Soshanguve is a township situated about 30 km north of Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa, just east of Mabopane. The name Soshanguve is an acronym for Sotho, Shangaan, Nguni and Venda, thus showing the multi-ethnic composition of the population. The major African languages of South Africa are heard in Soshanguve.

Soshanguve
Soshanguve is located in Gauteng
Soshanguve
Soshanguve
Soshanguve is located in South Africa
Soshanguve
Soshanguve
Soshanguve is located in Africa
Soshanguve
Soshanguve
Coordinates: 25°31′25″S 28°6′0″E / 25.52361°S 28.10000°E / -25.52361; 28.10000
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceGauteng
MunicipalityCity of Tshwane
Area
 • Total126.77 km2 (48.95 sq mi)
Population
 (2023)[1]
 • Total906,000
 • Density7,100/km2 (19,000/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
 • Black African99.2%
 • Coloured0.3%
 • Indian/Asian0.1%
 • White0.1%
 • Other0.4%
First languages (2011)
 • Northern Sotho28.2%
 • Tswana16.7%
 • Tsonga15.1%
 • Zulu13.6%
 • Other26.5%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)
0152
PO box
0164
Area code012
Soshanguve Crossing Mall

History

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It was formerly known as Mabopane East.[2] The acronym divided the Soshanguve residents according to their tribe when they were resettled from Mamelodi and Atteridgeville in 1974.[3]

Culture

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The people of Soshanguve speak Pretoria Sotho called Se Pitori and listen to local music genres called Barcadi & Amapiano.

Educational Institutions

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Soshanguve is home to Tshwane University of Technology's Soshanguve North & South Campuses & Tshwane north college (TNC) which draw their students from every corner of the country.

Places of interest

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  • The second fab lab in South Africa is located in Soshanguve Block TT where it is operated by a self-organized group of unemployed youth known as the Bright Youth Council.[4][5]
  • Tswaing Crater - Tswaing, meaning Place of Salt in Setswana, is a 2000-hectare heritage site.
  • Giant Stadium
  • Soshanguve Crossing Mall
  • Soshanguve Railway Station

Notable people

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Main Place Soshanguve". Census 2011.
  2. ^ "Soshanguve in detail". South African Market Insights. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  3. ^ "Soshanguve community conversation – Nelson Mandela Foundation". www.nelsonmandela.org. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  4. ^ http://www.fablab.co.za/ South African Fab Labs
  5. ^ Mandavilli, Apoorva (2006). "Make anything, anywhere". Nature. 442 (7105): 862–864. doi:10.1038/442862a. PMID 16929273. S2CID 26698558.