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Johannesburg, Gauteng Province

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Published March 4, 2019Updated June 30, 2025
"Johannesburg renowned for its thunderstorms and is ironically the Economic powerhouse of Africa!"
 
'Joburg' as it is called by locals, was founded in the heydays of one of the World's biggest and richest gold rushes - earning it the name of 'Egoli' meaning 'place of gold'.
As the most powerful Commercial Centre on the African continent, Johannesburg generates 16% of South Africa's GDP and employs 12% of the National Workforce. Its infrastructure matches leading first World Cities, yet the cost of living is far lower!
The City is recognized as the Financial Capital of South Africa and is Home to 74% of Corporate Headquarters. The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) rates as one of the top 20 exchanges in the World, in terms of market Capitalization.
Key industries and Areas of innovation in Johannesburg include a multiplicity of commercial and creative activities – from banking and finance, gold mining, manufacturing and health sciences to transport, business services and outsourcing, information and communication technologies, automotive, television, film and creative industries, to mention but a few.
Johannesburg is Home to 4.9 Million People - the majority of whom are aged between 19 and 39. According to the Mastercard Global Destination Cities Index, since 2014 it has been Africa’s Most Visited City. 
The City covers an Area of 2300 square Kilometres, making it larger than Sydney, London and New York – and similar in size to Los Angeles!
Founded in 1886, Joburg (as it is to South African's) is one of the World’s, youngest major Cities – and the only one NOT, founded on a major Waterway (Bay or large River!).
 
During the times, it has been Rebuilt four times – starting out as a tented Mining Camp, it evolved into a Town of tin 'shanties', followed by four-storey Edwardian brick Buildings and then a City of modern Skyscrapers. Johannesburg is Home to the largest Stock Exchange in Africa. It is South Africa’s Financial Hub, and Home to 74% of the African Headquarters of large Multi-National Companies. There are about 10 Million trees in Joburg, making it the World’s largest man-made, Urban Forest. Johannesburg has approximately 150 Heritage Sites, half of which are National Monuments. An amazing 40% of all the World’s Human Ancestor Fossils have been found in Areas, close to Joburg. For example the Sterkfontein Caves within the Cradle of Humankind.
55 Airlines fly into Joburg, making the destination the most accessible on the African Continent and the hub from which to access other destinations on the Continent.
Joburg has a wide variety of Accommodation Establishments, ranging from one-star to five-stars. Of Gauteng’s 1532 Accommodation Establishments, 33% are in Johannesburg. Of Gauteng’s 536 Conference Venues, 37.9% are in Johannesburg. Many of Johannesburg’s three to five-star Accommodation Establishments have Meeting Facilities.
The City was also named the 33rd most Economically-powerful City globally, out of 84 leading Financial Cities in the 2015; edition of the Global Financial Centres Index.
Johannesburg is Home to the World’s largest man-made urban Forests, with more than 10 Million trees in the City. There are more than 2000 Public Parks in Johannesburg. Joburg is Home to the iconic 94 736-seater FNB Stadium, the largest Stadium in South Africa. It has hosted some of the biggest International and local events including Memorial Service for Tata Nelson Mandela, musical actsincluding: 'U2, Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber'. It also plays host to major sporting Events such as the final of the 2010 FIFA World Cup ™, the African Cup of Nations final in 2013, as well as major football matches like the popular Soweto Derby that involves two South African Premier Soccer League football giants Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.
According to the Restaurant Association of South Africa there are about 8000 Restaurants in Johannesburg. Joburg has World class Transport Infrastructure from its International Airports, high-speed trains known as The Gautrain, good Public Transport network (the first in Africa).
Of the total foreign Business visitors who arrive in Gauteng Province, by far the biggest percentage come to Joburg. Of these, 82.4% are Business Professionals while 73.8% attend conferences and conventions. Joburg attracts 60.4% of all Domestic trips to Gauteng, accounting for 67% of all trips undertaken for entertainment, 72.7% of those undertaken for Education purposes, 78.3% of trips for Medical purposes, 75% of trips for Sports Participation, and 83% of trips taken to the province by Sports Spectators. In 2015, Joburg hosted more than 28 293 lifestyle Events in the City. 
Since 2014, Johannesburg has ranked as Africa’s Most Visited City with the highest expenditure by foreign visitors – according to the annual Global Mastercard Cities’ Index [GDCI].
In 2014, Joburg was rated the second most inspiring City in the World after Hong Kong, in the annual Good City Index, and for good reason. Joburger's are first and foremost Entrepreneurs and its young Entrepreneurs are driving development and in so doing forging a new identity for the City. You need only look at the Cultural hubs of Maboneng District and Braamfontein to see this in action. These are the places where culture, style and youthful energy meet entrepreneurship.
In the Good City Index, Joburg outclassed Mexico City (3rd), New Orleans (7th), Buenos Aires (11th), Montreal (12th), Melbourne (14th), Berlin (15th), Santiago (16th), Paris (22nd) Los Angeles (24th) and Cape Town (25th) when it comes to creating inspiration and possibility.
Rough Guides- voted Johannesburg the best place to visit in 2015, ahead of Malaga in Spain, New Orleans in the US, Hamburg in Germany and Nizwa in Oman.
Johannesburg is considered to be one of the 12 Art Cities of the Future, by prominent art publisher; 'Phaidon', as well as Four Emerging Art Cities You Should Know by the Wall Street Journal.
Travel & Leisure.com named Johannesburg Maboneng Precinct one of the World’s coolest new Tourist attractions in 2015. The 2015 edition of the Global Financial Centres Index ranked Johannesburg as the 33rd most Economically powerful City in the World and number one City, in Africa.
Johannesburg was ranked 12th out of 25 African destinations in Tripadvisor’s 2015 Travellers’ Choice Destination Awards.
Johannesburg has the most Dollar Millionaires in Africa. Of the approximately 163 000 Millionaires in Africa, 23 400 live in Johannesburg!

