Namakgale

Namakgale is a large township lying 12 km outside Phalaborwa in Mopani District in the Limpopo province of South Africa. Its nearest neighbouring townships are Lulekani, Makhushane, Maseke and Mashishimale on the R71 road to Gravelotte. It is next to the Kruger National Park on the north eastern part of the Limpopo province previously Northern Transvaal. The township enjoys the annual Marula festival during the months of February and March, when the ripe Marula fruit harvest is at its peak, and the Marula traditional beer is brewed. This is home to the Amarula liqueur is harvested, and the pulp is shipped to Cape Town for further processing. The citizens of Namakgale will enjoy the Mopani worms first harvest during March and April, and the second harvest in December. the Mopani tree and the Morula tree are very important to the residents of the Namakgale as they bring important community subsistence farming.

Namakgale
Namakgale Show map of Limpopo Namakgale Show map of South Africa
Coordinates: 23.938°S 31.028°E / -23.938; 31.028
Country	South Africa
Province	Limpopo
District	Mopani
Municipality	Ba-Phalaborwa
Established	1959
• Councillor	(African National Congress)
Area [1]
• Total	12.97 km^2 (5.01 sq mi)
Population  (2011)[1]
• Total	36,365
• Density	2,800/km^2 (7,300/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011) [1]
• Black African	99.6%
• Coloured	0.1%
• Indian/Asian	0.1%
• White	0.1%
• Other	0.1%
First languages (2011) [1]
• Northern Sotho	65.5%
• Tsonga	23.3%
• Sotho	3.8%
• Zulu	2.0%
• Other	5.3%
Time zone	UTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)	1391
PO box	1391
Area code	015

Schools and Institutions of Learning

Colleges

• Mopani South East FET College (Formerly Sir Val Duncan Technical College)

High Schools

• Relebogile High School
• Vuxeni High School
• Sebalamakgolo High School

Primary Schools

• Gaza Primary School
• Kgopsane Primary School
• Mhala Mhala Primary School
• Namakgale Primary School
• Phalaborwa Primary School
• Refentse Primary School
• Refilwe Primary School
• Rethabile Primary School
• Rethusitswe Primary School
• Stanbury Higher Primary School

Demographics

Namakgale is largely inhabited by migrant labourers and their descendants. Most of this migrant labourers originate from the Bolobedu area, Tzaneen, Ga-Sekororo and Bushbuckridge. Most of the people in Namakgale are employed in mining, namely Palabora Mining Company, Sasol Agri and FOSKOR.

The majority of the residence of Namakgale speak Northern Sotho language, with the Sepulana, KhePhalaborwa and KheLobedu dialects being the most predominantly spoken forms, is the first language of about 70% of the people. The N'walungu variety of Xitsonga is the second most spoken language after Northern Sotho; XiTsonga is first language of about 30% of the people.

The Residents of the neighbouring villages of Ga-Makhushane, Ga-Mashishimale, Ga-Maseke and Ga-Selwane are proudly called Ba-Phalaborwa ba ga Malatji, a North Sotho tribe of Kalanga extraction. The Malatji Royal Family venerates the Totem of the Noko, a Porcupine and the clan is generally called Dinoko as a symbol of respect.

Sports facilities

• Namakgale Stadium
• Phosphate Club Stadium

Notable people

• Pule Mabe, ANC national spokesperson
• Sipho Mashele, cricketer

References

1. "Main Place Namakgale". Census 2011.