Thembisa
Decide whether to visit or live in Thembisa, then explore current conditions, local people, the map, and concise sourced context.
Check visit & living safetyUpdated Saturday, October 10, 2026 · sourced live layer and versioned editorial content
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Would you visit or live in Thembisa?
Choose your plan and circumstances. The result changes immediately using today's advisory, weather, air-quality, and sourced local signals.
Climate normals · 2016–2025
When to go: Thembisa month by month
Judged purely on 2016–2025 weather records, the friendliest months in Thembisa are typically April, August and September, with average daytime highs around 22–26°C. January is usually the warmest month (average high 26°C), July the coldest (average low 4°C), and February the wettest (about 119 mm). These are long-run averages, not a forecast.
| Month | Avg high (°C) | Avg low (°C) | Rain (mm) | Sunshine (h/day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26.3 | 15.4 | 107 | 11.4 |
| February | 25.7 | 15.4 | 119 | 10.7 |
| March | 25.0 | 14.0 | 62 | 10.7 |
| April | 22.1 | 11.3 | 58 | 10.0 |
| May | 20.3 | 8.1 | 16 | 9.8 |
| June | 17.9 | 5.0 | 7 | 9.8 |
| July | 18.0 | 4.4 | 3 | 10.2 |
| August | 21.6 | 7.3 | 4 | 10.6 |
| September | 25.6 | 10.7 | 11 | 11.3 |
| October | 26.3 | 12.4 | 50 | 11.1 |
| November | 26.0 | 14.0 | 89 | 11.2 |
| December | 25.9 | 15.2 | 111 | 11.1 |
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Interactive geography
See Thembisa in context
Keep the deeper context
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01 · OverviewThembisa, in brief
Origins and Foundation
Thembisa is a large township located in the province of Gauteng, South Africa, positioned north of Kempton Park on the East Rand. Operating under the time zone Africa/Johannesburg, the urban area supports a population of 511,655 residents, making it the second largest township in Gauteng following Soweto.
The historical turning point for the settlement occurred in 1957. Administered by the Germiston city council, the establishment of the township enforced the relocation of black populations from areas designated as white locations, such as Modderfontein, Dindela, Phelindaba, and Tikkieline across Edenvale, Kempton Park, and Germiston.
Decades later, fiscal structural pressures triggered localized civic resistance. When the government initiated Community Councils in 1977 and upgraded them to Town Councils under the Black Local Authorities Act in 1982, the bodies received limited powers without adequate financial muscle. To fund township development, these councils raised service charges and rents. In response, residents within Thembisa established civic structures to oppose the financial increases.
Geographic connectivity spans multiple routes. The M57 metropolitan route and the R21 highway bypass the area to the east, connecting it to Pretoria and Kempton Park. The R562 route links the northern section to Midrand, while the M18 route functions through the town center via Andrew Mapheto Drive and Reverend RTJ Namane Drive. Rail infrastructure includes the Oakmoor station in the east alongside a branch rail operating stations at Thembisa, Limindlela, and Leralla.
Natural disasters have also marked the landscape. On 26 July 2016, a tornado originating in Kempton Park tracked across the area, leaving more than 400 individuals destitute and seriously injuring around 20 people while heavily damaging the Phumulani Mall. Administrative nomenclature shifted later when the settlement was officially renamed from Tembisa to Thembisa in early 2020, following an approval by the Minister of Arts granted in 2016.
Official statistical and geographic details regarding Thembisa are further cataloged through resources like the GeoNames record for Thembisa.
Frequently Asked Questions about Thembisa
Essential geographic, demographic, currency, and travel context verified from primary records.
01 · Q&AWhere is Thembisa located and what are its coordinates?
Thembisa is situated in South Africa at geographic coordinates -25.9964, 28.2268, with an elevation monitored in regional geographic surveys.
02 · Q&AWhat is the population and time zone of Thembisa?
Thembisa has a recorded population of approximately 511,655 and observes the Africa/Johannesburg time zone.
03 · Q&AWhat languages and currency are used in Thembisa?
Official and commonly spoken languages in Thembisa include ZU, XH, AF, NSO, EN-ZA, TN, ST, TS, SS, VE, NR, with ZAR used for local transactions.
04 · Q&AHow can I check live conditions and daily updates for Thembisa?
Today's Atlas provides continuous tracking for Thembisa, featuring real-time weather conditions, daylight cycles, local geographic signals, and verified daily briefs.