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.
Where local enterprise meets opportunity: The Tsweu Street Market
As we celebrate Entrepreneurship Month, we’re looking back at what we’ve done alongside Business Clubs and communities through the Building Business programme so far this year - and looking ahead towards the next market day lined up for 2026! There is something...
Painting a legacy: How a community mural is breathing new life into Tsweu Street
For years, the outside of Mamelodi West's A5 Community Hall told a very different story from the one unfolding inside. Its mural had faded and peeled with time, while behind its walls the hall remained alive with youth programmes, community meetings, exercise classes...
Places that shape: Inspiring tomorrow’s leaders today
The future of every nation is held within the fragile hands of its children. How else can we build the future? In the end, all the greatest monuments of a nation, its structures, streets, and systems, would be left empty without the people that inhabit them, and most...
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...