Ruimsig is located in the North West of Johannesburg. The area is well-known for being home to the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens and Ruimsig Country Club The small but thriving Area, is a Suburb of Roodepoort, which in fact was an independent Town on Johannesburg's West Rand- Many of these Towns developed following the discovery of gold in the Area and existed independently for a period of time. They were subsequently absorbed into the Municipality of Greater Johannesburg owing to urban expansion. Ruimsig also has easy access to main transport routes and those amenities in and around Johannesburg Central. (Being only about 20 kilometres away!)

Some very pertinent people have been born, died or done something important in Johannesburg! Some of them include: (please interact with us if We have forgotten anyone of significant importance? https://sahistory.org.za/form/contribute)

*Nelson Mandela: While born in the Eastern Cape, Mandela studied and practiced law in Johannesburg and was a prominent figure in the city's anti-apartheid movement. 
*Oliver Tambo: A key leader in the African National Congress (ANC) and a close colleague of Nelson Mandela, Tambo was also born in Johannesburg. 
*Jakes Gerwel: A prominent academic and anti-apartheid activist, Gerwel was born in Cape Town, but his career was deeply connected to Johannesburg, including his role as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Western Cape. 
*Adam Habib: A political scientist and academic, Habib was born in Johannesburg and has held leadership positions at the University of the Witwatersrand and the University of Johannesburg. 
*Ruth First: Heloise Ruth First, journalist, academic, political activist and ‘listed’ communist. 
*Shulamith Behr: A renowned art historian, Behr was born in Johannesburg. 
*Thamsanqa Kambule: A mathematician and educator, Kambule was born in Johannesburg. 
*Revil Mason: An archaeologist, Mason was born in Johannesburg. Revil studied at the University of Witwatersrand and obtained a B Com. degree, garnering several prizes, including the Aitken medal for the best graduate in Commerce, together with the Chamber of Industries medal and the Dean’s award.
*Gerhardus Cornelis Oosthuizen
*Jan Hendrik Hofmeyr: An academic and politician. He was also an active member of the South African Congress of Democrats and became the Secretary of its Natal Branch in 1954.  He was also Chairman of the CoD in Johannesburg.
*Helen Zille:  Was born and later studied at the University of Witwatersrand, Gauteng
*Douglas Portway: a European based South African artist, is born in Johannesburg.
*Ronnie Kasrils: the anti-apartheid activist who after the Sharpeville Massacre and its aftermath drew him closer to the African National Congress (ANC). He was renowned for perfectly executing tasks entrusted to him by the leadership of the party. He was a member of the South African Communist Party (SACP) and Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK).
*Mohammed Valli Moosa: was born in Johannesburg on 9 February 1957, was a political activist and served as Minister of Environmental and Tourism Affairs in South Africa.
* Miriam Zenzile Makeba: was born in Johannesburg on 4 March 1932 to a Swati mother and a Xhosa father. Her mother was a sangoma and a domestic worker while her father worked as a clerk for Shell. Makeba began singing in the school choir at Kilnerton Training Institute in Pretoria- The Kilnerton Training Institution, affiliated to the Methodist Church of Southern Africa, was established in 1886 in the small suburb of Weaving Park, Pretoria. The Institution was named after Rev John Kilner, who encouraged the formation of an indigenous clergy in South Africa. The mission of the Institution was to provide seminary education to locals in preparation for ordination. In and above providing seminary education, Kilnerton also served as a primary and secondary school for children in the local community. The Institution is known for some of its illustrious past students, including Dikgang Moseneke (Deputy Chief Justice), Sefako Makgatho, Miriam Makeba, Lillian Ngoyi and Thomas Masekela. 
* Hansi Pauline Pollak: a sociologist, welfare worker and activist, is born in Johannesburg.
* Siza Khang Cecil Khampepe: a financier and managing director of Khayalethu Home-loans- Khayalethu Home Loans was a subsidiary of the South African Housing Trust Limited, focusing on providing housing assistance to individuals, including both subsidy funding and loans for construction. It has since been renamed to Hlano Financial Services. The Tenure Support Centre has collaborated with Hlano (formerly Khayalethu) on initiatives like unlocking secure home ownership in Khayelitsha.
* Hansi Pauline Pollak: a sociologist, welfare worker and activist.
* Gary Jim Player, SA PGA golfer (US 1965, British 1959, 1968, 1974)
*Barend Jacobus Du Plessis: was born on 19 January 1940 in Orlando, Johannesburg and grew up in Boksburg. He matriculated from Voortrekker High School in 1956 and he obtained his B.Sc. degree at Potchefstroom University for Higher Christian Education in 1960. In 1961 he completed his Transvaal Higher Education Diploma.
* George Andrew Manuel: a scholar, author and one of the first Coloured journalists in SA.
* Aboobaker Ismail: a commander of the Special Operations Committee of MK.
* Arthur Chaskalson: a former SA president of the Constitutional Court- Barrister chosen by Nelson Mandela to be the first president of South Africa's constitutional court after the fall of apartheid.
* Siegfried Mynhardt: a SA actor  was born on March 5, 1906 in Johannesburg, South Africa. He was an actor, known for Dr Kalie (1968), The Second Sin (1966) and The Cape Town Affair (1967). He died on March 28, 1996 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
* Candice Derman: a SA TV presenter.
* Thomas Patrick Murray: a trade unionist,
* Yunus Ismail Mahomed: an attorney, businessman and chair of Kagiso Trust 
* Arthur Wellesley Briscoe: a SA cricket player in 3 test matches.
* Jack Meckler: an athlete who won the Comrades Marathon five times.
* David James Brown: was born in Johannesburg in 1951, but has spent his working life in Cape Town. He studied design and photography at the Michaelis School of Fine Art, and was introduced to sculpture in 1975 by Cecil Skotnes.
* F.W. de Klerk: a former state president of South Africa. Frederik Willem de Klerk was born in Johannesburg on 18 March 1936. de Klerk grew up in a political family. He later studied law and practiced as a lawyer in Vereeninging, south of Johannesburg, Transvaal (now Gauteng).
* Steven Jerome Pienaar: is a South African former professional footballer and current assistant coach of the U18 team of the Ajax Youth Academy. 
* Edward Butler (Clive) Rice, SA cricket player:  

