Gauteng Districts: Towns and Cities February 3rd, 2016
Gauteng Districts: Towns and Cities
Gauteng is a province of immense culture, industry, natural wonder and history. It is broken down into 6 districts, City of Johannesburg Metropolitan municipality, City of Tswane Metropolitan municipality, Ekurhuleni Metropolitan municipality, Metsweding District municipality, Sedibeng District municipality, West Rand District municipality.
City of Johannesburg Metropolitan municipality:
Alexandra
A township situated on the banks of the Jukskei River and next to the very wealthy suburb of Sandton.
Johannesburg
A city of incredible history, being the centre of a major gold rush on the Witwatersrand and known as the biggest man made forest in the world with over 10 million trees in the city centre and the surrounds.
Lenasia
Originally an Indian Township in the Apartheid Era which played a big part in the struggle against the Apartheid Government, it is now a multi cultural town with soaring property values and a good grasp of where the people come from.
Midrand
Originally called Halfway house and renamed Midrand due to its central proximity to Witwatersrand (rand) and Pretoria. Home to the Kyalami race track with international racing happening year round.
Randburg
An affluent suburb in Johannesburg which once was a separate Town and with the expansion of the city has become a part of the city itself.
Roodepoort
Famous for the Walter Sisulu botanical gardens and its student life. It is now under the larger Johannusberg metropol.
Sandton
Known as the richest square mile in Africa, Sandton offers people every thing they could need from entertainment to business.
Soweto
A township with a history of struggle, development and liberation. Originally an acronym for the South Western Township and now the central symbol for South Africans everywhere.
Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality:
Alberton
An unusual town in the aspects of the town planning schemes as it does not have a purpose for its sight. It is an industries town with major industry occurring on its outskirts.
Benoni
A town where gold was originally found. It was later beautified with the addition of many lakes and parks and is now a popular spot for business and leisure.
Boksburg
Considered to be one of the most important gold mining towns in Johannesburg, built in 1887 to accommodate everybody coming to the gold rush, it has grown into a leisure, mining and industrial town.
Brakpan
Originally a gold and uranium mining town of importance, it has now become a quiet suburban area with its own casino complex.
Daveyton
A township which is about 18kms away from Benoni, popular for turning out some of the most prominent soccer stars. It is also known as the Chevrolet Township due to the fact that its taxis consist of every type of Chevrolet that has been made and it is the only township to do this.
Devon
Duduza
A township which has a very turbulent history. Seeing violent boycotts between 1984 and 1987 in which the South African military was called out.
Edenvale
Starting out in 1903 as Rietfontein it is a town of middle to high income groups and plenty of activity to keep anybody busy.
Germiston
A scene of the gold rush which gripped Johannesburg and in 1921 was home to the largest gold refinery in the world. It was also home to the murderess Daisy Louisa De Melker who was the second woman to be hanged in South Africa.
Impumelelo
A township found about 38kms east of Springs
Isando
Katlehong
An informal Township that is in a state of squalor.
Kempton Park
Mainly an industrial town which is situated minutes away from the O. R. Thambo airport and many shopping centre, entertainment venues and a casino.
Kwathema
A township that was created in 1951 for the resettlement of black people by the apartheid government. A larger player in the actions against the apartheid government.
Nigel
Primarily a gold mining town which focuses heavily on industry as well.
Reiger Park
Mainly a colored township which has a history of turbulence due to unrest bought about by the apartheid government. Also played a big roll in the Xenophobic attacks that originally plagued South Africa.
Springs
Named after the multitude of fresh water springs that is to be found in the area. Graduated from a farm to a coal mining village, to a gold mining town.
Tembisa
A large Township situated just outside of Kempton Park and part of the resettlement program of the Apartheid government. Established in 1957.
Thokoza
Near Alberton and together with Katlehong forming the 2nd largest township in South Africa.
Tsakane
Established in the late 70's. A township that is spreading into immense proportions.
