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Johannesburg is the most populous city in South Africa, and the second most populous in Sub-Saharan Africa behind Lagos. Local residents fondly refer to the city as "Jo'burg." Johannesburg is the provincial capital of the most wealthy province in South Africa, Gauteng Province. Johannesburg is among the newest major cities in the world, and was only founded in the late 1800's.
Johannesburg is the financial capital of South Africa, hosting Africa's largest stock exchange, the JSE Securities Exchange. Johannesburg is also the centre of the gold and diamond trade in South Africa, due to its location on the mineral-rich Witwatersrand. Johannesburg has Africa's largest and busiest international airport, Johannesburg International Airport, which has many international links to cities around the world via South African Airways.
Johannesburg has a population of more than three million (2001 South African National Census). Johannesburg's land area of 1,644 km2 (1019,2 square miles) is very large when compared to other cities, hence Johannesburg's population density is very low, at only 1,962/km2.
The metropolitan area population is over 6 million, based on projections from the 2001 census, which includes figures for the East and West Rand. These areas are functionally integrated into the Johannesburg conurbation, in much the same way as Riverside and San Bernardino are integrated into the Los Angeles metropole. Rand McNally's definition of an urban area takes into account functional integration, "irrespective of administrative boundaries." It is for this reason that both the New York and Tokyo metro areas include parts of New Jersey and Connecticut, and Yokohama.
Johannesburg is twinned with Birmingham, England.
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| City nickname: "Joburg, eGoli" | |||||
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| Area - Total - Water | 1,644 km² (1019.2 mi²) 1,644 km² (1019.2²) 0% | ||||
| Population | 3,225,812 | ||||
| Time zone | Eastern: UTC+2 | ||||
| Latitude Longitude | 26°12' S 28°4' E | ||||
The region surrounding Johannesburg has been inhabited for millions of years. The discovery of the three and a half million year old Australopithecus africanus in a cave Northwest of Johannesburg in 1998 is among the oldest human skeletons ever found.
Much later, around 100,000 BC, South Africa became home to the nomadic San people. The San continued to live in South Africa until the Khoikhoi and other Bantu-speaking people migrated into the area around 500 BC. The Bantu people were Iron Age people who domesticated animals, farmed crops, worked metal, made pottery, and lived in villages.
Johannesburg is situated in the northeastern quadrant of South Africa, and is one of the largest cities in the world not built next to a major body of water. Other such cities in the world are Mexico City and Phoenix. That Johannesburg became what it is today is testament to the gold rush in the region towards the end of the nineteenth and beginning of the twentieth century. Having initially discovered gold in the nearby Eastern regions of Barberton and the area now known as Pilgrims Rest in the 1880's, prospectors soon discovered that even richer pickings were to be had on the Witwatersrand region.
The town was initially much the same as any small prospecting settlement, but as word spread, people flocked to the area from all other regions of the country as well as from North America, the United Kingdom, and Europe. As the value of control of the land increased, tensions developed between the Afrikaaners, who controlled the region during the nineteenth century and the British, culminating in the South African War of 1899 to 1902. The Boers lost the war and control of this province, known as Transvaal, to the British.
When the British declared South Africa a Union in 1910, this paved the way for a more organised mining structure. The South African government instituted a harsh racial system whereby Blacks and Indians were heavily taxed, barred from holding skilled jobs and consequently forced to work as migrant labour on Johannesburg's growing crop of goldmines.
The South African government then instituted a system of forced removals, moving the black and coloured population into specified areas.
It is this system that created the sprawling shantytown of Soweto (South West Township), one of the areas where Blacks were forced to live during the Apartheid era.
Nelson Mandela spent many years living in Soweto and his Soweto home in Orlando is currently a major tourist attraction.
On the opposite side of the scale, Sophiatown during the early years of the twentieth century was a vibrant centre in which many races lived alongside each other in relative calm. However, the National Party government changed that with its policy of Apartheid in the 1960's, forcibly removing residents in favour of a "whites only" policy and renaming the area "Triomf" (literally meaning "Triumph"). The area has since reverted to its original name of "Sophiatown."
Large-scale violence broke out in 1976 when the Soweto Students' Representative Council organised protests against the use of Afrikaans, considered to be the language of the oppressors, in black schools. Police shot into a student march, and 1000 people died in the proceeding 12 months protesting the Apartheid system.
The regulations of Apartheid were abandoned in February of 1990, and since the 1994 elections, Johannesburg has, in theory, been free of discriminatory laws. The black townships have been integrated into the municipal government system, and to some extent, the suburbs have become multiracial.
As is the case with other parts of the developing and developed world, problems remain in post-Apartheid Johannesburg. The city is a dichotomy of wealth and poverty, of opulent First World and derelict Third World.
During the Apartheid era, Johannesburg was divided into 11 local authorities, seven white and four black. The white authorities were 90% self-sufficient, spending Rand 600 (USD 93) per capita; the black authorities were only 10% self-sufficient, spending Rand 100 (USD 15) per capita.
