Tembisa City Guide
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South Africa

Tembisa City Guide

Tembisa is a large township in Gauteng, South Africa, near Johannesburg and Pretoria. It has a strong local culture and community, offering an authentic South African experience. It focuses more on local commerce than tourist amenities.

Lifestyle🍽️

🍽️
Food Scene
Good
7

Tembisa serves traditional South African food with informal eateries and barbecue spots. International cuisine is limited locally but available in Johannesburg. Vegetarian or vegan options require special requests. Late-night food is mostly around entertainment spots.

Local Dishes:
Pap, Chakalaka, Grilled meats
International Cuisine:
Limited
🌙
Nightlife
Good
7

Nightlife centers on shebeens and informal pubs with music and dancing.

Coffee Culture
Poor
3

Focus on instant coffee and local cafes. Specialty coffee shops are rare; better selection in Johannesburg.

💰
Tipping
Required
10%

Tipping is expected for good service in restaurants, taxis, and service providers.

Top Attractions
Moses Mabhida Stadium
Sightseeing
Local stadium and landmark.
Apartheid Museum
Museum
Located in Johannesburg, covers South Africa's history.
Soweto
Cultural
Historic township near Johannesburg.
Lion & Safari Park
Nature
Wildlife park near Broederstroom.
Union Buildings
Sightseeing
Government buildings in Pretoria.
SIM Cards

SIM cards are sold at the airport and official stores. Registration requires ID and proof of address per RICA law.

Available at:
Vodacom
MTN
Cell C
Telkom
Recommended Apps
Uber/Bolt(Transport)
Mr D Food/Uber Eats(Food)
Loadshedding Notifier(Utilities)
Google Maps(Navigation)
WhatsApp(Communication)
SnapScan/Zapper(Finance)
Takealot(Shopping)

Services & Infrastructure

Street Cleanliness
Limited
4

Cleanliness varies; some sanitation issues due to waste infrastructure limits.

24/7 Services
Poor
3

24/7 services are limited to some petrol station stores and informal late-night food.

Groceries
Shoprite
Pick n Pay
Spar

Supermarkets like Shoprite, Pick n Pay, and Spar offer local and some imported products. Hours are generally 8 AM to 7 PM, with some later. Bargaining is only common in informal markets.

Cashless Payments
Cash preferred

Cards work in big shops and supermarkets, but cash is needed for small traders and taxis.

ATMs

ATMs are easy to find at shopping centers and petrol stations. Expect withdrawal fees that vary by bank. Major banks include FNB, Standard Bank, Absa, and Nedbank.

Schools
International

Local public schools are numerous. International schools with English instruction are in Johannesburg or Pretoria.

Available Schools:
American International School of Johannesburg
Crawford International Schools

Work & Digital💻

Coworking Spaces
Not Available
Work-Friendly Cafés
Poor
Digital Nomad Community
Poor
1

No digital nomad community in Tembisa; most gather in Cape Town or Johannesburg.

Nature & Activities🌿

Green Spaces
Limited
4

Some parks and open fields but limited shaded areas.

Running
Limited
5

Running possible in parks and residential areas but safety at night can be a concern.

Gyms
Available

Gyms are mainly in nearby Kempton Park, with some local community gyms.

Available Gyms:
Virgin Active Kempton Park
Planet Fitness Kempton Park
Tennis
Poor
3

Public tennis courts exist in community sports areas.

Padel
Poor
1

Padel courts are rare but found in sports clubs near urban centers.

Yoga
Poor
1

No dedicated yoga studios locally; options in Johannesburg and Pretoria.

Martial Arts
Poor
3

Some local facilities for boxing and karate may exist, details require local inquiry.

Skiing
Poor
0

No skiing available.

Water Sports
Poor
2

Limited water sports nearby, e.g. Vaal Dam for kayaking about 1.5-2 hours away.

Surfing
Poor
0

No surfing; inland location.

Diving
Poor
0

No diving; inland location.

Health & Safety🏥

Healthcare
Good
6

Tembisa Hospital is the main public hospital. Private clinics nearby offer better service and English-speaking staff. Pharmacies like Dis-Chem and Clicks operate during normal hours.

Hospitals:
Tembisa Hospital
Pharmacies:
Dis-Chem
Clicks
Tap Water Safety
Safe to drink

Tap water is generally safe, but some prefer bottled water.

Common Scams
ATM skimming, Pickpocketing, Muggings, Online scams, Romance scams

Community & Family

Family Friendly
Limited
5

Community parks and playgrounds exist, but kid-friendly cafes are limited. Larger shopping centers nearby offer baby supplies. Attractions focus on local community life.

LGBTQ+ Friendly
Limited
5

South Africa is progressive legally, but local acceptance varies. Johannesburg has more visible LGBTQ+ spaces.

Pet Friendly
Limited
4

Pet services and supplies exist, but pet-friendly places and parks are limited.

Communities
Tembisa Community Facebook Groups (Social)
Local WhatsApp Groups (Social)
Jozi FM and Thetha FM (Media)

Quick Facts

Population
19,159
Power Reliability
Limited
5/10

Power outages (load shedding) happen regularly, lasting several hours daily.

Mountains
Available

Magaliesberg Mountains are 1-1.5 hours away, offering hiking and outdoors.

Languages
Zulu(37.7%)
Xhosa(16.6%)
Sepedi(13.4%)
Sesotho(9.7%)
Tsonga(8.9%)
English(2.5%)
Emergency
10111
Police
10177
Ambulance/Fire
082 911
Netcare 911
084 124
ER24

⚠️Natural Disasters Risk

🌊
Tsunami
Very Low Risk
0
🏔️
Earthquake
Very Low Risk
2

🌦️Seasonal Issues

Extreme Heat
December, January, February
Summer months can be very hot.
Thunderstorms
December, January, February
Summer brings frequent, sometimes severe, thunderstorms.
Load Shedding
All year
Scheduled power outages happen regularly.

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