Randburg

Randburg

Beverley Gardens, Randburg
Randburg

 Randburg shown within Gauteng

Coordinates: 26°5′37″S 28°0′23″E / 26.09361°S 28.00639°E / -26.09361; 28.00639Coordinates: 26°5′37″S 28°0′23″E / 26.09361°S 28.00639°E / -26.09361; 28.00639
Country South Africa
Province Gauteng
Municipality City of Johannesburg
Area[1]
 • Total 167.98 km2 (64.86 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Total 337,053
 • Density 2,000/km2 (5,200/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)[1]
 • Black African 36.8%
 • Coloured 8.6%
 • Indian/Asian 7.5%
 • White 45.7%
 • Other 1.5%
First languages (2011)[1]
 • English 52.0%
 • Afrikaans 17.6%
 • Zulu 6.6%
 • Tswana 4.1%
 • Other 19.6%
Postal code (street) 2194
PO box 2125
Area code 011

Randburg is an area located in the north west of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa. Formerly a separate municipality, its administration devolved to the newly created City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality, along with neighbouring Sandton and Roodepoort, in the late 1990s. During the transitional period of 1996-2000, Randburg was part of the Northern Metropolitan Local Council (MLC).[2]

History

Randburg was founded as a town in 1959, as the amalgamation of 32 suburbs, northwest of Johannesburg. Although economically linked to Johannesburg, residents chose to create their own town council. The name Randburg was chosen in a competition, and is derived from the South African Rand currency, which was introduced at around the same time that the new municipality was established in 1959.[3] Randburg was a stronghold of the National Party during the apartheid era.[4][5]

The resident demographic of Randburg tends to be more affluent than most of Johannesburg. The area was declared as a white area during the Apartheid era, but post-apartheid has attracted a varied population. It is still predominated by white English and Afrikaans suburban citizens.[6]

Suburbs

The municipal area of Randburg contains numerous suburbs; many of these are residential. Some larger areas include:

A number of Johannesburg suburbs including Parkhurst, Parkwood, Emmarentia, Linden, Northcliff, and Greenside[7] although erroneously included by Google Maps[8] as part of Randburg have never been part of the area[6]

Economy

Multichoice and its associated companies, M-Net and SuperSport, have their head offices in Randburg.

The central business district of Randburg had fallen into decay starting in the 1990s,[9] and plans were made to revive the CBD by the Johannesburg municipality.[10]

Strijdom Park is a well developed commercial/light industrial area in Randburg, wedged between the N1 Western Bypass and Malibongwe Drive. Strijdom park has a substantial auto sales and repair industry and has several other small industries that service the whole of northern Johannesburg.

Randburg has faced competition from Sandton which is normally the preferred location for businesses but offers lower rentals and property prices whilst providing easy transportation to the west and central Johannesburg. There are future plans to connect Randburg onto the Gautrain routes.

Shopping

Randburg is well known for its plethora of shopping malls and entertainment nodes.

Malls

Shopping Centres

Hotels

Education

Randburg has many quality schools within its borders and in the nearby areas. The following are just a few of the many:

Colleges

High Schools

Primary Schools

Health Services

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Main Place Randburg". Census 2011.
  2. ↑ http://www.jda.co.za/developments/randburg/overview
  3. ↑ History of Randburg
  4. ↑ city of Johannesburg - Randburg streets get freedom names
  5. ↑ National Party wins two-horse-race by-election in Randburg | South African History Online
  6. 1 2 Census 2001 — Main Place “Randburg”
  7. ↑ greenside, gauteng - Google Maps
  8. ↑ parkhurst, gauteng - Google Maps
  9. ↑ http://www.jda.org.za/tenders/2011/tender_randburg_udf.pdf
  10. ↑ Randburg`s CBD revival to imitate Joburg`s - Property | Moneyweb
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