Thabong

Template:Infobox South African town Thabong (meaning 'place of happiness' in Southern Sotho) is a large township in Matjhabeng Local Municipality in the Free State province of South Africa. The township was established In the years segregation for black people and the township of Bronville for coloured people near the City of Welkom, reason being to accommodate people who worked in the richest mines of goldfields.

The Township form part of Matjhabeng Local Municipality in the Lejweleputswa District Municipality of the Free State in South Africa, that includes the city of Welkom. The Township is filled with diversity of people due to people who came from various counties like Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, etc. to work in mines of Goldfields. The most spoken languages in Thabong is Sesotho followed by Xhosa.

Demographics

Population dustribution

Today the Townships of Thabong and Bronville have a population of approximately 200,000 residents. Usually Thabong is referred to the combination of both Thabong and Bronville (Coloured Township) though Bronville is classified as an independent Township of Welkom.

Suburbs of Thabong

Thabong consists of 49 Suburbs of which can classified as follow

• High-income suburbs
• Middle-income suburbs
• Low-income suburbs

Number of middle-class black South Africans or Black Diamonds in the Township has risen dramatically with suburbs like Oppenheimer park, Jerusalem Park, Mshongoville, Soweto and Las Vegas.

Economy

The majority of the people work in the richest mines of the Goldfields since the Township was formed originally to accommodate people who worked in the mines.

shopping and Retail

People from Both Thabong and Bronville do their shopping in Welkom however the rate at which the Township of Thabong is growing a new shopping mall,Boitumelo junction has been opened. the 25,500m squared, it is anchored by shoprite,boxer and many others.

other shopping complex

• Fun Park Shopping complex
• Shoprite centre

Community Service Centres

• Huge Thabong Police Station
• Multi-purpose Thabong Community Centre
• Public Libraries

Other Services

• Numerous Petrol Stations
• ATMs
• Post Office

Attractions and places of interest

Thabong hosts numerous;

• Pubs
• Clubs
• Shabeens
• Taverns

The most fashionable and lovely place of interest especially during December Holidays is Shopong Tsa Kgale meaning 'Old shops' That's where Thabong KIds figuratively or 'Black Diamonds' meet to enjoy themselves especially the ones who have moved out of Thabong to places like Johannesburg, Sandton, Randburg, Roodepoort and Pretoria etc.

Other prominent places include

• Afro-vibe
• The Zone

Music

Kasi Rap which is a style of Hip-hop specific to South Africa is prominent in the Township

Sport

Sport Centre - A municipal sport centre offering rugby, soccer, netball, tennis, hockey, cricket, bowling, swimming and snooker facilities

Stadium Zuka Baloyi Stadium, a multi-sport facility, that is currently mostly used for soccer.

Hospitals and Medical care

Thabong hosts Bongani Regional Hospital and together with Bronville host various primary care clinics and some of these clinics have started to open 24 hours.

Bongani Regional Hospital

Bongani provides specialized secondary services and admits patients referred by Primary Health Care Institutions from surrounding towns and District Hospitals. Services include:

• 24-hour casualty service
• Level 2 adult and child care
• Maternity
• Paediatrics
• Theatre
• Neonatal ICU and ICU
• Radiography
• Medical and Surgical ward
• Othopaedics
• Septic ward
• Burns unit
• Obstetrics and Gynaecology
• Dispensary
• Physiotherapy
• Social Worker
• Speech and Hearing therapy
• Oncology
• Ophthalmology
• Psychology
• Renal unit
• Dental
• Occupational Health
• Tsoanelo (ARV Treatment)

Other facilities include:

• Academic Health Complex
• Welkom Satellite
• Pilot project site for academic medical training registrars in conjunction with the Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the Free State.

Education

Primary schools

• Iketsetseng
• Tsakani Primary
• Tseolopele Primary
• Dirisanang Primary
• Mojaho Primary
• Seabo Primary
• Bofihla Primary
• Daluvuyo Primary
• Lehakwe
• Mokgwabong
• Lemotso
• Dr. Mgoma
• Dirisanang
• Moramaphofu
• Embonisweni
• Thabong school
• Tswelopele
• Setshabelo
• Hlolohelo
• Lenyora
• Thembekile
• Bronville primary
• Mantshebo

Secondary schools

• Leseding Technical school
• Lenakeng Comprehensive school
• Lebogang secondary school
• Lephola secondary school
• Teto secondary school
• Thotagauta secondary school
• Lekgarietse secondary school
• Letsete secondary school
• Nanabolela secondary school
• welkom secondary school
• Bronville high

Tertiary level

Tosa F.E.T college situated near the suburb of Jerusalem Park is geared towards employment opportunities with Engineering been the main focus

• Mechanical
• Electrical
• Mining
• Civil

Transformation of Hani Park

Informal settlements are being transformed into formal settlements especially the one of Hani park near the coloured township of Bronville and multiple Extensions have been formed from Hani park all the way to Straighting near the Bridge (Ext 15 to Ext 21)

Notable people

• Thabo Jay Mohlakoana - Great Debator
• Lehlohonolo Motseke - Rugby Union player
• Lerato Manzini - Professional footballer who plays for Bloemfontein Celtic in the Premier Soccer League
• Mosa Lebusa -Professional footballerwho plays for Ajax Cape Town in the Premier Soccer League
• Thandi Tshabalala - First class cricketer, specialist off spinner South Africa Twenty20 International
• Sechaba, Gospel music singer
• Kwezi Mkhafu, rugby union player
• Vuyisile "The Cheetah" Colossa (born 28 June 1982) is a South African middleweight kickboxer, Muay Thai fighter and mixed martial artist. He represents Team Colossa and is currently residing in Hong Kong.
• DJ Lebo, House musician
• Refilwe Alice Mbele Uprising Singer and actor.
• Welkom Side, Kwaito Group.
• Katlego Biza Mokone, Choreographer.
• Sabata Moiloa, uprising music producer [1]

Famous choir

• Universal Kathisma Apostolic Choir