In 1995, the first post-apartheid city council attempted to address the city's problems, adopting the slogan "One City, One Taxpayer." The idea was that if the city had a single tax base, revenue from the wealthy, traditionally white areas would help pay for the services needed in the poorer black areas. Johannesburg was carved up into four regions governed by a central metropolitan council and four local regional authorities, which enjoyed substantial autonomy. The municipal boundaries were expanded to include wealthy satellite towns like Sandton and Randburg, as well as poorer neighbouring townships such as Soweto and Alexandra, and informal settlements like Orange Farm.
In 1999, the city appointed a city manager, who brought with him a strong team of executives to reshape the city's finances. They drew up a blueprint called "Igoli 2002", a three-year plan that called for the selling of non-core assets, the restructuring of certain utilities, and the requirement that others become self-sufficient. The cost-cutting exercise took the city from the brink of insolvency to an operating surplus of Rand 153 million (USD 23.6 million).
Currently, the city is managed by a board of 217 councillors, and a mayor.
Johannesburg is not known for its tourism, but remains a transit point for people who catch connecting flights to the major tourist attractions of Cape Town, Durban and the Kruger Park.
However, a trip to the city should include:
1. The Carlton Centre (at 223 metres, it is the tallest building in Africa, about half the height of the Sears Tower in Chicago). 2. Soweto, seat of "The Struggle" during the Apartheid years and home to the Hector Peterson Memorial. 3. Gold Reef City, a replica of the city circa 1895, including an underground gold mine. 4. Newtown, the arts and cultural precinct of the city. 5. The Lion Park, on the outskirts of the city to the north.
Local residents always claim that since the city has no beaches or mountains, the next best thing to do is go shopping. As a result, an American-like "mall culture" pervades the city. It is estimated that foreigners from other countries in Africa come to Johannesburg simply for the shopping, and spend around R10 billion (about 1.5 billion US dollars) a year on goods. The city has thus been aptly dubbed "The Dubai of Africa."
The city's largest and most prestigious mall is Sandton City, a 1.5 million ft² behemoth located in the new business district of Sandton. It is connected to Nelson Mandela Square, which sports a 6-metre bronze statue of the former head of state. Other large centres include Eastgate, Westgate, Northgate, Southgate and Cresta.
There are plans to build a mammoth 250 000 m² shopping centre in Midrand, on the far northern fringes of the city. To be known as the Zonk'Izizwe (meaning "All Nations" in Zulu) Shopping Resort, the centre will create a shopping nirvana for both Johannesburg and Pretoria residents.
Johannesburg is in the southern hemisphere, and thus experiences the opposite seasons from the northern hemisphere. Thus, when it is summer in the northern hemisphere, it is winter in Johannesburg and vice-versa. Johannesburg is located in the eastern plateau area of South Africa, known as the Highveld, at an elevation of 1753 metres (5751 feet), which enjoys a dry, sunny climate with the exception of occasional late afternoon downpours from the months of October to April.
In the winter, the average maximum daytime temperature is around 20°c, while the average summer daytime temperature is around 25*c. During the winter, the temperature occasionally drops to below freezing, causing frost. The annual average rainful is 600 mm to 800 mm, which is mostly concentrated in the summer months.
Johannesburg's relatively dry climate has not stopped local residents and the city council from planting an abundance of trees, and the city prides itself on having the most planted trees of any city, about 6 million, which has created an artificial rainforest-like atmosphere, especially in the lush northern suburbs.
According to the 2001 National Census of South Africa, the population of Johannesburg is 3,225,812 people, who live in 1,006,930 formal households, of which 86% have a flush or chemical toilet, and 91% have refuse removed by the municpality at least once a week. 86% of households have access to running water, and 80% use electricity as the main source of energy. 22% of Johannesburg residents stay in informal dwellings. 65% of households are headed by one person.
The average monthly income per employed person in 2004 was Rand 6,408.63 (USD 988.83), and the average annual income per household was Rand 86.105 (USD 13,285.80).
64% of Johannesburg residents own their own home. 57% own, or have use of a motor car. 21% have at least one domestic worker. 11% moved houses in the last year. 2% flew overseas last year. 10% flew within South Africa last year. 78% have an electric stove in home. 87% have a refridgerator and freezer. 5% have a dishwasher. 31% have a vacuum cleaner. 90% have a television. 74% have a stereo. 18% have a computer. 58% have a telephone.
13.25% have a chequing account, 55% have a savings account. 43% have an ATM card, 10% have a credit card, 3% have a mortgage.
Black Africans account for 73% of the population, followed by whites at 16%, coloureds at 6% and Asians at 4%. 42% of the population is under the age of 24. 6% of the population is over 60 years old. 37% of city residents are unemployed. 91% of the unemployed are black. Women comprise 43% of the working population. 19% of economically active adults work in wholesale and retail sectors, 18% in financial, real estate and business services, 17% in community, social and personal services and 12 percent are in manufacturing. Only 0,7% work in mining
34% of Johannesburg residents speak Nguni languages at home, 26% speak Sotho languages, 19% speak English, and 8% speak Afrikaans. 29% of adults have graduated from high school. 14% have higher education (University or Technical school). 7% of residents are completely illiterate. 15% have primary education.