Vosloorus
A township near Boksburg that is home to many foreigners and the site of relocation by the Apartheid government.
Wattville
A township that was established in 1940 and originally home in the 1950's to ANC president Oliver Thambo after who Johannesburg international is now named.
City of Tswane Metropolitan municipality:
Atteridgeville
Centurion
An incredible and wonderful lifestyle awaits those that visit this town. Its human history stretches as far back as 1200AD and there is plenty to do in modern times.
Hammanskraal
Named after a man named Hamman who set up a stockade here to protect his cattle, it serves as a black community.
Irene
A town situated so close to Centurion that it is being slowly absorbed into Centurion. It has a very similar history and lifestyle to that of Centurion.
Mamelodi
Literally translated into "mother of melodies" and incidentally the name given to Paul Kruger because of his ability to make his whistles sound like different birds. It is a large black township set by the apartheid government and originally started with 16 houses.
Pretoria
A quiet peaceful city with an incredible and long involved history, famous for the beautiful Jacaranda trees that can be found here.
Soshanguwe
Sedibeng District Municipality:
Boipatong
A township near Vanderbijlpark and set up in 1955. A place of the Boipatong massacre just before the fall of Apartheid.
Bophelong
Also situated near Vanderbijlpark and established in 1955 as well.
Evaton
Established in 1904 and the scene to the major unrest which caused a state of emergency to be called in 1984/5.
Sebokeng
Started by the Apartheid government in 1965 with 18772 houses and a scene to the violent unrest in 1984.
Sharpeville
Established in 1942 with 5466 houses and the scene of the Sharpeville massacre where 69 people were killed and 178 people were wounded by the police during the violence. It is now a peaceful black township.
Vanderbijlpark
An industrial town that together with Vereeniging and Sasolburg form the Vaal Triangle, a large industrial area in South Africa.
Vereeniging
A place where close to the Vaal River that is home to industry, outdoor entertainment and the Suikerbosrand nature reserve.
Meyerton
A small town situated situated just 15kms north of Vereeniging.
Heidelberg
A picturesque town which was started in 1862.
Ratanda
A township South of Gauteng which was developed in 1955. It was one of the first townships in 1984 to experience the unrest which enacted a state of emergency.
Metsweding District Municipality:
Bronkhorstspruit
A small farming town which is home to the largest Buddhist temple in the Southern hemisphere, called the Nan Hua temple.
Ekangala
Bronberg
Cullinan
A rich Diamond pipe was discovered here in 1902 and in 1905 the famed Cullinan Diamond was discovered here, it weighed 3106.75 carats until it was cut into 9 different segments.
Refilwe
Meaning we're blessed is a township near Lanseria Airport in Johannesburg.
Zithobeni
Meaning humble yourself is a township situated just north of Bronkhorstspruit.
West Rand District Municipality:
Carletonville
A gold mining town in Western Gauteng that is one of the richest gold producing areas in the world.
Khutsong
A township which has seen sometimes violent unrest since February of 2006.
Kagiso
A township established in 1956 and found near Krugersdorp.
Kromdraai
A protected conservancy in Western Gauteng near Krugersdorp.
Krugersdorp
A mining city which was established in 1887 and where you can find gold, asbestos, manganese, iron and lime mining. It was incidentally in the city where uranium was extracted from gold by products for the first time in the world.
Magaliesburg
A picturesque small town set at the foot of the Magaliesburg mountain range.
Muldersdrift
A beautiful countryside town that is close enough to cities that you don't feel isolated but quiet and scenic enough that you feel like you are in paradise.
Mohlakeng
A small township situated near Randfontein.
Randfontein
A picturesque mining town 45kms away from Johannesburg.
Bekkersdal
A township situated 14kms South of Randfontein. It was established in 1945 to house workers and miners who worked in or around Randfontein.
Westonaria
Ten Suburban Townships which have grown become close nit and which have become one.
Article Courtesy Of Articlesbase.com
About the Author
Justin Pretorius (show bio)
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