Mamelodi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mamelodi
Mama
View of Mamelodi
Mamelodi Location in Gauteng Show map of Gauteng Mamelodi Location in South Africa Show map of South Africa Mamelodi Location in Africa Show map of Africa
Country	South Africa
Province	Gauteng
Municipality	City of Tshwane
Established	1945
Area
• Total	45.19 km2 (17.45 sq mi)
Population  (2011)
• Total	334,577
• Density	7,403.8/km2 (19,175.7/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
• Black African	98.9%
• Coloured	0.4%
• Indian/Asian	0.2%
• White	0.1%
• Other	0.3%
First languages (2011)
• Northern Sotho	42.3%
• Zulu	12.2%
• Tsonga	10.7%
• S. Ndebele	8.8%
• Other	26.0%
Time zone	UTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)	0122
PO box	0101
Area code	+27 (0)12
Website	www.powerfulone.webs.com

Mamelodi is a large township located northeast of Pretoria, Gauteng, in South Africa. A township is an area where many people, often from specific racial groups, were made to live during a time called apartheid. Mamelodi was created by the government in 1953 and is now part of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality.

What Does Mamelodi Mean?

The name "Mamelodi" comes from the Sepedi language. The first part, "ma," means "mother." The second part, "melodi," means "melodies." So, Mamelodi can be translated to mean Mother of Melodies.

A Look at Mamelodi's Past

Mamelodi started with just 16 houses built on a farm called Vlakfontein in June 1953. Later, its name was changed to Mamelodi. During the time of apartheid, a law called the Group Areas Act said that Mamelodi was only for Black people. This changed when apartheid ended in 1994.

In the 1960s, many Black citizens were forced to move from a suburb in Pretoria called Lady Selbourne. They were moved to Mamelodi, Ga-Rankuwa, and Atteridgeville. A kind anti-apartheid activist named Reverend Nico Smith preached in Mamelodi from 1982 to 1989. He even got permission to live there with his wife, Ellen, from 1985 to 1989. They were the only white people allowed to live in Mamelodi legally during that time. Even today, most people living in Mamelodi are Black.

Since 2001, Mamelodi has had a big program to help children who have lost their parents. It also has the largest center in South Africa that provides care for people with serious illnesses, offering 140 beds for free.

Learning in Mamelodi

Mamelodi has many schools for children of all ages.

Primary Schools

Secondary and High Schools

Colleges and Universities

Tshwane North TVET College has a campus in Mamelodi. This college helps students learn skills for different jobs.

The University of Pretoria also has a campus in Mamelodi. This campus used to be part of another university called Vista University. It joined the University of Pretoria in 2004.

The U.S. Embassy runs the Mae Jemison Science Reading Room in Mamelodi. This building is on the University of Pretoria campus. It has a small library, computers, and a hall. Students in Mamelodi use it for reading, tutoring, and other activities after school.

Community and Fun in Mamelodi

Mamelodi is a place where people work together to make life better.

Community Groups and Support

Many groups and organizations in Mamelodi help improve living standards and education.

• Tateni Community Care Services started in 1995. They run 10 Drop-in Centres, mostly in primary schools, to support young children. They also have programs to help young people break the cycle of poverty.
• The Mamelodi Trust works in five schools in the area.
• The Mamelodi Initiative was started in 2007. It offers after-school and holiday programs, computer courses, and mentoring for young people.
• The Itsoseng Clinic was set up in 1995. It provides free mental health support to local residents.
• The Historical Society of Mamelodi works to record the history of the township.

Sports and Famous People

Mamelodi is home to famous sports teams and people:

• The Mamelodi Sundowns football club, which plays in the ABSA Premier League.
• The Mamelodi Bees Basketball team, part of the South African Women's Basketball League.
• The HM Pitje Stadium is a sports stadium located in Mamelodi.
• Famous football players like George Lebese and Lucky Mohomi are from Mamelodi.
• Joan Ramagoshi, who was crowned Miss South Africa in 2003, is also from Mamelodi.

Daily Life in Mamelodi

Like many growing areas, Mamelodi has some challenges. There are many informal settlements, which are areas where houses are built without official planning. It is hard to build enough new homes for everyone who needs them. Also, many young people in Mamelodi are looking for jobs.

Helping the Community

Part of Mamelodi's "Living Art Gallery"

One important program is the Viva Foundation. Viva helps children who have lost their parents and teaches business and other skills to community members. Their Mamelodi center has a preschool, a small shop, a kitchen, and a safe house for children. Viva has also created a "living art gallery" by painting beautiful designs on homes around their center.

Another important project is the Itsoseng Clinic, located at the University of Pretoria's Mamelodi Campus. This clinic offers free mental health services to the community. It works with police, hospitals, and other centers to help with problems like poverty, crime, and family issues. This is the only place in the community that offers these services for free.

Important Monuments

The Solomon Mahlangu Freedom Square in Mamelodi honors Solomon Mahlangu. He was an important figure in the fight against apartheid. The square has a bronze statue of Mahlangu and is located in a well-kept park.

Well-Known People from Mamelodi

• Daniel Mudau
• Don Laka
• Fabian Ribeiro
• Edward Motale
• Fortunate Mafeta Phaka
• George Lebese
• Leraro Kgoatle
• Naledi Chirwa
• Philip Tabane
• Sello Maduma
• Solomon Mahlangu (1956–1979)
• Terence Mashego
• Vusi Mahlasela

See also

In Spanish: Mamelodi para niños