34% use public transportation to commute to work or school. 32% walk to work or school. 34% use private transportation to travel to work or school.
53% belong to mainstream Christian churches. 24% are athiests. 14% are members of African Independent Churches. 3% are Muslim. 1% are Jewish. 1% are Hindu.
Johannesburg is the economic and financial hub of South Africa, producing 16% of South Africa's gross domestic product. Mining is the main source of the Witwatersrand's economy, but is importance gradually declining. While gold mining no longer takes place within the city limits, most mining companies have their headquarters in Johannesburg. The city has a great variety of manufacturing industries, including steel and cement plants. Many banking and commercial companies are also located in Johannesburg. Johannesburg has Africa's largest stock exchange, the JSE Securities Exchange. Due to its commercial importance, Johannesburg is the site of a number of government branch offices, as well as consular offices and other institutions that are usually found only in capital cities. The Witwatersrand urban complex is a major consumer of water in a dry region. Its continued economic and population growth has depended on schemes to divert water from other regions of South Africa and from the highlands of Lesotho, but additional sources will be needed early in the 21st century.
City Center The streets of the town center and the surrounding inner-city suburbs, such as Joubert Park, Hillbrow, and Berea are lined with skyscrapers which house many of Johannesburg's largest companies. Many people from Soweto have given up living in shacks to join the African immigrants who've thronged to the inner city, taking over abandoned office blocks and decaying warehouses.
Eastern Suburbs Yeoville, east of Berea, is still a hub of Black nightlife in Johannesburg. East of Yeoville is Observatory, a quiet area with large houses. Directly east of the city center are Troyville and Bez Valley, patches of which are slowly being gentrified.
Northern Suburbs As the city centre has seen a major demographic change over the past ten years, with some urban blight blight and inner city decay, many businesses have relocated to the northern suburbs. The northern suburb closest to the city is Parktown, which has many wealthy inhabitants and Edwardian mansions. Just west of Parktown is Westcliff.
Directly north of Parktown are the suburbs of Saxonwold and Houghton. After Houghton is Rosebank, then Hyde Park, Sandton, and Morningside, all predominantly white and very wealthy enclaves. Since 2000, Sandton is the home of the JSE Securities Exchange, turning it into the financial centre of the city.
North Western Suburbs West of Parktown is Auckland Park, which is where the South African Broadcasting Corporation and the University of Johannesburg are located. The nearby suburb of Greenside has enjoyed a resurgence in property value and investment.
Sophiatown Sophiatown was once one of the most vibrant black suburbs in the city. Considered a criminal and political hotbed, the entire suburb was razed to the ground in the 1950's. The only remaining Sophiatown building is the Church of Christ the King.
Johannesburg, much like Los Angeles, is a young and sprawling city geared towards private motorists, and lacks a convenient public transportation system.
Johannesburg's metro railway system connects central Johannesburg to Soweto, Pretoria, and most of the satellite towns along theWitwatersrand. The railways transport huge numbers of workers every day. However, the railway infrastructure was built in Johannesburg's infancy and covers only the older areas in the city's south. In the past half century Johannesburg has grown largely northwards, and none of the northern areas, including the key business districts of Sandton, Midrand, Randburg and Rosebank, have any rail infrastructure.
The Gauteng Provincial Government's Blue IQ Project, however, has made provision for the creation of a rapid rail link running north-south between Johannesburg and Pretoria, and east-west between Sandton and Johannesburg Airport. Slated to be ready in time for the 2010 Soccer World Cup, the rail system is being designed to alleviate traffic on the N1 freeway between Johannesburg and Pretoria, which records vehicle loads of up to 160 000 per day.
Johannesburg is served by Johannesburg International Airport for both domestic and international flights.
Johannesburg has two kinds of taxis, metered taxis and minibus taxis. Unlike most cities, metered taxis are not allowed to drive around the city looking for pasengers and instead must be called and ordered to a destination. This is to decrease traffic and to help prevent crime.
The fact that Johannesburg is not built near a large navigable body of water has meant that from the very beginning of the city's history, ground transporation has been the most important method of transporting people and goods in and out of the city. One of Africa's most famous "beltways" or ring roads/orbitals is the Johannesburg Ring Road. The road is comprised of three freeways that converge on the city, forming an 80-kilometre (50-mile) loop around it: the N3 Eastern Bypass, which links Johannesburg with Durban; the N1 Western Bypass, which links Johannesburg with Pretoria and Cape Town; and the N12 Southern Bypass, which links Johannesburg with Witbank and Kimberley. The N3 was built exclusively with asphalt, while the N12 and N1 sections were made with concrete, hence the nickname given to the N1 Western Bypass, "The Concrete Highway." In spite being up to 12 lanes wide in some areas (6 lanes in either direction), the Johannesburg Ring Road is frequently clogged with traffic. The Gillooly's Interchange, built on an old farm and the point at which the N3 Eastern Bypass and the R24 Airport Freeway intersect, is purported to be the busiest interchange in the Southern Hemisphere.
Johannesburg is home to many of South Africa's largest universities, and is the centre of higher learning for all of South Africa.
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