06 Aug 2018

 In the town of Lobatse, sprawls the location of Peleng, which has got a rich history for housing the who is who of the world.

Peleng was a refuge for some of those who fought for their rights in South Africa during the apartheid era. 

The late former president of South Africa, Mr Nelson Mandela took abode in Peleng for some time, while paving the journey to freedom in the 1960s.

Peleng alsol boasts old residential houses atop a hill, which gives the location its name. Myths abound that inhabitants have a tendency of snatching people’s bags and other valuables.

However, a walk about in the area would help to purge the perception about Peleng.

During peak hours, the Peleng streets are calm as people would be at work, whereas after hours and on weekends, the streets are on mania mood.

Mr Pako Mokopanele, a resident of Peleng aged 28, who fortunately has a job and has been residing in the locality for eight years, is of the view that the place is safe.

“I have observed that in Peleng, if you do not provoke anyone, no one will harm you,’’ he said, adding that he spends most of his time indoors reading the Bible and is always at peace.

Mr Mokopanele said although he chose to live in Peleng due to its proximity to his workplace, he strongly believes he made the right choice as Peleng is a place where people live in harmony and unity. 

The man, who hails from Pitsane, said apart from the few who indulge in alcohol, there were few criminal activities in the neighbourhood. 

Mr Mokopanele said what he likes most about Peleng was that people still had the spirit of unity in the sense that they helped each other when the need arose.

“Although Lobatse is a town and people in towns are known to mind their own business, in Peleng I can still ask for sugar from my neighbour and vice versa, that is how we live,” he said.

He said when he was not working on a Sunday, he goes to church or otherwise he visits his church mates in the neighbourhood for Bible studies. 

He said in the eight years he has lived in Peleng, he has never encountered any trouble from anyone.

Mr Mokopanele said although in the past people used to commit crimes like shoplifting and break-ins, nowadays the crime rate was low. 

He concluded that Peleng was just a place like any other, and he would personally recommend it for people to reside.

Mr Boiki Tshosa, also a resident of Peleng, 63, said he has been living in Peleng since his youth. 

He said his father hailed from Lobatse and his mother from Maun but resides in Lobatse, adding he has been staying in Peleng for 58 years.

He is adamant that he has never encountered any misfortune as a result of residing in the area. 

He said Peleng was home away from home, adding that one of the reasons he has never encountered any trouble from people in Peleng was because most of the time he was at home.

Mr Tshosa shared the same sentiments with Mr Mokopanele, describing Peleng as a safe place. ENDS