MAMELODI-EAST, TSHWANE
GAUTENG
Mother of Melodies
“Mamelodi” is the name derived from the Sepedi word with the prefix being “ma” meaning mother, and the suffix “melodi” meaning melody.
Located 20km east of the Tshwane Central Business District, Mamelodi is home to over 60,160 households. It is the home of the Premier soccer league team, Mamelodi Sundowns football club and just as the name suggests, it is a place rich in culture and “vibe”. Although Mamelodi is a place where many nurture dreams, it is taking strain due to the rapid growth in its population. This results in a heightened demand for resources and furthermore, makes livelihood opportunities infrequent. These challenges have, however, not disheartened Mamelodi dwellers – they continue to strive to find opportunities in sectors less explored.
Paintball with a Purpose: The Ghost Paintball Story
What began as a non-profit initiative to give survivors of gender-based violence a functional way to release their stress and anger has evolved into a thriving paintball business for Martin Mokapala, founder of Ghost Paintball in Mamelodi. From humble beginnings as a...
Reaching for the Stars: How Pixel Art Studio Captures the Essence of Africa
Once dreaming of soaring through the skies as an aviation professional, Nhlanhla Mkhwabane has found a different way to fly high — through the lens of his camera. Today, his photography and design business, Pixel Art Studio, is reaching for new heights. Pixel Art...
Crafting keys, building dreams: The story of Sbevu Trading
When you visit Mams Mall in Mamelodi township, Tshwane, you are likely to come across Sbevu Locksmith and Projects (registered as Sbevu Trading), a local business that has been serving the community since it opened its doors in 2020. Bheki Innocent Simelane, the man...
Fixing spaces, inspiring futures: Transforming Early Childhood Development centres
I remember a particular day when I walked into our local hardware store with my youngest son at my side. He was 11 years old at the time. Hardware stores have that distinctive smell – a mixture of paint, chemicals, wood and cement. I commented on it and my son,...
Fueling change in the automotive realm
When Sbusiso Mngomezulu and Mandisa Xulu started their business, Alcophylex (Pty) Ltd in Mamelodi township in 2020, they never expected their journey to be so rewarding. Their business, an automotive paint centre, provides a profitable outlet for their mutual love for...
Reinventing success: the Soloman Mabuse story
It has been more than a decade since Soloman Mabuse first opened the doors to Daiman Records Distributors in Mamelodi, Gauteng in 2013. With a certificate from the Film and Publication Board, his business operations were initially focused on the sales and distribution...