartheid in South Africa. Its leaders have included Desmond Tutu, Beyers Naudé an ...

and a former director-general in the President's Office. Kagiso is the hometown of former Gauteng premier Nomvula Mokonyane. Notable celebrities that have been strongly associated with Kagiso at some point include the musicians Mafikizolo and former Orlando Pirates soccer player Meshack Wonder Mjanqeka.

Sport

Recreational facilities in the area include a multipurpose sports center, which has a cricket pitch, soccer fields, tennis courts and a swimming pool.

Infrastructure

Health

The public health needs of people in the area are catered for by the

Leratong Hospital Leratong Hospital is a hospital in Mogale City, Krugersdorp, South Africa. The hospital won numerous awards including one for being "baby-friendly".

. There are two clinics in the area and a mobile clinic operates in the township as well. Private healthcare needs are provided by private doctors with private surgeries equipped with medical facilities.

Police & Judiciary Services

Policing services are provided by a recently built Kagiso Police Station located alongside the Kagiso Magistrate Court, also recently built. The two facilities cater to Kagiso Central and various Extensions' residents, including other sprawling areas around the township which include Tshepisong, Reitvalley, and Extensions 2 & 3.

Bulk Services

Portable water is provided by the local municipality by utilizing resevoiur facilities located within the township. Sewage treatment facilities are located on the outskirts of the township.

Retail Shopping Facilities

The township shopping needs are provided by various shopping malls around the township, including Kagiso Shopping Mall, Chamdor Shopping Center as well as supermarkets and convenient spaza shops located in convenient areas within the township.

Education

There are 15 primary schools and six secondary schools (Mosupatsela Secondary School, Madiba Comprehensive School, Mandisa Shiceka High School, S.G Mafaesa, Kagiso Secondary School, and Thuto-Pele High School.) in the area. Mosupatsela and Kagiso secondary schools, are the oldest high schools in the township, with the former being the oldest of the two schools. There is also an adult center, which aids adults wanting to improve their education. Kagiso has an Old library, which has a reference section and embodies a children's library. The township is also home to the recently launched, Kagiso (Gauteng) Archives Center, next to which a recently built modern library, is located. The facility is meant to harbor important heritage and historical records as well as information. There are several formal creches including three big ones, and about 50 informal ones. The township also has schools for both the physically and mentally handicapped.

Notable people

* Nomvula Mokonyane *

Pitso Mosimane Pitso John Hamilton Mosimane (born 26 July 1964) is a South African professional football manager and a former player. He is the current manager of Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli Jeddah. He is considered as one of the greatest coaches in Africa an ...

Zenande Mfenyana Zenande Mfenyana (born 11 October 1985) is a South African model and actress. She is known for portraying Noluntu Memela on SABC 1's '' Generations''. Early life and education Mfenyana was born in 1985 in Johannesburg, then moved to the Easte ...

References

{{West Rand District Municipality Townships in Gauteng Populated places in the Mogale City Local Municipality