Tsakane

Tsakane Mashona
Tsakane Show map of Gauteng Tsakane Show map of South Africa Tsakane Show map of Africa  Tsakane shown within Gauteng
Coordinates: 26°21′S 28°22′E / 26.350°S 28.367°E / -26.350; 28.367Coordinates: 26°21′S 28°22′E / 26.350°S 28.367°E / -26.350; 28.367
Country	South Africa
Province	Gauteng
District	D5
Municipality	Ekurhuleni
Area[1]
• Total	19.75 km2 (7.63 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
• Total	135,994
• Density	6,900/km2 (18,000/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)[1]
• Black African	98.8%
• Coloured	0.4%
• Indian/Asian	0.2%
• White	0.2%
• Other	0.5%
First languages (2011)[1]
• Zulu	57.9%
• Sotho	10.1%
• Northern Sotho	7.5%
• Xhosa	6.6%
• Other	18.0%
Postal code (street)	1550
PO box	1548
Area code	738

Tsakane aka Mashona is a township located in the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, Gauteng, East Rand, South Africa. It was established during the early 1960s due to the segregation movement and was formally founded as a designated area. The word Tsakane itself refers/means ‘Happiness, Joy’.

During the 2011 Census the population of Tsakane consisted of Black Africans (134,342), Coloureds (539), Whites (28), Indian/Asians (216) - 135,994 in total.^[2] The languages that are spoken are as follows: IsiZulu, Sotho, Xhosa, Setswana, Xitsonga, Ndebele and English. Tsakane is divided into different extensions: 1, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 19, 5, 8, 9.^[3] With Public school's near like Mamellong Comprehensive school & J.E Malepe Secondary school. Tsakane is really a nice place to live in.

Health Services

Tsakane has one public hospital called Pholosong. The hospital serves a population of 900,000 people from Tsakane, KwaThema and Duduza. There is one public clinic and other smaller surgeries and clinics in the township that take care of the health of the people around the township of Tsakane. Clinics help patients with health issues such as high blood pressure, cancer, HIV/AIDS blood tests and treatment, etc.

Economic Development

Economic development has been a tactic used by politicians and economists to gain trust and publicity to and from the people of the economy. Tsakane is one of the townships which has the most development recently. Tsakane has a huge buying power, for example, there are 4 Shoprite stores in Tsakane and the malls as well as shopping complexes are forever busy through out the week (Tsakane people making purchases). There is a range of housing in Tsakane. Residences range from middle class houses (Ext 1,5,8 & 11) normal houses (central) to RDP houses (Mandela village, Ext 9,12,13,15 & 19).

Lifestyle

Tsakane has three Shopping malls malls, Tsakane Mall,^[4] Tsakane Corner as well as The square and other smaller shopping centers which are located in different sections of the township: Duduza Rank, Extension 11 and Extension 19. Tsakane mall is not very big but have many stores inside including banks. The shopping centers are very small compared to the upmarket malls and have few retail stores and bank ATMs. Two well known supermarkets in the mall that most people buy food from is Shoprite as well as Spar. Shoprite is is also found in the other two shopping centers: Extension 11 and Extension 19 shopping centers. There are fast-food restaurants, clubs and other places that people go to on special occasions, such as when celebrating a public holiday. Places used for as night venues are: Chillas, Dinangwe, A2A and Welcome's place. The people of Tsakane like to eat out a lot and also support their local township food business which sells bunny chow.

Sports and Leisure

Tsakane has one major stadium, Tsakane Stadium.^[5] The stadium is not large enough to host matches between big soccer teams like Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs. It is often used for local activities such as government functions, schools sport, local soccer teams, music festivals and religious gatherings.

Education

There are several Primary and Secondary Schools in Tsakane that offers primary and secondary education. Primary schools in Tsakane mostly start from Grade 1-7 whereas the secondary schools start from Grade 8 to 12 except for African School for Excellence which is the only secondary school that starts from grade 7 in the area.

The African School of Excellence

The African School for Excellence (ASE) is currently the only private school located at Tsakane township. The ASE model was designed specifically to address the needs and challenges of African secondary school scholars. The main difference between the private and government public schools in Tsakane is that ASE uses a different education model and curriculum: Cambridge and CAPS.^[6]

Communication, Arts and Culture

Radio Station

Tsakane has one community radio station called EK FM 103.6.^[7] The radio station serves as a community development and communication media for Tsakane, Kwathema, Duduza and Daveyton communities.

Newspaper

Tsakane has a local newspaper: The African Reporter.^[8] The African Reporter is a weekly newspaper distributed on Fridays across the East Rand with an estimated circulation of 22,000 newspapers.

Magazine

Tsakane also has a local magazine.

Notable people from Tsakane

• Nonhlanhla Masina (scientist, educationist, entrepreneur)^[9]

Dr. Paseka Ncholo, the mining Magnate and his brother Dr. Khotso Ncholo are also from Tsakane

References

Communities of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, Gauteng
Seat: Germiston
Cities and towns	Alberton Bapsfontein Bedfordview Benoni Boksburg Brakpan Daveyton Dawn Park Duduza Edenvale Elsburg Etwatwa Germiston Isando Katlehong Kempton Park KwaThema Nigel Primrose Reiger Park Springs Tembisa Thokoza Tsakane Vosloorus Wattville
Suburbs of Kempton Park	Allen Grove Birchleigh Bonaero Park Cresslawn Edleen Esther Park Norkem Park Van Riebeeck Park