He explained that Batho is a township with a rich history and that it was of great significance for a number of reasons. One reason was that in its early years Batho was seen as a model township in terms of its layout and infrastructure. Another reason for Batho's importance lies in the many historical buildings and sites that may be found there. One such building was the Mapikela House. The house was built by Thomas Mapikela, a founder member and speaker of the African National Congress (ANC). Other buildings included the Caleb Motshabi Centre, Sehunelo Secondary School, Masenkeng Stadium and Ramkraal Prison.