* Ben Wa Mokoena Arnold: a SA artist and art teacher.
* Adm. Hugo (Hendrik) Bierman: head and first admiral of the SA Fleet.
* Barend J. du Plessis: a former South African minister of finance.
* Sonwabo Eddie Funde: a businessman and director on several boards, is born in Johannesburg. He achieved an MSc in Electrical Engineering.
* Dianne Fay Miller: a S.A artist
* Johnny Clegg: (born June 7, 1953, in England and died July 16, 2019 in Johannesburg) was a South African musician, popularly called the “White Zulu.” His innovative, ethnically integrated musical collaborations in the late 20th century constituted a powerful statement against apartheid, the ...03 Jun 2025
* Andrew Khehla Lukhele: president of the National Stokvels Association and founder. 
* Ronald Mylchreest:  was a South African Postwar & Contemporary painter who was born in 1920.
* Alexia Webster
* Guy Tillim
* Arthur Goldreich
* Alex Hepple
* Johnson Phillip Mlambo
* Ronnie Levitan
* Paul Ramotsoane Mosaka
* Patrick Mosell Molaoa
* J. Congress M. Mbata
* Hannah Lurie
* Harold Rubin
* Judge Albert Louis “Albie” Sachs
* Andrew Clement Verster
* Stanley B. Lollan
* Sir Sydney Kentridge
* Alfred Khumalo
* Julius Thamsanqa Kuboni
* Chief Justice Arthur Chaskalson
* Yusuf Cachalia
* Tiyani Lybon Mabasa
* Johnson Phillip Mlambo
* Alex Hepple
* Indian Rights Campaigner, Bhawani Sannyassi Dayal: is born 
* Zarina Maharaj, born in Johannesburg in 1945
* Maude Francis Eyston Sumner, SA painter
* Cyril Ramaphosa
* Anthony Nkotsi, a South African Artist
* Willie Smith, South Africa’s bantamweight champion boxer is born
* Charles Barends, the renowned South African jockey is born
* Darrell Roodt
* Ellen Phyllis Hellmann, social anthropologist and executive member of the SAIRR, dies in Johannesburg
* Annesu de Vos, SA poet, is born
* Anti-apartheid activist, Norman Levy is born
* Victor Sidney Norton, a journalist and first South African-born in Johannesburg. Later becomes the editor of the Cape Times, dies in Cape Town.
* Barry Hough: SA literary critic and author
* Louis Hayward, South African-American Actor
 

 

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Johannesburg, Gauteng Province