Gauteng: East Rand
Overview
The East Rand is defined by the municipality of Ekurhuleni, which means 'place of
peace' in Xitsonga. The area is ranked at number 41 in Wikipedia's list of the most
populous urban areas - giving you an indication of the raw potential of the people
living there. It is also the Metropolitan area containing the town of Benoni, birth
place of the Oscar winning actress, Charlize Theron. The Ekurhuleni’s borders
encompass the vibrant townships of Daveyton, Katlehong, Vosloorus and Wattville
(to name just a few). The towns of Alberton, Benoni, Boksburg, Brakpan, Edenvale,
Germiston, Springs, Kempton Park, and Nigel provide examples of simple living all
the way through to sophisticated glamour, bringing the past and the present together
as people live, work, and play.
Things to see and do
O. R. Tambo International Airport - There are expected to be over 21 million passengers
per year by 2010, placing the airport within the top 100 in the world.
There is a huge variety of things to do in the East Rand - from Emperors Palace Casino, Carnival City Casino,
East Rand Mall, Lake Side Mall, the Bunny Park (that
also has sheep, goats, donkeys and water fowl), golf courses, bird parks, and historical
sites liket the Thokoza Memorial wall, built in Khumalo Street in Thokoza to honour
thousands of the victims who died during the Apartheid struggle.
Residents of Katlehong,
Tembisa, Daveyton, and other townships in Ekurhuleni encourage visitors to walk
their streets, and join them for a beer at a shebeen. Boksburg boasts numerous beautiful
old heritage sites – the old law courts, the St Michael and All Angels Anglican
church (designed by Sir Herbert Baker), and Alberton has the Meyersdal Koppie Nature
Reserve which is home to some Late Iron-Age stone wall settlements.
Then there is
Benoni, also known as the ‘city of lakes’, with no fewer than five lake side parks
for picnic lovers. For animal lovers there is the Rietvlei Zoo and Nature Reserve,
just outside Alberton, and the Rondebult Bird Sanctuary - a rare wetland area with
well built bird hides and views of antelope, ostrich and zebra. Just outside of
Springs is the Blesbokspruit Wetland Reserve, which is Gauteng's major wetland system,
running through Kempton Park, Boksburg, Brakpan, Springs and Nigel, and on to Heidelburg
where it flows into the Suikerbosrand River. This area hosts over 250 species of
native bird life!
Climate
The East Rand, like the City of Johannesburg, has a dry, sunny climate, with the
exception of occasional late afternoon downpours in the summer months from October
to April. Temperatures are usually mild due to the high altitude, with the average
maximum daytime temperature in January of 26 °C (79 °F), dropping to an average
maximum of around 16 °C (61 °F) in June. Winter is the sunniest time of the year,
with cool days and cold nights. The temperature occasionally drops to below freezing
at night, causing frost - and every decade or so there is a nice sprinkling of snow.
Regular cold fronts pass over in winter bringing very cold southern winds,
but usually clear skies. The annual average rainfall is 713 millimetres (28.1 in),
which is mostly concentrated in the summer months.
Accomodation
The accommodation in the
East Rand area is generally of a very
high standard. Many private game lodges cater for international tourists and even
celebrity stylef living. Accommodation options range from exclusive game lodges
to comfortable self catering chalets and apartments. There are also a variety of
excellent hotels, guest houses and bed and breakfast establishments. Camping and
caravanning are also popular accommodation choices. If you're wanting a real 'bush'
experience, you'll definetely find some here as well.
Towns and Suburbs
Heidelberg, Bapsfontein, Germiston, Springs, Edenvale, Brakpan, Boksburg, Benoni,
and Kempton Park.