Soshanguve Area Profile

Soshanguve at a glance

Soshanguve is a township situated about 30 km north of Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa. The name Soshanguve is an acronym for Sotho, Shangaan, Nguni and Venda, thus showing the multi-ethnic composition of the population. The major African languages of South Africa are heard in Soshanguve.

History

The acronym divided the Soshanguve residents according to their tribe when they were resettled from Mamelodi and Atteridgeville in 1974. While this was to make admin easy for the apartheid government, it left a community divided and suspicious of each other. More than 20 years later, there are still remnants of the past but there is integration of cultures. The people of Soshanguve arguably are the most multilingual of South Africans.

• Tswaing Crater - Tswaing, meaning Place of Salt in Setswana, is a 2000-hectare heritage site, some 40 km north-west of Central Pretoria, surrounded by settlements inhabited by more than a million people, such as Winterveld, Soshanguve, Mabopane and Eersterus, near Hammanskraal.

• Giant Stadium

• Soshanguve Crossing Mall

• Soshanguve Railway Station

Climate
Soshanguve's hottest months fall between October and February, when maximum temperatures tend to be in the ballpark of 28°C to 30°C. Minimum temperatures in summer are generally between 16°C and 18°C. Winter cools down to an average minimum of 5°C, reaching a maximum of approximately 19°C. The suburb gets most of its rainfall in summer, with January being the wettest month. 

Distance from key points (Airport/CBD)
O.R Tambo International Airport is 98-km away from Soshanguve. This journey will take a 1 hour, 17 minute drive via the R21 with an average driving speed of 80km/h. Soshanguve to Pretoria CBD is approximately 55kms

Schools in the area

Memezelo Secondary School, Soshanguve Technical High School, Curro Academy School Soshanguve, Padisago Primary School, Ntsako Secondary School, Lethabong Secondary School, Soshanguve High School, Uthando Primary School, Botse-Botse Secondary School, Khensani Primary School, Ubuhle Bezwe Primary School, Thakgalang Junior Secondary School, Senthibele Senior Secondary School, Kgomotso Comprehensive High School, Tsarogaphoka Primary School, Ikhwezilethemba School, Sehibidu Primary School, Rivoningo Primary School

Medical facilities

Dlamini Health care, Maria Rantho Clinics, Soshanguve 2 Clinic, PN Health, Aganang Medical, Gauteng Provincial Health, Soshanguve Block TT Clinic

Shopping malls

Falala Shopping Complex. Soshanguve batho plaza, Ntuli Shopping Centre

Thorntree Shopping Centre, with restuarants  like: amtico Spur (Soshanguve) FoodChain "A la Carte with an outstanding buffet..."  Nando's, Debonairs Pizza,Steers, Hungry Lion Soshanguve, Pie City Soshanguve, Wild Bean Cafe and retail shops Mr Price, Shoprite, Shoe city, Pick 'n Pay, Cash Crusaders, Barnetts, JET,

Special attractions

Soshanguve Giant Stadium, commonly referred to as Giant, is a multi-purpose stadium located in Soshanguve, a township of Pretoria, South Africa. It was utilized as a training field for teams participating in the 2010 FIFA World Cup after being rebuilt in 2009.^[1] Besides serving as a training venue for the World Cup, it was also used as a public viewing area for residents to watch matches.

Currently the stadium is the home for JDR Stars F.C. and Soshanguve Sunshine F.C., playing in the North West Province of Vodacom League. However, the stadium is situated a few kilometers within the border of the Gauteng province.

Tswaing is an impact crater in South Africa. It is situated 40 km to the north-west of Pretoria. This astrobleme is 1.13 km in diameter and 100 m deep and the age is estimated to be 220,000 ± 52,000 years (Pleistocene). The impactor is believed to have been a chondrite or stony meteorite some 30 to 50 m in diameter that was vaporized during the impact event. Morokweng crater, another crater of chondrite origin, lies north-west of Vryburg.