Randfontein is a gold mining town located in the West Rand, Gauteng, South Africa, approximately 40 km (25 mi) west of Johannesburg. Lying 45 kilometres west of Johannesburg, in what is commonly known as the West Rand, Randfontein emerged as a gold mining town during the late 1800s.
Randfontein lies at 1,709 m above mean sea level. (By comparison, Johannesburg is at 1,733 m AMSL at the entrance to the Carlton Centre in the CBD, and Pretoria is 1,320 m AMSL in the middle of Church Square in the CBD).
Historical Background
Randfontein's existence dates back to the 1550s when the AmaNdebele lived as one nation at Emhlangeni (today's Randfontein area) under King Mhlanga approximately between 1550 and 1580. 1857: Bootha and Jonker families arrive in the area.
With the Witwatersrand gold rush in full swing, mining financier JB Robinson bought the farm Randfontein and, in 1889, floated the Randfontein Estates Gold Mining Company.
Remnants of the Jameson Raid (29 December 1895 - 2 January 1896) can be found in Randfontein. Various graves of those killed are scattered around the West Rand. In Randfontein, the graves of troopers William Charles Beatty-Powell, John Bernard Bletsoe, Harry Davies, John Foster, and C.E. Hennessy, are hidden amongst the trees in what was originally known as the Randfontein Estates Gold Mine Military Cemetery.
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The graves are beside the railway line diagonally opposite where Uncle Harry's Roadhouse is currently located at the northern entrance to town from Krugersdorp. On 11 June 2015, a hidden graveyard with about 80 to 100 graves dating back to the 1800s was discovered near the grain silos off Main Reef Road.
Paul Kruger and JB Robinson enjoyed a warm friendship which has led to rumours that the Kruger Millions (millions of gold coins minted for the Zuid Afrikaanse Republiek, or the South African Republic) were buried in the Homestead's grounds to stop them from falling into British hands during the Second Boer War.
The Homestead is the home that Robinson lived in which is now situated along Homestead Avenue next to Riebeeck Lake and owned by well-known local businessman and racing driver, Ben Morgenrood.
Environmental Concerns: Robinson Lake
Robinson Lake is situated between the Randfontein Golf Course and the suburb of Robin Park. The lake was a former recreational lake filled from water that has been pumped from the Robinson Deep gold mine.
The lake has a pH of 2.6. Water has a natural uranium concentration of 0.0004 mg/L. The Department of Water and Sanitation considers a concentration of 0.07 mg/L safe to drink. Robinson Lake has a uranium concentration of 16 mg/L which is more than 220 times safe levels. This has resulted in Robinson Lake being declared a radioactive area and it is closed off to the public. The general consensus is that this has been caused by acid mine drainage.
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Climate
The climate here is mild in winter (sunny clear days and cold nights), and generally warm and wet in summer, dominated by thunderstorms. When compared with winter, the summers have much more rainfall. This location is classified as Cwb by Köppen and Geiger (dry winter, subtropical highland climate). The average annual temperature is 16.1 °C (61.0 °F).
Demographics
As of 2011, Randfontein has a population of 149,286, which incorporates Mohlakeng and Toekomsrus. (In 2001, the population was 128,731.) The average elevation of the town is 1709m above sea level.
According to the Randfontein Socio-Economic Survey of 2006, Randfontein's population is divided into Black (79.2%), White (10.6%), Coloured (10.1%), and Asian/Indian (0.1%). The local immigrant population is made up mainly of Mozambiquans (Portuguese), Angolans (Portuguese), Malawians (Chichewa), Ethiopians (Amharic), and Chinese (Chinese).
Randfontein differs slightly from other parts of the West Rand, in that it is slightly female dominant (50.6%). This trend is throughout the gender structure with the exception of the age group younger than 14 which is slightly male dominant. The working age-group (15 to 64) is the largest and makes up 65.5% of the local population. During apartheid, Randfontein was mostly Afrikaner.
The racial makeup and language distribution changed dramatically from the 2001 census to the 2011 census. The Black population grew from around 16% of the total population to around 41% of the population. Dominant languages now are Tswana, Sesotho, English, and Afrikaans, with many other languages being spoken, both local and international.
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Economy and Industry
Randfontein owes its existence to gold. JCI was greatly involved with mining ventures around Randfontein. In the 1960s mining in the area came to a virtual standstill, but in the 1970s new gold deposits were discovered to the south of Randfontein and the Cooke Section was opened up in 1976. Cooke Section produced gold and uranium, the uranium being used for the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station in the Western Cape.
A large industrial area, Aureus, serves greater Randfontein and many industries are scattered throughout the municipal area including the more rural areas. Their blankets can be seen in most hotels in South Africa.
In a 2013 Ookla Net Index report, it was found that Randfontein has the fastest broadband access in South Africa.
