About 190 000 people live in Kagiso, which means "peace". The area is subdivided into five different wards, with each having its own councillor.

Kagiso was officially proclaimed in 1920 when ex-miners and squatters on smallholdings on the outskirts of Luipaardsvlei erected the first corrugated iron houses. By 1950, there were about 3 436 people in the Luipaardsvlei Township, an area of only 47 morgen, until another new township - Lewisham - was laid out to the south-east of Krugersdorp.

Many languages are spoken by the people who live in Kagiso, such as Tswana, Northern Sotho, South Sotho, Xhosa, Zulu, Tsonga and Venda. There is a lot of migration into the area from the rural areas, with people seeking work in nearby Krugersdorp and Chamdor. Some people who live in Kagiso travel to Johannesburg for work.

There are 15 primary schools and six secondary schools in the area. There is also an adult centre, which aids people wanting to improve their education. Kagiso also has a library, which has a reference section as well as a children's library. There are three formal crèches and about 50 informal crèches in Kagiso.

Recreational facilities in the area include a multipurpose sports centre, which has a cricket pitch, soccer fields, tennis courts and a swimming pool.

The health needs of people in the area is catered for by the Leratong Hospital. There are two clinics in the area and a mobile clinic operates in the township as well. Click here for a full list of health institutions in Mogale City.

Kagiso has produced many outstanding men and women, one of them being the Reverend Dr Frank Chikane, the former secretary general of the South African Council of Churches and a former director-general in the President's Office.

It is focused on providing training and development services, counselling, computer skills training and services, research services and fighting the rate of unemployment by creating sustainable business development projects or youth enterprises which include: cleaning services, catering, gardening and landscaping, recycling and a buyback centre, as well as youth tours.

Telephone: (011) 410-6837/8
email: info@cyd.org.za
Visit the centre's website at http://www.cyd.org.za/
You can find the centre at 8755 Mmusong Avenue, Kagiso 2, Krugersdorp

Imbali Visual Literacy Project
The Imbali Visual Literacy Project is a visual and ceramic teaching art centre. Some of the products produced here have been especially adapted to the tourist market and the centre has become a tourist stop in Kagiso.
Telephone: (011) 614-4644

African Diaspora Restaurant and Pub
This typical township house is open only on weekends. Pub lunches are served and African music is played.
Address: 3820 Setlolamathe Street, Mogale City

Pepe's Inn
Pepe's Inn is a township pub with African style. It's a good place for networking as many of the area's local business people meet here after work. Meals are served.
Telephone: (011) 410-0645
Address: Cnr Kagiso and Mdeni streets, Kagiso

Sources: Westour 2002, Krugersdorp Library, The West Rand SMME Directory