Springs is a former independent city that is now part of the City of Ekurhuleni, based in the east of Johannesburg (East Rand), in Gauteng Province, South Africa. It lies 50 km (31 mi) east of Johannesburg and 72 km (45 mi) southeast from Pretoria. Its name derives from the large number of springs in the area, and its estimated population is more than 121,610 in 2011. The town of Springs, east of Johannesburg, is on the East Rand, or what is now known as the Metropolitan area of Ekurhuleni, in the Gauteng Province.
From about 1840 farmers moved into the area and declared farms for themselves, especially after the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek (South African Republic, later Transvaal) became an independent republic with the signing of the Sand River Convention in 1852. These initial farms were large, but the measurements of the borders were inaccurate and later, when the correct borders of the farms had to be documented, there were several extra or odd pieces of land that did not belong to any farm. These odd pieces of land then became state property. The 685 ha odd piece was given the name 'The Springs' by the land surveyor James Brooks, probably because of all the fountains on the land. On 16 September 1884 the official map of The Springs was registered in Pretoria, the Republic's capital. Initially, the land's value was equal to R200.
The coal discovered in The Springs was of a good quality and in 1888 the first contract was signed to mine coal there. Initially mining was on a small scale, but rose when the Great Eastern mine was established. There were a number of corrugated iron houses around the mine and, although there was a few small hotels and general dealers, it was not a town yet. The settlement grew and in 1902 a health committee was appointed to look after the building and location of structures and also the hygiene in the growing township.
In April 1904, The Springs was proclaimed a town, called Springs, the health committee replaced by a town council, and it flourished as a mining town. The original 7 km2 farm on which the city of Springs was later to be built, The Springs, was surveyed in 1883. A village was laid out in 1904 and in 1908 the first gold mining began. Springs was granted municipal status in 1912.
Gold Mining in South Africa
Read also: Uganda Luxury Accommodation
The Rise and Fall of Mining
Historically, Springs was known as a mining centre for two major types of minerals (gold and coal). Once upon a time, by the late 1930s, some 50 years or so after the first discovery of gold on the Witwatersrand, there were eight gold mines near Springs, making it one of the largest single gold-producing areas in the world. In 1962, Springs produced 10% of the country's gold and 9% of its uranium. However, by the end of the 1960s the last mine in town, the Daggafonteinmyn, (literally: Marijuana fountain mine) was emptied.
Gradually, especially after coal was discovered further east in South Africa in Witbank, the Springs collieries were closed. In the meanwhile, however, gold had also been discovered in the area. Springs is still one of the gold mining centers in South Africa, which includes Gold One, Modder East Operation, the Geduld Mine and East Geduld Mine and also the Daggafontein and East Daggafontein mines.
Gold Rush South Africa/"Forgotten Fortunes: Chronicles of Gold and Glory"
Springs as an Industrial Hub
Today Springs has become a regional economic hub, with mining replaced by manufacturing and engineering industries, such as chemicals, processed metals and foodstuffs, including the only Kellogg’s factory in South Africa. Springs is one of the industrial centres in Gauteng served by four industrial suburbs, which are New Era, Nuffield, Enstra and Fulcrum with smaller industrial areas at Dersley, suburb of Springs, Daggafontein, Selection Park, Selcourt and Strubenvale. There are a couple of manufacturing companies in Springs.
Springs is home to Sappi Enstra Mill, the only paper mill plant of Southern Africa, only paper mill plant in the world that is not next to a river, Element Six Ultra High, an industry in industrial diamonds and beverage cans, manufacturing of cans and Kimberly-Clark in Enstra manufacturing toilet paper, tissues, serviettes and other products. Afrox Healthcare has a plant in Enstra, Springs specializing in health care products. Then there is also Liebherr Group Africa specialising in heavy construction vehicles, McCain Foods packaging plant in Nuffield, Corobrik Plant near Selcourt specialising in bricks and Kreepy Krauly swimming pool equipment and regulator system manufacturing plant in Nuffield Springs. Mondi Group also have the cartonboard plant and recycling plant in New Era and Sony Ericson phone manufacturing plant also in New Era. There is also the Angelo Kater Motor Trimmers Conversion plant in Nuffield Springs specialising in vehicle conversions for Taxis, ambulances, police vehicles and other emergency vehicles in Nuffield, Springs.