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Shopping and Retail
Shopping in Randfontein is characterized by typical High Street shopping with the majority of the shops situated along Main Reef Road and surrounds. The main mall, Village Square, is also along the main street and provides comfortable access to 72 shops (GLA approximately 20,500m2). Other centres around town include: Randfontein Station Mall (20 shops) and Greenhills Spar Centre (20 shops).
The proposed Lakeview Mall was abandoned due to a lack of funding. However, this development was replaced by the new Tambotie Mall (initially 20,000m2) with anchor tenants Checkers, Woolworths (Foods and Fashion), and Dischem, under the management of Broll. This shopping centre is on the corner of Tambotie and Malan streets, around the southern end of Riebeeck Lake. Excavation and groundworks started in February 2016 and it opened to the public on 27 April 2017.
Municipal proposals for this precinct include a housing development and a new office park to be developed later. Another shopping centre, Umphakathi Mall (12,500m2), opened on 29 April 2021. This is bordered by the R28, R559, and Ralerata Street between Randfontein Central/Toekomsrus and Mohlakeng. The inclusion of a new taxi rank and a filling station will attract critical mass by creating a prominent transport node, and limiting the shopping outflow.
A few factories sell directly to the public where goods can be obtained.
Attractions and Recreation
Apart from having the largest stamp mill in the world (used in early paper making for preparing the pulp), Randfontein, like many of the other outlying areas of Johannesburg, is essentially a rural collection of farms and small holdings in a particularly beautiful part of Gauteng.
The West Rand of Gauteng is a particularly pretty part of the province flanked to the west by the Magaliesburg mountain range and to the northwest the Cradle of Humankind. North west of Randfontein are the Magaliesberg and Witwatersberg mountains forming an attractive backdrop to the Skeerpoort and Crocodile River valleys.
The Krugersdorp Game Reserve, barely two kilometres outside of Krugersdorp, is one of the closest attractions. It might be relatively small but the grassland, thornveld, riverine forest and rocky outcrops host a range of wildlife that includes hippo, buffalo, giraffe, white rhino and various antelope. The Rhino Park, near Kromdraai, too is worth a visit - the rolling grasslands and hills to a number of dams where hippos play. The park has a growing white rhino population and you can spot a number of wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, sable and buffalo.
Croc City Crocodile Farm provides the opportunity for the public to observe one of the world's most spectacular predators at close range.
The Randfontein Show is an annual event that was first held in February 1987 and is now held in February/March of each year. The largest show of its kind in western Gauteng, it plays host to live entertainment, family fun, and many things to taste, see and do. The Randfontein Show is the fifth largest event of its kind in South Africa and reaches attendances of over 110,000 annually. The show takes place at the Greenhills Sport Stadium to the west of the Randfontein Golf Course.
The Show was cancelled for the first time in 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions. The Golf Course fell into disrepair and has not been functioning since 2020. Talk of being renovated and upgraded to a Golf Estate have been heard. There is a new show being held yearly in the place of the Randfontein show. This is at Tuinhekkie and been growing every year. There are also wonderful 4x4 days held on the plots.
Government and Services
A number of government departments have their regional offices in Randfontein. This includes SARS (Stubbs Street), SASSA (Stubbs Street), Department of Labour (Main Reef Road), and Department of Home Affairs (Main Reef Road).
The R28 is a regional route connecting Krugersdorp with Vereeniging that passes through Randfontein (called Main Reef Road through central Randfontein) while the R41 connects Randfontein with Roodepoort and Johannesburg. The main national Johannesburg/Cape Town railway line cuts through Randfontein although the daily train does not stop at the Randfontein station.
Healthcare
Two primary hospitals serve the Randfontein area, Robinson Hospital and Sir Albert Medical Centre. Robinson Hospital (Hospital Street) is a private hospital and part of the Lifecare Health group. The hospital boasts 109 beds and 4 theatres with a 24-hour accident and emergency unit. Sir Albert Medical Centre (Ward Street Extension) is also a private hospital and was initially focused on mine-related illnesses and diseases but has subsequently become a general private hospital. In July 2013, it was renovated and renamed the Lenmed Health Randfontein Private Hospital.
Local Municipality
Randfontein Local Municipality was a local municipality in West Rand District Municipality, Gauteng, in South Africa. The municipal council consists of forty-four members elected by mixed-member proportional representation. Twenty-two councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in twenty-two wards, while the remaining twenty-two are chosen from party lists so that the total number of party representatives is proportional to the number of votes received.
Randfontein Local Municipality is characterized by high levels of unemployment, poverty, major crime, and low levels of education and income. Nonetheless, it has become the migration destination for many South Africans seeking a better quality of life in Gauteng.
Notable People
Patrick Ntsoelengoe: OIS (26 February 1952 - 8 May 2006) was a South African football (soccer) player who is widely considered as one of the greatest the country has ever produced.
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