Soshanguve, Gauteng

Soshanguve is a township situated about 45 km north of Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa. It was established in 1974 on land scheduled to be incorporated into a bantustan bordering on Mabopane in Bophuthatswana, to Sotho, Shangaan, Nguni and Venda people (thus the name) who were resettled from Atteridgeville and Mamelodi. It later became part of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, and was the scene of riots related to poor service delivery in January 2006 [ [http://www.sabcnews.com/south_africa/general/0,2172,119360,00.html] Officer injured in Soshanguve riots, SABC news] . It was also home to Smangaliso Mkhatshwa the Catholic Priest who was banished from Transkei by the apartheid regime until he later became a member of the first post-apartheid parliament (1994) and then mayor of Tshwane.

The name Soshanguve is known to stand for Sotho, Shangaan, Nguni, Venda, being the languages spoken at this township.

Places of Interest

* 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 [ [http://www.fablab.co.za/] South African Fab Labs] [ [http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v442/n7105/full/442862a.html] Nature 442, 862-864 (24 August 2006)] . "Appropriate technology: Make anything, anywhere." (Author visits Soshanguve Fab Lab)] .
* Tswaing crater

References