Springs is home to Jachris pty limited, a hose and coupling manufacturer that supplies most of Southern Africas mining houses. Springs is also a transporting centre with many transporting companies. Some of the more known companies include Van Heerden's Trucking company in Largo, an eastern suburb of Springs and Penta Trucking focusing on cargo transporting from Nuffield, Springs.
Read also: Discover Muthu Silver Springs
Art Deco Architecture and Cultural Landmarks
Springs is known for its high concentration of Art Deco architecture, as it is home to the second-highest number of small scale Art Deco buildings in the world, after Miami in Florida. These Art Deco buildings were mostly constructed in the CBD during interwar period Interwar period of the early twentieth century. The town is famous as the birthplace of South African Nobel Literature laureate Nadine Gordimer, and is also known for its art-deco architecture - some of which is in disrepair. It’s reputed to have the second biggest collection of small-scale art-deco buildings in the world after Miami in Florida.
Other landmarks include several monuments to important figures in the city's development, like Paul Kruger, and the war cemetery where many Coloured soldiers are buried who died during the Second World War fighting in the Allied Forces. There is also the War Monument at the northern entrance of the Springs CBD, The Old Springs Fire Station, and the now-derelict Dutch Windmill in the former Martiens Kotze (Pioneer) Park. Springs has an art gallery next to the Springs Library. Many theatrical productions are performed at the Springs Civic Theatre, now renamed Ken Gampu Theatre. The Civic Centre was opened in 1974 by the then State President JJ Fouche, at a massive cost of R45 million.
Art Deco architecture in Miami
Shopping and Recreation
There are two major shopping malls in the Springs Downtown serving Springs, The Avenues and Palm Springs, as well as Veranda Shopping Centre and the Third Street Arcade, Seedfam Tower Arcade, Standard Band Arcade and a newer arcade in Third Street too and the Second Street Mall near the Springs Railway Station. There are a number of shopping centres in the suburbs of Springs such as the Selcourt Shopping Center, Strubenvale Shopping Centre, New State Era Shopping Centre, Bakerton Square and also the newer shopping centres like Springsgate and Selcourt Towers and many more shopping centers in Springs and the suburbs. A new regional mall, Springs Mall has opened recently on Wit Road at the N17 onramp.
Springs boasts a number of parks, including Pioneer Park adjacent to the CBD. Springs has about 120 parks, the most well-known being Presidents Park, where there is horse jumping, and Murray Park, which has a caravan site next to the Alexander Dam. There is also Frikkie Deysel Park in Petersfield, Butler Park in Geduld, George Sutter Park in Selection Park, and the Park of Dersley in Dersley Park. If you’re a birder, a must-visit is the Marievale Bird Sanctuary within the Blesbokspruit area, designated a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance for waterbirds in 1986. In Northeastern Springs, the Blesbokspruit Wetland Reserve has a great diversity of birds and plants.
Read also: The Story of Chad Hill
Climate
Springs has a typical sub-tropical climate with four distinct seasons. The summers are hot with afternoon thunder showers in early summers and drier during January and February which are the two hottest months. The winters are very cold with severe frost and very occasional snow, the coldest months being July and August although June is also very cold. August is usually a very windy month continuing into early spring of September with sandstorms and strong winds. Spring is warm to hot with some afternoon showers. Spring usually starts to show during the latter half of August although it is officially springtime from September. The autumns are generally cooler, starting with late rains in the beginning of autumn and getting colder towards winter with the first frost in late autumn. At times the first signs of autumn can be seen in late February.
The average highs during the summers are 32 °C (90 °F) although it can go as high as 37 °C (99 °F). A record high of 40 °C (104 °F) has been recorded. Average winter temperatures are around 10 °C (50 °F) and the average lows during the summer months are 15 °C (59 °F) and - 5 °C (41 °F) during the winter months. Temperatures can drop to - 10 °C (50 °F) and a record low of −15 °C (5 °F) has been recorded.
Popular articles:
tags: #Africa
