Lebowakgomo

Lebowakgomo
Lebowakgomo is located in Limpopo Lebowakgomo  Lebowakgomo shown within Limpopo
Coordinates:
Country	South Africa
Province	Limpopo
District	Capricorn
Municipality	Lepelle-Nkumpi
Established	{{#property:P571}}
Area
• Total	25.68 km2 (9.92 sq mi)
Population (2011)
• Total	35,087
• Density	1,400/km2 (3,500/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
• Black African	99.3%
• Coloured	0.2%
• Indian/Asian	0.2%
• White	0.1%
• Other	0.2%
First languages (2011)
• Northern Sotho	87.2%
• English	2.8%
• Zulu	1.5%
• Tsonga	1.5%
• Other	6.9%
Postal code (street)	0737
PO box	0737
Area code	015

Lebowakgomo was the capital of the former bantustan of Lebowa. Lebowakgomo lies southeast of the Limpopo capital of Polokwane. Lebowakgomo is surrounded by villages, Mogodi and Phutimolle north east, Mamaolo on the east, Makurung and Lekhuswaneng being south east.

History

The township was established in 1974 for Bapedi, and was enlarged and developed in the early 1980s. The name is derived from two Sepedi (Northern Sotho) words: "Lebowa" (north) and "Kgomo" (cow).

The town falls within the Lepelle-Nkumpi Local Municipality. The population of Lepelle-Nkumpi Municipality was estimated at 230,350 in 2011.

Lebowakgomo was one of the eight townships in the former state, the others being Mahwelereng, Seshego, Mankweng, Lenyenye, Namakgale, Praktiseer, Mashishing, and Bochum.

Lebowakgomo has grown as a township, from its humble beginnings in the late 70s, when the township had one section (Zone A). In the late 80s, two new zones where developed (Zone F and Zone B, also known as FnB).

In the early 90s Lebowakgomo had three primary schools in Zone A (Little Bedfordview, Mogodumo and Ntseekgopu), in Zone F (Dr Dixon Mphahlele) and in Zone B (Eureka), and three high schools: Derek Kobe High School, Lebowakgomo High School, SJ van der Merwe and towards the late 90s Lebowakgomo Commercial, and Mathomomayo High School.

Mahwelereng lies two kilometres from the town of Mokopane. It is surrounded by the semi-rural areas of Ga-Madiba, Moshate, Sekgakgapeng and Masethlaneng.

The land where Lebowakgomo is based was donated to former Lebowa government by Chief Mmutle Mphahlele of Bakgaga ba Mphahlele. The chief's palace lies 10 kilometres south east of the township in Seleteng. Other villages under Chief Mphahlele include Makurung, Mamaolo, Dithabaneng, Mogodi, Morotse, Mashite, Bolopa, Lenting, Marulaneng, Lekurung, Tooseng, Hwelereng, Malemati, Thamagane.

Notable People

Notable people from Mphahlele include:

• Es'kia Mphahlele, Moses Mphahlele (publisher of the Sotho portion of the South Africa's national anthem) ,
• Lilian Ngoyi née Matabane (the first woman elected to the executive committee of the African National Congress),
• Sefako Makgatho (the second president of the African National Congress),
• Bokang Montjane (a past Miss South Africa 2010)
• Cedric Phatudi Mphahlele (the Chief Minister of the Lebowa Homeland 1973-87)
• Stan Mathabatha (premier of the Limpopo Province, South Africa)
• Lehlogonolo Masoga (Deputy Speaker of the Limpopo Legislature, former ANC Youth League leader)
• Letlapa Mphahlele (former President of Pan Africanist Congress of Azania)

The Mphahlele tribe originated from Tzaneen where they were ruled by Matsobane.